Good News Spreads Quickly

One of the appointed readings for today is taken from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10:

 

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.  We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

 

Good news spreads quickly.  The Thessalonians accepted the Good News of Jesus Christ, and they lived it out.  Their living out the Good News spread to the neighboring regions.  Have you and I at St. Augustine’s received the Good News the same way the Thessalonians did?  Has the word spread about the impact that the Good News of Jesus has had in our lives?  If not, then we need to reassess how we are living our lives.  As St. Francis said, we should always preach the Gospel, and when necessary, use words.

 

Let us pray:  All powerful and ever living God, we thank you for showing us your face in Jesus Christ, and we thank you for his saving work.  Send your Holy Spirit to make our hearts burn with the Good News and to spread the Word to everyone that we meet.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Sharing Our Faith Dinner will be Thursday evening at the Putmans’ home on 1718 Avenue N at 7 p.m.  Please let Stacy know if you are coming by calling her at 832-382-4463.

 

The Seaside Seniors will meet this Thursday at 11 A.M. in Sutton Hall.  The theme is Cinco de Mayo, and turkey tacos are on the menu.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Julie, Pat, Lee Runion’s mother, and Patricia.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550