A reading from the letter of Paul to the Galatians.

When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free.  Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.  My sisters and brothers, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence.  Serve one another, rather, in works of love, since the whole of the Law is summarized in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  If you go snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, you had better watch or you will destroy the whole community.

Let me put it this way: if you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence; since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions.  If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you.

The Word of God recorded in the letter of Paul to the Galatians.