Wednesday, June 5: “Unworthy Manner”

Galatians 2: 14: “But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?’”

Isn’t St. Paul getting a little testy? Maybe jealous over St. Peter’s popularity? No, he’s warning him for his own good. When St. Peter separated himself from Gentile believers at the Table, he was partaking in an unworthy manner (1 Corinthians 11: 29) since he was not rightly judging the Body of Christ as one. Before eating and drinking with this attitude, Paul knew Peter must repent of his schismatic, divisive, and unloving ways, or receive condemnation unto himself. Good call, St. Paul!