Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

The Old Testament lesson appointed for today comes from the Book of Job.  It is the beginning of the story:

 

There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another’s houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, ‘It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.’ This is what Job always did.

 

One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.’ Then Satan answered the Lord, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

 

One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.’

 

Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshipped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’  In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing. (Job 1:1-22).

 

Within 22 verses, Job goes from being a wealthy man with a large family to being penniless and alone.  In the Hebrew, ha-satan (the accuser) argues that Job would not be such a great person if he lost everything.  The accuser says that the only reason Job loves God is because Job has everything a person could possibly want.  Take everything away from Job, and he will curse God.  Even after losing everything and, more importantly, everyone, “Job … fell on the ground and worshipped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’”  How many of us truly appreciate that everything we have is God’s.  The Old Testament tells us in 1 Chronicles, “all things come from you O Lord, and of your own have we given you,” and as Paul says in Acts, “in God we live, move and have our being.”  Everything, even our very existence is God’s.  Everything is God’s gift.

 

Let us pray:  Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

LIFE STORY WRITING GROUP: Enjoy listening and sharing your written stories. Leave a legacy as you develop quality writing. 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Eaton Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of September through December with 8 2 hour sessions. Confidential environment, No tests, No grades, writing skills of all levels. Limited to 14 people. $25 fee to Trinity (Register in Eaton Hall) Contact: Alison Barker at jerryalisonbarker@gmail.com or Meredith Griffin at meredith.marie.griffin@gmail.com

 

The Feast Day of St. Augustine and our 130th Anniversary: Sunday, 24 August 2014 with Eucharist Rite II and a brunch following.  Please invite everyone to this festive and historic occasion. The preacher will be the Rev. Freda Marie Brown and the main celebrant will be the Rev. Dr. Helen Appelberg.  We will also baptize Arianna Rene Martin-Lujan.

 

Blessing of the Backpacks: Sunday, 31 August 2014.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Lee’s mother, Lee and his family, Gladys, Pat, Patricia, Lloyd, Liz, those in war torn areas, and for all those persecuted for their faith.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550