A Penitential Cry

One of the appointed Psalms for today is Psalm 130, and it is a penitential cry:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.

   Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
   to the voice of my supplications!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
   Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
   so that you may be revered.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
   and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
   more than those who watch for the morning,
   more than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
   For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
   and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
   from all its iniquities.

Which one of us could stand if the Lord marked our sins?  I know that I could not.  Yet with God there is forgiveness.  God knows the depths of our hearts.  God knows that try as we might, we will fail.  Nevertheless, God does not count us as lost; rather, God is always there to lift us up.  God is there to redeem us from all of our iniquities.

Let us pray:  Now there is rejoicing in heaven; for you were lost, and are found; you were dead, and are now alive in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Abide in peace.  The Lord has put away all your sins.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

Blessing of the animals for St. Francis on Saturday, 13 October at 11:00 a.m. on the lawn in front of the cross.

The Adult Christian Education series on the Lord’s Prayer continues this Sunday. Please join the Bains for this wonderful study.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially all of those who are ill, including Patricia.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550