What really matters – Galatians 6:1-16

Have you ever felt exhausted and that the work that you do feels like it’s going nowhere? Or the things that you sacrifice don’t get the appreciation that you think it deserves? Yup, same here! But Galatians 6:1-16 reminds us that these efforts will pay

An episode of the Queer Theology podcast, hosted by Queer Theology / Brian G. Murphy & Shannon T.L. Kearns, titled "What really matters – Galatians 6:1-16" was published on July 7, 2019.

July 7, 2019 · Queer Theology

Summary

Have you ever felt exhausted and that the work that you do feels like it’s going nowhere? Or the things that you sacrifice don’t get the appreciation that you think it deserves? Yup, same here! But Galatians 6:1-16 reminds us that these efforts will pay off, if not today. It might sometimes feel like a long and difficult journey, but let’s be reminded that if we do everything with pure intention and love in our hearts, then that’s what really matters. Episode TranscriptBrian: Welcome to the Queer Theology podcast! Fr. Shay: Where each episode, we take a queer look at the week’s lectionary readings. We’re the co-founders of QueerTheology.com and the hosts for this podcast. I’m Father Shay Kearns B: And I’m Brian G. Murphy. Good morning!!! Today is Sunday, July 7th, 2019. We are going to be looking at Galatians 6:1-16, I will read it to you now. Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted too. Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are important when they aren’t, they’re fooling themselves. Each person should test their own work and be happy with doing a good job and not compare themselves with others. Each person will have to carry their own load. Those who are taught the word should share all good things with their teacher. Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant. Those who plant only for their own benefit will harvest devastation from their selfishness, but those who plant for the benefit of the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit. Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith. Look at the large letters I’m making with my own handwriting! Whoever wants to look good by human standards will try to get you to be circumcised, but only so they won’t be harassed for the cross of Christ. Those who are circumcised don’t observe the Law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised, so they can boast about your physical body. But as for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through him, and I have been crucified to the world. Being circumcised or not being circumcised doesn’t mean anything. What matters is a new creation. May peace and mercy be on whoever follows this rule and on God’s Israel. Okay, Shay. Seems like there’s a little bit of beef that’s going on here. What do you make of this passage and what does it say for LGBTQ Christian folks. FS: Oh, Paul! B: I know right? FS: Or whoever wrote this, but probably Paul. I just, it just makes me laugh sometimes. B: Also like, gurl you’re boasting! FS: Oh always! Always, always, always. The thing that really jumped out at me this time was verses 7 through 10, this idea of harvesting what you plant. And particularly this: let’s not get tired of doing good because, in time, we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. I don’t know about you, but I’ve just been feeling exhausted lately. My body has been telling me that I’m exhausted with back pain and sickness. Some of that might be aging, but I think some of it is just the world that we live in. Right? And holding myself tense. So I’ve been thinking a lot about what is the work that I can do? What is it that I need to be planting right now? Where am I investing my time and energy? Where do I need to shake the dust off my feet and say, “I’m not doing that anymore.”? I think it’s been a helpful practice to just admit that you can not do everything. But also, just because you can’t do everything doesn’t mean that you are off the hook and you just get to do nothing. And so I think that this thinking, especially about planting and

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