DAILY- HOMILY

Paul makes an absolutely startling statement in today's first reading. The statement rejects basic tenets of the Jewish faith and announces a new way of looking at people and the relationships among them. It's a statement which, if we were to embrace it wholeheartedly, would be a recognition of the equality of all human beings and would enable us to build a world endowed permanently with justice and peace.

Paul says, "Each one of you is a child of God because of your faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who have been baptized into Christ, have clothed yourselves with him. There does not exist among you Jew or Greek, slave or freeman, male or female."

The fact that Paul should make such a statement indicates the impact faith in Christ has had on him. During all the years that preceded his conversion, he began each day with a prayer with which all Jewish men began each day, "I thank you, God, for not having made me a Gentile, a slave or a woman."

It's a volte-face, a u-turn, a 180 degree change in direction for Paul. Faith in Jesus makes us his brothers and sisters and therefore children to his Father. Baptism publicly ratifies and proclaims our faith in Jesus. We who believe in Jesus are made one in him for all the world to see.