onewhoponders

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

Morning, Psalms 1, 2, 3; Evening, Psalms 4 and 7;   

Exodus 14:21-31; 1 Pet. 1:1-12; John 14:1-17:

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2 – 3)

There are few things that can compare with a well thought-out plan. One of the lessons I am still learning is to have a place for things before I get them. It is really upsetting to order and have delivered a new gym apparatus and nowhere to put it in an already crowded garage.   I’ve gotten to the point that when I am asked to move something for someone, I ask where do you want me to move it to?  If there is something already occupying that space, then the question becomes, where does that item then go? and on and on.

For our eternal home, this work has already been done by our Lord Jesus. Jesus says he has gone to prepare a place for us. This preparing that Jesus speaks of may even be “create” a space for us. The good news is that there is a space, a dwelling-place for us. You have heard that there should be a place for everything, and everything in its place, right?  We are co-creating a space in our eternal home right now as we go about believing in, and following Jesus.

In what I call my “man-cave” are many photos, plaques, and memorabilia I have collected over the years. It’s not much, it’s just me. Jesus is decorating a room for me with the good works I have done, and hopefully, will do as I await his call to my eternal home. How about you my friend?  What personal souvenirs or memorabilia is our Lord Jesus preparing your space with? The good news is, if you are reading this you still have time to put forward some good works, or fruits of the spirit, to our Lord Jesus as he prepares your space. For as he says, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” Let me be clear, this is not “works righteousness,” but rather, “living the dream.”

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.505)

Merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life: Raise us, we humbly pray, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness; that when we depart this life we may rest in him, and at the resurrection receive that blessing which your well-beloved Son shall then pronounce: “Come, you blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.” Grant this, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the Second Sunday of Easter: Year A

John 20:19-31 

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”  (John 20: 29)

Although we have not “seen” Jesus, at least, not in human form as a Palestinian Jew.  We see him in the acts of people who believe in him.

In scripture we see Jesus come to people huddled up in a room as did the apostles. They had their own quarantine so to speak. They were behind a locked door but that did not stop Jesus.

Jesus seems to really get upset about people who have first heard and then did not believe. Jesus was upset with the disciples who heard Mary Magdalene declare “He has risen,” but they didn’t believe her.  Jesus reprimanded the two on the road to Emmaus.  You see, “In the beginning was the Word!” not the sight.  I think Jesus is trying to make the point that we should believe the Jesus stories we are told, at least believe until we find out different, and I don’t believe we ever will. 

We can see the presence of Jesus through the acts of believers today. I saw and heard Jesus in a Doctor at Chapel Hill University Hospital many, many years ago, who asked if she could pray with us for one of our then teenage high school boys who was run over by a school bus. She asked to pray with us before she performed surgery on him.  I was so moved by her asking.  It is good to witness doctors of faith and feel the presence of Jesus today in our presence. We can hear and see our Lord Jesus in doctors and nurses and store clerks, and truck drivers cooped up in their various, and sometimes locked-in environments today. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Even more blessed are those who have heard and then come to see our Lord Jesus in the loving acts of his people. I bid you all, to go and be blessed, and then be a blessing to others. Tell your own Jesus stories so that others may first hear and then see our Lord Jesus in their own way.

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: Second Sunday of Easter (BCP p. 224)

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Eucahristic Readings for Saturday of Easter Week: All Years

Acts 4:13-21;  Psalm 118:14-18 or Psalm 118:19-24;  Mark 16:9-15,20

“But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4: 19 – 20)

This is something we don’t think about enough, that is, what is right in God’s eyes.  No matter where we are, or who we are with, God is always present, looking and listening. I will confess that I still find myself in situations where I am saying things about a person (not present) to someone else, that I wouldn’t say if the subject person was present.  I forget that God is standing right beside me. I’m getting better, but not quite there yet.

Sometimes it is hard to hear what God is saying.  Many people try to find similar life situations or problems in the Bible in order to discern what God said then, and apply it to now.  This does not often work, and it may not be what God is saying to us now.  Each time, each situation and each people have their own, and often, very different responses, from God.

Peter and John learned from our Lord Jesus that prayer brings about the voice of God. And just as they were partnered in their standing before the rulers and elders and scribes as formerly uneducated men, being only fishermen, they consoled with God and fed off each other for even wiser counsel with God in the mix.

Each one of us, clergy or not, needs another person, of whom we have respect for their caring and nurture that we can voice our concerns with.  And then we must be willing to heed their counsel given to us. This is not to take away our own “alone” time. But sometimes God needs to use the voice of a trusted friend to say a word or two that will enhance our discernment and decision making. God is good, all the time. God wants what is good for us. Often our traditions and laws conflict with the good that God wants for us.  We must listen to the Holy Spirit of God speaking through others and understand what is right in God’s eyes. It varies from situation to situation.

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:

Dear Lord God in Christ Jesus, as You were witnessed by Peter and John about Who You are and what is right to do and say, so also be with us in our time now so that we too may share Your truth and love to the world. In Your eternal presence we pray: Amen.

Eucharistic Readings for Friday of Easter Week: All Years

Acts 4:1-12 Psalm 116:1-8; or Psalm 118:19-24; John 21:1-14:

“When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” (John 21:9 – 10)

The “just caught” fish in this case is an example of the bringing together of new people to Christianity and those who have been long members. They did this around food wherein our Lord Jesus again took the fish, blessed it and divided it up and then gave it to them to eat. Our Lord Jesus seems to be a person who enjoys good friends with good food.  Notice too that there is also the requirement for those joining to bring something where he says, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” We are all participants and partakers in the feast with Jesus.

This was a fish breakfast! I ponder if it is on purpose that this reading is scheduled on a Friday. When I was in seminary a few of us from our dorm would go to Eastern Market in D.C. on Saturday mornings for a fish and grits breakfast.  It was great! Meals are truly the meeting place for people to reduce differences and become spiritual family.  I had an old 1978 Mercury Marquis in those days. It was huge.  Five of us would climb into that car and head for Eastern Market.  There was always excitement about going there and just being together.  We talked and joked all the way there.  This was kind of like the excitement Peter had when he was told that it was the Lord that was talking to them from the shore.

Maybe, just maybe, the old “stay at home” policy of the Coronavirus years ago was making us re-discover our home prepared meals again. And perhaps on occasion, we will bring someone among us whom we trust to be honest about where they’ve been and the condition they are in. I have been so blessed. Shared meals are the best meals. I so love my friends of faith, and the faith of my friends.

“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: Friday in Easter Week (BCP p. 224)

Almighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Easter Sunday: Year A

John 20:1-18

“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the feet.” (John 20:11 – 12)

All of us share with Mary in the fact that it is through Jesus that we even know who we are. We read from the Gospel according to Luke that our Lord Jesus casts out 7 demons from Mary, (Luke 8:2). It is in this way that Mary even knows who she is. She owes her very identity to her Lord Jesus. It was when she heard him call her name, “Mary” that she knew beyond any doubt that her Lord and Savior was back! Which to her means, she can remain who she is supposed to be, because “Jesus lives,” and because Jesus lives, she lives.  Because Jesus lives, we live.

We, you and I, are the good we are through our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. I am sure that throughout my life I have had some demons. However, knowing and loving Jesus has enabled me to rid myself of demons and more fully become aware of who I am supposed to be. Like Mary Magdalene, we come to know fully who we are in Christ Jesus our Savior.  We have a Covenant of knowing ourselves in Christ. This Covenant in Christ Jesus will never be broken.  

God has had many covenants with humanity.  All were broken at some point.  We had a covenant with Noah symbolized by a rainbow; we had a covenant with Abraham that all nations will be blessed through him; we had covenant through Moses with the Law, whether it was the 613 Laws, or the 10 Commandments: we broke covenant with God every time. 

In Jesus we again tried to break covenant by crucifixion.  But God knowing we are not able to hold a covenant, became one of us and “un-broke” the attempted brake of this Covenant by Raising our Lord Jesus, the living Covenant, thus, not allowing His Covenant with us to be broken. In this move by Christ, death has died.  “I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues?   Where, O grave, is your destruction? (Hosea 13:14).  And this was reinterpreted by Paul in his 1^st Letter to the Corinthians as “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  (1 Corinthians 15: 55). What we get from this is that death does not win.  Our Lord Jesus defeats death and keeps us with him forever in Covenant.

We have so much to be thankful for.  God loves us and has walked among us to experience what it is like to be us, the good and the bad.  Easter is about God keeping Covenant with us in order that we may be who we are intended to be in a Covenant we are not able to break. Thank You Lord Jesus.  Alleluia. Christ is risen!

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. 222)

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Gospel Eucharistic Reading for Easter Vigil: Year A

Matthew 28:1-10

“Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”” (Matthew 28: 7 – 10)

Galilee, Galilee, Galilee. The Angels tell the women to tell his followers to go to Galilee to see him. A few steps later, the Resurrected Jesus himself tells them the same thing, “tell them to Go to Galilee.”  I am surprised that more Churches aren’t named “Galilee” as the place where we meet our Lord Jesus.

Some points to note here is that Jesus, and those assisting Jesus, (his angels) are the ones who first addressed the women.  The women were then “recruited” to further continue the message of how to find Jesus. So, we must be “in search of our Lord Jesus in the first place.  If we are in search of him, Our Lord Jesus will send us directions.

The second point to ponder is, Where is “our” Galilee?  Galilee is where Jesus did the bulk of his teaching and preaching, it is where he did his healing and walking on the water. It is where he was raised and grew up.  This gives a double message of “going home.”  Yes, he is going back to the Father but first he is going back to his earthly place of preference. Capernaum of Galilee, we are told, is the first place our Lord Jesus went to of his own free will and accord. 

I have a few Galilees in my life. I have St Vincent de Paul, Catholic School, in Nashville, Tennessee, where I was first introduced to God, and the Christ of God. I have Paris Island, South Carolina (where I was made a Marine); I have Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Virginia, where my education was continued about our Lord Jesus.  All of these Galilees are places to “go back to” for refreshment and renewal for me. Jesus is calling his followers out of Jerusalem, the place that kills the prophets, to a better place, a place of peace and refreshment.

The Resurrection should mean the same thing for you.  Where, or when, in your life have you found learning and love? This does not have to be, and in most cases is not, geographic.  It’s more a state of mind. It is about when you were happy, loved and learning.  It’s time for a wake-up call.  Let’s use our minds to go back to places of our own free will and accord, places where we can find our Lord Jesus. And remember; when we go looking, our lord Jesus will send help and guide us on the way.  This is my message for you.  Happy Easter!

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. 291)

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.