Tuesday, November 5, 2013

No Matter What the Cost

The Gospel reading for the Daily Prayer of the Church today is taken from the Gospel according to Matthew where we hear of the value of the Kingdom of God and our response:
 
‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
 
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
 
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
Treasures New and Old
‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’  (Mt. 13:44-52).
 
Once you find the Kingdom of God, you give everything that you have for it.  You give up everything that you used to think was important; you give up everything that you were attached to no matter what that was.  Jesus tells us that the encounter is so life changing, so transforming, that you are not left the same.  May it be so for you and me.
 
Let us pray:  O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we maypurify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes againwith power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
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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