My dear brothers and sisters, in Christ, peace be with you. Today's readings at mass present us with one profound message that Christ came to free us not merely from external constraints or pain, but from the slavery that can exist within our own hearts. Saint Paul declares, “For freedom, Christ set us free. So stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). Saint Paul here, my brothers and sisters, is addressing Christians who were being persuaded that besides believing in Christ, they needed to continue observing the prescriptions of the Mosaic law, particularly circumcision. To be justified before God. Don't forget that many of the early Christians were converts from Judaism. And yet Paul insists that salvation is not something we earn through religious observances. Now we can cooperate with the grace of God, through those observances that are handed down to us through the teaching authority of the church that Jesus, himself has instituted. But salvation is always a gift of God's grace.