But before the coming of the faith
we were kept under guard by Law
being imprisoned
until the coming faith was revealed.
So that the Jewish Law became our child-minder
until Christ,
so that we might be declared righteous
on the basis of faith.
And the faith having come
we are no longer under the child-minder.
For you all are daughters and sons of God,
through faith,
in Christ Jesus.
For as many as you were baptised into Christ,
put on Christ.
For there is no Jew nor Gentile,
there is no slave nor free
there is no ‘male and female.’
For you all one in Christ Jesus.
If you are Christ’s
then you are the seed of Abraham
and inheritors
according to the promise.
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today – tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba