Tuesday, February 22, 2011

God Watches Over Those Who Have No One

One of the Scripture readings for today is taken from the Old Testament Book of Ruth. The sacred author writes:

So she said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said,
‘Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’
When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them; and the women said, ‘Is this Naomi?’ She said to them,
‘Call me no longer Naomi,
call me Mara,
for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.
I went away full,
but the Lord has brought me back empty;
why call me Naomi
when the Lord has dealt harshly with me,
and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?’
So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. (Ruth 1: 15-22).


Ruth is a Moabite, an enemy of the Hebrews. The effect of the book, if not its purpose, is to create a sympathetic feeling toward foreigners who have put themselves under God’s protection. Although the story is set in the time of the Judges of Israel, it was, in all probability, written during the time of Israel’s exile, a time when the Israelites where themselves strangers in a foreign land.

Ruth married a Hebrew man. He died. On his deathbed, Ruth choose to return to Judah with her mother-in-law to share life with her husband’s people rather than to remain in the relative security of her native land. Ruth’s loyalty and kindness won her the love of Boaz, and through her marriage to him, she became the great-grandmother of King David.

Ruth’s story is one of courage. It is a story of faith. It is a story of how one such treat strangers with kindness because each and every one of us is God’s own, even our enemies. It is a story of how God stands by the oppressed and the needy. Through his servants, God extends his love and mercy, liberating through hope. God has a deep concern for the welfare of his people, materially, emotionally and spiritually. That is the Old Testament story found in the Book of Ruth.

Let us pray: In Your Holy Word, Lord God, You tell us of your steadfast love for us, Your people. Send Your Holy Spirit to make us instruments of Your love as made known through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

REVIVAL! In the Episcopal Church? Sound a bit far-fetched? Not when you hear what The Very Rev. Rob Wright is suggesting. Rob is the Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta and an inspiring speaker on revivals, renewal and our Christian call to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus. And, he is going to be with us on February 25 and 26. Hosted by the Galveston Convocation of Episcopal Churches, Rob will be at St. Thomas in Nassau Bay on Friday evening from 7:00-9:00 and at St. Christopher’s, in League City, on Saturday morning, February 26, from 9:00-12:30 to discuss with us how we can more effectively respond to that call. And you are invited.

In these days in which mainstream denominations and their people are struggling, St. Paul’s in Atlanta is thriving. What are they doing that we might find helpful? Come be part of this discussion and see. Rob was with us at our Annual Clergy Conference in October and quickly became the talk of the Conference. His style is inviting, plainspoken and equally applicable to all Christians. As a sign of the effect he has on groups of people his first workshop at Clergy Conference attracted 20-25 people - about average for the workshops. The next morning at the second session, folks having heard all the buzz the night before, there was an overflow crowd of 75+ people, spilling out into the hallway. He’s good, real good.

If you are available on either Friday evening or Saturday morning, better yet both, come see for yourself. You won’t be sorry; it will be time well spent.


History Project. As discussed this Sunday, this month we celebrate Black History month. It is a time to remember the shoulders of those we stand upon who have been courageous in their fight for equality and freedom. St. Augustine's is an integral part of that history not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the State of Texas. As a tribute to those who have come before us, and as a blessed reminder to those who will come after us, we are duty bound to capture the stories of the people who have made up St. Augustine. I would ask that you collect the stories of your families, photos and news articles so that we may record the treasures that are in our midst. We will need someone to spearhead this project--volunteers welcome!

CALENDAR REMINDERS

MARDI GRAS FUN AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S on FAT TUESDAY, 8 MARCH: Welcome a new tradition at St. Augustine's for Fat Tuesday, a true Mardi Gras celebration to be inaugurated by a famous Mardi Gras King and his Queen at St. Augustine’s!

Clothing is still welcome for the people of Lord of the Streets.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Karen Lehr for a speedy recovery.

Your servant in Christ,

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

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