Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles picks up where we left off yesterday. Peter and John just healed the lame man and now the crowds are gathering:
When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out from the people.’ And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3: 12-26).
Peter knows and acknowledges that the lame man was healed through the power of Jesus Christ, the very person that the leaders of Israel rejected. The lame man was healed to make known God’s salvation in Jesus Christ, who brings everyone into right relationship not only with God, but with our neighbors. God’s love restores health and wholeness. That is the message that Peter preaches to those who witnessed the healing of the lame man. Peter uses the healing as an invitation to those who witnessed it to put their faith in Jesus.
Let us pray: Healing Father, You restored us to life in the life, death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May Your Holy Spirit sanctify us and open our hearts and minds to see the healing work done in our lives by Your Son who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. 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:
In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
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
When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out from the people.’ And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3: 12-26).
Peter knows and acknowledges that the lame man was healed through the power of Jesus Christ, the very person that the leaders of Israel rejected. The lame man was healed to make known God’s salvation in Jesus Christ, who brings everyone into right relationship not only with God, but with our neighbors. God’s love restores health and wholeness. That is the message that Peter preaches to those who witnessed the healing of the lame man. Peter uses the healing as an invitation to those who witnessed it to put their faith in Jesus.
Let us pray: Healing Father, You restored us to life in the life, death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May Your Holy Spirit sanctify us and open our hearts and minds to see the healing work done in our lives by Your Son who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. 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:
In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
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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