Thursday, September 2, 2010

With Prayer and Fasting

The Daily Office is making its way through the Acts of the Apostles, and today we are in Chapter 13 where we read:

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. But the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now listen—the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he went about groping for someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. (Acts 13: 1-12).


In today’s passage notice that the Apostles do nothing without first praying, fasting and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance. They do not preach their own agenda (as does the magician and false prophet in today’s story); rather, they spend time in prayer seeking the will of God. Then, and only then, do they act.

We as a Church community are called to do the same. The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ. In order to preach the Gospel authentically, in order to live as the Body of Christ, we must seek God’s will through prayer. We must stop and listen to what God calls us to do. Sometimes this can be difficult, but it can be done. Prayer is the key. Being open to what God calls us to do, even if it may be uncomfortable at times, is what we must do, no differently than Paul and Barnabas.

Let us pray: Loving Father, open our hearts and minds to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Help us to be silent, help us to listen, help us to respond when we hear Your voice in our hearts. Give us the courage and the strength to do what You call us to do in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Sunday, 12 September 2010 after the service, we will celebrate the Rev. Helen Appelberg’s 80th birthday at Grace Episcopal Church’s Jinkins Hall after the 9:00 a.m. service at St. Augustine’s.

Sunday, 19 September 2010, Rally Day. You might be surprised to find out that you already participate in a ministry at the Church. Come and discover what is going on and what you can do.

25 September, the Opening of the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

2 October 2010, the St. Augustine Fish Fry! It’s back, and it will be done in conjunction with the Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. Tickets go on sale soon.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially those serving in the Armed Forces at home or abroad, the chronically ill, people undergoing special medical concerns, those who care for the elderly, those who are traveling, and 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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