God Does Miracles With Our Meager Offerings

The selected Gospel passage for the Church’s daily prayer is taken from the first fifteen verses of the 6^th chapter of the Gospel according to John:

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. (Jn. 6: 1-15).

There was a boy here who had 5 barley loaves and 2 fish.  The boy freely gave what he had to Jesus who took the boy’s offering and fed the multitude, and there were 12 baskets of leftovers.  Jesus takes what we have and he does the miraculous with it.  We bring to Jesus our meager gifts and he fills the hungry with much more to spare.  Turn over to Jesus what you have, and see what miracles come from it.

Let us pray:  Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

This Wednesday, 13 March, at 6:00 pm, we will host the 4^th in the Lenten Series.  Please remember we need to feed about 90 people. Our speaker will be the Rev. Canon John Newton, the Canon for Lifelong Formation in the Diocese of Texas.  John is responsible for casting a vision for lifelong Christian formation in the Diocese of Texas by building teams, networks and relationships that clarify our vision and that empower us to live into it. The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation, approved by General Convention in 2009, compels the Church to minister to people of all ages, races and life situations so that all people become mature in the Christian faith. Lifelong Christian formation includes a heavy emphasis on Christian education. John’s vocation is to work throughout the parishes and institutions as an ambassador for the diocese. His vocation is to preach, teach, guide, shape, clarify, listen, articulate, and empower so that we can grow up into Christ together and joyfully live into our Baptismal Covenant.

Sunday, 17 March, we will have our regularly scheduled Bishop’s Committee meeting immediately following the 9:00 a.m. service.

The Seaside Seniors will meet in Sutton Hall on Thursday, 21 March.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550