onewhoponders

Pondering for Friday, February 27, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Friday after the First Sunday of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 40 and 54; Evening, Psalm 51;

Genesis 40:1 to 23; 1^st Corinthians 3:16 to 23; Mark 2:13 to 22:

“Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and peoplecame and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” (Mark 2:18)

I can still remember my parents asking me if my friends went and jumped off a cliff, would I do it too? Peer pressure and new fads and even old traditions sometimes should be called into question.

Because “it has always been done that way” doesn’t mean it should always be done that way. Everybody does something a certain way and too often it becomes expected that all must do it the same way. This moves into the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and all other social and cultural trends we are “peered” into. There is something to be said for “dare to be different.” This is especially true if one has set down and really thought about habits and practices. In our Episcopal Church, Holy Communion used to be a once or twice a month tradition before the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. After that, and ever since, every Sunday is considered the Feast Day of our Lord. Wasn’t it always? In this Gospel reading of Mark, Levi (Matthew) is invited to “follow” Jesus. He did. He quit what he had always done to do the Lord’s work. When opportunity knocks…

Enough cannot be said about pondering over decisions before acting. Let us again review Blaise Pascal who said, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” I would say then, that after pondering over a practice (or anything), all activities around the practice may also have to change as well. My morning ponderings and daily exercise program require me to rise early in the morning. Therefore, I have had to adjust my sleep habits in order to accommodate this schedule. In this same Gospel reading for today our Lord Jesus says, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins” (Mark 2:22). My new wine of blogging and working out would not work in the old wineskin of going to bed at 10 or 11 pm. There are adjustments to adjustments.

Today we remember George Herbert, Priest and Poet (February 27, 1633) and his information may be found at: George Herbert

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: For the Future of the Human Race (BCP p. 828)

O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making provision for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Pondering for Thursday, February 26, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Thursday after the First Sunday of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 50; Evening, Psalms 19 and 46;

Genesis 39:1 to 23; 1^st Corinthians 2:14 to 3:15; Mark 2:1 to 12:

“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? (Mark 2: 9)

Even today, in too many cases, medical science is not able to restore nerve tissue that would enable a paralyzed person to walk again when that nerve has been severed. So forgiving others, while not impossible, is the easier of the two.

Forgiveness can be taught in the family but often families will tend to see the incident as plain bad behavior, thus, making forgiveness hard to come by. Forgiveness can be hard to come by internationally also. Sometimes cruelty can paralyze even nations who are crippled by their own ideas of what they think is “rightfully” theirs as in the Russia – Ukraine war.

Maybe forgiveness begins in the Church with corporate pardon. A classic example of this is the Amish community of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the milk truck driver attacking their school house. On October 2^nd 2006, 10 Amish girls were shot in their school house by Charles Carl Roberts IV who took hostages and shot eight out of ten girls (aged 6–13), killing five, before committing suicide in the schoolhouse.

Five died and five survived – and their families immediately bestowed their forgiveness.” Also, On the day of the shooting, a grandfather of one of the murdered Amish girls was heard warning some young relatives not to hate the killer, saying, “We must not think evil of this man.” Another Amish father noted, “He had a mother and a wife and a soul and now he’s standing before a just God:” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Nickel_Mines_School_shooting). The point is, this Amish community is a Church that really practices what it means to forgive.

We all should practice forgiveness at home, in Church, in school, at work, nationally and internationally. Perhaps it starts in our spiritual families. The continual reading, studying, discussing, and above all, praying and practicing forgiveness, will help all of us to at least look at the healing power of forgiveness. Maybe forgiveness of self is the first step to nerve regeneration. Maybe, just maybe, our Lord Jesus had it right all along, “Your sins are forgiven, stand up and take your mat and walk.”

Today we remember Photini, The Samaritan Woman at the well, (c. 67) and her information may be found at: Photini

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (BCP p. 360)

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

Pondering for Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the First Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:49 to 72; Evening, Psalm 49;

Genesis 37:25-36; 1st Corinthians 2:1 to 13; Mark 1:29 to 45:

“In the morning, while it was still very dark, he [Jesus] got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

Whether you believe our Lord Jesus is God Incarnate, or the Son of God apart from God, you must take note of Jesus’ life of prayer. The praying referred to in the passage above is tucked between healings. On one side, before he prayed, “he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons” (Mark 1: 34). On the other side, after he prayed, he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons (Mark 1: 39). This work of healing and casting out demons was fortified by prayer. People, prayer works.

In these acts of prayer our Lord Jesus is teaching us the power of prayer as well as the importance of prayer. The Mystic, Evelyn Underhill, writes “We pray first because we believe something; perhaps at that stage a very crude or vague something. And with the deepening of prayer, its patient cultivation, there comes – perhaps slowly, perhaps suddenly – the enrichment and enlargement of belief, as we enter into a first-hand communion with the Reality who is the object of our faith.” (Lent with Evelyn Underhill p.17; taken from The School of Charity)

You and I are products of God’s prayer. God began creation by praying. “Let there be,” as witnessed in the opening of Genesis. With such words all creation was called into being. The same “Word” that called all creation into being took on human form and dwelt among us. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being” (John 1:1 to 3).

Everything about us comes from prayer, God’s prayer. We are prayer. Therefore, we surely ought to be praying. God still prays. In fact, we never initiate prayer to God. Given that God prays first, when we pray, we are always responding to God. This is true even when we think we are asking for something for the first time. God is always ahead of us knowing our need before we ask.

As I truly believe this, I also believe God is the God of love and peace. I want us then to respond to God’s desire for human peace asking for an immediate end to all war in the world. This might require all believers to find a deserted place, even within our own homes, and there, pray for peace.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us Pray as our Lord and Savior taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pondering for Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the First Week of Lent: Year2

Morning, Psalm 45; Evening, Psalms 47 and 48:
Genesis 37:12-24; 1^st Corinthians 1:20 to 31; Mark 1:14 to 28:

“Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.” (1^st Corinthians 1:26)

Paul must have been looking into the future, and at me, when he wrote these words. In school, I was not wise by human standards, I am not powerful or of noble birth. And yet, I discern a real sense of God’s call on my life.

When I look at God’s call in the Bible, I realize that there are certain characteristics that such a call consists of. We have many calls from God in scripture: Abraham, Debra, Rebecca, Moses, Elijah, Amos, Mary, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, and Paul, only to name a very few. There are many more in the Bible and a great many more beyond the Bible. God calls both male and female. In every case, there are human risks involved, even human, or mortal death.

God’s call is inconvenient, untimely, cost money, and is always for the benefit of others, not the one called. If you see these things in what you think is a call from God, then, I believe it really is a call from God. But know this, you can’t really lose. God will keep you in eternity no matter what happens to you. God wins every time.

Today we remember Matthias the Apostle (February 24 NT), and his information may be found at: St. Matthias the Apostle

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: For all Christians in their vocation (BCP p. 256)

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pondering for Monday, February 23, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Monday after the First Sunday of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 41 and 52; Evening, Psalm 44;

Genesis 37:1 to 11; 1^st Corinthians 1:1 to 19; Mark 1:1 to 13:

“Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locust and wild honey.” (Mark 1:6)

Now the locust pods of which John ate were a pod-bearing tree of the family that includes the honey locust, swamp locust, and carob, family: Leguminosae. For many years I thought John was eating grasshoppers. I used to love telling John the Baptist stories to children and hearing them say “yuk” at the thought of eating wild grasshoppers. It wasn’t till I visited Israel that I learned that the locust pod with honey was what John was actually eating. John was an outsider, and a vegetarian it seems. He dressed rough even by the standards of his day. What’s important about John the Baptist is that he emptied himself in order to create space for what God wanted. A cup or a glass or a bowl is no good to us if it’s full. Only an empty vessel is good for holding the food or drink we need.

There were so many people of human power in John’s day that were full of themselves. And God knows who is receptive to the Word of God. Listen to the opening of chapter 3 of Luke again: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” (Luke 3: 1 – 2)

Notice that while so many were full of themselves with their human titles, John was away from all of that, living in the wilderness, free to go and announce the coming of our Lord Jesus. The wilderness was not so far removed that the word of God could not reach him. The same is true today. Each, and every one of us should have some “alone” time. Remember the quote from Blaise Pascal, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” John sat quietly off to himself eating his sweet cereal and pondering about the Good News he was about to bring to the world, to us. We must look past how his life was ended in human terms. We also must look beyond our own current wilderness and focus on the Good News from God.

Today we remember Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and Martyr, (February 23, 156) and his information may be found at: Polycarp

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: A Prayer of Self-Dedication (BCP p. 832)

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pondering for Sunday, February 22, 2026

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the First Sunday of Lent: Year A

Matthew 4:1-11

“It is written.” (Matthew 4:1-11)

Scripture reports that God writes the Ten Commandments to Moses for the freed Israelites, of which, the first four are about our relationship with God. The following six are about our relationship with one another. All of the laws are written and our lord Jesus responds with those written words about our relationship with God. We are to have the deepest love we can for God.

We Episcopalians, have been called the “People of the Book,” perhaps because of our fondness of our Book of Common Prayer (the BCP). There was a time when Confirmation classes required Confirmands to remember the Outline of Faith or the Catechism (p. 845 of the BCP). The Catechism is a series of questions and answers that covers the range of what Episcopalians are supposed to believe. The bishop, when he or she comes on the big day of Confirmation, would ask the questions and the Confirmands would answer. The teaching priest would stand back nervously hoping the Confirmands would answer all, or most of them correctly. Having some of it memorized today is still maybe not a bad thing.

Our Lord Jesus’ responses can also be reduced down to His twin commandments of Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself. This Commandment is reminiscent of the first part of the Jewish “Shema,” that is “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Exodus 6:4-5). And to this, our Lord Jesus adds “and love your neighbor as yourself.” Personally, I like the words of the Gospel of John where our Lord Jesus says for us to love our Neighbor as He loved us. And remember, He loved us all the way to the cross. I like saying “I trust in the Creating Word through the Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word, in whom we live and move and love and have our being, and to whom we must give an account.” This is my personal creed.

So much is written that we could quote, especially in our times of challenge. Whether the source is the Bible or the Prayer Book, or a combination of both, or words that you have crafted for yourself as I have, latch onto something that will anchor you to right behavior as Jesus did. He said “it is written, and thus he thwarted evil. Even if you write it, you will be able to say, “For, it is written.”

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: First Sunday in Lent (BCP p. 218)

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pondering for Saturday, February 21, 2026

Daily Office Readings for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 30 and 32; Evening, Psalms 42 and 43;

Ezekiel 39:21 to 29; Philippians 4:10 to 20; John 17:20 to 26:

“Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you.” (Psalm 32:10)

I remember once having Morning Prayer with two other seminarians while in seminary and reading this Psalm. We laughed as all three of us thought of people that we too would have to be fitted with bit and bridle, or else we would not stay near them. But it was because we did indeed have understanding, and that we were loving, and so we stayed near them even when it was uncomfortable.

The metaphor of bit and bridle may in fact be a good way of looking at how God holds us close to God’s will. We often don’t have understanding. Often we don’t know the will of God and when God reveals just a little of it to us, we run. We become like Jonah trying to avoid Nineveh.

I think the point of the Psalmist is that not having understanding keeps us in fear. We don’t realize the power of God’s forgiveness. We need to stay near the rough un-comfortableness of God and be patient until understanding finally comes.

There was a time in my life when I did not want one of my daughters to be pregnant. But she was. I could feel a prayer welling up in my gut to ask God to not let her be pregnant because she was still a senior in high school. But she was. She gave birth to her first born, Alex. Alex is a gift from God to us. I love my granddaughter so much. So, the joy that God gave me is what I needed, rather than what I asked for. I am so glad God fitted me with bit and bridle, or else I would not have stayed near God. I had very little understanding back then.

Is there any lack of understanding in your life that causes you to want to move away from God? God will fit you with that bit and bridle and hold you close unless you turn and run to your own pain and peril, spiritually bruised from opposing the bit and bridle . We as seminarians learned that while this verse sounds funny, holding on to what God wants for us is as serious as it gets. Every human being has a story, or two, or more, of challenges. We need to tell these stories as did the prophets of the Bible. Our stories help others know that God holds us close – bit and bridle close.

Today we remember John Henrey Newman, Priest and Theologian (1890) and his information may be found at: John Henry Newman

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us Pray:

Heavenly Creator, be with us when we sometimes want to reject those we are not comfortable with, or situations that cause us much anxiety. Calm us dear Lord with Your bit and bridle in order that we might see and receive your message of love. Amen.

Pondering for Friday, February 20, 2026

Daily Office Readings for the Friday after Ash Wednesday: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 95 and 31; Evening, Psalm 35;
Ezekiel 18:1 to 4 and 25 to 32; Philippians 4:1 to 9; John 17:9 to 19:

“Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1)

We Episcopalians use the first seven verses of Psalm 95 (The Venite) as an option for our Morning Prayer worship. It is a beautiful Psalm that reminds us of our loving relationship with God, our Creator.

As we approach the Seventh (Sabbath) Day of our week (Saturday), let us find time to just stop and ponder about our personal relationship with God. How is God calling you out for the benefit of your community, or any community? We have a Bible full of God’s callings: God called Abraham away from his father’s house; God called Jacob to go back and face his brother; God called Moses to go back to Egypt; and on and on. And now you may notice your own burning bush. Is God saying your name twice for you to recognize that you are standing on Holy Ground?

This brings me to verse seven of Psalm 95. “For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!”

Will you hearken to His voice?

Today we remember Frederick Douglass, Social Reformer (1895) and his information may be found at: Frederick Douglass

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: For Guidance (BCP p. 832)

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Thursday, February 19, 2026

Daily Office Readings for the Last Thursday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 37:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 37:19 to 42;
Habakkuk 3:1 to 18; Philippians 3:12 to 21; John 17:1 to 8:

“Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenlycall of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 13 and 14)

All of us are a continual “work in progress.” We live and learn and hopefully build on what we have, intellectually, financially, physically, relationally, and most importantly, spiritually. These latter two come together as they relate to our spiritual connection to God. We build on our relationship with God through prayer and study, pondering about our connection to God.

The writer to the Church in Philippi suggests that as we weekly gather with those whom we trust we are also seeking more understanding in order that we might learn more together. He writes, “Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you, (Philippians 3:15). But all the while, we are to keep what we have and build on it. “Only let us hold fast to what we have attained (Philippians 3:16).

I meet with several theological study groups during the week. We always start with prayer asking the Holy Spirit of God to be present with us and to soften our hearts in order that we might not insist on our own way but rather, be willing to accept the Truth as it is made known to us.

I don’t always fully understand the vast content of who I should be praying for. Being with those who are mature and of the same mind gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to correct us. We must “press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenlycall of God in Christ Jesus.” All we have to do is listen. God engineered the human face in such a way that when we close our mouths, our ears are opened!

Today we remember Agnes Tsao Kou Ying, Agatha Lin Zhao, and Lucy Yizenmei, Catechists and Martyrs, 1856, 1858, and 1862 respectively and their information may be found at: Chinese Martyrs

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (BCP p. 395)

Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Pondering for Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Eucharistic Readings for Ash Wednesday (All Years)

Joel 2:1 to 2 and 12 to 17; Psalm 103; 2^nd Corinthians 5:20 to 6:10 Matthew 6:1 to 6 and 16 to 21:

“But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3 and 4)

Here we are in Lent again. Today starts Lent with Ash Wednesday. Many times people will come to me to proclaim what they are giving up for Lent. They let their left hand know what their right hand is doing. Often their esteem for what they are giving up borders on idolatry. I then ask, “to what charity is the money you would have spent on your creature pleasures, is going to this Lent?” There is always a pause. Rarely is anyone thinking, in advance, about the charitable side of doing without in order to give to the less fortunate. They have no “Right” hand to be revealed.

We should always have our eyes set on the “why” we are doing something rather than the “what” we are doing. Lent is a Church tradition. It is not biblical. We are reminded by Richard Hooker (Reformation Priest of the 17^th Century Church of England) that our 3-legged stool consist of Scripture, Tradition and Reason. Tradition then is where the practice of Lent comes from. Why? It is our Church’s historic way of reconciling folk back into the fold and reminding all of us of the sacrifice our Lord Jesus made for our salvation.

Lent will not be “celebrated” with fancy sales or special ornaments. Lent can’t be purchased or hijacked with sleighs or bunnies. This is the season in which the Church is at its purest. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It ends with Palm Sunday or the Sunday of the Passion which is the beginning of Holy Week, which leads us into the Sunday of the Resurrection – Easter. All of this is part of our Church Tradition. Lent is a memory milestone wherein we remember the suffering of our Lord Jesus and reorient ourselves back to the importance of corporate worship.

The ashes on our foreheads remind us that we are dust and ashes, However, with the Holy Spirit of God imbedded in us we are so much more. It is during Lent that we give thanks by emptying ourselves of all that is not necessary for our wellbeing and at the same time contributing to the welfare of the less fortunate who are also created in the Image of God. We do not do this in a boastful way. “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: For Ash Wednesday (BCP p. 264)

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.