With God's Power Working In Us, We Can Do Infinitely More Than We Could Ever Imagine

The selected Epistle reading from today’s Daily Office is taken from Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus, and Paul writes:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Eph. 3: 14-21).

In his letter to the Church in Ephesus is a work in ecclesiology, i.e., the study of the church.  In it, Paul describes the worldwide Church with Christ as its head, whose purpose is to be the instrument for making God’s plan of salvation known throughout all of the world. Paul’s ecclesiology is anchored in God’s saving love, shown in Jesus Christ, and the whole of redemption is rooted in the plan and accomplishment of the triune God. The language is often that of doxology and prayer of liturgy and hymns. Today’s passage is certainly a most beautiful prayer for the Church.  The last line is the clincher—“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.”  With Christ, you and I as the Church, the Body of Christ, can do infinitely more than we could ever, in our wildest dreams, imagine.  All we have to do it to let go of our fears and selfishness, and let God’s grace work in us and through us transforming not only our lives, but the lives of others.  That is our prayer!

 

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 54^th, Suite 200 Galveston, Texas 77551.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially those going with the Living Waters mission trip to dig 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, Texas 77550