Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, September 4th, 2022

 Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, September 4th, 2022

In the Third Chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, we hear the following:  ". . . not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." (2 Corinthians 3:4)  St. Paul is emphasizing the point to the church at Corinth that it is only through God, that we have sufficiency to do anything.  You see, the church at Corinth had to be reminded that they should always acknowledge that any greatness they have comes not from themselves but from God.  If this was a problem two thousand years ago, it is certainly a problem today.  In other words, does greatness come from man or does greatness come from God?  In today's society, where our technology is so wonderful, it lulls us into a sense that we can do anything.  With our computers, with our tablets, with our smart phones, we can surf the web and look up movie times, and find out information, we can make reports, and take videos and pictures of ourselves for the whole world to see.  We can live in fancy houses and eat at fancy restaurants and live in wonderful neighborhoods.  We can push ourselves to the limit, whether it be at our jobs, or in the gym, or working on home projects where we live.  We are capable of truly doing magnificent things.  And, yet, if we do not have God in our lives, we are fooled into thinking that we are the reason for this greatness.  If we have gotten into the habit of not going to church, not reading the Word of God, and not praying,  God becomes absent from our lives.  So, looking at it in that context, it is easily understandable why people are so "full of themselves" and take the credit for all of their success.

" . . . . but our sufficiency is of God . . . "  Yes, humanity has done many wonderful things and is capable of doing many wonderful things.  But any greatness that we possess was endowed to us by our Creator.  Any success that we have was bestowed upon us by God.  Any knowledge that we have to solve the problems of the world were given to us by Our Heavenly Father.  And this is why we should continually thank God for all the blessings that He has bestowed on us.  You know, as parents, we try to teach our children to say "Thank you" each time that they are given something.  "Remember to say 'Thank You'."  "Say 'Thank You.'"  And we hope that this simple act of courtesy will be instilled in them so that they will not only be courteous but will also allow them to be grateful for what they have been given.  Well, I don't know about you, but in the society that we live in today, very often I find people that do not say "Thank You," . . .  or "Please," for that matter.  And what is our response to those types of people?  More than likely, irritation that someone can be so rude as to not show common courtesy to say a simple "Thank You" when given something.  I tell you it's the same exact way when we don't say "Thank You" to God for the blessings that He has bestowed on us.  When we experience something good, we should get in the habit of thanking God.  When we are given something worthwhile, we should get in the habit to thank God.  If we do not regularly thank God for the blessings He has bestowed on us, we are exactly like that rude person we meet that does not show common courtesy or human decency when we do something for them.

Let us always acknowledge that "our sufficiency is of God" and to always make a point to acknowledge the blessings and to always be courteous to Our Heavenly Father and always show our thanks and gratitude.

St. Margaret Church worships every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

NOTE:  Keep in mind that we must enter in the main entrance of the lobby and sign in before we go to the chapel.  

Please Join us as we gather together as God's family to:  hear the Word of God; listen as God speaks to each one of us in our hearts; worship God in song and in word; listen to the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer; and, finally, receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion so that we can be nourished for the journey we call life.  Take one hour out of your busy schedule to worship God, to honour God, to acknowledge the need for God in your life.