Today the Church celebrates Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Sometimes we really do forget that Jesus was fully human as well as being fully divine. Jesus had friends, close friends, like Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
Scripture has several references to Jesus’ friends. In chapter 10 of the Gospel according to Luke (versus 38 to 42), we hear how when Jesus and the disciples were visiting the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to Him while Martha was preoccupied with cooking and waiting on the guests. You will recall that Martha complained, and Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part.
Of course, one of the most dramatic scenes in the Gospels involved Lazarus. You will recall that Lazarus died, and that Jesus wept at his tomb and then raised His friend from the dead. (John 11:1-44). It was then that Jesus told Martha: “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”
Let us, like Jesus, be ever thankful for the friends in our lives.
Let us pray: Generous God, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany: Open our hearts to love you, our ears to hear you, and our hands to welcome and serve you in others, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
This Saturday, Birdhouse building with Lee Runiuon at 10 a.m. Be sure and let Lee know if you will attend.
St. Augustine will host the UBE Youth Mission trip from the 12th to the 14th of August. Our Church has a very special place in Texas as the oldest African-American Episcopal Church in the state. Sharing our history with the youth is a blessed ministry that is ours.
PRAYER MINISTRY
Please remember to pray for everyone on our prayer list, and I ask prayers for Tammie Taylor's father, Talmadge Sandell, the Rev. Tom Bain as he transitions from his clinical pastoral work at Memorial Hermann to hospice ministry and as he seeks a placement, and the people of Norway, all of the victims and their families who suffered at the hands of evil.
The great Episcopal preacher, the Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), who served as Bishop of Massachusetts for a short while, said: “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your task.”
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Scripture has several references to Jesus’ friends. In chapter 10 of the Gospel according to Luke (versus 38 to 42), we hear how when Jesus and the disciples were visiting the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to Him while Martha was preoccupied with cooking and waiting on the guests. You will recall that Martha complained, and Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part.
Of course, one of the most dramatic scenes in the Gospels involved Lazarus. You will recall that Lazarus died, and that Jesus wept at his tomb and then raised His friend from the dead. (John 11:1-44). It was then that Jesus told Martha: “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”
Let us, like Jesus, be ever thankful for the friends in our lives.
Let us pray: Generous God, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany: Open our hearts to love you, our ears to hear you, and our hands to welcome and serve you in others, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
This Saturday, Birdhouse building with Lee Runiuon at 10 a.m. Be sure and let Lee know if you will attend.
St. Augustine will host the UBE Youth Mission trip from the 12th to the 14th of August. Our Church has a very special place in Texas as the oldest African-American Episcopal Church in the state. Sharing our history with the youth is a blessed ministry that is ours.
PRAYER MINISTRY
Please remember to pray for everyone on our prayer list, and I ask prayers for Tammie Taylor's father, Talmadge Sandell, the Rev. Tom Bain as he transitions from his clinical pastoral work at Memorial Hermann to hospice ministry and as he seeks a placement, and the people of Norway, all of the victims and their families who suffered at the hands of evil.
The great Episcopal preacher, the Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), who served as Bishop of Massachusetts for a short while, said: “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your task.”
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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