Do you see what God wants you to do yet fail to do it?

The Daily Office continues with the Gospel according to Matthew, and today we read:

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.  (Mt. 21:23-32).

Those clever chief priests thought that they could trap Jesus, but try as they did, they never could.  Today’s passage is about authority and doing God’s will.  The clincher is in the last sentence: “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”  The professional religionists, the chief priests, did not believe what John the Baptizer was about.  John told the people that the time to repent had come, that the long awaited Messiah was near.  The least likely believed, while the professional religionists did not.  Where do you fall?  Do you see what God wants you to do yet fail to do it?  

Let us pray:  Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our  being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by  your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

SUMMER ART SERIES AT ST. AUGUSTINE’S:  10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Saturdays

         July 7: Signs and symbols found in all cultures, make your own sign

         July 14: Guardian Angels - guest artist Mary Ann Hasty, Native American

         July 21: Mandela's, African Shields

         July 28: Collage and the art of Mexico

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550