In today’s appointed Gospel taken from Mark, we hear that there should be no envy regarding work that other Christians do to spread the Kingdom, even if they are not from our own denomination. Mark writes:
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’
John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. (Mk. 9: 30-41).
Sometimes we find that there is rivalry between Christian denominations, that is, Christians of one denomination being envious of what other Christians may be doing. Jesus does not care what particular denomination you might belong to; rather, Jesus tells us not to stop them because anyone who does Jesus’ will is with him! Sometimes we forget that.
Let us pray: Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Joint Lenten Series with Grace—this Wednesday we all meet at Grace starting with the Stations of the Cross at 6 p.m.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Palm Sunday: Procession with Palms & Eucharist Rite II at 9 a.m.
Wednesday: final gathering for the Lenten Series at St. Augustine’s at 6 p.m.
Maundy Thursday: Traditional Maundy Thursday service with foot washing and striping of the altar: 7 p.m.
Good Friday: 3 p.m.
Easter Eucharist at 9 a.m. and an Easter egg hunt for the children after the service with our annual covered dish lunch.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’
John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. (Mk. 9: 30-41).
Sometimes we find that there is rivalry between Christian denominations, that is, Christians of one denomination being envious of what other Christians may be doing. Jesus does not care what particular denomination you might belong to; rather, Jesus tells us not to stop them because anyone who does Jesus’ will is with him! Sometimes we forget that.
Let us pray: Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Joint Lenten Series with Grace—this Wednesday we all meet at Grace starting with the Stations of the Cross at 6 p.m.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Palm Sunday: Procession with Palms & Eucharist Rite II at 9 a.m.
Wednesday: final gathering for the Lenten Series at St. Augustine’s at 6 p.m.
Maundy Thursday: Traditional Maundy Thursday service with foot washing and striping of the altar: 7 p.m.
Good Friday: 3 p.m.
Easter Eucharist at 9 a.m. and an Easter egg hunt for the children after the service with our annual covered dish lunch.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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