Today in the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about the works of healing performed by Peter and John:
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished. (Acts 3: 1-11).
Imagine the lame man’s surprise. There he was expecting a few coins, and his health was restored. He expected little, and gained a lot. You and I can be that way as well. Sometimes we expect little from God. Sometimes we don’t know how to ask or are even afraid to ask God. Everything is possible with God. When we least expect a miracle in our lives, God, in His loving generosity, gives us an abundance of graces. Just ask, and you’ll be surprised too.
Let us pray: Loving Father, sometime in our ignorance we do not know how to ask or in our blindness we are afraid to ask. You gave us the gift of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray that perfect prayer, “Your will be done.” Send Your Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to Your graciousness and fill us with Your life and holiness making us ever more like Christ and seeking Your will every day in our lives. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.
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.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
Deborah, who is critically ill, her husband David, and their children Julie and Chris
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
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
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished. (Acts 3: 1-11).
Imagine the lame man’s surprise. There he was expecting a few coins, and his health was restored. He expected little, and gained a lot. You and I can be that way as well. Sometimes we expect little from God. Sometimes we don’t know how to ask or are even afraid to ask God. Everything is possible with God. When we least expect a miracle in our lives, God, in His loving generosity, gives us an abundance of graces. Just ask, and you’ll be surprised too.
Let us pray: Loving Father, sometime in our ignorance we do not know how to ask or in our blindness we are afraid to ask. You gave us the gift of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray that perfect prayer, “Your will be done.” Send Your Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to Your graciousness and fill us with Your life and holiness making us ever more like Christ and seeking Your will every day in our lives. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.
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.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
Deborah, who is critically ill, her husband David, and their children Julie and Chris
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
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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