In today’s account from the Acts of the Apostles, we read the story of the authorities’ continuing attempts to squelch the Christians:
Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.
When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. (Acts 5: 12-26).
Peter and the Apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit, so much so that even being in Peter’s shadow restores the sick to health. In the face of these good works, the authorities throw Peter and his companions in prison. However, the authorities’ fear and jealousy cannot keep the Good News locked up.
Are you and I so filled with the Holy Spirit that the Good News of Jesus Christ flows freely in what we say and what we do? What is the prison in our lives that tries to keep the Good News locked up? Let us pray for an angel of the Lord, God’s messenger, to open the jail cells of our hearts and minds so that we may be like Peter and his companions telling everyone we meet about what Jesus has done for all of humanity.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
Please let Pat Tate, Alicia Gaskin or myself know if you or others are coming so that we can get an accurate head count.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September and lasting into October. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling
Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.
When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. (Acts 5: 12-26).
Peter and the Apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit, so much so that even being in Peter’s shadow restores the sick to health. In the face of these good works, the authorities throw Peter and his companions in prison. However, the authorities’ fear and jealousy cannot keep the Good News locked up.
Are you and I so filled with the Holy Spirit that the Good News of Jesus Christ flows freely in what we say and what we do? What is the prison in our lives that tries to keep the Good News locked up? Let us pray for an angel of the Lord, God’s messenger, to open the jail cells of our hearts and minds so that we may be like Peter and his companions telling everyone we meet about what Jesus has done for all of humanity.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
Please let Pat Tate, Alicia Gaskin or myself know if you or others are coming so that we can get an accurate head count.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September and lasting into October. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling
Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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