The Ways of the World Are Not the Ways of God's Kingdom

The appointed reading for the daily prayer of the Church, the Daily Office, is taken from the Gospel according to Matthew.  While serious, there is a bit of Biblical humor in it: 

When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, ‘What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?’ Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. The demons begged him, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.’ And he said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. (Mt. 8:24-32).

You can rest assured there were no Jewish swineherds. Pigs were considered to be unclean animals and it was against Jewish law to eat port.  Pork would have been eaten by the Romans, so the pigs belonged to the occupying force.  The occupying force of Romans and their violent tactics to keep the peace were the ways of “the world”—governing through might.  Jesus told his disciples, who were in “the world” not be to “part of the world”, i.e., the Christian was not to “lord it over others” by using might. Jesus drives the demons away, into the pigs that were food for the occupying force.  This would not have been lost on the Matthew’s readers.  Notice that it is the swineherds who run off to tell the others about what happened, and they begged Jesus to leave.  Might does not abide the way of peace.  Might considers peace to be weak.  Jesus tells us that in God’s kingdom peace is might.

Let us pray:  Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 
Pentecost is next Sunday, please wear red.

The Galveston Police Department will hold its 29th Citizens Police Academy at the Grand 1894 Opera House in Edna’s Room.  Classes will begin on Thursday, 7 June 2012, and meet each Thursday night through 16 August 2012 from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. There is no charge for the class or materials. The Citizens Police Academy offers insight into Officer Recruitment and Training, Criminal Investigation, S.W.A.T., Crime Scene Investigation, the K-9 Unit, Firearms Training, Vice and Narcotics and much, much more. Don’t miss this “Grand Opportunity” to learn about Galveston’s Police Department – what they do and why they do it.  This is also a great opportunity to become more involved in your community, network with others throughout the community, and ultimately come together in partnership with your police department to improve your community. Applicants should be 18 years of age or older and either live or work in the City of Galveston. Due to the sensitive subject matter applicants will be subjected to a background check. Participants must attend at least 9 classes to successfully complete the course.  You may register at galvestonpolice.net or print and mail a completed application to: Galveston Police Dept., Attn: Sgt. Destin Sims, 601 54th, Suite 200 Galveston, Texas 77551.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially those going with the Living Waters mission trip to dig water wells in Central America, Melva Pope, Bob Newding, Xavier and Marcy who are newly married, Patricia Robinson all of those with ailments of the throat and esophagus, all who are ill and those who have no one to pray for them.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas77550