Sell all you have, give it to the poor and come follow me.

The Daily Prayer of the Church continues with the Gospel according to Matthew in this last week of the Church year:

Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Then someone came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these; what do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.  (Mt. 19:13-22).

This Gospel passage can be troubling for many people, and few Christians take this to heart.  One Christian who did take it to heart was St. Francis who lived this Gospel passage to the fullest.  Francis gave up all that he had and lived the life of a beggar spreading the Gospel by the way he lived his life and when necessary he used words.  It did not take long before many people who saw the way Francis lived wanted to join him and his way of life, and so the Order of Friars Minor, now known as the Franciscans, was born.  That order still takes to heart the words in today’s Gospel passage. 

Let us pray:  Gracious God, give us the grace not to be attached to material things, and give us the strength to put you and your kingdom first,  We ask all this through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit now and forever.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

World Aids Day is December 1, and St. Augustine’s will host the event on the Island.

This Advent for our Adult Christian Formation we will use the writings of C.S. Lewis.  Please join us at 11:00 a.m.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550