onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Monday of  Proper 7: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 89:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 89:19 to 52;

Numbers 16:1 to 19; Romans 3:21 to 31; Matthew 19:13 to 22:

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.” (Matthew 19: 21 – 22)

I like to bracket the words [the money] in verse 21 of chapter 19 of Matthew.  My Greek translation does not have those words. It reads, “ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Εἰ θέλεις τέλειος εἶναι, ὕπαγε πώλησόν σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ δὸς πτωχοῖς, καὶ ἕξεις θησαυρὸν ἐν οὐρανοῖς, καὶ δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι.”  Roughly translated it says, “to him Jesus said, if perfect you wish to be, go sell your stuff and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.” 

Translation is a tricky business.  There is a difference between “give the money to the poor.” And simply “give to the poor.” Our Lord Jesus and his unemployed followers could certainly use some of the money.  We are told that certain women who had money helped with the necessities of the group, (Luke 8:1 – 3). We could miss the practical necessity here by too loose a translation.

In this story we see not a man with possessions; but rather, a man who was possessed by his possessions.  We might have had his name had he let go of his possessions. He could have been one of the apostles!  He was invited to follow Jesus with the familiar words, “then come, follow me.”

Based on a real understanding of this Bible reading it becomes clear that money is not bad, but it can distract and rule us if we are not careful.  We should give to the poor but we must care for ourselves as well. If we don’t first care for ourselves, we may not be able to help anyone else. It takes a strong swimmer to save a drowning man.

I have a few life sayings which I have developed for myself. One of them is, “Live long in moderation.”  I find that I can easily care for my own needs and live a long healthy life if I maintain moderation.  Maintaining moderation for me means not overdoing anything in any category, be it financial, dietary, even time spent pondering.  Caring for self, for me, includes eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, daily exercise and proper hygiene. And then, along with this, I strive to follow the teachings of Jesus.

Today we remember Alban, First Martyr of Britain (June 22, 304), and his information may be found at: Alban

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 Right Use of God’s Gifts (BCP p.827)

Almighty God, whose loving hand hath given us all that we possess: Grant us grace that we may honor thee with our substance, and, remembering the account which we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 7: Year A

Matthew 10:24-39:

“Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master.”  (Matthew 10: 24 – 25)

Today is Father’s Day. To the disciple and teacher; and to the slave and master; I would add the child and the father. Jesus said, “It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master.”  And I would add, it is enough for the child to be like the father; the good father. It is enough for the child to grow up and become provider and protector.

Throughout the Gospel of John Jesus proclaims “that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” Good fatherhood comes from the godliness of parenting, not the ruthlessness of parenting. I have talked with many teachers who tell me there is a significant, and positive difference, between children who have a father in the home and those who don’t.

Let me tell you about three fathers: Jesse, Joseph and Tom. Jesse was the proud father of eight sons.  He proudly presented seven of them for anointing by Samuel but held back his youngest, David. Yet, David changed the world and was the apple of God’s eye. (1 Samuel 16)

Then there is Joseph. Of all the men of the world, God almighty chose the carpenter Joseph to be His earthly father as he joined us, to be one of us.  Joseph was a good and moral man who would not even use the corrupt rules of his day to put Mary aside, being that she was already pregnant. Being a father is more than making a pregnancy or even being the biological father. It is about being a loving provider and protector.

Tom was an over-the- road truck driver.  At the age of thirty-nine he married a woman eleven years his junior who already had a daughter. Tom was a loving man, and while he had disagreements with my mother, he was always gentle with her, and with us, his children.  I did not realize the importance of his loving gentleness until much later in life, when I became part of a domestic violence rehabilitation team at Marine Corps New River Air Station, Family Advocacy Program.  Real fathers make all the difference. While assisting in this rehabilitation program I saw the sad effect of having no fathers, or bad fathers.

Some governments or religious orders have rules in place that manipulate the family in order to free the father of parental responsibility, or make the mother and children wards of the state. The mothers of these children struggle to make ends meet and have no father role model for the children. This is sad in light of the fact that teachers can show the benefit of having a good father in the home. It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master and the child like the good father.

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 7 The Sunday closest to June 22 (BCP p. 230)

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 6: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 88; Evening, Psalms 91 and 92;

Numbers 13:1 to 3 and 21 to 30; Romans 2:25 to 3:8; Matthew 18:21 to 35:

“For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical.  Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal.” (Romans 2: 28 and 29)

I want to thank Paul for this important clarification.  He says “circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal.” This is so important to understand.  Since it is spiritual and not literal, this kind of circumcision is inclusive of women also.  Further, the spirituality of it opens the idea of being inclusive of all humanity, regardless of skin tones, hair texture, language, nationality, gender or sexual orientation.  Thank You Lord Jesus and thank you Paul.

While Paul was addressing what it means to be a Jew, he was really deconstructing the argument about the difference between being a Jew and being a Gentile, to whom he was sent. His whole point, is that that makes us a holy people, is what is on the inside of us, not how we are packaged. It is that, that is inside each of us that is both holy and eternal through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul still favored using the term Jew to mean God’s chosen and could not come up with a more inclusive identifier. I do believe that through the Body and Blood of our Savior we are made one with Him and therefore, with God. I have no problem being called a Jew through Jesus. At some point in our spiritual journey, we must take on new identities. We must become new creatures in Christ Jesus. I believe this is God’s plan from the creation of all things.

Today we remember Adelaid Teague Case, Teacher, (1948 ), and her information may be found at: Adelaide Teague Case.

“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:

O Holy God, you walked among us in the person of Jesus Christ to model for us how to love you and one another. Teach us still to let the seeds of love you planted inside each of us, produce your fruit outside of us, making us one in Christ Jesus and You O Lord; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 6: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 34; Evening,  Psalms 85 and 86;

Numbers 12:1 to 16; Romans 2:12 to 24; Matthew 18:10 to 20:

“Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. And he said, “Hear my words: When there are prophets among you, I the Lord make myself known to them in visions; I speak to them in dreams. Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house. With him I speak face to face— clearly, not in riddles; and he beholds the form of the Lord.” (Numbers 12: 5 – 8)

Moses’ brother and sister are called to the carpet for their jealousy of God’s relationship with Moses. It does not turn out good for them, especially for Miriam.  What I want to point out in this passage is the almost hidden way of God as is made manifest throughout our Old and New Testaments; and this is still God’s way of communicating with us today, that is, through and to us; in visions and dreams.

In Genesis God appears to Jacob in a dream as Jacob sees the vision of a ladder extending to heaven. (Genesis 28: 10 – 17)  Also, in the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph was about to separate himself from Mary when an angel appeared to him “in a dream” and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins,” (Matthew 1:20 – 21). There are other such biblical cases as well. This is God’s Way.

I think it is important to be attentive to our dreams as well as what might seem like random messages that come to us from persons, known and unknown by us.  Prayer and the desire for the presence of God is very close to meditation, pondering, and dreaming.  God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  God is unchanging but causes all good changes. Occasionally God still gives the prophetic message to some of us, for the benefit of all of us.  We never know who gets the message to bring to us. It could be anybody, not necessarily a seminary graduate or an ordained person. This is why we must always listen to anyone who comes to us with a message.

Today we remember Bernard Moizeki, Catechist and Martyr in Africa (Junew18, 1896), and his  information may be found at: Bernard Mizeki

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 p834 and 835)

“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 Wednesday of Proper 6: Year 2

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

Numbers 11:24 to 33 (34-35); Romans 1:28 to 2:11; Matthew 18:1 to 9:

“For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.” (Romans 2: 6 – 11)

To this New Testament reading I have some critiques and some “Amens.”  I believe that God will take into account what we do and what we say over what we just think about doing or saying.  We might think many things that are not noble or divine.  But as we use the discipline not to speak or act on them, we are pardoned.  Thank You Lord Jesus for helping us overcome the demons in our minds. 

Twice Paul says “the Jew first and also the Greek.”  And yet follows up with “for God shows no partiality.”  This seems partial to me however on the part of Paul.  Full disclosure, I don’t care if I am second or even last, as long as I get there.  As I have studied various cultures I have learned that some cultures use different ways to separate themselves from everybody else.  The Japanese have two different alphabets. One is used for original native Japanese society; Hiragana; and they have an alphabet used for words foreign to Japanese speaking; Katakana. The Amish also say that all persons outside the Amish community are called “the English,” regardless of where they live or originate from. So I understand Paul and his “Jew first” attitude.  I also fully understand that with God there really is no partiality.

I think what I really like here is the fact that we are held more accountable for what we do and say rather than what randomly crosses our minds, or what our ethnicity is.  Our minds are free and sometimes wild, but left to be regulated by our sense of a moral plumb line. Giving in to the temptations of saying or doing wickedness is ungodly. Self seeking and self-serving is ungodly. By patiently doing good works and seeking glory and honor for God, we will have immortality, and God will give us eternal life. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Today we remember Marina the Monk, Monastic, 5^th Century, and her information may be found at: Marina the Monk

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 holy Spirit of the living God, please help us all with our patience and discernment regarding the things we say and do. And dear Lord, even as we devise ways to designate those who are different than ourselves, enable us to see your holy presence in them and love them accordingly. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 6: Year 2

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

Numbers 11:1 to 23; Romans 1:16 to 25; Matthew 17:22 to 27:

“And say to the people: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wailed in the hearing of the Lord, saying, ‘If only we had meat to eat! Surely it was better for us in Egypt.’ Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall eat not only one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you—because you have rejected the Lord who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’” (Numbers 11:18 – 20)

All of the prescribed readings for today are very good.  But the presence of God in the manna in our Numbers reading was particularly interesting to me.  They are told that they “rejected the Lord who is among you.” This manna was the food of faith and freedom.  They were living in the wilderness without taskmasters. All they had to do was breathe and eat the simple meal that was provided for them.

It doesn’t take us long to become bored and then complain, does it?  Meat is nice but bread is our staple.  I see the communal nature of what’s going on with the manna, the Emanuel of it, the God with us in it.  Today, in our Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina, we are back to full Holy Communion. Never have I been so glad to receive it as now in this post Covid time. Lest we forget that Covid was a real lesson about the importance of Holy Communion.  While I keep up with our Daily Office as shared in this, my daily blog, there is no way to receive the manna, the bread and wine via streaming electronic services. We must be together for this, Emanuel, God with us time, and never wail or even become bored of it. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Today we remember Joseph Butler, Bishop and Theologian (1752) and his information may be found at: Joseph Butler

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: (BCP 834)                

Be present, be present, O Jesus, our great High Priest, as you were present with your disciples, and be known to us in the breaking of bread; who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 6; Year 2

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;

Numbers 9:15 to 23 and 10:29-36; Romans 1:1 to 15; Matthew 17:14 to 21:

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,  To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:1 – 7)

Wow! Paul: What an intro! I need to break this down in order to digest it.  First of all, I do believe Paul was called to be an apostle of the Gospel of God.  That whole experience on the road to Damascus was proof of that. I also believe that the prophets of the Hebrew Testament foretold of the coming of the Messiah, the Lord, our Lord Jesus, who was raised according to the human household code of David but sanctified by the Holy Spirit of God, by which he survived death and that self-same Holy Spirit is with us today as the Spirit of God through Christ Jesus.

It is through the risen Lord that we receive grace and apostleship and all we will ever need to bring about the obedience of faith among all the inhabitants of earth. This obedience of faith is a slow process by human understanding, but it is the work we are called to do nonetheless. You and I must keep the faith no matter what.  And so Paul dubs us as saints. Therefore, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This call that God has on us brings us out of death into everlasting life. For our part we must have faith, we must believe. Faith is the handle by which heaven grabs us and brings us before the Holy Presence of God. All of us are products of God’s unending love and we have the invitation through faith to continue to be with God after this life. Our faith secures our final destination.

As a spiritual person, I love exploring the spiritual realm. Today we remember Evelyn Underhill, Theologian and Mystic (June 15, 1941), and her information may be found at: Evelyn Underhill

 “Evelyn Underhill’s most valuable contribution to spiritual literature must surely be her conviction that the mystical life is not only open to a saintly few, but to anyone who cares to nurture it and weave it into everyday experience, and also (at the time, a startling idea) that modern psychological theories and discoveries, far from hindering or negating spirituality, can actually enhance and transform it.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for June 15)

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:

Most Holy Jesus Christ, to believe in you and follow your lead is our sanctification. Keep us ever mindful of your presence in our everyday lives. Help us daily to spread our love in the world; Amen.

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 6:  Year A

Matthew 9:35 to 10:23)

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9: 37 and 38)

The potential and possibility for a better community is so doable! This potential and possibility is the harvest of which Jesus speaks. We are sent into our communities to bring about the harvest of love and compassion. We are equipped to do this because our Lord Jesus has touched our souls, and not just for our sakes, but for all whom we encounter.

Jesus says “As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 10:7). This is the humble approach. We teach by saying and doing what is respectful and loving. We do not return evil for evil or retaliate in any way. We walk this path humbly and remembering we are always being watched by others who are learning, and by God who is calling.

We are called to carry out this work humbly. As Jesus says, “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). We should do it God’s Way rather than go out and confront people about what they believe.  Let us ease our way into the midst of people and just show them a better Way, a life of harmony and respect by being the example.

It may be that this way of life seems useless at first. But we must strive to do this to the end. Of this Jesus says, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10: 22).  This is spiritual labor. Remember, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  This is where I like to use the term, “No Matter What!”  We must do the Lord’s work, the Lord’s Way, all the time, “No Matter What!”

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 6: The Sunday closest to June 15, BCP p.230)

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 5: Year 2

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

Numbers 3:1 to 13; Galatians 6:11 to 18; Matthew 17:1 to13:

“While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved;with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’”  (Matthew 17:5)

This is the second time we hear this proclamation from heaven.  In chapter three of Matthew after Jesus was baptized a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) We also read these words in 2^nd Peter, chapter 1, verse 17: in Mark 9:7 and in Luke 9:35, about the mountain top experience.  The big difference here is the addition of the words, “listen to him,” in the early Matthew account as Jesus was Baptized.  

Inherent in listening is learning and the expectation of amendment of life. Our duty here on earth, in this lifetime, is to prepare ourselves for our eternal time with God.  As much as the Book of Ecclesiastes talks about “all is vanity under the sun,” the writer sums the whole thing up in the last words from the Book of Ecclesiastes; “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Peter, James and John, on the Mountain, listened to God say who Jesus is. Their listening led them to learning, and loving. They then lived out their new Truth and became leaders in the Jesus movement.

Today we remember the First Book of Common Prayer, at: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/BCP.htm

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:                                                                                  

Most holy Lord Jesus, teach us daily to humble ourselves in order that God, the Creator and Sustainer of all life, may dwell within each of us in order that we all might listen to your instruction and receive eternal life; Amen.