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The Gospel Eucharistic Reading for Sunday of Proper 12: Year A

 Matthew 13:31 to 33 and 44 to 52:

“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Matthew 13: 51 – 52)

Leading up to the part where our Lord Jesus asks if the disciples “understood all this,” is a series of “The kingdom of heaven is like,” statements. These similes are all intended to show both the growth-effect of the kingdom of heaven, (something old), and that the heart of a person’s greatest desire, can be accomplished (something new). 

The mustard seed grows to be the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.  The Israelites have been scattered and twice caught in bondage but in spite of all this they grew and grew. They overcame their captors with God’s help and were freed. They became the foundational tree of a One God theology where all the peoples of the earth could find comfort in its branches.

When Jesus gave us the Commandment to first love God and then to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, he established for us what ought to be our greatest desire. Finding our love for God is like finding a treasure hidden in a field, something for which we should be most happy to sell everything we have in order to have it. Again, finding our love for God is like finding fine pearls and again selling all that we have to have them. Truly loving God is total and complete happiness. It is when we love God with all that we are that we can then love our neighbors. It does not work when trying to love neighbor or even family before loving God.  Love God first, then it works.

The reward of our faith, and the growth of it, brings us both something new and something old.  But also, this is to reflect the, Torah (something old),  and the Christian Testament (something new), so when the disciples were asked if they understood all this, I doubt they really did.  I doubt most Christians today really understand all this. The important question is, my beloved of Christ, do you understand all this?

How does pondering your love for God cause a change in how you live your life?  How does understanding the Torah (that that you hate, don’t do to others); and the Christian Testament (do  unto others as you would have them do onto you), connect in your attitude towards others?  How do you bring these two of something old and something new together? Therefore be the scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven.

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 12 The Sunday closest to July 27 (BCP p. 231)

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; 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 Saturday of Proper 11: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalms 138 and 139:1 to 17; 

Joshua 23:1 to 16; Romans15:25 to 33; Matthew 27:11 to 23

“While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.’” (Matthew 27:19)

We don’t have the name of the wife of Pontius Pilate but she was definitely spiritually connected with God.  Many people, prophets and leaders of Israel were contacted by God via a divine dream.  Jacob, Daniel, and even Joseph, the earthly father of our Lord Jesus, are just three examples.  Pilate’s wife is in good company but she is not listened to and heeded by her husband.

I ponder about dreams.  Scripture has shown that dreams are often used as conduits of communication by God for the purpose of doing God’s work. Dreams can be places of revelation.  Pilate did not listen to his wife, perhaps it was destined to be that way, who knows?  For this Matthew Gospel account it may be surprising that we even get to hear her voice.  But we do, and so I pray that all of us should look deeper into our dreams of revelation.

At a Christian Education session I have personally witnessed one person share a dream and another person at the table interpret what the dream could have meant. It made so much sense.  For the most part I believe God’s message for us will move us closer to the will of God in good ways.  Dreams are very slippery however.  If we wait too long we forget the details of our dreams.  It could be an important message lost. I believe the Spirit of God connects with us in some of our dreams (not all), because we stay too busy with worldly things to hear God during our waking hours. Pleasant dreams everyone.

Today we remember James the Apostle, NT (July 25), and his information may be found at: St. James 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:

Most Holy Lord God, Who created our minds with loving intent, forgive our worldly preoccupations while we are awake and visit us in our dreams again as you have done in times past, and raise our awareness to your will now, and in the ages to come, in order that your will might be done on earth as it is in Heaven, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 11: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 50; Evening, Psalms 66 and 67;

Joshua 9:3-21; Romans 15:1-13; Matthew 26:69-75:

“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15: 5 – 6)

These words of Paul about who God is, is worth some deep pondering.  Paul says the God of “steadfastness and encouragement.”  Steadfastness, to me, means discipline.  It means to keep on keeping on.  This is the discipline of my blogging, every day.  However, we must look at content.  The discipline of steadfastness is negative if the content of what we are being steadfast about is negative.  The content of steadfastness must be both good and uplifting for our family, friends and humanity.  This then is the encouragement part.

We all should lift up the good traits and habits we see in others.  Such lifting up is encouragement and it promotes harmony.  Even the most introverted person likes to hear words of encouragement. Such words really do bring about harmony in the community. This is how the God of love is revealed in the community.  I think this is why Paul says that God is the God of steadfastness and encouragement.  God is made manifest in how we embrace one another in steadfastness and encouragement. In this way, when people see you coming, they will say to themselves, “here comes “Good News!” This blog is an example of my steadfast discipline and encouragement to all who read this blog so that readers may, with one voice, glorify the God and Parent of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

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

Today we remember John Cassian, Abbot at Marseilles, 433, and his information may be found at: John Cassian.

Let us pray: (Again)

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen. (Romans 15: 5 – 6)

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 11: Year 2

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

Joshua 8:30 to 35; Romans14:13 to 23; Matthew 26:57 to 68;

“The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God.” (Romans 14:22)

I am a mentor of Education for Ministry (EfM) administered from School of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.  As such, I have learned through many sessions to develop my own theology and I have  framed it with a personal creed; a creed to live by; a faith that I have, that I have as my own conviction before God.  I have put together words that I believe really capture my belief. Here it is: “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.”

I think it is the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus that was promised to us when He went back to where He was before he came to us more than 2000 years ago.  We read in the Gospel of St. John, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (John:14:26).  Jesus prayed to Creator God that the apostles of his day would continue to believe (long after His initial visit) and that those of us who follow, will also believe their words. “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20 – 21)  This handed down lesson is my conviction before God.  I am very aware of the “account” part of my creed.  I will do the best that I can to be a good person and to love all people.  This too is my conviction before God.

I invite all who read this blog to take pen and paper in hand, (or laptop), and for a moment, put aside the Church doctrinal creed. Save it for when you are assembled in Church.  Craft what you personally believe about your relationship with God and faith. Remember, you can come back later and edit it as you grow in the Spirit. “The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God.”

Today we remember Mary Magdalene, First Witness of the Resurrection (July 22 NT) and her information may be found at: Mary Magdalene.

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: Saint Mary Magdalene July 22 (BCP p. 242)

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed of all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 11, Year 2

Morning,  Psalm 45; Evening, Psalms 47, and 48:

Joshua 8:1-22; Romans14:1-12; Matthew. 26:47-56

“Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.”  (Romans 14: 5)

Paul is teaching Jews and Gentiles alike that all should accept the way the other understands and worships God in their own way.  This is still a valuable lesson for us today.  This applies not only in the wide world of all religions, but also within our Christian religion itself.  Whether we are Baptist or Episcopalian, or Roman Catholic, or Presbyterian, or Lutheran, or United Methodist, or Non Denominational, or Amish, we all worship our Lord Jesus in our own way. There is one Jesus but more than one way of having a loving interpretation of, and relationship with him.

I have dear relatives, and close friends who are not Christians.  Some are Jews, some are Muslims and some are of faith-walks I don’t fully understand.  But they believe in a Higher Power in some way. I also know a few so-called, self proclaimed atheist.  I fully believe the latter will come to believe on the other side of this life.  While our walk in faith helps us to navigate this current life, our faith is our preparation for eternal life, at least that’s my Christian understanding.

Paul will go on to say that, “We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.  If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s,” (Romans 14: 7 – 8). These words are part of the opening words used at funerals in the Episcopal Church. Pretty much all funeral services are for the assembled living. The deceased have already moved on. So it is while we are living to the Lord, that is, living in the “dash,” ( that period between birth and death) that we should not shape our faith, but rather, let our faith shape us.  Being convinced in our own minds does not mean never changing our minds. Rather, it means being open minded to the other’s way as well as the possibilities for our own “new” way. 

Today we remember Marina Skobtsova, Monastic and Martyr, 1945: and Albert John Luthuli, Prophetic Witness in South Africa, 1967: and their information may be found at:  Maria Skobtsova, and Albert Luthuli, 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: For Quiet Confidence (BCP p. 832)

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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.