In the Gospel reading for this Wednesday in the fourth week of Advent, we hear from Luke who tells us about Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth. The women play a key role in Luke’s Gospel as we see here:
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’
And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home. (Lk 1:39-56).
Mary’s song of praise, which we call “The Magnificat,” tells us that the coming of Jesus heralds a new way. It will not be business as usual. There will be a change, a turning around 180 degrees, in Greek “a metanoia.” Emmanuel, God with us, is coming to turn things upside down. He is coming to scatter the proud in the thoughts of their hearts, to bring down the powerful from their thrones, to lift up the lowly, to fill the hungry with good things and to send the rich away empty. The day is at its darkest hour, but a new day is dawning.
Let us pray: Come Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to your people who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to the joy of your kingdom, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’
And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home. (Lk 1:39-56).
Mary’s song of praise, which we call “The Magnificat,” tells us that the coming of Jesus heralds a new way. It will not be business as usual. There will be a change, a turning around 180 degrees, in Greek “a metanoia.” Emmanuel, God with us, is coming to turn things upside down. He is coming to scatter the proud in the thoughts of their hearts, to bring down the powerful from their thrones, to lift up the lowly, to fill the hungry with good things and to send the rich away empty. The day is at its darkest hour, but a new day is dawning.
Let us pray: Come Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to your people who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to the joy of your kingdom, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
Tammie Taylor has the following Christmas Flower offerings. If yours is not on the list, please let Tammie know at galvestontam@aol.com:
In honor of Carol Hogan from Joe Lombard
In honor of their family, especially Chase, Brayden, Daria and Van from Bill and Tammie Taylor
In memory George Derrick and in honor of Nellie Derrick from Tom and Jillian Bain
In honor of The Rev. Chester and Mary Makowski from Tom and Jillian Bain
In memory of my parents and my sisters from Earlie Evans
In memory of Lester and Alberta Bain from Tom and Jillian Bain
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Christmas Eve Eucharist Rite II at 5:00 p.m. on 24 December.
Feeding of the volunteers at William Temple: St. Augustine will feed about 30 volunteers on the week that the workers will be helping us with the Community Garden. This will take place the first week of January. I will obtain the final details from the Diocese of Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief coordinators.
16 January 2010: the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Dr. Katherine Jefferts Schori, and the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle will be at St. Augustine.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Cindi, Carol, Lee, John, Bob, Peggy Moore Elliott and the family of the Rev. Janet Gilmore.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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