Today in the Daily Office, we hear from the sixth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews:
Therefore let us go on towards perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith towards God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this, if God permits. For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.
Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we want each one of you to show the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Heb. 6: 1-12).
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews urges Christians to move forward in hope. Hope is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Those who despair have lost hope. Those who dwell in despair have failed to acknowledge that with God all things are possible. But the author reassures us that we are not among those who have lost hope because God “will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.” To be sure, the people of St. Augustine are a people of hope. We have moved forward and we continue to do the work of Jesus with diligence.
Let us pray: We come before you gracious Father ever thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit who fills our lives with hope and makes us instruments of Jesus in the world. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
This Sunday is Pentecost. Remember to wear red as we celebrate the Holy Spirit.
On Tuesday, 7 June 2011 at 7 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
Therefore let us go on towards perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith towards God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this, if God permits. For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.
Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we want each one of you to show the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Heb. 6: 1-12).
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews urges Christians to move forward in hope. Hope is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Those who despair have lost hope. Those who dwell in despair have failed to acknowledge that with God all things are possible. But the author reassures us that we are not among those who have lost hope because God “will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.” To be sure, the people of St. Augustine are a people of hope. We have moved forward and we continue to do the work of Jesus with diligence.
Let us pray: We come before you gracious Father ever thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit who fills our lives with hope and makes us instruments of Jesus in the world. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
This Sunday is Pentecost. Remember to wear red as we celebrate the Holy Spirit.
On Tuesday, 7 June 2011 at 7 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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