Sunday Services

Sunday School - 9:30 am

Holy Communion - 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays, 10:30 am

Morning Prayer - 2nd and 4th Sundays, 10:30 am

Thursday Services

Evening Prayer/Bible Study, 7 pm

Reaching out to the least, the lonely, and the lost

Holy Communion Service at Friendship South

2nd and 4th Sundays, 2:30 pm

Thoughts from the Lectionary: The Fourth Sunday after Trinity

From the Gospel Lesson: St. Luke 6:36 – 42

Vss:41&42 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.

This portion of Scripture takes place in the greater context of many works that Christ has performed at the temple and in other places. Some of those works He has performed (particularly the ones on the Sabbath) angered the religious leaders of His day. He speaks several times in the chapter. He mentions the folly of the blind leading the blind and illustrates the palpable difference between following the “letter of the law” whilst ignoring the heart of it. He points out the hypocrisy of those who think themselves to be perfectly righteous and above others in their standing before God and mankind. He warns those to whom He is speaking not to think of themselves as pristine when they are not and calls upon them to consider their state before endeavoring to point out imperfections in others.

We who are in Christ should always consider our own blemishes before attempting to aid others in their walk before God. We should be sure to remove the 2X4 from our own eyes before trying to wipe the specs out of the eyes of mankind.

Blessings,

Fr. Duane+