Today the Church remembers an
early convert to Christianity, Cornelius the Centurion, whom we read about in
the 10th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles:
In Caesarea
there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was
called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms
generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. One afternoon at about
three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in
and saying to him, ‘Cornelius.’ He stared at him in terror and said, ‘What is
it, Lord?’ He answered, ‘Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial
before God. Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; he
is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.’ When the angel
who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier
from the ranks of those who served him, and after telling them everything, he
sent them to Joppa. …
Suddenly
the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon’s house and were
standing by the gate. They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter,
was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit
said to him, ‘Look, three men are searching for you. Now get up, go down, and
go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.’ So Peter went down to
the men and said, ‘I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for
your coming?’ They answered, ‘Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and
God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed
by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have
to say.’ So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging.
The
next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa
accompanied him. The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was
expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. On
Peter’s arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshipped him. But
Peter made him get up, saying, ‘Stand up; I am only a mortal.’ And as he talked
with him, he went in and found that many had assembled; and he said to them,
‘You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to
visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or
unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why
you sent for me?’
Cornelius
replied, ‘Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock, I was praying in
my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. He said,
“Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered
before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he
is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.” Therefore I sent for
you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are
here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to
say.’
Then
Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality,
but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable
to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace
by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing
good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We
are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him
to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and
allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God
as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He
commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained
by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him
that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his
name.’
While
Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The
circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of
the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them
speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone withhold
the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as
we have?’ So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then
they invited him to stay for several days. (Acts 10: 1-8; 17-48).
Imagine being the first Gentile
to become a Christian! Here is
Cornelius, a man of power, after all, he is a centurion of the Italian
Cohort. He would have had 100 soldiers
under his command. He is moved by the
power of the Holy Spirit to become a follower of Christ whom Peter tells him
shows no partiality. A man of power
becomes the follower of Jesus who was executed.
I doubt that this conversion was easy.
Cornelius’ men, no doubt, may have found it difficult to believe that
their commander had become a follower of Christ. Nevertheless, Cornelius had the courage to
follow Jesus. You and I should do the
same.
Let us pray: O God, who by your Spirit called Cornelius
the Centurion to be the first Christian among the Gentiles: Grant to your
Church such a ready will to go where you send and to do what you command, that
under your guidance it may welcome all who turn to you in love and faith, and
proclaim the Gospel to all nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
164thDIOCESAN
COUNCIL: 8&
9 February in Houston, Texas. The Episcopal Churches on the Island will host
the 165th Diocesan Council in 2014.
SEASIDE
SENIORS AT ST. AUGSUTINE’S SUTTON HALL, Thursday, 21 February 2013.
REMEMBER
TO BRING A FRIEND ON THE 2ND SUNDAY FOR THE CONTEMPORARY JAZZ
SERVICE AND ON THE 4TH SUNDAY FOR THE TRADITIONAL JAZZ SERVICE.
The Painted Church Tour—only 6 spots left: So email ms.walk.1@hotmail.com
or call Ms. Allen at 832-244-1817to let her know if you are interested.
MARDI GRAS
AT ST. AUGUSTINE’S HOSTED BY OUR KING & QUEEN OF MARDI
GRAS, BILL
& TAMMIE TAYLOR, in Sutton Hall on Tuesday at 6 p.m., February 12.
ASH
WEDNESDAY IS FEBRUARY 13, Ash Wednesday Liturgy with the Imposition of Ashes at 6 p.m.
LENTEN
PROGRAM: Starting at 6 p.m. with the Way of the Cross, Eucharist, light supper
and then the program with—
Feb. 20:
The Rev. Allen Robinson, Rector of St. James in Baltimore, Maryland, and a
Galveston native and a son of St. Augustine (1410 41st St.)
Feb. 27:
Br. Michael Gallagher, OSB & Fr. Peter Funk, OSB, Benedictine Monks and
Co-Founders of Holy Cross Monastery at Grace (1115 36th St.)
Mar. 6:
Ms. Kathy Culmer, Storyteller & Diocesan Mission Funding Coordinator at
Trinity (2216 Ball Ave)
Mar. 13:
The Rev. Canon John Newton, Diocese of Texas Canon for Lifelong Christian
Formation, at St. Augustine (1410 41st St.)
Mar. 20:
The Rev. Pittman McGehee, Priest, Author & Jungian Analyst, at Grace (1115
36th St.)
Mar. 27:
The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of the Diocese of Texas, at Trinity (2216
Ball Ave)
3rdANNUAL
ST. AUGUSTINE’S BIG MISTA & FRIENDS BBQ ON SATURDAY, 28 APRIL 2013. If you haven’t volunteered, please do so.
Please
remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Marilyn and her entire family
and Dave.
Your servant in Christ,
The Rev. Chester J.
Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo
Episcopal ChurchGalveston, Texas 77550
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