Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Faith Is a Matter of Trust

In today’s Epistle reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, we hear about the strength of faith:

By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger; for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. (Heb. 11: 23-31).

Faith is a matter of trust. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews gives us examples of Old Testament figures who put their trust in God especially during difficult times.

For some of us, trust is not easy. Some may find it difficult to trust in God because someone close to us may have betrayed our trust in the past. God, however, keeps his promises. God does not betray our trust. The people in today's reading knew that God was ever present in their lives. Let us like Moses’ parents, Moses, the people of Israel as they passed through the Red Sea, Rehab and so many others who remain nameless, put our trust in God and live by faith.

Let us pray: O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to You, we shall see Your hand, Your purpose, Your will through all things. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

6 January 2011 at 6 p.m.: We will feed about 30 volunteers who are working with The Episcopal Diocese of Texas Relief and Development. Please let me know what you will be bringing to this event. We have a reputation to keep up; thus far, St. Augustine’s is everyone’s favorite for food. Here is the menu thus far:

Chicken: Church
Green Salad: Pat Tate
Baked beans: Peggy Tuthill
Vegetable: Mary Makowski

9 January 2011: The Baptism of the Lord. We will also celebrate the Epiphany with King Cake that Sunday provided by Rose Daniels. The Annual Parish meeting will also be held with an election for 2 Bishop’s Committee persons and a delegate to send to the 162nd Diocesan Council. Rehearsal for the Presiding Bishop’s historic visit to St. Augustine will take place after the Annual Parish Meeting.

16 January 2011: the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and Bishop Doyle will visit St. Augustine. We will have two clean-up days prior to her arrival. We will also have a rehearsal on Sunday, 9 January 2011 after the Annual Meeting.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially all children throughout the world who are suffering, Cindi, Carol, Lee, John, Bob for a speedy recovery from surgery, Jerry Runion and Pat Williams who is in ICU.

Your servant in Christ,

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

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