The appointed Epistle reading for today is taken from Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome where we read:
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead! If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, do not vaunt yourselves over the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. You will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but God’s kindness towards you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree. (Rm. 11:13-24).
Paul was a very devote Pharisee who loved his Jewish faith. He loved it so much, that he was blind to what Jesus was all about. Then on the road to Damascus, Paul “saw the light.” Paul wanted all of his Jewish brothers and sisters to see what he saw in Jesus, and he wanted to bring them to Christ. You can sense the his deep desire to do so: “I glorify my ministry in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead!”
Sometimes in our lives, we are like Paul. We want what is good for the other person, for them to come to some realization or transformation in their lives. We do everything in our power to bring that about, but it does not happen and we can fret over it and even despair. That is not what God wants us to do. We must remember that it is through God’s grace that people change as Paul says today, God “has the power to graft them in.” God has also given us the freedom of our wills to accept it or to reject it. We can pray for others, work for their good, but it is through God’s grace and their free will that transformation occurs. Paul reminds us of that.
Let us pray: Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Seaside Seniors, Thursday, 17 July at 11 A.M. The theme is Independence Day!
The Art of Listening: Summer Art Program, starts Monday, 21 July at 10 A.M. every day of the week until 1 P.M.
In view of the current happenings in the Middle East and in Africa, as part of our Adult Christian Education, we will read Focus on Islam to better understand Islam and to do a comparison and contrast with our Christian faith. We have the books, so if you are interested, please check with Fr. Chester for a copy of the book so that you can start reading it.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
No comments:
Post a Comment