Martin Luther: Reformer

Today the Episcopal Church remembers a Reformer, Martin Luther.  Recently while I was visiting with Roman Catholic friends from Ireland, they said: “I read what Martin Luther advocated at the time of the Reformation, and he was right, and now the Roman Catholic Church agrees with what he said and made many of the changes he advocated were passed during Vatican II in the 1960s, but the Roman Catholic Church excommunicated him then.  How could the Roman Catholic Church have been right at the time?”  My answer: sometimes institutions, and those who have a vested interest in them, let things like power, wealth, “it’s the way we’ve always done it” attitude; blind our eyes to the need for change and renewal.  Martin Luther recognized that the Church is always in need or reformation.  He had the courage to step out and to engage the powers that be to work for renewal and reformation.  So today we remember that Augustinian monk who was born in 1483 and died in 1546, who taught theology at a new university in Germany, Wittenberg, who translated Holy Scripture into the language of his people and did the same with the liturgies of the Church, and we give thanks to God for those who have the courage to challenge the greater Church to renewal and reformation.

 

Let us pray:  O God, our refuge and our strength, who raised up your servant Martin Luther to reform and renew your Church in the light of your word: Defend and purify the Church in our own day and grant that, through faith, we may boldly proclaim the riches of your grace, which you have made known in Jesus Christ our Savior, who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Thursday, 20 February 2014: the Seaside Seniors meet at Sutton Hall at St. Augustine’s at 11 A.M. to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day.

 

Join the Absalom Jones Eucharistic Celebration: Come Saturday, 22 February at 11 A.M. to St. James', Houston, and meet the seven diocesan Black clergy and enjoy the musical talents of St. James’ Young Dancers and The Jazz Ensemble.  Enjoy a great lunch and a lively panel discussion on "Fifty Years Later: The State of Racism in America." St. James is located at 3129 Southmore Blvd. in Houston.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Pat, Patricia, Karen and Xavier and the Daniel’s children to be baptized this Sunday.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550