Today, the 27th of December, the Church celebrates the life and ministry of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist.
It is God who calls; people answer. The vocation of John and his brother James is stated very simply in the Gospels: Jesus called the brothers; they followed. The absoluteness of their response is relayed in Matthew’s Gospel (4:21-22), James and John “were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.”
Because of the depth of the Gospel, John is usually thought of as the eagle of theology, soaring high. However, the other Gospels reveal John’s flaws which gave rise to Jesus naming John and his brother, James, “the sons of thunder.” Matthew tells us that their mother asked that James and John be given places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom—one on his right hand, one on his left. When Jesus asked them if they could drink the cup he would drink and be baptized with his baptism of pain, they blithely answered, “We can!” Jesus said that they would indeed share his cup, but that sitting at his right hand was not his to give. It was for those to whom it had been reserved by the Father. The other apostles were, as one might expect, somewhat indignant at their ambition. Jesus took the occasion to teach them the true nature of authority: “Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:27-28).
Another time, “the sons of thunder” asked Jesus if they should not call down fire from heaven upon the less than friendly Samaritans who did not welcome Jesus. Of course, Jesus rebuked them.
Please remember in your prayer all of those who are named John, and I would ask prayers especially for my Uncle John and my Cousin John o this their saint's day.
Let us pray: Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light; that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Please remember in your prayers the family of Roylene Lemons. She died the evening of Christmas Day. The funeral will be in Monroe, Louisiana on Friday, 30 December at 11:00 a.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church. At St. Augustine, we will offer the Eucharist for her and for Charles Lemons and his family on Sunday, the 1st of January. Let us pray: Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Roylene. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
It is God who calls; people answer. The vocation of John and his brother James is stated very simply in the Gospels: Jesus called the brothers; they followed. The absoluteness of their response is relayed in Matthew’s Gospel (4:21-22), James and John “were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.”
Because of the depth of the Gospel, John is usually thought of as the eagle of theology, soaring high. However, the other Gospels reveal John’s flaws which gave rise to Jesus naming John and his brother, James, “the sons of thunder.” Matthew tells us that their mother asked that James and John be given places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom—one on his right hand, one on his left. When Jesus asked them if they could drink the cup he would drink and be baptized with his baptism of pain, they blithely answered, “We can!” Jesus said that they would indeed share his cup, but that sitting at his right hand was not his to give. It was for those to whom it had been reserved by the Father. The other apostles were, as one might expect, somewhat indignant at their ambition. Jesus took the occasion to teach them the true nature of authority: “Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:27-28).
Another time, “the sons of thunder” asked Jesus if they should not call down fire from heaven upon the less than friendly Samaritans who did not welcome Jesus. Of course, Jesus rebuked them.
Please remember in your prayer all of those who are named John, and I would ask prayers especially for my Uncle John and my Cousin John o this their saint's day.
Let us pray: Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light; that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Please remember in your prayers the family of Roylene Lemons. She died the evening of Christmas Day. The funeral will be in Monroe, Louisiana on Friday, 30 December at 11:00 a.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church. At St. Augustine, we will offer the Eucharist for her and for Charles Lemons and his family on Sunday, the 1st of January. Let us pray: Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Roylene. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
No comments:
Post a Comment