Galatians 3
A man offers a bouquet to a woman. What do you see? A gift of flowers symbolizes one’s love for another. However, a man can give a woman a bouquet to flatter, attract, seduce, tempt or even snare her. We cannot know one’s heart just by observing his acts and deeds.
Every morning, I light candles before holy statues in the parish church. But sometimes I ask myself if I light candles because I love Jesus, Mary and Joseph, or because lighted candles make the church look nicer. When I lit the candles, do I offer prayers as well? Or do I mechanically do that as a daily routine? Sometimes even I myself cannot discern my heart.
But if someone says, “The heart doesn’t matter. Only acts do,” would you agree? St Paul won’t agree, especially in the matter of faith and law. As long as a Jew keeps the law of Moses, he is a good Jew. But St Paul teaches the Galatians that keeping the law of Moses doesn’t bring them salvation, not because observing the law is sinful but because it is not enough. St Paul emphasizes that deeds without faith don’t merit salvation. We cannot obtain salvation by a mechanical process of acts, such as rituals or charity works. St Paul teaches us only true faith from a loving heart will please the Lord.
One step further. A man may think that he has faith. However, my subjective conviction on my faith doesn’t guarantee my salvation, for I can deceive myself. The Lord, who sees my inner thoughts and my heart, judges and decides my salvation. We are not the one who grants salvation. It is the Lord.
