In today’s Gospel selection from the Daily Office, we hear from the Gospel according to Matthew:
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Mt. 10: 16-23)
Jesus knew that there would be times when the culture as a whole would be hostile to Christianity. It was certainly that way in the Early Church which experienced persecutions. It was a time when people were put to death because of their faith in Christ. To be sure, there are parts of the world where Christians are put to death because of their faith in Christ. Just this past Sunday, 17 Coptic Christians were killed in Cairo, Egypt. They were protesting the torching of a Christian Church and the burning and looting of Christian-owned homes and businesses by a Muslim mob in Aswan, Upper Egypt, on 30 September 2011. Thousands of Christians and Muslim sympathizers held demonstrations in Cairo to demand equal treatment, protection of the property of Christians and restraint on military rule.
However, Christian persecution can be subtle at times, maybe even not so subtle, especially in the West. Many in our modern culture reject the values of Christianity thinking them outdated, or even the adherents to be ignorant and naïve. We are called to stand up as Christians and to profess our faith. That’s not so easy to do sometimes. Jesus knew that living out the Gospel’s call to love God, neighbor and self would run into opposition. Doing the right thing, the loving thing, is not free. Sometimes the price is very high. Just ask Jesus.
Let us pray: O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS & UPCOMING EVENTS
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY: Sundays at 4:00 p.m. in Sutton Hall. Please join Jillian Bain for this prayerful study of Scripture.
ECW ANNUAL RETREAT 14-15 OCTOBER 2011 at Camp Allen.
THE FISH FRY: Saturday, 5 November 2011, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (proceeds for Church renovation/maintenance), and we are raffling a 32 inch flat screen TV (for the victims of the wildfires in Texas).
CLOTHING DRIVE FOR VICTIMS OF THE WILDFIRES: We will begin a clothing drive for the victims of the wildfires, especially the people of Bastrop and Calvary Episcopal. Please bring only CLEAN CLOTHES, SORT THEM BY SIZE, MALE/FEMALE, AND BOX THEM. Thank you in advance.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST especially all parishes with search committees as they seek new rectors, for all of those suffering from the wildfires, and in thanksgiving for all that God has done for us.
“By everything true, everything holy, you are your brother's keeper.” —Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury (1801-1885)
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Mt. 10: 16-23)
Jesus knew that there would be times when the culture as a whole would be hostile to Christianity. It was certainly that way in the Early Church which experienced persecutions. It was a time when people were put to death because of their faith in Christ. To be sure, there are parts of the world where Christians are put to death because of their faith in Christ. Just this past Sunday, 17 Coptic Christians were killed in Cairo, Egypt. They were protesting the torching of a Christian Church and the burning and looting of Christian-owned homes and businesses by a Muslim mob in Aswan, Upper Egypt, on 30 September 2011. Thousands of Christians and Muslim sympathizers held demonstrations in Cairo to demand equal treatment, protection of the property of Christians and restraint on military rule.
However, Christian persecution can be subtle at times, maybe even not so subtle, especially in the West. Many in our modern culture reject the values of Christianity thinking them outdated, or even the adherents to be ignorant and naïve. We are called to stand up as Christians and to profess our faith. That’s not so easy to do sometimes. Jesus knew that living out the Gospel’s call to love God, neighbor and self would run into opposition. Doing the right thing, the loving thing, is not free. Sometimes the price is very high. Just ask Jesus.
Let us pray: O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS & UPCOMING EVENTS
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY: Sundays at 4:00 p.m. in Sutton Hall. Please join Jillian Bain for this prayerful study of Scripture.
ECW ANNUAL RETREAT 14-15 OCTOBER 2011 at Camp Allen.
THE FISH FRY: Saturday, 5 November 2011, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (proceeds for Church renovation/maintenance), and we are raffling a 32 inch flat screen TV (for the victims of the wildfires in Texas).
CLOTHING DRIVE FOR VICTIMS OF THE WILDFIRES: We will begin a clothing drive for the victims of the wildfires, especially the people of Bastrop and Calvary Episcopal. Please bring only CLEAN CLOTHES, SORT THEM BY SIZE, MALE/FEMALE, AND BOX THEM. Thank you in advance.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST especially all parishes with search committees as they seek new rectors, for all of those suffering from the wildfires, and in thanksgiving for all that God has done for us.
“By everything true, everything holy, you are your brother's keeper.” —Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury (1801-1885)
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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