Jesus’ Mission Is One of Reconciliation

The Gospel reading for the Daily Prayer of the Church is taken from the 15^th chapter of the Gospel according to Luke:

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’  (Lk. 15: 1-10).

Jesus’ mission is one of reconciliation; he came to call sinners back into relationship with God.  Since we are all sinners, Jesus came to call all of us back into relationship with God.  Some of us can be like the Pharisees in Luke’s Gospel believing that somehow we are not as sinful as the next person might be.  But the fact of the matter is that all of us have fallen short, and all of us are redeemed by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and things seen and unseen rejoice when one of us sinners returns into our Father’s arms.

Let us pray:  If we claim to be sinless, we are self-deceived and strangers to the truth. If we confess our sins, God is just, and may be trusted to forgive our sins and cleanse us from every kind of wrong. Most loving God, we thank you for your pardon and forgiveness. By the power of your Spirit within, enable us to overcome temptation and evil, keep us securely in the fellowship of your Church, and as we live daily in your presence, grant victory, peace, and joy, through the merits of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE.  ARE YOU READY?

CALENDAR REMINDERS

St. Augustine’s Community Garden is on the Garden Tour on the Island this weekend.

Gospel by the Sea, 8 June 2013.

EFM begins in the fall.  Please contact Tammie Taylor to sign-up.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially all of the victims of the recent tornadoes in North Texas and in Oklahoma. During this graduation season, please remember all of those who are graduating from high schools and universities, and all of those who are traveling.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550