Scripture Notes: Set Apart (Galatians 1)

As St. Paul opens his Letter to the Galatians, he establishes his authority as an apostle. There is a major problem in the Galatian Church (some so-called evangelists are trying to draw Gentile Christians away from the Gospel and into a doctrine of their own devising), and Paul needs to make the truth very clear. He has been sent by Jesus Christ Himself to preach the actual Gospel, the reality of Christian faith and life.

Paul recalls how he once persecuted the infant Christian Church. As a zealous Jew, he thought he was doing the right thing, trying to stamp out this new movement that seemed to him to be so horribly off course. But then Paul met Jesus Himself on the road to Damascus, and everything changed. Paul explains that “He Who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me” (Galatians 1:15-16). Paul realizes that God has chosen Him, has set him apart for a particular mission. And Paul accepts. He throws himself into the life Jesus has given him. He becomes as zealous for Christianity as he was against it, perhaps even more, for now he knows the truth. 

Paul did not chase after Jesus. In fact, he persecuted Jesus as he persecuted the Church. Jesus chased after Paul. And He caught him. For Paul has been set apart for God. He has free will, of course, to accept or reject, but he chooses his mission. He says yes and receives the Gospel to spread to the world. Paul knows exactly how blessed he is to be set apart.