Today’s Epistles reading is a continuation of Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Paul writes:
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rm. 12: 9-21).
“But Paul, some people just rub me the wrong way. I mean they can get on my nerves. Certain people are just hard to love. Do I have to love them?” Aren’t there times when you feel that way?
Paul tells us that we must “love one another with mutual affection”; he does not say that we have to “like” one another. There is a difference. The word “like” means “to be pleased with; have a preference for; enjoy.” Webster’s Dictionary at 434 (1964). So, I like ice cream. I have a preference for it; I enjoy it. “Like” can also mean “having exactly the same characteristics.” Id. For example, they are like minded, meaning they think in the same way. They agree.
Love, however, is much different. It is not an emotion. It is not a warm and fuzzy feeling. It is a matter of our will. Love desires the good of the other person. We want what is best for the beloved, and if necessary we are willing to sacrifice ourselves for the other person. The word in Greek is αγάπη (agape). The best example we have of love is in Jesus who gave his life for us on the cross. Jesus’ love is selfless, altruistic, and unconditional.
With this in mind, Paul goes on to tell us how to love one another, even those who may, from time to time, get on our nerves, and even those people we don’t like. If someone persecutes us, we bless them. We weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. We are not to be stuck-up; instead, we are to associate with everyone. If someone hurts us, we don’t retaliate. We work to bring about good for others by feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty. Love is hard work, but it is what God calls us to do, even with those we don’t like.
Let us pray: Loving Father, through the life, death and resurrection of Your Son Jesus, You taught us how to love one another. Send Your Holy Spirit to soften our hearts and to open our minds to love everyone, even those we may not like and those who get on our nerves from time to time. Make us ever mindful of the needs of others and to respond to those around us as Jesus would have us respond. Amen.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED TO FEED THE VOLUNTEERS AT William Temple LAST NIGHT! As usual, the food was wonderful and the volunteers were very appreciative. Our reputation for putting on the best meals for the volunteers remains intact.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Adult Christian Formation: Join in the series on heaven and hell, Angels with Harps or Demons with Pitchforks, Or Something Else, on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. in the nave.
UBE Youth at St. Augustine from 31 July to 1 August: The Youth will stay with us at St. Augustine to learn their history and the place of this Church in the Diocese of Texas, and to use our facilities as a base of operations as they do mission work at St. Vincent's House. Corlie Jackson has asked us to feed our visitors on Sunday morning. She does not have an exact number yet, but she also said that the UBE would pay for the food.
Kitchen Shower: First weekend in August.
If you are able, please help Valerie Boyer to realize her study trip to Cambridge. The deadline is this Friday.
The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
Russ Viska who had a double bypass
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue continues to recover from brain surgery
Roylene Lemons’ continued recovery from cancer surgery
Baby Hayden and for his mother, Clarrissa Blevins
Tammie Taylor’s continued recovery
Gladys Simon
Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Leslie Runion
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rm. 12: 9-21).
“But Paul, some people just rub me the wrong way. I mean they can get on my nerves. Certain people are just hard to love. Do I have to love them?” Aren’t there times when you feel that way?
Paul tells us that we must “love one another with mutual affection”; he does not say that we have to “like” one another. There is a difference. The word “like” means “to be pleased with; have a preference for; enjoy.” Webster’s Dictionary at 434 (1964). So, I like ice cream. I have a preference for it; I enjoy it. “Like” can also mean “having exactly the same characteristics.” Id. For example, they are like minded, meaning they think in the same way. They agree.
Love, however, is much different. It is not an emotion. It is not a warm and fuzzy feeling. It is a matter of our will. Love desires the good of the other person. We want what is best for the beloved, and if necessary we are willing to sacrifice ourselves for the other person. The word in Greek is αγάπη (agape). The best example we have of love is in Jesus who gave his life for us on the cross. Jesus’ love is selfless, altruistic, and unconditional.
With this in mind, Paul goes on to tell us how to love one another, even those who may, from time to time, get on our nerves, and even those people we don’t like. If someone persecutes us, we bless them. We weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. We are not to be stuck-up; instead, we are to associate with everyone. If someone hurts us, we don’t retaliate. We work to bring about good for others by feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty. Love is hard work, but it is what God calls us to do, even with those we don’t like.
Let us pray: Loving Father, through the life, death and resurrection of Your Son Jesus, You taught us how to love one another. Send Your Holy Spirit to soften our hearts and to open our minds to love everyone, even those we may not like and those who get on our nerves from time to time. Make us ever mindful of the needs of others and to respond to those around us as Jesus would have us respond. Amen.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED TO FEED THE VOLUNTEERS AT William Temple LAST NIGHT! As usual, the food was wonderful and the volunteers were very appreciative. Our reputation for putting on the best meals for the volunteers remains intact.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Adult Christian Formation: Join in the series on heaven and hell, Angels with Harps or Demons with Pitchforks, Or Something Else, on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. in the nave.
UBE Youth at St. Augustine from 31 July to 1 August: The Youth will stay with us at St. Augustine to learn their history and the place of this Church in the Diocese of Texas, and to use our facilities as a base of operations as they do mission work at St. Vincent's House. Corlie Jackson has asked us to feed our visitors on Sunday morning. She does not have an exact number yet, but she also said that the UBE would pay for the food.
Kitchen Shower: First weekend in August.
If you are able, please help Valerie Boyer to realize her study trip to Cambridge. The deadline is this Friday.
The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
Russ Viska who had a double bypass
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue continues to recover from brain surgery
Roylene Lemons’ continued recovery from cancer surgery
Baby Hayden and for his mother, Clarrissa Blevins
Tammie Taylor’s continued recovery
Gladys Simon
Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Leslie Runion
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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