Worrying About the Economies of Nations

In today’s Gospel reading from the Daily office, we hear how God cares for us:

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.”

He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Lk. 12:13-13).

You and I can’t control the stock market. We can’t control the rise and fall of the U.S. dollar. You and I can’t control the economies of nations. So when we worry about these things, we accomplish nothing. God has a way of taking care of things. Jesus tells us to look around, not at the economies of nations, but at the lilies of the field. They are beautiful. They thrive. In the scheme of creation, the lilies are small ordinary things, yet, God takes care of them. Won’t God take care of us? After all, you and I are made in God’s image. God sent His Son to live and die for us. Jesus tells us to put our trust in God. God will be with us and take care of us no matter what the economies of the world may do.

Let us pray: Gracious and loving Father, we put our hope and trust in you. In your infinite love, you sent Your Son to be Immanuel, God with us, in the person of Jesus Christ. When things feel out of control, when we don’t understand why things are happening, be with us, guide us and remind us of your love for each us. Amen.

JOINT OUTREACH PROJECT BETWEEN HOLY SPIRIT AND ST. AUGUSTINE
On Saturday, 6 November, the Youth Group from Holy Spirit in Houston will team up with St. Augustine to make 300 "breakfast bags" for the volunteers at the Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief at William Temple, the food pantry at St. Vincent's House, and also for the parishioners at St. Augustine of Hippo to take and deliver to those in need. We will provide the goods for the bags and Holy Spirit will provide the manpower. The “breakfast bags: will contain a water bottle, a breakfast bar, a fruit bar (or something similar) and will be sealed with a sticker with St. Augustine’s address and service time.

REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR FELLOWSHIP:
Jo and Jim have sent the sign-up sheet for our Sunday morning fellowship. Please be sure to sign up.

WE ARE OPENING UP OUR FACILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY:
The Galveston Heritage Chorale is practicing in Sutton Hall
The Boys and Girls Club

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Join us every Sunday in Bright-Davies Hall at 11:00 a.m. as we study the Gospel according to Mark.

Trick-or-Treat on Sunday, 31 October in Sutton Hall—bring the kids!

All Saints Sunday, 7 November 2010.

Art Classes begin in November.

Big Mista BBQ event benefiting the Community Garden will be Saturday, 11 December 2010.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST!

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Sts. Simon & Jude

Today the Church honors two Apostles: Simon and Jude. James Keifer writes:

On the various New Testament lists of the Twelve Apostles (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; Acts 1:13), the tenth and eleventh places are occupied by Simon the Zealot (also called Simon the “Cananean,” the Aramaic word meaning “Zealot”) and by Judas of James, also called Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus. (“Judas” in New Testament contexts corresponds to “Judah” in Old Testament ones.)

Some ancient Christian writers say that Simon and Jude went together as missionaries to Persia, and were martyred there. If this is true, it explains, to some extent, our lack of historical information on them and also why they are usually put together. …

Judas (often called Jude in English, but the Greek has Judas) is variously named, but this is not surprising. Before the Crucifixion, there would be a need to distinguish him among the apostles from Judas Iscariot, and after the Crucifixion there would be an additional reason for being emphatic about the distinction. “Thaddaeus” is possibly a variant of “Theudas,” which in turn is perhaps used as a Greek equivalent of “Judas” (with the Hebrew Name of God replaced by the Greek “theos”). …

After the Last Supper it was Jude who asked Our Lord why he chose to reveal Himself only to the disciples. He received the reply: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:22f)

The ninth name on the lists of Apostles is that of James (the son) of Alphaeus. Although most modern translations render “Judas of James” as “Judas the son of James,” there has been a tendency to understand it as “Judas the brother of James” and to assume that these two apostles were brothers. This assumption in turn leads to an identification of the two with the “brothers of the Lord” of the same name. The difficulty with this is that the brothers (at least some of them) did not believe in Jesus until after the Resurrection, and therefore could not have been part of the Twelve.

The New Testament Epistle of Jude was written by “Judas the brother of James,” which could refer to either Jude. In any case, we commemorate on this day (1) Simon the Zealot, one of the original Twelve; (2) Judas of James (also called Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus), also one of the original Twelve; and (3) Jude (or Judas) the brother of James and author of the Epistle, without settling the question of whether (2) and (3) are the same person.

The Epistle of Jude is a brief document addressed to the Church, and warns against corrupt influences that have crept in. It has some obscure and baffling references to old Jewish traditions, but it includes a memorable exhortation to “contend for the faith once delivered to the saints,” and an even more memorable closing: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding great joy, to the only wise God, or Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

Collect for the Day: O God, we thank you for the glorious company of the apostles, and especially on this day for Simon and Jude; and we pray that, as they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so we may with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR FELLOWSHIP:
Jo and Jim have sent the sign-up sheet for our Sunday morning fellowship. Please be sure to sign up.

WE ARE OPENING UP OUR FACILITIES TO THE COMMUNTIY:
The Galveston Heritage Chorale is practicing in Sutton Hall
The Boys and Girls Club

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Join us every Sunday in Bright-Davies Hall at 11:00 a.m. as we study the Gospel according to Mark.

Trick-or-Treat on Sunday, 31 October in Sutton Hall—bring the kids!

All Saints Sunday, 7 November 2010.

Art Classes begin in November.

Big Mista BBQ event benefiting the Community Garden will be Saturday, 11 December 2010.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST!

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Empowered by Christ

One of the readings from the Daily Office today is taken from the Gospel according to Luke:

The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Lk. 10: 17-24).

If we do what Jesus asks us to do, the miraculous happens. The 70 learned that in today’s passage. They were empowered by Christ to do the work of ministry and when they did it, they returned ecstatic. We can share in the experience of the 70. When we follow Christ and do what he calls us to do, you and I can do the miraculous.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you sent the 70 to do works in your name. You also send us. Empower us we pray so that we may feed to poor, bring healing to the sick, provide comfort to the sorrowful and rejoice always in your name. Amen.

FEEDING THE VOLUNTEERS AT WILLIAM TEMPLE THIS THURSDAY AT 6:00 P.M. The volunteers are working on the home of our own Mrs. Thompson. Please sign up to bring something to feed 25 volunteers. Here is the menu thus far:

12 pork chops and 3 pies: Taylors

Ham and beans: Makowski

Mac & Cheese: Mrs. Mack

Potato salad: Mrs. Pope

String beans or parsley patotoes: Carol Freeman and/or Pat Tate

Cold drinks: The Bains

CALENDAR REMINDERS

The Study of the Gospel according to Mark every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. in Bright-Davis Hall.

Lee Runion will offer an art classes beginning in November.

Please remember to pray for everyone on our Prayer List and especially for Lee, Cindi, Carol, Marilyn, Gladys, Pat, Don Soske and his family and loved ones, Shalea Callis and Patricia.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Luke

Today the Church honors and remembers St. Luke. James Kiefer writes:

Almost all that we know about Luke comes from the New Testament. He was a physician (Col 4:14), a companion of Paul on some of his missionary journeys (Acts 16:10ff; 20:5ff; 27-28). Material found in his Gospel and not elsewhere includes much of the account of Our Lord's birth and infancy and boyhood, some of the most moving parables, such as that of the Good Samaritan and that of the Prodigal Son, and three of the sayings of Christ on the Cross: "Father, forgive them," "Thou shalt be with me in Paradise," and "Father, into thy hands Icommend my spirit."

In Luke's account of the Gospel, we find an emphasis on the human love of Christ, on His compassion for sinners and for suffering and unhappy persons, for outcasts such as the Samaritans, tax collectors, lepers, shepherds (not a respected profession), and for the poor. The role of women in Christ's ministry is more emphasized in Luke than in the other Gospel writings.

In the book of Acts, we find the early Christian community poised from the start to carry out its commission, confident and aware of Divine guidance. We see how the early Christians at first preached only to Jews, then to Samaritans (a borderline case), then to outright Gentiles like Cornelius, and finally explicitly recognized that Gentiles and Jews are called on equal terms to the service and fellowship of Christ.

Luke makes many casual references throughout his writings (especially in Acts) to local customs and practices, often with demonstrable and noteworthy precision. To mention just one example, he refers to two centurions by name, Cornelius in Acts 10 and Julius in Acts 27, and he calls them both by nomen only, rather than by nomen and cognomen (Sergius Paulus in Acts 13;7) or cognomen only (Gallio in Acts 18:12), as he does when speaking of civilian officials. It is a distinction that would have been routine at the time that Luke is writing about, but one that had largely died out by, say, 70 AD. His preserving it shows either that (1) he wrote fairly close to the events he described, or (2) he was describing persons and events on which he had good information, or (3) he was an expert historical novelist, with an ear for the authentic-sounding detail.

Luke is commonly thought to be the only non-Jewish New Testament writer. His writings place the life of Christ and the development of the early Church in the larger context of the Roman Empire and society. On the other hand, his writings are focused on Jerusalem and on the Temple. His Gospel begins and ends in the Temple, and chapters nine through nineteen portray Jesus as journeying from Galilee to Jerusalem. Similarly, the Book of Acts describes the Church in Jerusalem (and worshipping in the Temple) and then describes the missionary journeys of Paul as excursions from and returns to Jerusalem.

Let us pray: Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician to declare in the Gospel the love and healing power of your Son: Graciously continue in your Church the same love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

THANK YOU TO THE GALVESTON HERITAGE CHORALE for the wonderful music for Sunday’s Eucharist. We hope to have them back again during Advent.

FEEDING THE VOLUNTEERS AT WILLIAM TEMPLE THIS THURSDAY AT 6:00 P.M. The volunteers are working on the home of our own Mrs. Thompson. Please sign up to bring something to feed 25 volunteers.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

The Study of the Gospel according to Mark every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. in Bright-Davis Hall.

Lee Runion will offer an art classes beginning in November.

Please remember to pray for everyone on our Prayer List and especially for Lee, Cindi, Carol, Marilyn, Gladys, Pat, Don Soske and his family and loved ones, Shalea Callis and Patricia.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

What Happens When Things Don't Go As Planned

In this morning’s Daily Office readings, we continue in the Acts of the Apostles, and we hear what happened after the ship wreck.

After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us round it. Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him. After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.

Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days; then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. The believers from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.

When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. (Acts 28: 1-16).

I can picture the scene as Paul and the others came on shore. The description given in the account is vivid. They are welcomed by the people of Malta. Paul lives among them and cures the ill who come for healing. After three months, Paul sets sail again with his guard for Rome, and finally, he reaches it where he is held under house arrest.

What a journey Paul had. He was imprisoned, ship wrecked and a whole host of other things. Paul certainly did not plan to be jailed or ship wrecked. Yet that happened to him. Paul pressed on in faith, putting all of his trust in God. Christ did the same thing. He knew that life could be difficult. Jesus went through life as we do, fully human, but as God with us. Jesus understands our suffering because he went through it as well.

Sometimes our lives are like that too. Sometimes life is not easy. Sometimes things do not go as we plan. How do we react when things do not go our way? Do we put our trust in God knowing that everything will work out for good in God’s time?

Let us pray: dear Lord, when times are difficult, when things do not go as we plan, be with us. You lived as one of us. You lived through difficult times and even died on a cross. Give us the sight to see that we share in your resurrection, and that no matter what life throws our way, you are with us, guiding us to life eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Sunday, 17 October 2010, the Heritage Choral Choir at the 9 a.m. service.

Adult Christian Formation: The Gospel According to Mark at 11:15 a.m. in Bright-Davies Hall.

Please remember to pray for everyone on our Prayer List and especially for Lee, Cindi, Carol, Marilyn, Gladys, Pat, Don Soske and his family and loved ones, and Shalea Callis.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Putting Yourself Out for Others

Paul’s cruise continues today:

When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms. Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, on the pretext of putting out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and set it adrift.

Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.” After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves. (We were in all two hundred and seventy-six persons in the ship.) After they had satisfied their hunger, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.

In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none might swim away and escape; but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land. (Acts 27: 27-44).

There is Paul with over 200 others shipwrecked. The sailors want to kills all of the prisoners, but the centurion does not allow them to kill Paul. One would think that he was putting himself out there, perhaps even endangering his life by trying to protect Paul. Yet the centurion does it. How many of us put ourselves out there to protect others? It’s not easy, but there are others who cannot fend for themselves, who might be at a disadvantage, and who could use our help.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Sunday, 17 October 2010, the Heritage Choral Choir at the 9 a.m. service.

Adult Christian Formation: The Gospel According to Mark at 11:15 a.m. in Bright-Davies Hall.

Please remember to pray for everyone on our Prayer List and especially for Lee, Cindi, Carol, Marilyn, Gladys, Pat, Don Soske and his family and loved ones, and Shalea Callis.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

No Smooth Sailing for Paul

In today’s reading from the Acts of Apostles, we hear about Paul’s voyage:

Since much time had been lost and sailing was now dangerous, because even the Fast had already gone by, Paul advised them, saying, “Sirs, I can see that the voyage will be with danger and much heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. Since the harbor was not suitable for spending the winter, the majority was in favor of putting to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, where they could spend the winter. It was a harbor of Crete, facing south-west and north-west.

When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore. But soon a violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete. Since the ship was caught and could not be turned with its head to the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. After hoisting it up they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea-anchor and so were driven. We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss. I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we will have to run aground on some island.” (Acts 27: 9-26).

Paul certainly went through a great deal in his preaching the Gospel—hardship after hardship. Today’s passage is an example. After his hearing before Agrippa and the local gentry, he is sent off to Rome only to encounter a disaster of a voyage. He puts his faith in God and knows that they will arrive, ultimately, safely to Rome.

How many of us when faced with adversity put all of our trust in God knowing that it will all work out for good? For my part, I know it is difficult to do and sometimes I fall short, but we must follow Paul’s example and put our trust in God who saves us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GLADYS: Yesterday was Gladys’ 92nd birthday. Join me in wishing her birthday blessings. Gladys, may God bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you, and may God bless you now and always. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Sunday, 17 October 2010, the Heritage Choral Choir at the 9 a.m. service.

Adult Christian Formation: The Gospel According to Mark at 11:15 a.m. in Bright-Davies Hall.

Please remember to pray for everyone on our Prayer List and especially for Lee, Cindi, Carol, Marilyn, Gladys, Pat, Don Soske and his family and loved ones.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

"You Are Out of Your Mind, Paul!"

In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear the reaction to Paul’s conversion story:

While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?” Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them; and as they were leaving, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.”

When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius. Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for. Putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. After we had sailed across the sea that is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on board. We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind was against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. (Acts 26:24-27:8).

The Roman, Festus, thinks that Paul is crazy. Paul was an intelligent man, as acknowledged by Festus. How could Paul believe such things? Paul understood that his encounter with the Risen Jesus changed his life forever. He was not the same person that he was before. He went from an angry persecutor of the Christians to become a firm believer and an evangelizer filed with joy even as he was being led away in chains to Rome.

Sometime you and I encounter what Paul encountered, a cynical world that asks Christians today, “How can you follow Jesus?” Like Paul, you and I have been in some way been changed by an encounter with Christ. Some more than others, but each of us is on the journey with Christ walking beside us and sometimes carrying us when we cannot walk on our own.

THANK YOU TO LEE RUNION for his wonderful work with the Second Annual Art Show. In November, Lee will begin an art class and in the months following, Sherry Riverra, a clay clay artist and first place winner at the Art Show will be teachign a class.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Sunday, 17 October 2010, the Heritage Choral Choir at the 9 a.m. service.

Adult Christian Formation: The Gospel According to Mark at 11:15 a.m. in Bright-Davies Hall.

Please remember to pray for everyone on our Prayer List and especially for Lee, Cindi, Carol, Marilyn, Gladys, Pat, Don Soske and his family and loved ones.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

With Boldness

In today’s reading in the Daily Office from the Acts of the Apostles, we read about Paul’s hearing before Agrippa. By way of background, you will recall that Paul was not receiving justice at the hands of the Roman governors, so as a Roman citizen he appealed to Caesar Nero to defend himself.

In Acts 25 we read that Agrippa and his sister Bernice came to pay the new governor, Festus, on a visit in Caesarea. While they were there, Festus consulted with Agrippa as to what he should write on the charge sheet to be sent to Rome with Paul. When Agrippa heard that Paul was there, he requested that Paul be brought before him to make his case:

Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently.”

“All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, your Excellency, that I am accused by Jews! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?”

“Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death. By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.”

“With this in mind, I was travelling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, when at midday along the road, your Excellency, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew* language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.’ I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord answered, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”

“After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:1-23).

Agrippa was the great-grandson of Herod the Great, who you may recall tried to kill the new born Jesus when he ordered all of the male children under the age of 2 to be killed. Agrippa’s father was Agrippa I, who beheaded the apostle James and arrested Peter.

What an audience for Paul: king, queen, governor, the leading citizens of the city and leading Roman officials. Paul enters in chains. He begins his defense. There is no fear in his voice, only confidence in Christ. He tells his story of conversion, of the impact Jesus had on his life, in detail and without hesitation. He does not mince words; Paul tells it as it occurred, how he was the strictest of Pharisees who persecuted the Christians, and how Jesus transformed his life. Now, he proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, traveling across the Roman Empire establishing communities of faith.

How many of us proclaim our faith in Jesus with the boldness of Paul in front of Agrippa? How many of us defend our faith without hesitation of concern for what it might cost us personally?

Let us pray: good Lord, help us to be as faithful as Paul in proclaiming our faith in you. May we be faithful followers always ready to proclaim with boldness our love of you. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Sunday, 17 October 2010, the Heritage Choral Choir at the 9 a.m. service.

Adult Christian Formation: The Gospel According to Mark at 11:15 a.m. in Bright-Davies Hall.

Please remember to pray for everyone on our Prayer List and especially for Lee, Cindi, Carol, Marilyn, Gladys and Pat.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Bribes and Buying Favor

Today we hear how politics impacts Paul:

Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.

After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him and requested, as a favor to them against Paul, to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly. “So”, he said, “let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.”

After he had stayed among them for not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove. Paul said in his defense, “I have in no way committed an offence against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against the emperor.” But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?” Paul said, “I am appealing to the emperor’s tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.” Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, “You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go.” (Acts 24:24-25:12).

Political favors, desires for bribes—that’s Felix’s plan. Then the next government official comes in, Porcius Festus, and he wants to get in good with the people, and he leaves Paul in prison. Then Festus comes in, and Paul appeals to the emperor, so Festus sends Paul off to the emperor. Yet in the midst of this, Paul remains faithful, even though he cannot get justice.

Sometimes it is difficult to get justice. You don’t have to look far. All you have to do is listen to the news—unlawful foreclosures, people unjustly convicted, and more. We can see this happening even around the Island. Sometimes the system that is supposed to provide us with justice fails. What are we to do? The first thing we need to do it to pray. Prayer in the midst of dealing with injustice is essential.

Let us pray: Lord God give us strength to deal with the injustice that we witness or may even face personally. Help us to right the wrongs that we encounter. Send your Holy Spirit to be our constant companion, this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Saturday, 9 October at 10 a.m. the Blessing of the Animals on the Church lawn.

Second Sunday Contemporary Music with Carlos Williams at 8 a.m.

The Second Annual Art Show continues.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Gladys, Pat, Lee, Carol, Cindi and Seth.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

How Do We See God?

Today in the Daily Office readings, we pick up where we left off yesterday. Paul comes before Felix, and the accusations fly:

Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor. When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. We welcome this in every way and everywhere with utmost gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.”

The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.

When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied:

“I cheerfully make my defense, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation. As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city. Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets. I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience towards God and all people. Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation and to offer sacrifices. While I was doing this, they found me in the temple, completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance. But there were some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me. Or let these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council, unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, ‘It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody, but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs. (Acts 24: 1-23).

In today’s USA Today, the front page article is “How America Sees God”. It discusses a new book done by some scholars at Baylor. Their survey says that 9 out of 10 Americans believe in God, but what kind of God is it? The scholars gave their subjects 4 choices for a view of God: authoritative, benevolent, critical or distant. What kind of God did Paul believe in? I don’t think he restricted himself to the 4 choices set out in USA Today. You can tell from today’s selection from Acts that Paul believed in a God who could do what we consider impossible. He believed in a God who could bring about the resurrection, a God who is not limited by our limited understanding. Paul believed in a God who is best described in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the perfect expression of who God is. That is the God that Paul believed in, a belief shared by a great many, including me.

Let us pray: Lord God, we Your human sons and daughters are ever in awe of You, a God who makes the impossible a reality, a God who so loves us that You sent Your only begotten Son to reconcile us to You. We praise You and offer You thanks. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Saturday, 9 October 2010 at 10:00 a.m., the Blessing of the Animals on the Church lawn.

The Second Annual Art Show continues this weekend.

Carlos Williams and his group will begin this Sunday as our Second Sunday musicians. Tell your friends.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, and especially Gladys, Pat, Lee, Cindi, Seth and Carol.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Paul the Roman Citizen

In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul is sent to Felix the governor:

Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Get ready to leave by nine o’clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Felix the governor.” He wrote a letter to this effect:

“Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with the guard and rescued him. Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council. I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris. The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s headquarters. (Acts 23:23-35).

Paul caused quite a stir as we can see from today’s reading. Although Paul was a circumcised Jew, and a Pharisee, he was born in the city of Tarsus. See Acts 22:27, 28. A hundred years before, the Roman politician Anthony had conferred Roman citizenship upon all the inhabitants of Tarsus, and this was later attested to by Emperor Caesar Augustus. See Acts 21:39; 22:3. As a result, Paul was entitled to certain rights, one of which was a hearing before a Roman official. As the story unfolds, we will see what that gets him. You mat recall that Jesus, although not a Roman citizen, was brought before Pontius Pilate.

Sometimes civil officials get things wrong, even quite wrong. That was true in Jesus’ day and in Paul’s day as well. It is true in our day. No doubt, being a civil official charged with the responsibility of governing is no easy task. Sometimes civil officials look out for their own interests and not those of the citizenry. We should keep in our prayers all civil officials so that they may discharge their duties faithfully always keeping in mind that they are the servants of the people.

Let us pray: Lord God and King, open the hearts and minds of all civil officials to do what is best for those that they serve. Make them ever mindful that they are called not for their own gain, but to govern with justice. Guide their decisions for the welfare and right governance of all Your people. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever more. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Saturday, 9 October at 10:00 a.m.: the Blessing of the Animals on the Church lawn. Pets of all sizes and varieties are welcome.

The Second Annual Art Show continues this weekend.

Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially, Gladys, Pat, Lee, Cindi, Seth and Peggy.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Many Times Fear Is At the Root of Violence

The Daily Office continues its trek through the Acts of the Apostles, and today we see where Paul, once the hunter, becomes the hunted:

In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who joined in this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food until we have killed Paul. Now then, you and the council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you, on the pretext that you want to make a more thorough examination of his case. And we are ready to do away with him before he arrives.”

Now the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush; so he went and gained entrance to the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to report to him.” So he took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, ‘The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you; he has something to tell you.” The tribune took him by the hand, drew him aside privately, and asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?” He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more thoroughly into his case. But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill him. They are ready now and are waiting for your consent.” So the tribune dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of this.”

Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Get ready to leave by nine o’clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Felix, the governor.” (Acts 23:12-24).

Remember when we began our journey through Acts, we read how Paul, then called Saul, hunted the Christians. He was even present when the first deacon, Stephen, was stoned to death. Now the tables have turned and the Jewish people are after Paul. Today we hear how they vowed not to eat or drink until they had killed him. I am struck by their vehemence, their shear hatred of Paul. Many times such emotions have their roots in fear. Many times when people are afraid, they act out in violence. Here the people were afraid that Paul’s actions would eradicate their way of life, what they believed in. No doubt today we witness, from time to time, the same type of behavior. We have to be on guard. We cannot let fear get the best of us. Fear is one of the strongest tools in Satan’s bag.

Let us pray: Lord Christ, when we fear the unknown, when we fear others, bring your peace into our hearts that we may discern the best course of action. Help us to put our trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us to do the Father’s will. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

9 October 2010 at 10:00 a.m.: The Blessing of the Animals on the Church lawn. Bring your dogs, cats, pets of all kind to be blessed.

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. I would ask everyone to pray especially for Gladys, Pat’s mother, who is in the hospital, as well as Lee, Cindi and Carol.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Francis

Today, the Church remembers and honors one of the most well known saints, Francis of Assisi, who was born to a wealthy merchant family in 1182. Francis spent his early years living it up; one might even say that he was a playboy.

James Kiefer tells us that:

an experience of sickness and another of military service were instrumental in leading him to reflect on the purpose of life. One day, in the church of San Damiano, he seemed to hear Christ saying to him, "Francis, repair my falling house." He took the words literally, and sold a bale of silk from his father's warehouse to pay for repairs to the church of San Damiano. His father was outraged, and there was a public confrontation at which his father disinherited and disowned him, and he in turn renounced his father's wealth--one account says that he not only handed his father his purse, but also took off his expensive clothes, laid them at his father's feet, and walked away naked. He declared himself "wedded to Lady Poverty", renounced all material possessions, and devoted himself to serving the poor. In his day the most dreaded of all diseases was something known as leprosy. Lepers were kept at a distance and regarded with fear and disgust. Francis cared for them, fed them, bathed their sores, and kissed them. Since he could not pay for repairs to the Church of San Damiano, he undertook to repair it by his own labors. He moved in with the priest, and begged stones lying useless in fields, shaping them for use in repairing the church. He got his meals, not by asking for money so that he might live at the expense of others, but by scrounging crusts and discarded vegetable from trash-bins, and by working as a day laborer, insisting on being paid in bread, milk, eggs, or vegetables rather than in money. Soon a few companions joined him.

After three years, in 1210, the Pope authorized the forming of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly called the Franciscans. ("Friar" means "brother," as in "fraternity", and "minor" means "lesser" or "younger." I take the meaning to be that a Franciscan, meeting another Christian, is to think, "I am your brother in Christ, and your younger brother at that, bound to defer to you and to give you precedence over myself."

Francis and his companions took literally the words of Christ when he sent his disciples out to preach (Matthew 10:7-10): “Preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ ... You have received the Gospel without payment, give it to others as freely. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, no spare garment, nor sandals, nor staff.”

They would have no money, and no property, individually or collectively. Their task was to preach, "using words if necessary," but declaring by word and action the love of God in Christ. Francis was partial to a touch of the dramatic (see his parting from his father, for example), and it was probably he who set up the first Christmas manger scene, to bring home the Good News of God made man for our salvation, home to men's hearts and imaginations as well as to their intellects.

In 1219, Francis went to the Holy Land to preach to the Moslems. He was given a pass through the enemy lines, and spoke to the Sultan, Melek-al-Kamil. Francis proclaimed the Gospel to the Sultan, who replied that he had his own beliefs, and that Moslems were as firmly convinced of the truth of Islam as Francis was of the truth of Christianity. Francis proposed that a fire be built, and that he and a Moslem volunteer would walk side by side into the fire to show whose faith was stronger. The Sultan said he was not sure that a Moslem volunteer could be found. Francis then offered to walk into the fire alone. The Sultan who was deeply impressed but remained unconverted. Francis proposed an armistice between the two warring sides, and drew up terms for one; the Sultan agreed, but, to Francis's deep disappointment, the Christian leaders would not. Francis returned to Italy, but a permanent result was that the Franciscans were given custody of the Christian shrines then in Moslem hands.

Back in Italy and neighboring countries, the Order was suffering from its own success. Then, as now, many persons were deeply attracted by Francis and his air of joy, abandonment, and freedom. What is overlooked is that these were made possible only by his willingness to accept total poverty, not picturesque poverty but real dirt, rags, cold, and hunger, and lepers with real pus oozing from their sores and a real danger of infection. Many idealistic young men were joining the Order in a burst of enthusiasm and then finding themselves not so sure that such extremes of poverty were really necessary. When there were only a few friars, they were all known to Francis personally, and the force of his personality kept the original ideals of the Order alive in them. Now that the Order was larger, this was no longer enough. In 1220 Francis resigned as minister-general of the Order, and in 1221 he agreed to a new and modified rule, which he did not approve, but could not resist.

Francis died on this day in 1226.

Let us pray: Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace gladly to renounce the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfect joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THE FISH FRY A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS! Saturday was a wonderful day. We opened our doors to the community who enjoyed, in truth, the best fried cat fish in Texas. Everyone did their part to make this an event to remember.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

9 October 2010 at 10:00 a.m.: The Blessing of the Animals on the Church lawn. Bring your dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, pot belly pigs and pets of all kind to be blessed.

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

Cleanse Our Hearts with Your Steadfast Love and Give Us the Joy of Your Salvation

The Daily Office is making its way through the Acts of the Apostles, and in today’s selection we discover that Paul was an educated man who was able to speak not only Hebrew but Greek as well. Today he tells the crowd read about his conversion:

Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” The tribune replied, “Do you know Greek? Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.” When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence; and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.” When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then he said:

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.”

“While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Then he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. I asked, ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.’ Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.”

“A certain Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews living there, came to me; and standing beside me, he said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear his own voice; for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’” (Acts 21:37-22:16).

Paul had done many things in his quest to stop the Way, the Christian movement. By his own admission, he was responsible for placing men and women in prison to be punished, and sending people to their deaths all because they were followers of Christ. Paul’s actions were very serious and caused harm to many people. He separated families and friends and brought destruction to people’s lives. Nevertheless, Paul is forgiven by Jesus and is given a new name and new birth. The former Saul becomes Paul, and the very movement that he persecuted with zeal has accepted him into their midst and cared for him. And so, Paul begins a new life. No doubt Paul continued to fall from time to time, but he never returned to his old ways.

There is a little Paul in each of us. Everyone one of us has fallen short of what God calls us to do. In a word, we have all sinned. I doubt that we went to the lengths that Paul did by imprisoning people and having them put to death, but we have done our share to hurt ourselves and others. But Jesus stands there ever ready to forgive us and to embrace us with his loving arms, arms that were stretched out on a cross, and Christ gives us new life.

Let us pray: Lord Christ, sometimes, like Paul, we cause pain and suffering to those around us. We know that we from time to time we fall short of Your will for us. Forgive us, we pray, cleanse our hearts with Your steadfast love and give us the joy of Your salvation. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

2 October 2010, the St. Augustine Fish Fry. The big day is here! Come join us for good food and fellowship. Tickets are $7 per plate.

9 October 2010 at 10:00 a.m.: The Blessing of the Animals on the Church lawn. Bring your dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, pot belly pigs and pets of all kind to be blessed.

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