onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 7: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 105:1 to 22; Evening,  Psalm 105:23 to 45;

Numbers 17:1 to 11; Romans 5:1 to 11; Matthew 20:17 to 28:

“It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20: 26 – 28)

Jesus has just heard the plea of John, and  his brother James along with their mother, to share seats of glory in the kingdom of Jesus.  It appears that she asks Jesus to let her sons be on his right and left side in his kingdom.  To this Jesus explains, it is not his to give.  The other apostles find out and are angered by their request.  Jesus calls them all together and explains the difference between this world and heaven.  On earth we have a lordship of tyranny where we rule by threats, money concerns and punitive measures.  In heaven, it is a kingdom of servanthood. The whole idea of king and servant is turned upside down.

I’m guessing the problem I have with the language of Jesus, as it is translated and spoken in Matthew, is the part about “whoever wishes to be “great” among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be “first” among you must be your slave.”  These words still show the continued goal of seeking the self-serving glory of being great, or, of being first.  Can we not live to serve and be happy with serving without looking forward to sitting on the right or left hand of our Lord and Savior in some kind of shared glory?  Once we learn to be happy by serving others, we can be happy anywhere, even anywhere here on earth, in this life.  Let’s just be okay helping others to be okay: Ok?

Today we remember James Weldon Johnson, Poet, 1938, and his information may be found at: James Weldon Johnson

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 Most Holy Counselor Lord Jesus, as you have set the example of real joy that can only be obtained through patience and kindness while practicing servanthood to others, stay with us in our sad failures and humble successes as we continually strive to follow your lead in our daily lives; Amen.

Daily office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 7: Year 2

Morning,  Psalms 101 and 109: ; Evening, Psalm 119:121 to 144;
Numbers 16:36 to 50; Romans 4:13 to 25; Matthew 20:1 to 16:

“And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” (Matthew 20:11 and 12)

In this parable of Jesus, He explains that those who come to the Table late in their lives are just as entitled as those who were there from the beginning. The first had gone through much religious turmoil but they persevered. The late comers came to the table late in life but were just as needy as those who came early. God, in Christ Jesus, looks upon the human heart and accepts those of us who are penitent and genuine in our belief as made manifest by our behavior, whenever we transform.

There is another lesson I glean from this passage. The land owner recognizes that each unemployed man represents a family that is going without what it needs because of the husband or father not having work.  Rather than just give them unearned money, the land owner has found a way to give dignity to heads of households. The early workers, it seems, did not want the late workers to have what was needed for their families. The lesson for me is, that if I have enough for me and mine, I should not begrudge anyone else who also has what they also need, even if they did not put in as much as I did.  No one was promised more than the daily wage.  The daily wage paid rent and put food on the table. The landowner found a way to care for families without simply “giving” them money. We should be the same today.

Today we remember John the Baptist, Prophet, Preacher and Martyr (June 24,) and his information may be found at: Nativity of John the Baptist.

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 God be present in my heart as I consider others. Let me not be envious or jealous of others because of what they have, or I don’t have. Rather, dear God, move me to help those who don’t have what they need in any way that helps them; either personally, or participating in actions that will seek to take care of those in need. In your most holy Name I pray: Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 7: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 97, 99; Evening, Psalm 94;

Numbers 16:20 to 35; Romans 4:1 to 12; Matthew 19:23 to 30:

“Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”  (Matthew 19:27)

Peter is someone in the Gospel that I really identify with even if I’m not always proud of it. I sometimes shoot from the hip without thinking.  I am sometimes afraid and, in the way I behave, deny even knowing Christ.  I have family and yet have decided to follow Jesus. However, I have moved beyond asking “what’s in it for me.” Peter explains to Jesus how he and others have followed him and now wants to know about the payoff.

I am in a place now where I want to do good for goodness sake.  It’s like the Santa Clause song, “he knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you are wake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.”  Being good for goodness sake is a kindness that is not looking down the reward road.  Being good for goodness sake is basking in the goodness as you perform it. It’s Wonderful.

Our Lord Jesus is very much aware of our human need for good outcomes.  So he assures Peter, and us, that we will receive the good reward. He says, everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19: 29)

So let us not be so concerned about a future reward.  Let’s just be kind and do what is good and right so that we can say (humbly but with a little bit of pride) I did that!

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, make manifest in us the desire to be like You, and others who strive to be kind and patient. Make us joyful in being this way such that we always want to do good works and never bring harm or trouble on others. Help us to be this way to the glory of Your Name; Amen.

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.