St Paul talks to the Galatians
about the Cross of Jesus being a rule of life. This can challenge us to
understand more deeply what we are drawn into through meditating upon the cross.
When we hear that St Paul sees this as a rule of life, we can wonder what it
means. We often hear of the challenge to take up our cross and follow him, but this is not what St Paul is calling to mind. Instead, he views it as a guiding principle of life. The word comes from the Greek word regula, meaning "trellis." When we look at the cross from this viewpoint, we can start to see how
Jesus stands at the centre of our Christian life and provides a total self-giving
for the good of another.
This is emphasised in the teaching
of Jesus, where he proclaims to the people that the Kingdom of God is very close
to you. This talks about a change of heart and a change of life. It allows us
to experience the providence of God that provides what is needed for the
situation. This is not just about the material necessities of life, but a sense
of inner peace that abides within a person. When we enter a house, we are
called to be people who bring peace with us and accept hospitality from others.
It is the sacramental meeting where we are called to be nourished, healed and
forgiven. There is a generous giving and receiving that allows us to notice how
God is at the heart of the interactions.
It also allows us the ability to
see how each day writes the script of eternity. We are no longer just focused on
striving for material goods and comforts. Instead, we seek to rejoice and flourish
in knowing that our lives have eternal worth. This changes not only how we see
ourselves but also how we interact with each other if we see that our names are
written in heaven. We can give glory to God through our way of life.
