A homily for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

+ The letter to the Galatians is filled with a discussion on the nature of law. In today’s epistle, the Apostle raises the level of the discussion to a new dimension: the Law of Christ. Rather than discussing the principles of the Law of Moses, on which St Paul was an expert from his zeal as a Pharisee before converting, he teaches us Who is the true Lawgiver.

​In his conversion St Paul discovered the nature of law as being entirely carried in the twofold commandment of love of God and love of neighbour. That is the movement from externals, which certainly are essential, to the internal dispositions fostering those acts.

From this realisation St Paul can simply state: “Carry the burdens of one another then you shall fulfil the law of Christ.” But this is not said with a view towards the earthly burdens of anyone, rather those burdens that hold each one back from Christ, in particular vices — and not only virtues, but according to the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Ghost. That is to say that we must ever be prompt in undertaking those acts, which first we come to recognise through grace, that are inspired within us by the Holy Ghost.

To carry one another’s burdens is to assist them in taking up the Cross, in overcoming temptations, and holding firm to Christ. The Church has taken up this principle in making her uncompromisable fundamental law that of the salvation of souls – within which all our other natural concerns, no matter how mundane, must grounded. Certainly, this applies first to the salvation of one’s own soul; but this priority, as St Paul underlines, cannot be exclusive.

Christ, as the Evangelists record, very often rebukes the Pharisees precisely for placing human law and customs in the way of the Divine Law of the salvation of souls. Certainly, we must respect, even reverence the human lawgiver (cf. Matthew 23:2-13), but that does not mean we can tolerate anything which prevents our following the law of God (cf. Acts 5:29-32). On this we shall all be judged. We are given human rulers, both ecclesiastical and civil, that they may foster the law of God in us, and so direct us to Him.

But this lays on them a higher responsibility to hold fast to God – to search His commands for the best way to deal with a given situation. So often we see this prerogative being abused, and so we must, humbly and respectfully, remind the shepherds of the true law from which they cannot depart. This is exemplified by one of the Desert Fathers who teaches that fasting is an Evangelical counsel whereas hospitality is a Command of God, and so the fast must be put aside in order to give suitable hospitality. Certainly, this was not used as an excuse not to fast – the Father only fasted the more after offering hospitality.

Each day, at the office of Sext, the Church renews our contemplation of the verse: “Carry the burdens of one another then you shall fulfil the law of Christ.” It is an ever-stark reminder that each day new difficulties, new trials, new, or rather renewed, temptations will come upon us – and certainly some are much more serious than others – which we must overcome in Christ. And more, this reminds us that we can never fail to overlook and support the difficulties our neighbour is suffering.

St Benedict expounds on how we are to take this up in his Rule. He dedicates an entire chapter (72) to the “good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and life everlasting.” He recognises that we are all frail and have our “infirmities of body and character” which are difficult to bear, for ourselves and others and that these require the greatest patience to overcome. A patience, as St Benedict teaches, which is filled with the fear of God. This patience from a general acceptance of the situation: it presents a determined effort to overcome all which hinders union with God, and never loses heart in the face of delay, relying always on the mercy of God.

It is primarily in the sacraments that we receive the grace required for patience and for true growth through our trials and sufferings. By partaking in the Unblemished Sacrifice offered for our salvation, let us renew our zeal for our conversion – praying with ever more fervour for the true love, filled with interiority, which casts out all fear and sin. +