We hear from chapter 5 of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians where he tells us that certain activities are destructive to the person and the community, but he has a remedy:
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal. 5: 6-24).
Paul’s list is pretty extensive: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness and carousing. All of us know people whose lives and the lives of others have been destroyed by these activities. In today’s language we might call it “self-destructive behavior”, “addiction”, and “anti-social behavior”.
Paul has a remedy for addiction, self-destructive and anti-social behavior. He tells the Galatians and us that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are just what the doctor ordered. That doctor is the healer of all things, Jesus Christ. Paul invites us to go to the doctor and get our medicine. So during this season, load up on vitamin C, take a dose of love, get an infusion of joy, peace and patience, take a spoonful of kindness, a shot of generosity, wrap yourself in faithfulness and gentleness and a take dose of self-control. You’ll feel better in the morning.
BE CAREFUL AND KEEP WARM DURING THIS COLD WEATHER.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
5 February: Celebrating the Life of Absalom Jones, Eucharist Service, officiated by the Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Church Cathedral. Special Guest: The Rev. Canon Harold T. Lewis – Luncheon speaker following the service. The luncheon, featuring Treebeards specials, will be at the Great Hall starting about 11:30 a.m. The Rev. Canon Lewis will also be book signing his new release A Church for the Future. We have 5 people from St. Augustine going thus far: Liz Mack, Tammie Taylor, Melva Pope, Pat Tate, Sherman Boyer and myself. We have room for 2 more: any takers?
11 and 12 February: the 162nd Diocesan Council in the Woodlands.
12 February: St. Valentine’s Day Dance at St. Augustine.
13 February at the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist, the Renewal of Marriage Vows.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and especially Vincent Uher who is ill.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal. 5: 6-24).
Paul’s list is pretty extensive: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness and carousing. All of us know people whose lives and the lives of others have been destroyed by these activities. In today’s language we might call it “self-destructive behavior”, “addiction”, and “anti-social behavior”.
Paul has a remedy for addiction, self-destructive and anti-social behavior. He tells the Galatians and us that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are just what the doctor ordered. That doctor is the healer of all things, Jesus Christ. Paul invites us to go to the doctor and get our medicine. So during this season, load up on vitamin C, take a dose of love, get an infusion of joy, peace and patience, take a spoonful of kindness, a shot of generosity, wrap yourself in faithfulness and gentleness and a take dose of self-control. You’ll feel better in the morning.
BE CAREFUL AND KEEP WARM DURING THIS COLD WEATHER.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
5 February: Celebrating the Life of Absalom Jones, Eucharist Service, officiated by the Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Church Cathedral. Special Guest: The Rev. Canon Harold T. Lewis – Luncheon speaker following the service. The luncheon, featuring Treebeards specials, will be at the Great Hall starting about 11:30 a.m. The Rev. Canon Lewis will also be book signing his new release A Church for the Future. We have 5 people from St. Augustine going thus far: Liz Mack, Tammie Taylor, Melva Pope, Pat Tate, Sherman Boyer and myself. We have room for 2 more: any takers?
11 and 12 February: the 162nd Diocesan Council in the Woodlands.
12 February: St. Valentine’s Day Dance at St. Augustine.
13 February at the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist, the Renewal of Marriage Vows.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and especially Vincent Uher who is ill.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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