Proper 7 - 2025

Sermon for Proper 7, Year C
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
The Rev. Andrew McLarty

This morning, our Scripture readings present us with two powerful stories of liberation. In Galatians, Paul speaks of being freed from the “disciplinarian” of the Law, while in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus liberates a man bound by demons. At first glance, these may seem like very different stories, but at their core, they share a common truth: in Christ, we are set free—not for isolation, but for belonging.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul describes the Law as a paidagōgos—a guardian or disciplinarian who kept God’s people in check until the coming of Christ. The Law was never meant to be permanent; it was a temporary guide pointing toward something greater.

Now, in Christ, we are no longer bound by rigid legalism but are clothed in grace. “There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female,” Paul declares, “for all of you are one in Christ Jesus”. In a world divided by race, class, and status, the Gospel breaks down barriers and creates a new community where all are equal before God.

In Luke’s Gospel, we meet a man who embodies the opposite of community. He is shackled by demons, living among the tombs, isolated from society. When Jesus arrives, the man falls at His feet, and with a word, Jesus casts out the Legion of unclean spirits.

But notice what happens next: the man, now healed, begs to follow Jesus. Instead, Jesus tells him, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you”. His liberation wasn’t just for his own sake—it was for the sake of witness. He was restored to community, sent to share the Good News.

Both of these passages challenge us to ask: What has Christ freed us from? And what has He freed us for?

Perhaps you’ve experienced chains of shame, fear, or self-doubt. Maybe the “law” of perfectionism, group identity, or societal expectations has weighed you down. The Gospel declares that in Christ, you are free—not because you’ve earned it, but because God’s grace has claimed you.

But freedom in Christ is never just about us. Like the Gerasene man, we are set free to proclaim God’s love to others. Like the Galatians, we are called to live as one body, breaking down divisions and extending Christ’s welcome to all.

At St. Paul’s, we are a community of the liberated. We gather not because we have it all together, but because we have been brought together by Christ. So let us live as people who are truly free—free to love, free to serve, free to proclaim the goodness of God.

May we, like the man from Gerasa, go forth and tell “how much Jesus has done for us.” For it much. It is everything. It is all.

Amen.