onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 8: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 140 and 142; Evening, Psalms 141 and 143:1 -12);

 Numbers 24:1-13; Romans 8:12-17; Matthew 22:15-22:

“Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  (Matthew 22:21)

In trying to trick our Lord Jesus, the disciples of the Pharisees, along with the Herodians actually learn something about the real use of money and the reality of what belongs to God.

The real use of money is to purchase the necessities we need for living healthy lives.  Also, money can be used for fun and comfort. However, as money is a nonperishable trade commodity that the whole community needs to make use of, it should never be hoarded to the deprivation of others.

The emperor can be seen as the government, and money back to the emperor is the same as paying taxes. The emperor, or our government, are the printers of the money (hopefully) as a means of enabling citizens the ability to get their needs met and maintain their common good which includes paying wages for those who work for the emperor or our government.  Money is too often misused.

Our souls and hearts on the other hand, belong to the One who loaned it to us, Almighty God.  While money is a human construct, our being, is the design and creation of God. Loans of money can, and should, be paid in full.  What we owe God can never be paid.  But then, who we are, and how we are made, never really stops being the property of God.  And the fact that we cannot pay God back for our being, we must inevitably return  “to God the things that are God’s.”  This has always been true, even before time, since before the heavens and the earth were finished.

“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 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.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 8: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:145-176; Evening, Psalms 128, 129 and 130; 

Numbers 22:41-23:12; Romans 7:13-25; Matthew 21:33-46:

“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.” (Matthew 21: 3)

This starts out as a beautiful parable then quickly goes south.  It goes into evil, self-serving people (the tenants), who beat up and killed the prophets and then killed the Son of the owner of the vineyard. The preferential Christian understanding for many Christians is that God has sent His Son into the world, the vineyard, and he was crucified by those who thought themselves to be first in authority, and the vineyard was given to Christians. Not all Christians adhere to this idea but many do.

But before all that, I want to focus on our human duty to care for this earth, this vineyard, regardless of any particular religion.  The Great Creator of the universe has caused us to come into being in this perfect life support system for all living creation upon it.  And, call it what you will, creation or evolution, humanity came into being last.  I think we are the flagship of God’s work and placed here, in part, to care for this earth.  This earth is perfect for our wellbeing.  But there is more to it than that.

We have a responsibility to help maintain this precious life-support system that we depend on. We have made telescopes and cameras and we have placed them in space such that we can look back and see this fragile earth, our island home as God would see it. I truly believe that God enjoys looking at this earth and sees that it is (or was) very good. This earth is a unique blue ball giving life to countless forms of life.  This blue ball is the vineyard, and we, all humans, are the tenants, given the responsibility to maintain it until the owner, either sends someone for a report, or returns personally.  So, what do you think our Earth-care grade should be on our report card to God?

Today we remember Pauli Murray, Priest (July 1, 1985) and Harriet Beecher Stowe, Writer and Prophetic witness (July 1, 1896) their information may be found at: Pauli Murray and Harriet Beecher Stowe, 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:                                                           

Almighty God, the Great Architect and Crafter of all life and especially of this earth; be present with us and teach us to better care for this planet our place of life, not only for ourselves, but for all your living creatures.  Make all humanity more aware of our planetary needs and inspire us to monitor our actions so as to make it clean again and to keep it clean as you have intended from the beginning; Amen

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 8: Year 2

Morning, Psalms  121, 122, and 123; Evening, Psalms 124, 125 and 126;

Numbers 22:21-38; Romans 7:1-12; Matthew 21:23-32:

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went.  The fatherwent to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go.  Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.” (Matthew 21: 28 – 32)

Our Lord Jesus points out that those who made the wrong decision initially, but then turned their lives around and did the will of God were forgiven and accepted; while those who gave the pleasing lip response initially, but did not change for the better suffered a more difficult fate. It seems, over time, we tend to improve.  I hope this is true for most of us anyway.

I must confess that I think that I am a much better person now than I was 40 years ago.  How do I know this?  I evaluate this by how I now see and listen to people; I evaluate it by the friends I cherish. And finally, I evaluate it by the fewer regrets I have for things done, and left undone.

The son who said no but did the will of the Father was, I believe, happier with himself in the end.  The son who said yes, but did not do the Father’s will, lived a double life of shame, shame for not pleasing the Father, and shame for lying about it in the first place.  The first son did not follow through with his emotional resentment of not wanting to do the work, but after deeper thought, did the work anyway.  The second son told the Father what he thought the father wanted to hear, either knowing he had no intention of doing the work; or, deciding later that he would not keep his word.

The words we produce with our mouths are important, especially if they truly represent what we are thinking and believing.   But the words we produce with our actions are the most important because they validate what is really in our heart.  Jesus has cornered the chief priests and elders in a situation wherein they would not say what they truly thought about John the Baptist. Rather, they conspired to say words pleasing to each other.  And unlike the tax-collectors and the prostitutes, the chief priests and elders would not change their ways.  How about us?  Do we always say what we really mean?  And “when” we err, will we repent and change?

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. 393)

Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; in your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone; and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 8: Year 2

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

Numbers 22:1-21; Romans 6:12-23 Matthew 21:12-22

“In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry.  And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once.” (Matthew 21:18 – 19)

A fig tree born of creation, yet refuses to provide food for the One through whom it has its being.  We might argue that it was not the “proper” time for the tree to produce fruit; therefore, it is not the tree’s fault.  But we don’t know the hidden relationship that the Creator had with this tree.

I have read where as Jesus was on his way back to the Temple, which was also in full leaf insofar as its population was concerned, but produced no fruit in terms of spiritually feeding the people who came to it for spiritual nourishment.  The Temple was there for the pleasure of the Temple authorities only. There was a similarity between the fruitless tree and the fruitless temple.

How about you and me and our Church?  What is the spiritual fruit of our labors or the labors of our worship houses?  Are we found visiting the sick, or assisting those with no transportation to the store or medical appointments?  These are especially challenging questions.  But we must not use our difficult times as an excuse, or free pass, to not help our neighbors, less we too become the fruitless tree. Our parishes should feed our faith as we meet with regular attendance so that God is not disappointed when looking for the fruits of our faith.

Today we remember Saints Peter and Paul, and their information may be found at: St. Peter and St. Paul.

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:

Energize us O Lord God to love and participate in the fruitful well-being of our community in ways that bring people closer to you. Rejuvenate our heart’s desire to bring people together again for your love’s sake; Amen. 

The Gospel Eucharistic Reading for Sunday of Proper 8: Year A

Matthew 10:40-42

“Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple– truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”” (Matthew 10: 40 – 42)

If we go forth in the Name of our Lord Jesus, we present Jesus to all we encounter, if we get out of the way.  We are the gift wrapped package of Jesus.  Jesus then, is the package that contains God, like the Trojan Horse of the Greeks who secretly entered Troy.  So within each baptized Christian is hidden our Lord Jesus, and within Jesus is God Almighty. Delivering God to anyone is wonderful but especially to those who may not know God, is the most important thing any of us can do. And we don’t do it alone.  We let go and let God; we let God work through us.

Now, after this opening statement, comes the “reward” language, which I don’t particularly care for.  The prophet’s reward, the righteous person’s reward, and even the compassionate person’s reward, seems to encourage us to do good in order to receive the appropriate (and expected) reward.  Let’s just be like Mary, and be God-bearers.  Mary partnered with, and co-created with God not for herself but for the salvation of the world.  Let her words resonate within ourselves, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38)

Maybe if we really work at being Jesus presenters, it in itself, will be reward enough. It is like the Christmas song that asks us to be good for goodness sake. When we enjoy good, we enjoy God, because God is Good; All the time.

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 8 The Sunday closest to June 29 (BCP p.230)

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; 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 7: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13); Evening, Psalm 33;

Numbers 20:14 to 29; Romans 6:1 to 11; Matthew 21:1 to 11:

“But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6: 8 – 11)

I have always believed, even before going to seminary, that the most serious service a clergy person could facilitate, second only to baptism, is the funeral or, burial service.  Death is the ultimate transition of life. Not all will submit to baptism, but all of us will submit to death.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ walked among us to be the Gateway into eternal life with God. I believe also that every human being will be raised to judgment before our Creator.  How we have behaved during our dash-time (that time between birth and death) is important so far as it reflects what is in our hearts, it is the actual content of our hearts that makes the difference. God looks upon the heart.  Do you have love in your heart?  Jesus instructs us to love others as he loves us.

We don’t have to worry about our conduct if we vow to always behave from the “love of other” perspective.  It would make no difference whether we were police, medical, military, clergy or corrections officer; doing our vocations from loving others as Christ loves us is pleasing to God and eases our transition through ultimate judgment.  Love for the other then makes us dead to sin. Sin is that which separates us from the will of God. This is why Paul says that we all must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Today we remember Cornelius Hill, Priest and Chief Among the Oneida, 1907, and his information may be found at: Cornelius Hill

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.504)

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 7: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1-32;

Numbers 20:1 to 13; Romans 5:12 to 21; Matthew 20:29 to 34:

 “They said to him, ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him;” (Matthew 20: 33 and 34).

In this Matthew Gospel account two blind men “regain’ their sight.  Which means they once saw clearly but later lost their vision.  Somehow they lost sight of what was going on, and where they were going; and now they wanted Jesus to put them back where they could see again.

The sight that our Lord Jesus restores is not so much our visual sight as it seems on the surface.  It is the seeing of our heart that really guides us on the good path. Our Lord Jesus looked through the eyes of his own Godly heart and he was “moved with compassion” and restored their sight.

Are we willing to ask for, and receive, this restored understanding?  These blind men refused to be hushed by the surrounding crowd but instead demanded to be helped by God Incarnate.  If we have lost our moral vision, and our hope, some will try to keep us this way often for their own self serving purposes. We must dare to break out and seek the presence of Jesus in order to be put back on track.  He is already moved with compassion for us, we just need to insist on seeing him in order that we might see the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Today we remember Isabel Florence Hapgood, Ecumenist, Translator and Journalist, 1928, and her information may be found at: Isabel Florence Hapgood.

“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:                                                                      

Most merciful Jesus, as you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, enable us we pray, to see again the path of life which leads to all truth and goodness. Light our way to walk honorably and lovingly with our neighbors and see Yourself in those we encounter. In Your most holy Name we pray; Amen.

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.