Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people.

The appointed Gospel reading for the Daily Prayer of the Church comes from the Gospel according to Luke:

 

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’

 

Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’ (Lk. 13:1-9).

 

Bad things happen to good people.  Good things happen to bad people.  It is our response that matters. Whatever happens to us, God is ever present and Emmanuel, God with us. Whether bad things befall us or good thing happen to us, God calls us to live lives that bear fruit. 

 

Let us pray:  Lord Christ, give us the grace to know that in you, our Emmanuel, that God is ever present and may we bear fruit in your name.  Amen.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  The Lujan family is in need to 2 couches.  If anyone has a couch they are trying to find a home for, this would be a great place.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Adult Christian Education: Focus on Islam.  We concluded our review of the book.  The next session for this class will be when Dr. Ahmed Ahmed will join us for a question and answer session.  Once the date is finalized, I will announce it.

 

Sunday Screening Mammogram Program at St. Augustine on November 16, 2014.  Please get the word out on this important project.  They can contact Karen Lidstone at klidston@utmb.edu.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially Patricia Florence’s family.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550