The people of Capernaum, who had listened to Christ's preaching and been healed of many of their ailments, very much wanted Him to stay. ‘The people sought Him and found Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them,’ the evangelist writes. Perhaps He Himself did not want to leave either. But He had to, as He Himself says, in order...
The people of Capernaum, who had listened to Christ's preaching and been healed of many of their ailments, very much wanted Him to stay. ‘The people sought Him and found Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them,’ the evangelist writes. Perhaps He Himself did not want to leave either. But He had to, as He Himself says, in order to bring the good news to other towns. To go to some, the Saviour had to leave others. That was how it was when He walked the earth.
And now? We need only pause to consider how everything has changed: now the Lord is everywhere. And this is something more than the primordial omnipresence of God the Father, for Christ is everywhere, since every day on earth bread is broken in the sacrament of the Eucharist. In those days people thought, ‘What a pity He is leaving for another town; how shall we manage without Him?’ But now we know: in the town to the east, the liturgy has already taken place; now it will be celebrated where we are, and then among those farther west. And a kind of enduring, continuous unity of His presence everywhere comes into being.
Perhaps we can understand this change since those days by reflecting on today's reading from the Epistle. ‘Participation in the good news’—these are the words that become the key to understanding. When Jesus says, ‘I must go and proclaim the good news to other towns,’ He is still alone. But already the apostle speaks of participation. Jesus came like a Candle giving light, and now one candle has become a sea of lights across the whole world.
4
4:28 Now we - Who believe, whether Jews or Gentiles.Are children of the promise - Not born in a natural way, but by the supernatural power of God. And as such we are heirs of the promise made to believing Abraham.
4:29 But as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so it is now also - And so it will be in all ages and nations to the end of the world.
4:30 But what saith the scripture - Showing the consequence of this. Cast out the bondwoman and her son - Who mocked Isaac.In like manner will God cast out all who seek to be justified by the law; especially if they persecute them who are his children by faith. Gen 21:10.
4:31 So then - To sum up all. We - Who believe. Are not children of the bondwoman - Have nothing to do with the servile Mosaic dispensation. But of the free - Being free from the curse and the bond of that law, and from the power of sin and Satan.
5
5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty - From the ceremonial law.Wherewith Christ hath made us - And all believers, free; and be not entangled again with the yoke of legal bondage.
5:2 If ye be circumcised - And seek to be justified thereby.Christ - The Christian institution. Will profit you nothing - For you hereby disclaim Christ, and all the blessings which are through faith in him.
5:3 I testify to every man - Every gentile. That is circumcised - He thereby makes himself a debtor - Obliges.
5:4 Therefore Christ is become of no effect to you - Who seek to be justified by the law. Ye are fallen from grace - Ye renounce the new covenant. Ye disclaim the benefit of this gracious dispensation.
5:5 For we - Who believe in Christ, Who are under the gospel dispensation. Through the Spirit - Without any of those carnal ordinances.Wait for - in sure confidence of attaining. The hope of righteousness - The righteousness we hope for, and full reward of it. This righteousnesswe receive of God through faith; and by faith we shall obtain the reward.
5:6 For in Christ Jesus - According to the institution which he hath established, according to the tenor of the Christian covenant.Neither circumcision - With the most punctual observance of the law.Nor uncircumcision - With the most exact heathen morality.Availeth anything - Toward present justification or eternal salvation.But faith - Alone; even that faith which worketh by love - All inward and outward holiness.
5:7 Ye did run well - In the race of faith. Who hath hindered you in your course, that ye should not still obey the truth?
5:8 This your present persuasion cometh not from God, who called you - to his kingdom and glory.
5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump - One troubler, ver. Gal 5:10, troubles all.
5:10 Yet I have confidence that - After ye have read this. Ye will be no otherwise minded - Than I am, and ye were. But he that troubleth you - It seems to have been one person chiefly who endeavoured to seduce them. Shall bear his judgment - A heavy burden, already hanging over his head.