Today we hear from the First Letter to the Colossians:
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.
For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Col. 1:24-2:7).
To be sure, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was fully sufficient, once and for all. So what does Paul mean when he says: “in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church?”
Paul’s words are found at the end of the long road that winds through the suffering. Paul makes a discovery about suffering; he understands the salvific value of it. Suffering seems to be particularly essential to the nature of us as humans, and it is as deep as humanity itself because we all experience it, and as we see in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we are given grace to overcome it. Christ shared in our sufferings and died for us. You and I share in the sufferings of Christ as we journey through life. So keep in mind when you experience suffering, that Jesus Christ suffered as well as he gave his life for our salvation. After the cross, there is the resurrection. Jesus keeps his promises.
Let us pray: O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Saturday, 21 May, art class with Lee Runion. Please let him know if you will attend.
We will celebrate our graduates this Sunday, 22 May at the 9 a.m. service.
It is time for a brief Bishop’s Committee Meeting! Since the Children’s Choir from memorial Baptist Church graced us with their music on our regular Sunday for Bishop’s Committee meetings, let’s have one this Sunday.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially Pat Tate and the Furlongs.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.
For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Col. 1:24-2:7).
To be sure, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was fully sufficient, once and for all. So what does Paul mean when he says: “in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church?”
Paul’s words are found at the end of the long road that winds through the suffering. Paul makes a discovery about suffering; he understands the salvific value of it. Suffering seems to be particularly essential to the nature of us as humans, and it is as deep as humanity itself because we all experience it, and as we see in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we are given grace to overcome it. Christ shared in our sufferings and died for us. You and I share in the sufferings of Christ as we journey through life. So keep in mind when you experience suffering, that Jesus Christ suffered as well as he gave his life for our salvation. After the cross, there is the resurrection. Jesus keeps his promises.
Let us pray: O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Saturday, 21 May, art class with Lee Runion. Please let him know if you will attend.
We will celebrate our graduates this Sunday, 22 May at the 9 a.m. service.
It is time for a brief Bishop’s Committee Meeting! Since the Children’s Choir from memorial Baptist Church graced us with their music on our regular Sunday for Bishop’s Committee meetings, let’s have one this Sunday.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially Pat Tate and the Furlongs.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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