In today’s appointed Epistle reading we hear from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians:
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love. You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offence of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. (Gal. 5: 1-15).
I remember when I first left the seminary. Life was no longer regimented. There was a great deal of freedom, and I expressed this new found freedom with Little Debbie peanut butter cookies and milk. When I was in the seminary, I couldn’t eat these. I had no place to keep cold milk in my room. But when I left the seminary, I had a refrigerator and Little Debbie peanut butter cookies. In a short time, I gained 20 pounds!
With freedom comes responsibility. Paul reminds us of that this morning. When I first left the seminary I indulged myself with milk and those Little Debbie peanut butter cookies. It wasn’t a good idea. The freedom that Christ gives us is not about self indulgence; it is about living in love. True freedom is loving God, neighbor and self.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father we thank you for the gift of our free wills and the freedom that you give us. Send Your Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily tasks, to help us to be more and more Christ like loving You, those around us and ourselves as You would have us do. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
BE CAREFUL AND KEEP WARM DURING THIS COLD WEATHER.
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. We have 5 people from St. Augustine going thus far: Liz Mack, Tammie Taylor, Melva Pope, Pat Tate, Sherman Boyer and myself. We have room for 2 more: any takers?
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, and especially Vincent Uher who is ill.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love. You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offence of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. (Gal. 5: 1-15).
I remember when I first left the seminary. Life was no longer regimented. There was a great deal of freedom, and I expressed this new found freedom with Little Debbie peanut butter cookies and milk. When I was in the seminary, I couldn’t eat these. I had no place to keep cold milk in my room. But when I left the seminary, I had a refrigerator and Little Debbie peanut butter cookies. In a short time, I gained 20 pounds!
With freedom comes responsibility. Paul reminds us of that this morning. When I first left the seminary I indulged myself with milk and those Little Debbie peanut butter cookies. It wasn’t a good idea. The freedom that Christ gives us is not about self indulgence; it is about living in love. True freedom is loving God, neighbor and self.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father we thank you for the gift of our free wills and the freedom that you give us. Send Your Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily tasks, to help us to be more and more Christ like loving You, those around us and ourselves as You would have us do. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
BE CAREFUL AND KEEP WARM DURING THIS COLD WEATHER.
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. We have 5 people from St. Augustine going thus far: Liz Mack, Tammie Taylor, Melva Pope, Pat Tate, Sherman Boyer and myself. We have room for 2 more: any takers?
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, and especially Vincent Uher who is ill.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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