Today’s daily reading continues in Chapter 8 of the Act of the Apostles, and we hear about Saul, who was there when they killed Stephen and his approval of the crowd’s actions:
And Saul approved of their killing him.
That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.
Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.
Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place. (Acts 8:1-13).
As so the persecution against the Christians began led by Saul of Tarsus. He went into people’s homes, rounded up the Christians and threw them into prison. But the Apostles did not hide; they went on proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and doing His works. The Apostles went to Samaria, a region inhabited by mixed remnants of the northern tribes who worshiped God. Those who encountered the Apostles also had an encounter with Christ. Jesus touched their lives using the Apostles as His hands and feet and serving as witnesses to Christ's life, death and resurrection. The people they met were transformed by the love of Jesus.
How are our lives transformed by encountering the Risen Christ? Are you and I instruments of Christ’s transforming love? Where have we fallen short of being true witnesses to the power of the Resurrection in our lives? Have we opened our hearts to God's Grace in our lives?
Let us pray: Loving Father, open our hearts to receive the love that Jesus offers to us, and transform our lives by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that we are formed into instruments of Jesus’ love. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
St. Augustine Weekend:
Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m. dinner celebrating the new facilities and in honor of St. Augustine’s Feast Day. (We ordered a new “Episcopal Church Welcomes You” sign. Hopefully, it will arrive before the 28th.)
Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Eucharist Rite II celebrating our patron saint, St. Augustine of Hippo.
Rally Day: Sunday 12 September 2010: Rally Day is a Sunday set aside, usually at the end of summer, where members of the Church are invited to join ministries within the Church, for example, Altar Guild, Fellowship, Education, Lectors, etc.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show beginning 25 September.
Please remember everyone on our prayer list, and especially Roylene Lemons, Cindi Clack, all of those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad and most especially those from St. Augustine, for those who are traveling, for the ill, and for those who have no one to pray for them.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
And Saul approved of their killing him.
That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.
Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.
Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place. (Acts 8:1-13).
As so the persecution against the Christians began led by Saul of Tarsus. He went into people’s homes, rounded up the Christians and threw them into prison. But the Apostles did not hide; they went on proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and doing His works. The Apostles went to Samaria, a region inhabited by mixed remnants of the northern tribes who worshiped God. Those who encountered the Apostles also had an encounter with Christ. Jesus touched their lives using the Apostles as His hands and feet and serving as witnesses to Christ's life, death and resurrection. The people they met were transformed by the love of Jesus.
How are our lives transformed by encountering the Risen Christ? Are you and I instruments of Christ’s transforming love? Where have we fallen short of being true witnesses to the power of the Resurrection in our lives? Have we opened our hearts to God's Grace in our lives?
Let us pray: Loving Father, open our hearts to receive the love that Jesus offers to us, and transform our lives by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that we are formed into instruments of Jesus’ love. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
St. Augustine Weekend:
Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m. dinner celebrating the new facilities and in honor of St. Augustine’s Feast Day. (We ordered a new “Episcopal Church Welcomes You” sign. Hopefully, it will arrive before the 28th.)
Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Eucharist Rite II celebrating our patron saint, St. Augustine of Hippo.
Rally Day: Sunday 12 September 2010: Rally Day is a Sunday set aside, usually at the end of summer, where members of the Church are invited to join ministries within the Church, for example, Altar Guild, Fellowship, Education, Lectors, etc.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show beginning 25 September.
Please remember everyone on our prayer list, and especially Roylene Lemons, Cindi Clack, all of those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad and most especially those from St. Augustine, for those who are traveling, for the ill, and for those who have no one to pray for them.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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