Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The Corinthians: Paul Had His Job Cut Out for Him

In today’s selected Epistle we hear from Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians. While Paul was in Ephesus on his third journey (1 Cor. 16:8; Acts 19:1-20), he received disquieting news about Corinth. The community there was displaying open factionalism, as certain members were identifying themselves exclusively with individual Christian leaders and interpreting Christian teaching as a superior wisdom for the initiated few. The community lacked the decisiveness to take appropriate action against one of its members who was living publicly in an incestuous union, our reading for today. Other members engaged in legal conflicts in pagan courts of law; still others may have participated in religious prostitution or temple sacrifices. In short, Paul had his work cut out for him.

Paul writes:


It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?

For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor. 5: 1-8).


Paul’s letter today gives us a great deal to think about on this Tuesday in the second week of Lent. Sometimes we too forget the faith that has been passed onto us. There are those time when we stray from the Christian pathway. Paul reminds us that we cannot do it on our own. Indeed, Christ our paschal lamb has been sacrificed for us; therefore, let us keep the Lamb’s feast with our lives, putting away our old selves, and dedicating our whole lives totally to Jesus.

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


CALENDAR REMINDERS

The Joint Lenten Series with Grace on Wednesdays nights starting with Stations of the Cross and Eucharist at6:00 p.m. followed by a light meal and a program by Tony Campolo:

Week 2 (St. Augustine): Money: How Poor Does Jesus Want Us To Be?

Week 3 (Grace): Time: How Much Do I Have to Give Away?

Week 4 (St. Augustine): Stuff: How Much Can I Have?

Week 5 (Grace): Support: What Will Help?

Week 6 (St. Augustine): Next: What Will I Do Come Monday Morning?

Please join us.


THE 2ND ANNUAL BIG BBQ AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S IS ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY, 17 MARCH--pass the word along!

END OF LIFE ISSUES DAY AT ST. AUGUSTINE ON SATURDAY, 24 MARCH STARTING AT 11:00 A.M. We will discuss some important end of life issues including directives to physicians, statutory powers of attorney, last wills and testaments. This is open to all adults.

SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S IN APRIL. For those who have not had the training, we will be offering it in April and it will be open to every Episcopal Church on the Island. Details will be forthcoming.

St. Augustine will host the Seniors on the Island on the third Thursday of every month starting on Thursday, 19 April 2012. We are becoming part of the Seaside Seniors Mature Adult Ministry. This ministry assists with a weekly lunch open to all seniors. If you are interested in food, fun and fellowship, join the Seaside Seniors each week throughout Galveston Island. Line dancing begins at 11am and lunch is served at 11:45am at the following locations:

1st Thursdays at St. Patrick’s

2nd Thursdays at Moody Methodist

3rd Thursdays at St. Augustine

4th Thursdays at Grace Episcopal


Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially all of those who are traveling, Stacy Putman’s mother and father, and all of the victims of the tornadoes in Indiana and Tennessee.

Your servant in Christ,

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

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