And the Dead Shall be Raised

Today we hear a word of hope from the fourth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians: 

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thes. 4: 13-18).

Although we profess that we believe in the resurrection of the dead, I do not think that we really appreciate what that truly means.  Paul tells us that when Christ comes again in power and great glory, that we too will be like the Risen Christ.  All things will be restored.  Now that is something to think about during this Easter season.

Let us pray:  O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WORK SO HARD TO PLANT THE OAK TREES.  We will bless the trees after the Eucharist next Sunday.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

ART CLASS WITH LEE RUNION: Friday evening (11 May) and Saturday morning (12 May).

MOTHER’S DAY is next Sunday!  Come to Church, you know that’s one of the best gifts you can give Mom.

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, and especially those who are ill, Lee Runion’s mother, the family of Rosella Watson who died last week, and for those who have no one to pray for them.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550