The Daily Office continues today in the Letter to the Hebrews, and we read that God stands by His promises:
When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, ‘I will surely bless you and multiply you.’ And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute. In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Heb. 6:13-20).
As St. Anselm wrote, “God is that than which nothing greater can be thought.” Who or what is greater than God? “Nothing,” says the author of the Letter to the Hebrews. Therefore, when we stop to reflect on it, one of the characteristics of God is not only omnipotence, but also complete faithfulness. God always keeps His promises. God kept His promise to all of humankind to send a messiah, and God did in His only Son who humbled himself to take our humanity upon himself. In Jesus Christ, we have a steadfast anchor in whom we can place our hope.
Let us pray: O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
This Sunday is Pentecost. Remember to wear red as we celebrate the Holy Spirit.
On Tuesday, 7 June 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Episcopal, we will commission to newest members of the Community of Hope and our own Carol Freeman is a member of this class. Please come and celebrate this ministry.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially the victims of the bad weather across the nation, our sons and daughters serving in the armed forces at home and abroad, all of the who are ill and the homebound.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, ‘I will surely bless you and multiply you.’ And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute. In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Heb. 6:13-20).
As St. Anselm wrote, “God is that than which nothing greater can be thought.” Who or what is greater than God? “Nothing,” says the author of the Letter to the Hebrews. Therefore, when we stop to reflect on it, one of the characteristics of God is not only omnipotence, but also complete faithfulness. God always keeps His promises. God kept His promise to all of humankind to send a messiah, and God did in His only Son who humbled himself to take our humanity upon himself. In Jesus Christ, we have a steadfast anchor in whom we can place our hope.
Let us pray: O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
This Sunday is Pentecost. Remember to wear red as we celebrate the Holy Spirit.
On Tuesday, 7 June 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Episcopal, we will commission to newest members of the Community of Hope and our own Carol Freeman is a member of this class. Please come and celebrate this ministry.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially the victims of the bad weather across the nation, our sons and daughters serving in the armed forces at home and abroad, all of the who are ill and the homebound.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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