Friday, October 7, 2011

We Are Co-Laborers with God

We hear from the Gospel according to Matthew in today’s Daily Office selection:

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, ‘See that no one knows of this.’ But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, ‘Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.’ But the Pharisees said, ‘By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.’ (Mt. 9: 27-34)

As it happens so often when there is a miraculous cure, Jesus tells the person that it is by their faith that they are cured. What this points to is that you and I are “co-operators” with God’s grace; we are “co-laborers” with God. God does not impose himself on the believer. Rather God invites us into fellowship with him; God invites us into his savings acts. The ultimate act of co-operation or co-laboring is the Incarnation where God and man become one in the person of Jesus Christ to accomplish the salvation of the world. God invites us to work with him.

Let us pray: Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of Mary: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS & UPCOMING EVENTS

ECW & DOK QUIET DAY RETREAT: Tomorrow starting at 9:30 a.m. at St. Augustine with the Rev. Helen Appelberg.

BLESSING OF THE AMINALS: Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. on the lawn in front of Sutton Hall.

THIRD ANNUAL ART SHOW: This is the last weekend!

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.

ST. AUGUSTINE IS GOING GREEN (WITH OUR COFFEE CUPS). St. Augustine is going green (with our coffee cups). In order to cut down on the use of Styrofoam cups, please bring a coffee cup for the Fellowship hour, and maybe even 2 or 3 to share with our visitors. We will store them in Sutton Hall and wash them in our dishwasher.

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.

“I believe in Christianity as I believe in the rising sun; not because I see it, but by it I can see all else.”—C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

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