"6 Euro please."

On Saturday, Mary and I went to visit Christ Church Anglican Cathedral

in Dublin. As Mary walked through the doors and ventured in a few

steps, she met an attendant who asked for 6 Euro to be admitted. No 6

Euro, no Cathedral. On Sunday, there is no price for admittance as

long as you are attending a service. Although I would have preferred

to attend Sunday Eucharist at a regular neighborhood parish, I went to

the Cathedral, partly because I knew where it was.

Today's Gospel reading rang loudly in my ears this morning:

Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and

buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the

money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them,

‘It is written,

“My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a

den of robbers.’

The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them.

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that

he did, and heard* the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to

the Son of David’, they became angry and said to him, ‘Do you hear

what these are saying?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read,

“Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared

praise for yourself”?’ (Mt. 21:12-16).

On Sunday, I read the back of the service bulletin. It explained why

they charge 6 Euro to visit. These are hard economic times. The

budget to run the Cathedral is 1,200,000 Euro (about $1,500,000).

They have to cut back on their social service programs for the poor

and needy. The only way that they have to try to keep those programs

going is to charge tourists who visit the Cathedral. Even so, they

still have a deficit of 200,000 Euro this year.

Were they like the money changers in today's Gospel reading. I don't

think so. The tourists that come to visit by and large are not there

to pray but to see the glory of years past. The Cathedral is still

trying to do the work of building the Kingdom of God with fewer funds

and with fewer people.

Let us pray: Gracious God, even when times are hard, and especially

when times are hard, you call us to be Christ's hands and feet ,

helping those who are hurting among us. Help those who work with the

poor at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. Give them the grace of

Your Holy Spirit to continue when discouraged. Amen.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550

Good Can Come Out of Suffering

The Epistle reading today is from the fifth chapter of Paul to the Romans; he writes:

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Rm.5:1.11).

Life can be difficult. Paul knew it. But Paul also knew that suffering can have value. Just look at Jesus' passion and death. Both Paul and Jesus also knew that out of suffering good can come. With Jesus' death on the cross came the resurrection and salvation. With Paul's suffering, he learned to put his hope in God and to trust in God completely. When life becomes difficult, when life hurts, when our lives seem to be filled with pain, keep in mind Paul's words: "suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us."

Let us pray: Loving Father, we know that Your Son's death on the cross gave us life; when we are in pain, when we are suffering, pour Your Holy Spirit into our hearts so that we may trust in You completely and to live in the knowledge that You are present in our suffering and that we have the hope of the resurrection. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and today especially for those who are suffering, and for Gladys Simon, Pat Tate, for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital, for Carol Freeman's brother, Terry, who had surgery, and for Cindi Clack, and in thanksgiving for all God has done for us.

CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.

Your servant in Christ,

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

God's Justice May Not Seem Fair To Us

In today’s appointed Gospel reading, we learn about God’s justice:

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last. (Mt. 20: 1-16).

God’s justice and mercy are boundless. The person who lives according to God’s law at all times and the notorious sinner are both treated equally by God. God offers salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ, to both the person who is always good and the notorious sinner. Sometimes, in our eyes, that doesn’t seem fair. But our brand of justice and God’s are not the same. God offers unbounded love to everyone, even those we least expect.

Let us pray: Loving Father, You give us love and forgiveness of sins through Your Son, Jesus Christ; give us Your Holy Spirit so that we may see as Your Son sees, and so that we may be instruments of Your Kingdom to everyone we meet. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and today especially pray for Gladys Simon, Pat Tate, for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital, for Carol Freeman's brother, Terry, who had surgery, and for Cindi Clack, and in thanksgiving for all God has done for us.

CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Priorities

Today we hear from the Gospel according to Matthew where Jesus tells us:

“Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” (Mt. 19: 23-30).

Life is a matter of priorities. Jesus knows that things can distract us from our relationship not only with God but others. If we are attached to things, there is little room for God and others. If I put my possessions above all else, then my possessions possess me. But it is not just about possessions, we can be trapped by other things as well. Am I holding on to my anger for what someone did to me so that there is no room to see the love that others have for me? Am I holding on to a grudge against someone so that there is room for little else in my life?

Today Jesus is asking us what is important to each of us. What is important to you?

Let us pray: Gracious God, Your Son, Jesus Christ is asking us to be truthful about what is important to us. May Your Holy Spirit open our hearts to Your love and the love of others, and help us to let go of those things that do not bring us closer to You. Amen.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and today especially pray for Gladys Simon, Pat Tate, Carol Freeman's brother, Terry, for the newly baptized, Phineas and Sally, their parents and God-parents, and for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital.

CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Connected in Christ

This was quite a weekend; it was a time of coming together. It was a weekend which showed how interconnected our lives are and who connects us.

On Saturday, the Diocese of Texas joined together at Christ Church Cathedral for the ordination of 12 new deacons who will go to serve in various parts of the Diocese. Clergy came together from churches scattered about the State to process with those about to be ordained.

Sunday was Father’s Day, and the anniversary of my ordination to the diaconate. For the Eucharist, I wore the stole gifted to me by the people of St. Augustine on the occasion of my diaconate ordination, a symbol to my connection with St. Augustine in Galveston, the Diocese of Texas, the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

The Rev. Ron Pogue, who came to us from Trinity in Lawrence, Kansas, was our main celebrant and baptized twins, children of a friend of Ron and Gay’s son, who was the son of someone Ron went to high school with in Houston. Two new Christians came into the family of God who dwell on earth and in heaven.

Then Mary and I joined the kids for lunch in Houston for Father’s Day, and they gave me a book entitled “St. Augustine’s Prayer Book”, a devotional book published for members of the Episcopal Church by the Anglican monastic community the Order of the Holy Cross. The gift is special because it reflects my family’s participation in ministry and the connection with our Church family at St. Augustine.

All aspects of life came together on this weekend, and it all had a common theme which is expressed in today’s Epistle reading from Romans: “the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” We are all joined together through faith in Jesus Christ, and it was wondrous to behold the reality of that this weekend: ordinations, baptisms and Father’s Day.

Let us pray: Gracious Father, we are thankful for all of the gifts that You have bestowed upon us, and most especially for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ; may we be made one body through Your Holy Spirit, we ask this of You who are God, holy and one, now and forever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and most especially for the newly baptized, Phineas and Sally, their parents and God-parents, and for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital.

Your servant in Christ,

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

Juneteenth

One of the Psalms appointed for today is Psalm 91:

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.’
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling-place,
no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder,
the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them,
and show them my salvation.

Tomorrow is known as Juneteenth Day in Texas. On 19 June 1865, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which had become official 1 January1863.

I wonder if those living in Galveston, during those troubled times, had the words of Psalm 91 on their lips. I wonder what the celebration was like, if only in their hearts, after they received the news. I imagine there were prayers offered in thanksgiving to God who stood by them in the most difficult of times, and who showed them salvation and freed them from their oppressors.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Sue and Sean Coleman who are preparing for a serious medical operation at the end of the month for Sue.

THIS SUNDAY IS FATHER’S DAY, please remember those who have been fathers to you.

2 BAPTISMS THIS SUNDAY: We will have 2 baptisms this Sunday. The Rev. Dr. Ron Pogue will be our celebrant and preacher and he will baptize twins. The parents are friends of his son.

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION: In honor of Father’s Day, and because many people will want to celebrate Father’s Day, we will not be holding the class this Sunday, or the 2 following Sundays after that as Mary and I will be away. Adult Christian Education will resume on Sunday, 11 July 2010 with Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?

Your servant in Christ,

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

Do Not Let Hurt Fester

The Gospel reading appointed for today is from Matthew; Jesus tells his disciples:

If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. (Mt. 18: 15-20).

Too many times, even in Church, we can let things that other people have done to us sit there and fester like a sore. Today, Jesus tells us not to let things fester. If you have a problem with someone, let them know. Do not let things build up until there is an explosion. However, we must remember to do this in a Christ like way, with kindness and forgiveness. This can be difficult, but we are called to do it.

Let us pray: Loving Father, help us to act like Your Son Jesus when someone has hurt us. We ask you to guide us with Your Holy Spirit to say and to do the right things.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Sue and Sean Coleman.

THIS SUNDAY IS FATHER’S DAY, please remember those who have been fathers to you.

2 BAPTISMS THIS SUNDAY: We will have 2 baptisms this Sunday. The Rev. Dr. Ron Pogue will be our celebrant and preacher and he will baptize twins. The parents are friends of his son.

ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Every Sunday in the nave at 11:00 a.m. Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks Or Maybe Something Else?

Your servant in Christ,

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