What the rich, the powerful, the influential, the popular and the trend setters consider important, God does not.

On this first full week of Lent, we hear from Paul’s letter to the Church in Corinth where he asks:

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

 

Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’ (1 Cor.1:20-31)

 

What the rich, the powerful, the influential, the popular and the trend setters consider important, God does not.  What is remarkable about the Incarnation, is that God takes on our humanity, in all of its weakness, and turns it into strength. God takes those who are seen by the mighty to be useless and powerless, and God identifies with them through Jesus Christ crucified.  That is something to contemplate this Lenten season.

 

Let us pray: Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Wednesday Lenten Series: this Wednesday starting at 6 PM at Grace Episcopal Church.

 

The Seaside Seniors meet this Thursday at 11 AM in Sutton Hall.  The theme is St. Valentine’s Day.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550