Paul does not glory in …

I am rereading (and enjoying thoroughly) Eugene Peterson’s “Traveling Light: Meditations on St. Paul’s Letter of Freedom”.

(Thanks again, Pastor Bostrom, for the wonderful gift of this book for our family!)

My current chapter is on Galatians 6:11-18:

“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.”

There are so many rich nuggets of truth and sweet reminders in this chapter that I simply could not write them all.

But one paragraph stands out above all the rest. I simply can’t get it out of my mind (which is great in some ways but makes it a little hard to sleep):

“Paul does not glory in Jesus’ walking on the water, showing himself Lord of creation.

Paul does not glory in Jesus’ calling Lazarus from the tomb, showing himself Lord over death.

Paul does not glory in Jesus’ teaching the beatitudes, showing himself a master truth-teller.

Paul does not glory in Jesus’ touching the leper, showing himself the compassionate healer.

He knows all those things and appreciates them. His life of faith is enriched by them. But he glories in the crucifixion. His boast is that God in Jesus entered the stuff of our everyday existence where the lights and shadows mingle, where our good intentions and evil impulses vie for ascendancy, where hope struggles with despair, where men try their best and give up, where all ends in ugliness and injustice, where life is not fair, where things don’t work out for the best.

Paul doesn’t boast of a God glorious in the heavens, untouched by the mess and confusion and ambiguity of our history. He doesn’t assemble sonorous, multisyllabled lists of God’s attributes and boast that no Greek or Roman or Egyptian god has half the qualities. No. “Far be in from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Amen, amen, and amen.

I just can’t stop thinking about this. Thank You, God!

Blessings to you and yours—
Tara B.