onewhoponders

The Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 11: Year A

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

“Jesus put before the crowd another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.” (Matthew 13: 24 – 26)

We are not able to tell the weeds from the wheat until we see the grain.  How do we know the weeds? By the waste or sin produced. We can see such acts as identity theft and robbery as sinful. This doesn’t make it acceptable or in any way tolerable for our community.

These are weeds sown within the wheat.  These are purely evil acts against our neighbors for the sole purpose of harming just for the purpose of harming.  There may be some psychological psychosis at work. By psychosis I mean a fixation, neurosis, phobia or obsession, particularly aimed at antisocial behavior.

So why does evil exist?  Some say evil is the work of the devil; perhaps. Personally, I think it is more the product of a psychosis focused on hurtful, and often, hateful outcomes that lack any sense of love.  I might even suggest that evil happens in the absence of love.  But love doesn’t just happen either, my beloved of the Lord, it is taught.

People, who are loved, tend to love others.  People, who are resented, sadly, tend to resent others. This does not happen all the time, but it happens enough to cause senseless harm.  Maybe the psychosis of evil will show some chemical imbalance as a probable cause. In such cases, a medicinal approach may help resolve the antisocial behavior.

Whatever the cause, evil acts are among us. So when the plants came up and bore grain, “then the weeds appeared as well.”  We can’t deny it. Nor should we want to.   Our response to such acts, when we see them, is to not cause a retaliatory, evil for evil.  But rather, use the abundance of love that we have been taught, to overcome such acts.

Augustine of Hippo once said, (and I’m paraphrasing), “Do not think that God makes no use of evil.  Evil has one of two purposes. One, that it might lure you to itself.  The second is that you might bring an evil person into the light of love and goodness.” According to Augustine, God doesn’t cause evil, but will observe its effect. Be steadfast therefore my beloved, in doing good, and resist evil in any of its manifestations.

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: Proper 11 The Sunday closest to July 20 (BCP p. 231)

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 10: Year 2

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

Joshua 6:1-14; Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 26:26-35:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13: 1 – 2)

Poor Paul, while I am in agreement with Paul on many of his insights that I believe are truly from God, this part of the letter to the Church in Rome stops me in my tracks.  This exception is especially true as I look at the history of our Southern States and our Washington D.C. government. In our past, our Government has condoned slavery until a civil war ensued.  And after the war, the re-united government still allowed some citizens to be unjustly treated having to ride in the back of public transportation, no voting rights; little to no education and the list goes on even to include unprosecuted community genocides. We imprisoned innocent Japanese Americans out of fear of their possible connection to Japan in the nineteen forties.  No Paul, resisting such a government is not resisting God, but resisting an ungodly government. Resistance then is Good Trouble as termed by the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis.

Perhaps the best way to make a government the ideal that God wants it to be, is not to abandon it, but to participate in the corrective actions that will make the government more godly.  As a Christian of today’s America I can’t ignore the racial unrest being made manifest today. 

There are actions that people are doing that I don’t approve of.  I don’t approve of rioting and the vandalizing done to businesses.  Peaceful protesting is ok but evil is wrong, be it the government or lawless  mobs.  I don’t like disrespecting our National Anthem. I am a thirty year U.S. Marine and proud of it. And, I am a so-called black man, (I really don’t believe in race), who really enjoys having a beer while watching John Wayne westerns.  I pondered about this a lot before sharing it but I need to get this off my chest.  I pray there is a godly message in this and that we all strive  to make our government the government Paul speaks of – the government of all God’s people.

Today we remember Bartolome De Las Casas, Missionary Priest and Defender of the Oppressed (July 18, 1566,) and his information may be found at: Bartholome da las Casas

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. 820)                    

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 10: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 31; Evening, Psalm 35;

Joshua 4:19 to 5:1 and10 to 15; Romans 12:9 to 21; Matthew 26:17 to 25:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12: 21)

So why does evil exist?  Many say evil is the work of the devil; perhaps. Personally, I think it is more the product of human psychosis focused on hurtful, and often hateful outcomes that lack any real sense of love. It is a byproduct of free will.  I might even suggest that evil happens in the absence of love.  But love doesn’t just happen, it is taught.  It is taught, or should be taught, in the family, from birth.

Children who are loved, love others.  Children who are resented, resent others. Maybe the psychosis of evil will show some chemical imbalance in the brain as a probable cause. Whatever the cause, evil is among us.  Our response to it when we see it is to not let it cause a toxic relationship between us, but rather, use the abundance of love that we have been taught to overcome it.

In my studies I have come to believe that God is pure Goodness and Love.  Evil cannot exist by itself.  Evil cannot exist without a first Good to contrast with. From the beginning in Genesis we see first good, and then evil “happens.”  We must study the words of God to Cain in the Genesis story when God said, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it,” (Genesis 4:7).  Therefore, sin, or evil, is lurking, it has from the beginning when human life with free will were brought into being. Creation was formed to be good. Be good  therefore, for goodness sake. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Today we remember William White, Bishop of Pennsylvania, (July 17, 1836) and his information may be found at: William White. 

“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 Human Family (BCP p. 815)

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 10: Year 2

Morning,  Psalm 37:1-18; Evening, Psalm 37:19-42; 

Joshua 3:14-4:7; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 26:1-16:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

I think being conformed to this world means discerning what is the mind of our peers.  With the various platforms of social media and school systems we are encouraged to be tribal, that is, only trust those who are like us, or agree with us.  The ethos is, “either you are with me or you are against me.”  There is no gray area or middle way.  God, I believe speaking through Paul, appeals to us to “be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that [we] may discern what is the will of God.” I believe this requires a prayer that asks the question, “Dear God, what would You have me do today?”

As a Christian, I am so thankful that we had our Lord Jesus to model for us how we should live together.  Jesus could often be seen praying, and often said that he is doing the will of the Father.  This does not mean that he did not know what was the will of people also. In our Matthew reading for today we hear Jesus say exactly what the religious authorities want to do to him.  Jesus also knew those who loved him, like the woman who poured costly ointment on him, His disciples didn’t like it and complained that the money could have been given to the poor.  They were either jealous or just plain tribal. “But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me” (Matthew 26: 10 – 11).  I must add Mark’s words to this scene; “And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her,” (Mark 14:9). I don’t think the other Gospel writers have done a good job of carrying out Jesus’ instruction on this matter.  Jesus set his mind on the mind of God.  He showed his disciples that there was a way to accept the woman’s deed and not be against her.  He further tells them, and us, that we will always have the poor among us.  We honor Jesus by caring for the poor.  Every day we should ask God to show us the better way. We will always hear the way of people.  But the way of people may not be always pleasing to God.  We still have Jesus with us in spirit. It doesn’t take much to ponder about what we should inquire about.

For 16 July, we remember the Righteous Gentiles, and their information may be found at: “The Righteous Gentiles”

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)

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 10: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening, Psalm 119:25-48;

Joshua 3:1-13; Romans 11:25-36; Matthew 25:31-46:

“All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.” (Matthew 25: 32 and 33)

 This sheep – goat metaphor gives the goats a bad look.  It seems particularly unfair to me as it makes it seem as if the simple appearance of the animal, being a sheep or a goat, is all the justification necessary. It is perhaps easy for God to look upon the human heart and make this distinction however.  God in Christ Jesus can see clearly who we are, and much of who we are seems to be determined by how we act or respond to the needs of others.  Let those who have ears hear.

The bottom line here is that there is a judgment day.  There is a resurrection for the goats and the sheep among us where there will be accountability and apparently some kind of separation.  The good news is that unlike real goats and sheep, we have a choice.  We can live the lives of the sheep by stretching out our hearts in such a way that we feel the pain and neglect of those who are hungry, those who are sick, and those who are incarcerated.

I think the real difference between the sheep and the goats is the concern, (or lack of concern) we might have for our neighbor. This is about compassion versus any self-serving inclination we may tend to have. Some acts of self-serving can even be seen as hostile to those who are in need, whom we choose to ignore. Can we not all help one another, at least to just be okay?  Our Lord Jesus wants us to be his sheep in this metaphor.  We can choose to be sheep in so far as it means being kind to others.  Not ba a a a ad, huh?

Please note that the sheep and goats were not separated based on what they professed with their lips, but rather, what they did with their time as they followed their hearts, hands and steps to the needs of others.  They were separated based on how they responded, (or not responded), to the needs of others, without regard to their own professed belief, or non-belief, of themselves, or others.

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.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 10: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening, Psalms 36 and 39;

Joshua 2:15 to 24; Romans 11:13 to 24; Matthew 25: 14 to 30:

“Do not vaunt yourselves over the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.  You will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe.  For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.  Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but God’s kindness towards you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.”  (Romans 11: 18 – 22)

I can remember telling a priest who is a dear friend of mine, that I identify myself by the Church to which I belong.  I told him long ago that I don’t care so much about being black, or male, or straight, or American or even a Marine.  I am Anglican!  It has been a long process but one that redefined me for who I truly am in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s metaphor of the root, the trunk or its branches, both natural and grafted, really clarify for me my own “grafted” status.  I was not really brought up in any particular religious faith tradition. I did attend a Catholic school which formed a deep spirituality in me.  Little did I know in the mid 1950’s that the Episcopal Church would pick up where the grade school of St Vincent DePaul left off some twenty years later and graft me into its Anglicanism.  Paul is so correct when he says; “it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.”

The Spiritual tree of God has many grafted-in branches and many that have always been connected. All are good paths to, and nurtured by, God. God is the root of all faith.

Today we remember Argula Von Grumbach, Scholar and Church Reformer (1554): and Samson Occum, Witness to the Faith in New England, 1792: and their information may be found at: Argula von Grumbach: and Samson Occum respectively. 

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:                                                                      

O almighty God, the Root of all life, who is also the air and water and Son-rays that nourish life; we give you thanks for our being, those of us who are natural, and those of us who are grafted in. Continue, O Lord, your handiwork as it pleases you and sustains us in this life (grafted or natural), and then receive us, we pray, into your eternal, supernatural realm when our time comes, Amen.

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 10: Year A

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”  (Matthew 13: 23)

So, we are to be “Treated” as good soil.  Let me explain.  First, it took me a while just to understand that we are to be good soil (that is, good dirt). I saw a sign once at a landscape yard that said, “Clean Dirt” for sale. What an oxymoron!

You and I are not a part of the hundred, sixty or thirty yield of produce.  No, we are what brings forth the produce.  Took me a while to realize that our Lord Jesus was talking about us being the catalyst of what is desired, the prizes of heaven. We are the good soil.

Now, let’s get to what I call the “treated” part.   As one who occasionally gardens, I know that there are certain additives, or treatments, we can add to beginning plants once they have sprouted. And, when necessary, pesticides. Such pesticides or even weed killers that specifically seek out the undesirable bugs and plant life like weeds so that all the nutrient of the good soil goes to the harvest we are looking for.  In antiquity there was no such science available.  However, in faith terms today we can call it “Baptism.” 

Our fresh, rich, soul, good soil that has been protected over the years by the careful replacement of rich soils, even from foreign lands, and ingested with carefully saved compost from the ancient gardens of our tradition, gives forth new growth.  But these new sprouts need rain.  And they need the sprinkling of special de-weeding agents that will protect them. Baptism then takes what has come into the world and strengthens it for the work of producing a hundred, or sixty or thirty yields.  This does not mean however, that we won’t get caught up in the thorny distractions of the world and lose sight of why we are here.  We must continue to germinate. We must continue to help others to take root.

Just as some plant eating bugs will find a way to maneuver around a pesticide, so too will evil try to steer some away from their baptismal covenant.  Our Church community is the composter of maintaining rich soil.  Church community is what is necessary to do the work of producing the harvest that God is looking for. We are the clean dirt for God. Somebody say Amen.

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: Proper 10: The Sunday closest to July 13 (BCP p. 231)

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 9:Year 2

Morning, Psalms 20 and 21:1-7; Evening, Psalm 110:1-5 and Psalms 116 and 117;

Deuteronomy,  34:1-12; Romans 10:14-21; Matthew 24:32-51

 ^“But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?  And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”  But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.”  (Romans 10:14 – 17)

Paul really narrows it down in his words to the Church in Rome as he moves through the logic of reason to drive home the point of “hearing the word.”  This Word is something we believers are supposed to articulate to the world in deed more than word, in order that more people might believe.  Paul repeats the word of the Prophet Isaiah as Isaiah the Prophet declares, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”  (Isaiah 52:7)  We have a Cursillo song that goes, “Our God Reigns.”  And God really does reign, indeed.

Today we remember Benedict, founder of Western Monasticism (July 11, 540) and his information may be found at: Benedict of Nursia

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:                                                                      

O Lord God Almighty, who in the Word came to us to proclaim love and truth in word to our ears; be among us still as we repeat the word of love and truth to one another. Help us to live out your Word and speak your word of love to all whom we come in contact with everyday, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of proper 9: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 16 and 17; Evening, Psalm 22;

Deuteronomy 31:7-13 and 24 to 32:4; Romans 10:1 to13; Matthew 24:15-31:              

“Brothers and sisters,my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened.  For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”  (Romans 10: 1 to 4)

Let me just cut to the chase right now.  This is about letting go and letting God.  Paul, in this Letter to the Church in Rome, speaks from firsthand experience.  He knows about zeal and being ignorant of the righteousness of God.  Remember, he was on the road to Damascus when he had his encounter with our Lord Jesus who redirected his zeal and informed his ignorance.

Today many of us still put God in our own small box where we personally decide what God wants.  We have falsely declared that God created some people inferior to others.  We have falsely declared that God does not like gay people.  We have falsely declared that God intends for men to rule over women.  The small box that some of us have put God in, favors the box holder and prevents the same box holder from seeing the real God. Such folk “have not submitted to God’s righteousness.”

Jesus was, and is, all about doing what he sees the Father doing. As he says in the Gospel of John, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me,” (John 5:30).  All of the real leaders of faith put themselves out of the way so that God can do the real work of healing and reconciling.  From Moses leading the Israelites, to John the Baptist baptizing and announcing the coming of the Messiah, they let go and let God.  It was their getting out of the way so that God could do the Holy Work that was needed that made them distinguished.

With what apostolic success is God trying to accomplish through you?  Can you, like Moses, and John the Baptist, and Paul, get out of the way and let your zeal fuel you to do what God wants, that is, to be used for the righteousness of God?

“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 Guidance (BCP p. 832)

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.