The appointed Epistle reading
for the Daily Prayer of the Church is taken from the first letter of John where
we read:
Everyone
who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who
loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of
God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this,
that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for
whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers
the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who
believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is
the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but
with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the
Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and
the blood, and these three agree. If we receive human testimony, the testimony
of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to
his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their
hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing
in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the
testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has
the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1
Jn. 5: 1-12).
Take a look at the world around
you. Just a few days ago we witnessed an
act of hate and cowardice in Boston when someone detonated two explosive
devices which killed and hurt innocent people.
A dictator in North Korea is threatening others with nuclear force. Even closer to home, just last week someone
stabbed 14 people at Lone Star College in the Houston area. In the midst of such tragedy and wickedness,
John tells us that faith in Jesus Christ conquers the world. Evil will always try to do its worst to God’s
creation. Just ask Jesus who died on the
cross. But in the Season of Easter, we
must keep ever present in our hearts and minds that Jesus conquered death; he
rose from the dead. Put your faith in
God’s love and goodness, and you will conquer the world.
Let us pray: O God, who by the glorious resurrection of
your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light:
Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and
rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom,
with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.
A VERY SPECIAL
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY NEPHEW, STEPHEN, WHO CELEBRATES HIS 18TH
BIRTHDAY TODAY: Watch over thy child, Stephen,
O Lord, as his days increase;
bless and guide him wherever he
may be. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when
discouraged or sorrowful; raise him
up if he fall; and in his heart may thy peace which passeth
understanding abide all the days of his
life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Adult Christian Education: The Resurrection by Bishop N.T.
Wright. Join us at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings as we explore the ideas of the
afterlife in the ancient world, what people during the time of Christ believed,
what the reality of the Resurrection means for us as Christians.
Community
Garden Meeting on Saturday, 20 April 2013: the next garden meeting between 10
a.m. and 2 p.m. We'll have potluck at noon, and try to get updates and do some
planning for the garden. I sent in the form to be on the Clean Galveston
Backyard Garden Tour on June 1 and 2.
3rd Annual St. Augustine’s BBQ, Saturday,
27 April 2013. Here is a link to the Houston Press’s article about the upcoming
event: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/
Please
remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially, Lou, Virginia, Hal, Hazel and
all of the victims of the bombings in Boston.
Your servant in Christ,
The Rev. Chester J.
Makowski+
St.
Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church Galveston, Texas 77550
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