Third Sunday after Epiphany, January 22nd, 2023

 Third Sunday after Epiphany, January 22nd, 2023

When reading the Good Book, I have to admit that I prefer the King James Version.  But oftentimes I will look at other translations to compare and contrast.  In the Epistle to the Romans (King James Version), St. Paul writes:  "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)    But look at what the New Living Translation version of this same verse states:  "Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good."  Either way you look at it, St. Paul could give the very same advice to us living today:  Don't give in to evil.  Don't let evil win over you.  Don't let evil win.  So often in the world in which we live, we just immediately give in to our emotions.  We get mad at what someone says or does and we end up doing exactly the same thing as what we are getting mad about.  If someone calls us a name, what do we do?  We do the same thing.  We call them a name.  If we find out someone is spreading gossip about us, what do we do?  We indulge in the gossip too.  And in the modern, technological age in which we live, treating others badly is oh so easy to do, wouldn't you agree?  If someone says something nasty about us, we can write a nasty post and put it on social media.  This way the whole world can see you getting back at the person, right?   The problem is that it never ends there, does it?  The other person responds and other people may get involved too and it goes from there.  But this is the point which St. Paul is making.  He is acknowledging that there is evil in the world.  He is not denying that people are going to do bad things at times to slander you, hurt you, make you feel bad.  And without a doubt feeling hurt and abused is never easy.  But St. Paul also wants us to remember that we are Christians.  And Christians are called to act differently from how the world acts.  Christians are called to be different.  Christians are called to be Christ-like as hard as that may be at times.  "Don't let evil conquer you," St Paul wrote.  Satan wants us to confront evil with evil.  He wants us to reply to hatred with more hatred.  Satan wants to see us fight with one another.  Who do you think is stirring the pot when it comes to confrontations we get into?  But St. Paul is reminding us to be Christ-like, as difficult as they may be.  "Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good."  

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.