I have been remiss about doing
the Daily Reflection partly because Mary and I were out of the country, and
partly out of summer laziness. One of
today’s readings reminds me of my own ordination and how vital it is to
pray. We hear from the Acts of the
Apostles today and how the apostles went about deciding on a replacement for
Judas Iscariot:
In
those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered
about one hundred and twenty people) and said, ‘Friends, the scripture had to
be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas,
who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus—for he was numbered among us
and was allotted his share in this ministry.’ (Now this man acquired a field
with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the
middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of
Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is,
Field of Blood.) ‘For it is written in the book of Psalms, “Let his homestead
become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it”; and “Let another take
his position of overseer.”
So one
of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went
in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he
was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his
resurrection.’ So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known
as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s
heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this
ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’
And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to
the eleven apostles. (Acts 1: 15-26).
This is the season of
ordinations to the diaconate. The
anniversary of my own ordination as a deacon is quickly approaching. Ordination is a serious matter for the
Church. We who are ordained do not have
a “right” to be ordained. It is God’s
call to lead and to serve His people gathered together as the embodiment of
Christ in the world. Ordination is a
gift; it is a privilege. With ordination
comes the responsibility to preach the Good News purely, honestly, kindly and without
personal agenda.
So let us pray now for those
who are ordained as deacons, priests and bishops and those who will be so
ordained: O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your
whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your
providence, carry out in tranquility the
plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were
being cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being
made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him
through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives
and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Sunday, 21 June
at 10 AM, we will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Juneteenth and
Father’s Day at St. Augustine.
Izola
Collins author of Island of Color: Where
Juneteenth Started, will speak. Mrs.
Collins was born in the family home in Galveston, Texas on October 26, 1929,
educated in the Galveston school system. She received her Bachelor of Arts
degree from Prairie View A&M University and her Masters of Music degree
from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She organized and directed
three school bands, in Bay City, Hitchcock, and Galveston Catholic. Retiring from Galveston I.S.D. as an
award-winning choir director, she then was elected city-wide to the GISD Board
of Trustees, and served nine years, the last, as president. Mrs. Collins has
written articles published in the "Southwestern Musician" (Texas
Music Educators Association), "Fanfare" (School of Music of
Northwestern University), the story of St. Mary's Hospital in Galveston, poems
in "The National Library of Poetry", and is the author of
"Island of Color: Where Juneteenth Started", as well as two poetry
books, "Divine Light Never Fails" and "I Know That's Right"
and a children's book, "Pip, Squeak and Zoom".
She was married
to Roy Lester Collins, Jr., now deceased, and is the mother of three children,
June, Roy III, and Cheryl, who have given them eight grandchildren. In June
2011, Mrs. Collins was honored at Miller Outdoor Theater by Mayor Annise Parker
of Houston, with a proclamation of June 19, 2011 as "Izola Ethel Fedford
Collins Day" in Houston, "for her contribution to our region's
cultural history".
Our preacher will be the Rev. Wren.
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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