NOTES for Gal 6:14
The apostle Paul seldom speaks about the Cross, and when he speaks, he tries to be laconic. But we can feel in his words that for him, it is particularly the phenomenon of the love of the cross of the Son of God which is most important, which feeds his faith.
There is nothing important, nothing valid, nothing, of which the apostle would have wanted to share with people, except his knowledge that God died for us. Going to people, the apostle carries to them preeminently this news: "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God… For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" - he writes at the beginning of the 1st epistle to the Corinthians. However for the apostle the Cross is much more, than a sign of love; for him it is an event and history, and his own life.
At the end of the epistle to Galatians, as we read today, the apostle speaks about what’s, from his point of view, people glory. Glory (to boast, in the more direct translation) mean showing in particular something good, relating to you. The Judaising preachers, with whom the apostle Paul was involve in controversy, try to glory themselves for the fact that they address people to a just life under the law. Other people glory for their talents or knowledge, spiritual or common wealth, strength of the body or character. Modern psychology calls it the need to positive self-image.
Each achieves it in his own way, everyone finds in his life how, as it seems to him, would be well to love. In fact, all of us look in such a manner for justifications for our own existence. And well, here the apostle says that for our existence, there is no need for any justifications or even explanations, except the Cross, on which God renders to us His Life. It is a fundamental fact in our relations towards oneself, and towards others.