Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Don't Be A Stumbling Block

The selected Gospel reading for the Daily Office today is taken from the 18th chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling-block comes!

‘If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire. (Mt. 18: 1-9)

Children are trusting.  Children are innocent.  To take advantage of a child or to hurt a child is a great sin; it is an offense against God.  Jesus tells us that we must become like children.  Anyone who has the responsibility of teaching the faith is charged to do it correctly.  They cannot be an occasion of scandal for those in their care, or as Jesus puts it, they cannot be “stumbling blocks” causing the children to fall.  You and I should ever mindful not to be stumbling blocks to others.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

SAFEGUARDING GOD’S CHILDREN, Saturday, 23 June at 10:00 a.m. at Sutton Hall at St. Augustine’s.

SUMMER ART PROGRAM: Please get the sign-up sheets in the narthex of the Church.

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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