Do Not Drift Away

The appointed Epistle for the Daily Prayer of the Church comes from the Letter to the Hebrews:

 

Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.

 

Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere, ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them?  You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor, subjecting all things under their feet.’

 

Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

 

It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  (Heb. 2:1-10)

 

The author of Hebrews asks the same question the Psalmist did: “Who are we human beings that the Creator of the whole universe loves us?” In order to rescue us, God became one of us.  God humbled himself in Jesus Christ and He offered himself in order to reconcile us to God the Father.  We should never forget that, or as the author of the letter says, we should not drift away from it.”

 

Let us pray:  Gracious God and Father, you so loved us that You sent Your only Son to be one with us; send the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with grace to ever remember You infinite love for humanity.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Seaside Seniors will meet in Sutton Hall this Thursday, 16 January 2014 for lunch and activities.

 

The Churches on the Island are hosting the 165th Diocesan Council which begins on Friday, 7 February 2014 and end on Saturday, 8 February 2014.  If you have not yet signed up to volunteer, please do.

 

Bishop Jeff Fisher will visit St. Augustine on Sunday, 9 February.  The service time has been changed to 12:30 p.m. for that day.  Please note this for your calendar.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially Sharyl.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550