Today is the anniversary of my priestly ordination, and it is also the day when the Church remembers St. Agnes who died on this day in 304. One of the selected readings for her day is taken from the Gospel according to Matthew where we read:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Mt. 18:1-6).
This is a thought provoking reading on the anniversary of one’s ordination. Being a priest is an awesome responsibility. Priests have individuals entrusted to their care. May I never lead anyone astray; may I never be a stumbling block to those entrusted to my care. May I always keep close to my heart what the Bishop told me at my ordination:
As a priest, it will be your task to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fashion your life in accordance with its precepts. You are to love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor. You are to preach, to declare God's forgiveness to penitent sinners, to pronounce God's blessing, to share in the administration of Holy Baptism and in the celebration of the mysteries of Christ's Body and Blood, and to perform the other ministrations entrusted to you.
In all that you do, you are to nourish Christ's people from the riches of his grace, and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come. (BCP, p. 531).
Let us pray: O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were being cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Diocesan Council in the Woodlands, Texas, 6 & 7 February 2015. Michelle Allen will be our lay delegate.
Sunday, 8 February at 11 AM: training for Lay Eucharistic Visitors.
Sunday, 15 February at 11 AM: Adult Christian Education, Dr. Ahmed will join us to conclude Focus on Islam.
Al-Anon in Spanish meets Thursday evenings at 6 PM in Sutton Hall.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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