In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about Peter and John going to Samaria, and the laying on of hands:
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.” Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”
Now after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans. (Acts 8: 14-25).
Simon the Magician, whom we heard about yesterday, saw what power flowed from the laying on of hands, but he did not understand what the gift of the Holy Spirit it really meant. Simon offers Peter and John money for the power of the Holy Spirit. He wants to buy it, but God’s grace cannot be purchased. God’s love and mercy cannot be bought. It is a gift freely given. Simon failed to understand that.
There is a word which derives from Simon the Magician and this passage in Acts, “simony”. “Simony” is the making of profit out of sacred things, and the buying or selling of the sacraments. This was an issue which helped spark the Reformation (in the 1500s) when, with the blessing of Julius II and then Leo X, the Bishops of Rome (the Popes), the Roman Catholic Church sold “indulgences” which were a full or partial remission of temporal punishment (time in purgatory) due for sins which had already been forgiven in the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). People would line up to buy an indulgence, a get out of purgatory free card. The purchaser would receive a document, no doubt suitable for framing, and he would be free from any punishment because of sin.
The money from the sale of indulgences was used for a building project, the Papal Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome. The Reformers, Martin Luther of Germany in particular, saw the error in this and were very vocal against this practice. The Reformers, like the Apostles in Acts, knew that God’s grace is a gift freely given. The Reformers preached that those who were vested by the Church to confer blessing, namely priests and bishops, and who sell God’s free gifts were acting contrary to God’s infinite generosity.
Let us pray: Almighty God and Father, your gave us the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ who preached the forgiveness of sins and told the world of Your great love. You also gave us the Holy Spirit to be our constant companion and guide. Let us be ever thankful of the gifts You have freely bestowed on us and may we share Your gifts with others, not looking for return. 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. Please join us for Rally Day.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show beginning 25 September.
Please remember everyone on our prayer list, and especially Roylene Lemons, Cindi Clack, Liam Moloney, 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
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.” Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”
Now after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans. (Acts 8: 14-25).
Simon the Magician, whom we heard about yesterday, saw what power flowed from the laying on of hands, but he did not understand what the gift of the Holy Spirit it really meant. Simon offers Peter and John money for the power of the Holy Spirit. He wants to buy it, but God’s grace cannot be purchased. God’s love and mercy cannot be bought. It is a gift freely given. Simon failed to understand that.
There is a word which derives from Simon the Magician and this passage in Acts, “simony”. “Simony” is the making of profit out of sacred things, and the buying or selling of the sacraments. This was an issue which helped spark the Reformation (in the 1500s) when, with the blessing of Julius II and then Leo X, the Bishops of Rome (the Popes), the Roman Catholic Church sold “indulgences” which were a full or partial remission of temporal punishment (time in purgatory) due for sins which had already been forgiven in the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). People would line up to buy an indulgence, a get out of purgatory free card. The purchaser would receive a document, no doubt suitable for framing, and he would be free from any punishment because of sin.
The money from the sale of indulgences was used for a building project, the Papal Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome. The Reformers, Martin Luther of Germany in particular, saw the error in this and were very vocal against this practice. The Reformers, like the Apostles in Acts, knew that God’s grace is a gift freely given. The Reformers preached that those who were vested by the Church to confer blessing, namely priests and bishops, and who sell God’s free gifts were acting contrary to God’s infinite generosity.
Let us pray: Almighty God and Father, your gave us the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ who preached the forgiveness of sins and told the world of Your great love. You also gave us the Holy Spirit to be our constant companion and guide. Let us be ever thankful of the gifts You have freely bestowed on us and may we share Your gifts with others, not looking for return. 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. Please join us for Rally Day.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show beginning 25 September.
Please remember everyone on our prayer list, and especially Roylene Lemons, Cindi Clack, Liam Moloney, 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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