The Epistle reading for today is taken from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. Paul wrote the letter because this community of faith began to focus on legalism. One of the questions swirling in the Galatians was: Are Christian Jews bound, by the Jewish kosher laws, to eat separately from Christian Gentiles, or are they bound by the gospel to eat at the same table with them? As Bishop Tom Wright notes, “Paul was asking them to break the habits not only of a lifetime but of a tightly integrated social grouping that had survived, precisely by maintaining these habits, for hundreds of years.” The Letter to the Galatians: Exegesis and Theology (2000).
Paul’s letter to the Galatians opens:
Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the members of God’s family who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!
Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. (Gal. 1: 1-17).
Change is difficult. Life in Christ required people to change the way they had been doing things; it forced them to re-examine their world views. Paul knew how hard it was to change. He tells the Galatians that he was zealous in his Jewish traditions; he did not want to give them up. He tells them that he was so committed to the ways of his ancestors that he violently persecuted the Christians. Paul’s encounter with the Risen Christ meant that he had to re-examine his views.
After re-examining his Jewish roots and the promises made to Abraham, Paul comes to the conclusion that that the people whom God promised to Abraham are defined by their faith, not by being born into a particular faith, like Judaism. In his Letter to the Galatians, Paul is not concerned with how one enters the family, but with how, once one has entered, the family is then defined, assured of its status as God’s people. See N.T. Wright, The Letter to the Galatians: Exegesis and Theology (2000). Paul is trying to tell the Galatians that: “God has called and is calling Jews and Gentiles alike to belong to the one family of Abraham, and equipping them to believe the gospel (such faith being the one identifying badge of membership within this family) and to live in love one to another and in witness to God’s love to the world around.” Id. Jews and Gentiles alike are transformed by the Risen Christ.
SPECIAL BLOOD DRIVE
Mrs. McNeill’s family needs help for 11 year old Exavier: The Blood Drive for the Gulf Coast Blood Bank will be Saturday, 29 January at the El Dorado Walmart from 10-2:30. If you are unable to make it you can still donate by going to one of the Gulf Coast Blood Bank neighborhood locations, give them the code R325 and it will still count toward Exavier's drive. Exavier is now 11 years old and has battled sickle cell disease since birth. The disease is a genetic blood disorder characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various complications. Life expectancy is shortened, with studies reporting an average life expectancy of 42 in males and 48 in females. Please pass the word along!
CALENDAR REMINDERS
5 February: Celebrating the Life of Absalom Jones, Eucharist Service, officiated by the Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Church Cathedral. Special Guest: The Rev. Canon Harold T. Lewis – Luncheon speaker following the service. The luncheon, featuring Treebeards specials, will be at the Great Hall starting about 11:30 a.m. The Rev. Canon Lewis will also be book signing his new release A Church for the Future.
The Rev. Canon Harold T. Lewis, Ph.D., D.D., D.C.L. has been the rector of Calvary Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since 1996. Since his ordination in 1971, he has served congregations in Honduras, England, Washington, D.C., New Haven, CT and his native Brooklyn, NY. From 1983 until 1994, he served on the staff of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church as Director of the Office of Black Ministries. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University, a Master of Divinity from Yale, and a Doctor of Philosophy (in theology) from the University of Birmingham (England). He has also been awarded two honorary degrees: Doctor of Divinity from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale; and Doctor of Canon Law from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. A former research fellow at St. John’s College, Cambridge University, he has also pursued graduate studies at Catholic University in Washington; the Center for International Documentation in Cuernavaca, Mexico; and St. George's College, Jerusalem. He is an honorary canon of the Diocese of Bukavu, Congo, and the first recipient of the Mikkelsen Prize for excellence in prophetic preaching, and of the Dean’s Cross for Servant Leadership from Virginia Theological Seminary. Currently an adjunct professor in church and society at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Dr. Lewis has also taught at the George Mercer School of Theology in Garden City, NY and the General Theological Seminary, and has been visiting lecturer at Anglican seminaries in the Congo, South Africa, Mozambique and Barbados. He was coordinator of the second International Conference on Afro-Anglicanism in Cape Town.
11 and 12 February: the 162nd Diocesan Council in the Woodlands.
12 February: St. Valentine’s Day Dance at St. Augustine.
13 February at the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist, the Renewal of Marriage Vows.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially the Family of Patrick Williams.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Paul’s letter to the Galatians opens:
Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the members of God’s family who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!
Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. (Gal. 1: 1-17).
Change is difficult. Life in Christ required people to change the way they had been doing things; it forced them to re-examine their world views. Paul knew how hard it was to change. He tells the Galatians that he was zealous in his Jewish traditions; he did not want to give them up. He tells them that he was so committed to the ways of his ancestors that he violently persecuted the Christians. Paul’s encounter with the Risen Christ meant that he had to re-examine his views.
After re-examining his Jewish roots and the promises made to Abraham, Paul comes to the conclusion that that the people whom God promised to Abraham are defined by their faith, not by being born into a particular faith, like Judaism. In his Letter to the Galatians, Paul is not concerned with how one enters the family, but with how, once one has entered, the family is then defined, assured of its status as God’s people. See N.T. Wright, The Letter to the Galatians: Exegesis and Theology (2000). Paul is trying to tell the Galatians that: “God has called and is calling Jews and Gentiles alike to belong to the one family of Abraham, and equipping them to believe the gospel (such faith being the one identifying badge of membership within this family) and to live in love one to another and in witness to God’s love to the world around.” Id. Jews and Gentiles alike are transformed by the Risen Christ.
SPECIAL BLOOD DRIVE
Mrs. McNeill’s family needs help for 11 year old Exavier: The Blood Drive for the Gulf Coast Blood Bank will be Saturday, 29 January at the El Dorado Walmart from 10-2:30. If you are unable to make it you can still donate by going to one of the Gulf Coast Blood Bank neighborhood locations, give them the code R325 and it will still count toward Exavier's drive. Exavier is now 11 years old and has battled sickle cell disease since birth. The disease is a genetic blood disorder characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various complications. Life expectancy is shortened, with studies reporting an average life expectancy of 42 in males and 48 in females. Please pass the word along!
CALENDAR REMINDERS
5 February: Celebrating the Life of Absalom Jones, Eucharist Service, officiated by the Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Church Cathedral. Special Guest: The Rev. Canon Harold T. Lewis – Luncheon speaker following the service. The luncheon, featuring Treebeards specials, will be at the Great Hall starting about 11:30 a.m. The Rev. Canon Lewis will also be book signing his new release A Church for the Future.
The Rev. Canon Harold T. Lewis, Ph.D., D.D., D.C.L. has been the rector of Calvary Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since 1996. Since his ordination in 1971, he has served congregations in Honduras, England, Washington, D.C., New Haven, CT and his native Brooklyn, NY. From 1983 until 1994, he served on the staff of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church as Director of the Office of Black Ministries. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University, a Master of Divinity from Yale, and a Doctor of Philosophy (in theology) from the University of Birmingham (England). He has also been awarded two honorary degrees: Doctor of Divinity from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale; and Doctor of Canon Law from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. A former research fellow at St. John’s College, Cambridge University, he has also pursued graduate studies at Catholic University in Washington; the Center for International Documentation in Cuernavaca, Mexico; and St. George's College, Jerusalem. He is an honorary canon of the Diocese of Bukavu, Congo, and the first recipient of the Mikkelsen Prize for excellence in prophetic preaching, and of the Dean’s Cross for Servant Leadership from Virginia Theological Seminary. Currently an adjunct professor in church and society at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Dr. Lewis has also taught at the George Mercer School of Theology in Garden City, NY and the General Theological Seminary, and has been visiting lecturer at Anglican seminaries in the Congo, South Africa, Mozambique and Barbados. He was coordinator of the second International Conference on Afro-Anglicanism in Cape Town.
11 and 12 February: the 162nd Diocesan Council in the Woodlands.
12 February: St. Valentine’s Day Dance at St. Augustine.
13 February at the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist, the Renewal of Marriage Vows.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially the Family of Patrick Williams.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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