onewhoponders

Eucharistic Gospel Readings for the Seventh Sunday after Easter: Year A

John 17:1-11:

“And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” (John 17:11 NRSV)

Perhaps the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), is not the best translation of this prayer between our Lord Jesus and his inmost self, God Almighty.  I always compare other translations as I prepare the words I intend to share with you.  The New International Version, (NIV) reads, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”

The difference between these two readings is, in the NRSV, Jesus indicates he has already left the world.  In the NIV, Jesus talks about a very near future departure. I am always skeptical about an ancient language that has been translated many, many times. What I glean from this passage, in any language, is that our Lord Jesus is standing in both dimensions, both heaven and earth at the time of His prayer.

Jesus further says that we are in Him and He is in us, and together, we are in the Creator. Wow!

As believers we should act and behave as we understand, and truly believe, that we are in our Lord and our Lord is in us. Right now we have one foot on earth and the other in life eternal in paradise.

 Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Let us pray:

Oh, most Holy and life-giving Lord God, as part of Your existence resides in each of us, as it is made known to us by Your Incarnate Word, our Savior Jesus Christ, teach us we pray through our ancient scriptures to yield to Your lead in our lives. Enable us more and more to come together as one in You as You are in us beneath our outward looks and diverse cultures and languages, where Your love in us prepares us for our journey to You, most Holy and life-giving Lord God. Amen.

Daily Office Readngs for Saturday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 87 and 90; Evening, Psalm 136;

Numbers 11:16 to 17 and 24 to 29; Ephesians 2:11 to 22; Matthew 7:28 to 8:4

“For through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (Ephesians 2:18)

For through our Lord Jesus, superficial race groupings like, blacks and whites, along with groups like gays and straights, rich and poor, nationals and foreigners, have access in one Spirit to the Creator of all life, and through the Creator, one another.

This access does not mean giving up “who” we are ( although it very well may mean giving up “what” we think we are). We have a uniting Spirit through our Lord Jesus. “For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us” (Ephesians 2:14).  So we are one Spirit group. We look different, we sound different, and we enjoy different foods and music and so on. None of what we enjoy should be based on our skin color or hair texture, or even if we have no hair.  We are free to seek our own joy.  We are all pulled together for living and loving each other, and enjoying our various cultures and lifestyles, through God.  For God is the One in whom we all live, love, move and have our being.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone, In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.” (Ephesians 2: 19 – 22)

We are meant to approach one another knowing that we are already united by means of God’s Spirit.  It makes no difference about our language, skin color, religion, or place of origin.  We are all God’s people, we are all spiritual cousins. We should be behaving that way.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Let us pray:

Dear living and loving Holy Jesus, you modeled for us how we should live, love and appreciate our differences as we approach life. We pray that you enable each of us to have access in one Spirit to the Creator, making our spiritual connections with each other more and more clear every day. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 85 and 86: Evening,  Psalms 91 and 92;

1^st Samuel 2:1 to 10; Ephesians 2:1 to 10; Matthew 7:22 to 27:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matthew 7: 24)

There are many people who can recite many good quotes and prayers but often fall short of living by them.  What’s important here is not only to hear these words of Jesus and to memorize them, but to act on them, and to live by them as well.  This is what our Lord Jesus meant by “hear these words of mine and act on them.”

Memorizing creeds, covenants, quotes and prayers and saying them everyday reshapes our personality.  Hopefully, we will become who we preach to be. I have created two five-pointed stars for myself to live by. The five points of the first (which I created in the 80’s) is, “ Praise God, Love All, Keep Word, Live Plain and Work Hard.  I was still in the Marines when my faith moved me to frame these five points as directions for my life.  Notice that Praise God and Love All are the first two, and are the two Commandments that our Lord Jesus gave us. The second star consists of five points that spell out the acronym DRIPP.  This represents Discipline (that I should maintain); Respect (for myself and others); Integrity (honesty in action); Prayer (always, especially Morning and Evening Prayer) and Patience (holy waiting and some quiet time alone for pondering.)

We must hear the words of our Lord Jesus and where necessary frame them in a way that makes sense for us without losing their meanings.  And then we must act or behave in the manner that our treasured words lead us.  Only when we build our lives with a solid foundation will we be “like a wise man who built his house on rock.”  What words or phrases or covenants do you live by?

“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                      

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Let us pray:

Dear loving and eternal Lord Jesus, please walk with us as your spiritual partners reminding us to live out our remembered words of love for God and our neighbor. Help us to be steadfast and disciplined in our determination to actually do and be what we preach. Amen.

Eucharistic Readings or Ascension Day 2022: All Years

Acts 1:1-11;   Psalm 47;  or Psalm 93;  Ephesians 1:15-23;  Luke 24:44-53:

 “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:45)

This “opening of their minds” is the action of the Resurrected Jesus.  Jesus spent a lot of time with his followers before he was crucified, preaching and teaching about the scriptures and how the scriptures foretold of his destiny. You can see much of this in chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel where he says several times, “You have heard that it was said, …. But I tell you…..”  In this way our Lord Jesus re-interprets the historic Hebrew Law.

But now, Jesus goes beyond explanation to revelation. He “opens their minds.”  We have words written in the Bible that have been translated from Aramaic, to Greek, from Greek to Latin, and then for us, from Latin to English. Even this last translation is from old English to modern and then American English.  Has anything been lost or misrepresented in this human work? 

How wonderful it would be for us today for Jesus to “open our minds” so that we too can have a better understanding of the scriptures, or better yet, God’s actual intent – God’s will for us.  I think when we believe that our purpose is to love God and love one another to the best of our ability, we will indeed understand all the Law and the writings of the Bible.  And, what we come to understand may even be better than what our old recorders wrote.

I remember reading somewhere in a Jewish fable that someone asked an old teacher of the Torah to explain the Torah while standing on one foot.  The response was, “What is hateful to you, do not do to others.”  That is the whole Torah. It is another way of saying the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do onto you.”

The only other piece I would like to add about opening our minds is the opening of our hearts. Sometimes the words are interchangeable. Sometimes they are not.  The heart piece adds in the love component.  Psychologist within the last hundred years have found that the children of loving parents who hugged their children and spent time with them showed higher intellectual ability than the children of distancing parents.  Love matters. Bless those psychologists.  But then, bless our Lord Jesus who told us this over 2000 years ago.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Let us pray:

Dear Risen and Ascended Lord Jesus, please continue to open our minds with more and more insight through your divine touch of revelation. Help us through our faith to love God and each other more deeply as we live out our mortal lives. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:97 to 120; Evening, Psalms 81 and 82;

Leviticus 26:27 to 42; Ephesians 1:1 to 10; Matthew 22:41 to 46:

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”  (Ephesians 1:7 – 10)

These are the opening words to the Church in Ephesus by Paul or someone writing for Paul. The writer, through revelation from God, shares with us that the forgiveness of our sins has been God’s plan from the beginning of our time, to be made manifest in the fullness of our time. This is free grace that is lavished on us from God through the blood (or life) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of whom we partake of at our Holy Communion.

As adopted children of God through our brother Jesus, we are called to continue in the work of gathering all things (all people) to God. I look at us Christians as the care takers of the world, both people and all creation. Hints from Genesis suggest that after the world was made the caretaker creatures were placed onboard to maintain this place. We are the caretakers.  “With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will.”

Our own human selves are not excluded from our own care. Just as charity begins in the home, so too does human self-care.  Among the human species, the Christian is like unto a flight attendant.  Flight attendants serve to make the passengers safe and comfortable while on their journey.  Flight attendants are not recruiting more flight attendants for a particular airline.  We Christians also are here to serve all people, Christian and non-Christian alike, while not trying to make all people Christian. “With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”  This is what I believe the Spirit of God told the writer of the letter to the Church in Ephesus, and this is what I believe the Spirit is still  saying to us today.

Today we remember Julian of Norwich: Contemplative (8 May 1417). Her bio can be found at Julian of Norwich (satucket.com)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Let us pray:

Dear Lord God, creator and lover of all that is, please give us who follow our Lord Jesus more guidance as we strive to reconcile all people to you in whatever path they are on. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 78:1 to 39; Evening, Psalm 78:40 to 72;

Leviticus 26:1-20; 1^st Timothy 2:1 to 6; Matthew 13:18 to 23:

“This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1^st Timothy 2:3-4)

I know that I am not perfect. I have many flaws and imperfections.  I am so thankful that we have a loving and merciful God and Savior in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of everyone being saved, and everyone coming to the knowledge of truth. I think the key word here is “everyone.”

The word needs to get out to “everyone” that God desires all people to be saved. Contrary to our normal fear of scarcity, heaven does not run out of room. Perhaps the biggest problem we might have is sharing total freedom and glory with our neighbors, all neighbors. The only thing hindering us from that glory are the false narratives we follow. However, once we understand ourselves, and God’s love for us, knowledge and truth will assure our place in God’s divine plan.

The Word needs to get out that God desires everyone to come to the knowledge of truth. Like most of us I was raised with certain prejudices and biases that caused me to not see the inclusive love of God.  As a Christian, and with some good Christian education, I have come to, and am still coming to, the understanding that God, as seen in Christ Jesus, came among us to both know about us and experience what it means to be us first hand.

Being saved and coming to the knowledge of truth is the message our Lord Jesus gave to Paul for Timothy, and for us. This message is for all of us who hear it. But I think more especially for Christians as we have that calling to model, as our Lord Jesus did, love for all people regardless of who they are, or what they think they believe or don’t believe.  There is more than enough room and comfort for all in the next life. Therefore we should be holding dear to us in prayer everyone, from the president to the homeless; people of other countries (friend or foe); and people we have been taught not to trust.  All are invited by God to be with God.  We Christians are God’s helpers for all humanity.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Let us pray:

Oh God of limitless hospitality, who invites all people to come to your ultimate truth, be present with each of us on our journey to you that we might do what is pleasing in your sight. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;

Leviticus 25:35 to 55; Colossians 1:9 to 14; Matthew 13:1 to 16:

“He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.  The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.”  With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
“You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.”  (Matthew 13: 11 – 14

I think that the part that says, “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive,” is that sometimes we are so hard-hearted and set in our own fixations that we literally block out the truth. If we already think we know what the speaker is saying before he or she finishes what they are saying, our hearts are hardened and we don’t get it.  In such a case, “even what we do have will be taken away.” Listening is an underdeveloped art.

Only when we let go of any and all our preconceived ideas (including the idea of race), can we fully see what our Lord Jesus is doing.  Only when we truly and objectively listen to another person will we discern what is in their heart.  If there has to be a bias, make it of love. I once preached a homily wherein I challenged my listeners to draw a heart with ears.  A few did and the hearts with ears on either side looked pretty good.  I challenge you to do the same.  Regardless of your drawing skills, draw a simple heart and then draw a pair of simple human ears on each side of it.  This represents listing with your heart.

We should listen optimistically as well as lovingly. In this way, even if we don’t understand the message of a parable, we will continue to delve deeper until we get it. If we seek, we will find. To their credit the disciples of Jesus stuck with him and followed him and pressed him until they got the parables unraveled, albeit after the Resurrection.  Maybe their determination for the truth was what they all had in common. Are you determined to be a disciple of Jesus?  If so, listen with the ears of your heart and seek the Truth.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Let us pray:

Dear Lord God, you came to us in Word before we were able to discern any sight of you. Increase in us the ability to hear you through the voice of others as well as even the soundless acts of love in any way that they might be made manifest. Enable us to hear you in word and deed. Amen.

Gospel Reading for the 6^th Sunday of Easter: Year B

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.”  (John  15:9)

Our Lord Jesus came to us and walked among us for the sole purpose of sharing the unconditional love of God our Creator in order that we will share this godly love among ourselves. We are told to “abide” in his love. Abide means to take it in and live with it. It may not be comfortable at first but Jesus promises that it will bring us joy. Jesus says “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”  So firsts we tolerate and then we receive joy, everlasting joy.

This is how we get this ultimate joy; we follow the Commandment of Jesus. And what is this commandment? Jesus says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)  I like this edict from our Lord Jesus much better than the Commandment from the Synoptic Gospels which says to love your neighbor as yourself.  The assumption is that we love ourselves. I have met people who hate themselves. I have met people who abuse themselves with cutting, drugs, alcohol, greed, gluttony, and other self abusive disorders. If we then set out to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, we may feel free to abuse others in the same way we abuse ourselves.

In John’s Gospel we don’t get off that easy. Our Lord Jesus commands us to love one another, our neighbors, as He loves us.  And we know that Jesus loved us to death, even death on a cross. It is a very difficult command. But we must strive to do just that; to love others as He, our Lord Jesus, loves us. No excuses, no treating others as we treat ourselves if that treatment is harmful.

Another point to ponder about is Jesus saying, “You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another; (John 15: 16 and 17).  I have found that in most cases, the people we choose in life are more dear to us than those we were born into life with. Chosen or born into, the love God gifts us with is not a limited love. If we abide in the love of God we are able to love all people as family.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Let us pray:

Dear Lord Jesus, who has taught us the real meaning of self-giving love, strengthen our God-given ability to stretch out our love for all people regardless of their beliefs, nationality, language, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. Help us to abide in the love of God so that our joy may truly be complete. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 75 and 76; Evening, Psalms 23 and 27;

Leviticus 23:23 to 44; 2^nd Thessalonians 3:1 to 18; Matthew 7:13 to 21:

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easythat leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.  For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  (Matthew 7:13- 14)

I often remind my congregation that Christianity is not for the faint of heart.  It’s hard work, a narrow gate, if you will.  If you have ever been in line to get through a narrow door, or even in heavy traffic where one lane is closed and drivers must merge or “zipper” into a single lane, you have some idea about the need for patience.  Also, the road is difficult.  Christians must undergo some uncomfortable experiences and often stand with those who are overwhelmed.

Our Congregation as been downsized due to COVID 19.  Many Christians of “Mega” churches have also been downsized and don’t like it.  However in the beginning of the Jesus Movement, we assembled in the homes of believers (in secret).  We were small groups around a table. We may be back to that now.  Those who brought the Word, themselves worked jobs only to show that they were not trying to profit from the Gospel, rather, they were prophets of the Gospel.

In our 2^nd Thessalonians reading for today we read, “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,  and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate.  For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.”  (2 Thessalonians 3: 7 – 10)

I am one of those clergy who believes that I should have a regular job as I study and prepare to preach the Gospel.  Not a lot of Clergy agree with me, and that’s fine.  In my way of understanding the clergy role. it should be the bishop whose sole focus should be his or her diocese. The argument will be raised, “Who wants to go to three years of seminary only to work as a part-time priest?”  Our  Gospel reading says, “For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” As I look back now I regret not having worked a secular vocation when I was a rector.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord God, You guide us through rough times and narrow gates but you never abandon us. Fortify us with Your Spirit in order that we are better enabled to overcome human expected, and accepted norms, and do what is sometimes difficult but pleasing in your sight. Amen.

Today we remember Monica, mother of Augustine of Hippo (May 4,387) who was his inspiration. Her bio can be found at Monnica (satucket.com).

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 106:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 106:19 to 48;

Leviticus 23:1 to 22;  2^nd Thessalonians 2:1 to 17; Matthew 7:1 to 12:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Matthew 7:7)

I believe the most significant lessons of our lives come as a result of the questions we ask. We live in a wonderful time.   With our phones we literally have world libraries in our pockets.  We can ask anything in the world.  This does not come without a caution however.  The old saying is true, “garbage in; garbage out.”  Readers beware.  And again, advice from a friend of mine, “ask a question and, if necessary, question the answer.”

When it comes to Godly concerns, we can read the Bible but I don’t recommend it to be done in isolation.  There are also Bible Study classes that can be taken to help you. And with this I recommend such classes to open and close in prayer.  It is also necessary when asking such questions to go beyond the Bible, to the saints of old and the saints new.

Many of the saints who have gone before us have answers to our questions. But let’s place this passage where it belongs; our Lord Jesus is talking about judgment, specifically, not judging others. He uses examples of the speck in our neighbor’s eye and the log in ours.  And then he goes into how we treat our children whom we love as God loves us.  The point here is that we want what is best for those we love remembering that God loves us all.  Sometimes we really don’t know what is best given that we bring our own baggage (or log in our eye) into the situation.  So we must ask God for what is best, knowing that God’s response may be uncomfortable at times.  From one of our saints who has gone before us we have a prayer in our Book of Common Prayer that I think addresses what we should ask for;

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis as printed in our 1979 Book of Common Prayer:

Let us pray:

“Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.” (BCP 833)

“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

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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