ANDREW'S AFFIRMATION

  A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Genesis 19:1-17, 24-29 This passage has tons going on. From Lot’s welcoming of two angels into his home to Lot and his family attempting to escape Sodom and Gomorrah before God destroys it. Lot’s kindness is to be commended but his disobedience and disbelief results in tragedy. We find ourselves confused by Lot’s behavior. It is erratic in nature to say the least. In one instance, Lot is very hospitable. He insists on providing accommodation and food for the two angels that visit Sodom. In another instance, Lot is seen offering his two daughters up to the men of the city and inviting these men to his daughters as they please. Then, in another key moment, the angels urge Lot, saying, "Get up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be consumed in the punishment of the city." Lot disobeys the angels and lingers. The angels have no choice but to literally seize Lot and his wife and his two daughters by the ...

Saint Thomas Aquinas Collect: Almighty God, you have enriched your Church with the singular learning and holiness of your servant Thomas Aquinas: Enlighten us more and more, we pray, by the disciplined thinking and teaching of Christian scholars, and deepen our devotion by the example of saintly lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Saint Thomas Aquinas is known as one of the greatest teachers of Christianity. He was particulary concerned about the relationship of faith and reason. He produced a systematic statement of doctrine entitled Summa Theologica . He argued that God is the source of both the light of natural reason and the light of faith. Why is the Summa important? https://youtu.be/xLY8q61ZdXI Saint Thomas Aquinas also wrote many hymns, seven of which appear in The Hymnal 1982 (numbers 310, 311, 314, 320, 329, 330, and 331). Humbly I Adore Thee, Hidden Deity ( Adoro te devote ) by St. Thomas...

  A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Genesis 16:15-17:14 Then God said, “No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham.” In the original Hebrew language of the Torah, which is the first five books of our Old Testament, the name Abram literally means “ exalted father .” The name Abraham, however, contains another unused root word, which roughly means “ multitude .” Abraham translated literally, then, means “ father of a multitude .” Abram was the father of none but God was calling him to be the father of a multitude of God’s people. Even if Abram wanted to escape the burden of his name, God was increasing the burden. What current obstacles do we have in our life that not only keep us from the little goals we might have for ourselves but also cause us to think that the bigger goals God has for us are impossible? Hebrews 10:1-10 We will never attain perfection by following a set of rules. God never intended for us to be slaves to the law. It is only by th...

  Dear St. Andrew's family, The Rt. Rev. Dr. George Sumner will be celebrating Holy Eucharist at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Famers Branch on Sunday, February 6, 2022 @ 10:00am. The Rt. Rev. George Sumner was elected as the Seventh bishop for the Diocese of Dallas during a Special Convention in May 2015. His consecration was Nov. 14, 2015. As Bishop he oversees the administrative needs throughout the diocese and is chief pastor for more than 31,000 Episcopalians, 200 clergy and 100 congregations.  Prior to his election, Bishop Sumner served as Principal of Wycliffe College in Toronto, Canada. He was the dean of a growing seminary and was the chief administrator responsible for strategic planning; encouraging young, future priests; stewardship; building relations with Bishops; and overseeing Clergy's continuing education.  Ordained as an Episcopal priest in western Massachusetts in 1981, Bishop Sumner served in a variety of capacities: youth minister, missionary teach...

  A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Genesis 16:1-14 In this passage Sarai uses her slave-girl Hagar to satisfy her own selfish desires, and then deals harshly with Hagar when Sarai’s needs have been met. Have you ever acted like Sarai and taken advantage of someone for your personal gain? Have you ever found yourself in the position of Hagar - being thrown to the curb after having been taken advantage of? Unfortunately, such adversity is quite common. What helps us find strength to stand fast in adversity? We are told that the angel of the Lord found Hagar by a spring of water in the wilderness and said to her, "I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude. … Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael, for the Lord has given heed to your affliction.” God gives us confidence in the midst of our despair that enables us to endure hardship and persevere in living a godly and righteous life. Hebrews 9:15-28 Whe...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings On the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle Collect: O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Acts 26:9-21 Have you ever been so full of rage that you did things you later regretted? Saul was so filled with anger against the name of Jesus of Nazareth that he not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but he also cast his vote against them when they were being condemned to death. By punishing them often in all the synagogues, Saul tried to force them to blaspheme; and since he was so furiously enraged at them, he pursued them even to foreign cities. As his mind was consumed with evil though...