The religions

Strangely enough, today's first reading (Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1) contains connections to the three great monotheistic religions of the world: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

On the allegorical level, St. Paul associates the sons of Abraham - Isaac and Ishmael - with Christians and Jews, respectively. On a non-allegorical level, Isaac is the ancestor of the Jews and Ishmael the ancestor of the Arabs (according to both Biblical and Qur'anic traditions).

Yet when it comes to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, an earlier verse in Galatians (3:7) is even more important:

Realize then
that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.

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This verse reminds us that
by the grace of God
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
we have this gift of faith:
a gift about which we must not be smug,
a gift for which we must be grateful,
a gift that we must let shine before men,
a gift which we must pray that others will receive.