St. Laurence: A Sense of Humor in the Face of Death

Today the Church remembers St. Laurence, deacon and martyr, who died on this day in 258 A.D. He was chief of the seven deacons in Rome. The deacons were in charge of administering the Church’s budget, particularly with regard to the care of the poor.

In 257, the Roman Emperor Valerian began a persecution aimed at the clergy and the laity of the upper classes. He confiscated the Church’s property, and he forbad Christians gathering. The bishop of Rome, Sixtus II, and most of his clergy were executed on 7 August 258. They got to Laurence a few days later on the 10th.

The Roman authorities had Laurence roasted alive. He must have had a wonderful sense of humor. During his execution, Laurence told his executioner, "You can turn me over; I'm done on this side." Laurence's courage made a great impression on the people of Rome, and made many converts, while greatly reducing among pagans the belief that Christianity was a socially undesirable movement that should be stamped out.

Let us pray: Almighty God, who called your deacon Laurence to serve you with deeds of love, and gave him the crown of martyrdom: Grant that we, following his example, may fulfill your commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving you with all our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

Please let Pat Tate, Alicia Gaskin or myself know if you or others are coming so that we can get an accurate head count.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September and lasting into October. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

Joyce Merritt who is undergoing cancer treatment after surgery
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
For the intentions of everyone at St. Augustine
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

“Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.”

In today’s account from the Acts of the Apostles, we read the story of the authorities’ continuing attempts to squelch the Christians:

Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.

When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. (Acts 5: 12-26).

Peter and the Apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit, so much so that even being in Peter’s shadow restores the sick to health. In the face of these good works, the authorities throw Peter and his companions in prison. However, the authorities’ fear and jealousy cannot keep the Good News locked up.

Are you and I so filled with the Holy Spirit that the Good News of Jesus Christ flows freely in what we say and what we do? What is the prison in our lives that tries to keep the Good News locked up? Let us pray for an angel of the Lord, God’s messenger, to open the jail cells of our hearts and minds so that we may be like Peter and his companions telling everyone we meet about what Jesus has done for all of humanity.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

Please let Pat Tate, Alicia Gaskin or myself know if you or others are coming so that we can get an accurate head count.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September and lasting into October. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

Do We Deny the Truth?

The story in the Acts of the Apostles picks up where we left off yesterday. The Jewish authorities, the very same ones who “dealt” with Jesus, are now trying to figure out what to do with Peter and John. They are dumbfounded, but then the authorities come up with a plan; tell them to keep quiet:

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4: 13-31).

The authorities don’t know what to do. The miracle occurred; the people witnessed it. The lame man was standing before them healed. But they didn’t want Peter and John to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. Why? Because the authorities would lose their power. The authorities were so power hungry, so concerned for their petty fiefdoms, that they rejected what they knew to be true. The authorities “saw the man who had been cured standing beside them”, and “they had nothing to say in opposition.” What is more, they acknowledged that “it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it.” Yet, they try to; they order Peter and John to be silent.

We have to ask ourselves, how could the leaders deny the truth before them especially when it was so plain, and they knew it? They knew it!

Perhaps, the better question for you and me is: do we deny the truth of Jesus’ saving and healing power in our lives even though we know it to be true, or do we proclaim it with boldness as did Peter and John?

Let us pray: Almighty God, Your mighty works are seen in creation around us. You have shown us the depth of Your love in Your Son Jesus Christ who died for us on the cross and rose to new life. Open our mouths to proclaim the truth of Your love and the wonders of the miracles in our lives, and make us ever more like Christ in our actions. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

You Cannot Kill the Truth

The story in the Acts of the Apostles continues today, and we see the aftermath of the healing of the lame man. You will recall some of the names in this passage, namely Annas and Caiaphas, who were present when Jesus was tried before the Sanhedrin. Luke writes:

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.

The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4: 1-12).

Annas and Caiaphas, the Jewish leaders who wanted Jesus crucified, are now brought face to face with the reality and the power of the Resurrection. They had Jesus crucified thinking that it would all end, but try as they might, they cannot stop the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Standing before them now are Jesus’ disciples, those who ran away afraid when Jesus was arrested and crucified. They are now empowered to proclaim Jesus risen from the dead. No prison can stop Jesus’ disciples.

To be sure, there are forces in our world today which try to squelch the Truth of the Risen Christ. You and I are Jesus’ disciples now, and we are called to proclaim the power of His Resurrection not only with our lips, but in our lives, making the living Christ known to all. No earthly power or movement can kill the Risen Jesus. They tried it once before; it didn’t work. We are witnesses to that.

Let us pray: Living Father, You raised Jesus Christ from the dead after fear and hatred nailed Him to a cross; we pray that You breathe Your Holy Spirit into our souls so that we may proclaim the Risen Christ to the world and be living witnesses to the Resurrection. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

In Healing God's Saving Love Is Made Known

Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles picks up where we left off yesterday. Peter and John just healed the lame man and now the crowds are gathering:

When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out from the people.’ And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3: 12-26).

Peter knows and acknowledges that the lame man was healed through the power of Jesus Christ, the very person that the leaders of Israel rejected. The lame man was healed to make known God’s salvation in Jesus Christ, who brings everyone into right relationship not only with God, but with our neighbors. God’s love restores health and wholeness. That is the message that Peter preaches to those who witnessed the healing of the lame man. Peter uses the healing as an invitation to those who witnessed it to put their faith in Jesus.

Let us pray: Healing Father, You restored us to life in the life, death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May Your Holy Spirit sanctify us and open our hearts and minds to see the healing work done in our lives by Your Son who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

God Surprises Us With His Generosity

Today in the Acts of the Apostles, we hear about the works of healing performed by Peter and John:

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished. (Acts 3: 1-11).

Imagine the lame man’s surprise. There he was expecting a few coins, and his health was restored. He expected little, and gained a lot. You and I can be that way as well. Sometimes we expect little from God. Sometimes we don’t know how to ask or are even afraid to ask God. Everything is possible with God. When we least expect a miracle in our lives, God, in His loving generosity, gives us an abundance of graces. Just ask, and you’ll be surprised too.

Let us pray: Loving Father, sometime in our ignorance we do not know how to ask or in our blindness we are afraid to ask. You gave us the gift of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray that perfect prayer, “Your will be done.” Send Your Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to Your graciousness and fill us with Your life and holiness making us ever more like Christ and seeking Your will every day in our lives. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

Deborah, who is critically ill, her husband David, and their children Julie and Chris
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

All Who Believed Were Together and Had All Things in Common

Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles gives us a glimpse into the early community of Christians, and the impact that the Good News had on their lives. Today, we hear how they lived:

Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (Acts 2:38-47).

When I read this, I cannot help but see what the Holy Spirit is doing at St. Augustine’s. Take for example this weekend. On Saturday, the UBE Youth came to visit St. Augustine to learn the history of the community established 126 years ago. People from the congregation shared their stories. We prayed Morning Prayer together, and we ate breakfast as a community. Then the youth went to St. Vincent’s House to share their time and talents by painting a mural. On Sunday, we celebrated the Eucharist together, offered prayers in thanksgiving for the good work done by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Relief and Development and for Nikki, who made us a part of her life, and blessed her on her way. Then we all shared what we had with one another and the result was a feast! You and I are living in the Acts of the Apostles. Let us rejoice and be glad.

Let us pray: Gracious Father, we thank you for sharing Your Son, Jesus Christ with us, who saved us from our sins and restored us to relationship with You. Send Your Holy Spirit to infuse our lives with love for You and one another as we devote ourselves to praising You and growing in faith and love. Amen.

THANK YOU to everyone who made yesterday such a wonderful and tasty event! Dick and Lisa McGonigle broke in the smoker, and the chicken and ribs were delicious, not to mention everything else people brought to share. Not only did people bring food to share, but the Kitchen Shower was a success and has provided the community with a well stocked kitchen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS:

Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.

The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration, Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:

Deborah, who is critically ill, her husband David, and their children Julie and Chris
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Russ Viska who had a double bypass
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Roylene Lemons’ continued recovery from cancer surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling

Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550