I didn’t like Galatians at first. By that crack, I probably mean both the community and the letter penned by the apostle which largely criticizes it. But these days, I’ve come to terms with the more antagonistic pieces of my nature, and long years of experience in faith communities. Today I see the letter may well have no equal in terms of its value to modern parishes. As I was researching some prayers for a few upcoming meetings this week, I found this one I assembled from Saint Paul’s conclusion to his letter. I used it for a parish staff gathering about six years ago. Make of it what you will:
Praying with Saint Paul and the Galatians
Music: refrain of the “Song of the Body of Christ”
Reflection on Galatians 5:22-23, 26, 6:2-5, 9-10
Guide us today, O God, and bless us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Guide us today, O God, and bless us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Guide us today, O God, and bless us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another. Let us bear one another’s burdens, and so we fulfill the law of Christ.
Guide us today, O God, and bless us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
For if any of us think we are something when we are nothing, we are deluding ourselves.
Guide us today, O God, and bless us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Each one of us must examine our own work, and then we will have reason to boast, and not with regard to someone else; for each of us will bear our own load.
Guide us today, O God, and bless us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.
Guide us today, O God, and bless us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, but especially to those who belong to the family of the faith.
Guide us today, O God, and bless us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
Guide us today, O God, and bless us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Questions for reflection and sharing:
Which of the fruits do I have in good measure?
Which is the fruit I need most today in my life?
Which is the fruit our staff and/or our faith community most needs?
What is my greatest hope for today for our staff and/or my faith community?
Intercessions
Lord’s Prayer
Greeting of Peace
Catholic Sensibility 
Going meta here, I will offer my assessment of the inclusion of the letters of St Paul in the New Testament: they illustrate/model how a shepherd guides flocks with different characteristics.