Today the appointed New Testament reading from the Daily Office is taken from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. We read about Paul’s conversion experience:
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. (Acts 9: 1-9).
We find Saul (Paul) “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” Paul felt threatened by the Christians. Paul was fearful of the Christians. Jesus finds Saul in this state on the road to Damascus. On the road to destroy the Christians, Saul meets the Risen Christ; he meets Jesus where he least expects him. Jesus takes Saul and he meets him, but Jesus does not expect Saul to continue “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” Saul is in for some big changes. His life will never be the same.
Jesus does the same with you and me. He takes us where he finds us, but Jesus does not expect us to stay there. Jesus expects us to give up our sinful lives, then follow him wherever he may lead us.
Let us pray: O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
8 July 2011 at St. Augustine’s Sutton Hall from noon to 3 p.m. S.A.S.S. will host “A 2011 Update: The Latest Info about HIV/AIDS” with Paul Simmons, RN, ACRN, the Executive Director of Center for AIDS Houston. Lunch will be provided free of cost, and the seminar is free of cost as well. Reserve your spot today at galvestonsass@gmail.com.
Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Evelyn McNeill who is continuing to recover from surgery.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. (Acts 9: 1-9).
We find Saul (Paul) “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” Paul felt threatened by the Christians. Paul was fearful of the Christians. Jesus finds Saul in this state on the road to Damascus. On the road to destroy the Christians, Saul meets the Risen Christ; he meets Jesus where he least expects him. Jesus takes Saul and he meets him, but Jesus does not expect Saul to continue “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” Saul is in for some big changes. His life will never be the same.
Jesus does the same with you and me. He takes us where he finds us, but Jesus does not expect us to stay there. Jesus expects us to give up our sinful lives, then follow him wherever he may lead us.
Let us pray: O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
8 July 2011 at St. Augustine’s Sutton Hall from noon to 3 p.m. S.A.S.S. will host “A 2011 Update: The Latest Info about HIV/AIDS” with Paul Simmons, RN, ACRN, the Executive Director of Center for AIDS Houston. Lunch will be provided free of cost, and the seminar is free of cost as well. Reserve your spot today at galvestonsass@gmail.com.
Please remember everyone on our prayer list, especially Evelyn McNeill who is continuing to recover from surgery.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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