Today we hear from the Gospel according to Matthew where Jesus tells us:
“Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” (Mt. 19: 23-30).
Life is a matter of priorities. Jesus knows that things can distract us from our relationship not only with God but others. If we are attached to things, there is little room for God and others. If I put my possessions above all else, then my possessions possess me. But it is not just about possessions, we can be trapped by other things as well. Am I holding on to my anger for what someone did to me so that there is no room to see the love that others have for me? Am I holding on to a grudge against someone so that there is room for little else in my life?
Today Jesus is asking us what is important to each of us. What is important to you?
Let us pray: Gracious God, Your Son, Jesus Christ is asking us to be truthful about what is important to us. May Your Holy Spirit open our hearts to Your love and the love of others, and help us to let go of those things that do not bring us closer to You. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and today especially pray for Gladys Simon, Pat Tate, Carol Freeman's brother, Terry, for the newly baptized, Phineas and Sally, their parents and God-parents, and for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital.
CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
“Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” (Mt. 19: 23-30).
Life is a matter of priorities. Jesus knows that things can distract us from our relationship not only with God but others. If we are attached to things, there is little room for God and others. If I put my possessions above all else, then my possessions possess me. But it is not just about possessions, we can be trapped by other things as well. Am I holding on to my anger for what someone did to me so that there is no room to see the love that others have for me? Am I holding on to a grudge against someone so that there is room for little else in my life?
Today Jesus is asking us what is important to each of us. What is important to you?
Let us pray: Gracious God, Your Son, Jesus Christ is asking us to be truthful about what is important to us. May Your Holy Spirit open our hearts to Your love and the love of others, and help us to let go of those things that do not bring us closer to You. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and today especially pray for Gladys Simon, Pat Tate, Carol Freeman's brother, Terry, for the newly baptized, Phineas and Sally, their parents and God-parents, and for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital.
CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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