Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 13: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;
2 Samuel 7:1-17; Acts 18:1-11; Mark 8:11-21:

“I commune with my heart in the night; I ponder and search my mind. (Psalm 77: 6)

As most all of my readers know, my ponderings are reflections derived from the Daily Office readings of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church. My ponderings are theological and meant to share for the theological enhancement of all who may read what I share.

Rarely do I attempt to connect a theme with all the readings for a given day.  But today is an exception.  For some reason I think I see something of the nature of God. I’m just pondering.

I am moved by the number of repeats in our different readings for today.  Let me give you some examples. In our first Psalm recommended for the morning, Psalm 80, we read, “Restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved:” (Psalm 80: 3 times this is said).  We do need the light of God’s countenance.  And it is only with it that we will be saved. 

In Psalm 77 recommended for the evening I catch the repeated “pondering” that goes on. We read, “I think of God, I am restless, I ponder, and my spirit faints. (Psalm 77:3).  And again, “I commune with my heart in the night; I ponder and search my mind. (Psalm 77: 6).  And once more, “I will meditate on all your acts and ponder your mighty deeds:” (Psalm 77:12).

Our God seems to be and outdoorsy kind of God.  God is with us in tents in 2^nd Samuel and with tent makers in the Acts of the Apostles

In our 2^nd Samuel reading, God doesn’t seem to want a house but then says later that God does want one, but it will be built by an ancestor of David.  This is thought to be Solomon.  But what if, I ponder, the house is not one built with hands, but a house of faith, eternal in the heavens.  Eternal in the heavens, now that’s very outdoorsy. 

Paul is outdoors during most of his preaching and teaching. It is revealed that he never loses his vocation of tent making. I like that.  I have always felt the those of us who teach and preach for God should also carry their own weight in community occupations like everybody else.  Ironic that while Paul’s preaching and teaching is mostly outdoors, his vocation is one of covering people with tents. It’s okay, he’s got us covered in more ways than one.

God in Christ Jesus is with us in boats in our Gospel for today.  But if we care to notice, much of our Lord Jesus’ activity is in, or around, boats. Jesus reveals the outdoorsy nature of God.

I ponder that maybe being outside might often bring us closer to God as we are saved by the light of God’s countenance, in a tent or in a boat; but mostly, in the ponderings of our minds.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools.

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

Eucharistic Readings for the Transfiguration August 6

Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:13-21; Luke 9:28-36

“Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen;listen to him!” (Luke 9:35)

This Gospel reading tells us that Jesus takes with him Peter, James and John up a mountain and is Transfigured before them.  They got to see the reality of who Jesus is.  They got to see Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets, stand before Jesus, God Incarnate.

Peter is so moved by this experience that he speaks out of his hysteria about making booths to represent the three of them, Moses, Elijah and Jesus.  The Presence of God touched all of their senses.  The cloud overshadowed them causing them to breathe in God as well as touch their skin.  The vision of what was taking place pierced their eyes making an indelible mark on their minds. And finally, the very voice of God spoke, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

Peter never forgot this event. Even though he would claim not to know Jesus at the arrest of Jesus, but the knowledge of who Jesus is, was never forgotten.  Later in his second letter Peter wrote, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1:16 – 18)

The Gospel according to Matthew (Mt. 3:17) and according to Mark (Mk. 1:11) also carry the words “You are my Son in whom I am well pleased,” but the words seem to be directed at Jesus only. In any case, we have the additional words today of “Listen to him.”  This listen to him is understood to be obey him, in the Hebrew context, and I might add, ours as well.

This validation of who Jesus is has been handed down to you and me. This Gospel always comes up on the last Sunday of Epiphany as a segue into Lent regardless of the Year (Matthew17:1 to19; Mark 9:2 to 9; and Luke 9: 28 to 36).  For many years I preached the “Pilot Light” sermon wherein I told of the cleaning of an old gas stove used in my mother’s restaurant in the 1950’s.  In this restaurant we catered mostly to college students. But there was always a Summer slowdown when school was out.  This was a time for cleaning the old stove.  The stove had to be disassembled to make a thorough cleaning.  I was young then but I was shown the “Pilot Light.”  I was amazed that from this little flicker of light that resembled a small candle burning in a cave, made possible the cooking of all the foods for the whole year for students who came from two universities. It was during the cleansing and the de-greasing of that stove that the light was carried to start other lights in order that they might do their work.  How appropriate for coming to Lent. Also, how appropriate to see who Jesus really is, the Light revealed.  I like singing “This Little Light of Mine” when I use this sermon.  Let us then listen to him, and obey him. If we listen and obey the we too will be Transfigured.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 12: Year 1

Morning,  Psalms 75 and 76; Evening, Psalms 23 and 27;
2^nd  Samuel 5:22 to 6:11; Acts 17:16 to 34; Mark 8:1 to 10:

“The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things:” (Acts 17: 24 and 25)

These words above seem to refute our 2^nd Samuel reading where the Presence of God was in dwelling in a work of art made by human hands. The 2^nd Samuel reading says, “David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. (2^nd Samuel:” 6:2)

As a Christian I believe that God truly did dwell among us but not in any work of art that we made. No, The Great Creator was pleased to dwell in the person of our Lord Jesus. And since then the continuing words of Paul ring true:“For “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said, “For we too are his offspring.” (Acts 17:28)

I recall roughly the words of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel in his book The Sabbath.  He basically said,  “it is not places or things that are holy, but rather we have holy times:” (not a word for word quote but the meaning is exact). Rabbi Heschel was talking about the importance of the Sabbath (today). But within his words we learn that while we have precious jewelry and crafts, and beautiful stained glass windows, and Icons, and even our Bibles and Prayer Books, the Presence of God does not reside in them.  All of these are the works of human hands by which we humans may direct our prayers and worship to God. We do not pray to them, we pray through them.  The time we spend with such objects is more holy than the objects themselves.

I spend time daily with scripture, Christian music, and faith groups.  In these times I pray and try to connect to God in prayer.  God is Good, all the time. While I am aware that I am still a work in progress, it is progress. I am gaining more insight as I slowly move along.  Faith in the One in whom we live and move and have our being is life saving and sustaining. My message to everyone of us is to find something that puts you in a spiritual mood, and then find a place that is soothing and comfortable for you, and at the junction of thing and place and within the time you have made there, God will visit you through your efforts.

Love is the most powerful force in the universe. And Guess what? God is love.  If given the time, the love of God will transform you. It is written somewhere in scripture that the Altar is more holy than the things put on it to be blessed.  Our Time is our personal Altar. What will you put on it to be blessed?

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 12: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 69; Evening, Psalm 73;
2^nd  Samuel 5:1to 12; Acts 17:1 to 15; Mark 7:24 to 37

“But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.’ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone:” (Mark 7: 28 to 30)

This is probably one of the greatest examples of humility in the Bible. The Gentile (Syrophoenician) woman and mother of a young possessed daughter will go to whomever she can in order to rid her daughter of a demon.

The lesson for us is to not boast about our ethnicity, race, culture or ancestry.  I continue to preach that it is not “what” you are the means anything, but rather, “who”: you are.  The only blood relationship that mattered to the Syrophoenician woman is her direct offspring, her daughter. Will her daughter appreciate her mother’s courage and devoted love for her when she is old enough to realize what her mother did to save her?  Who knows?

I agree with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” It is the content of one’s character that determines who a person really is.

Our Lord Jesus felt the faith, love and humility of the Syrophoenician mother.  Our Lord Jesus still feels the faith love and humility of each of us no matter our race, country of origin, language, or ancestry.  We, all of us, are people, brought forth in the spiritual image of the Creator.

We were brought forth by love, to love. All barriers set up by humankind such as race, language, nationality, and sexual orientation, have their origin in the desire to disrupt our God-given gift of love for one another. We are most especially gifted to love those who differ from us in looks and desires.  Too often, what a person looks like and, or, what they want in life, makes us judge them harshly.  This ought not to be.  Let us look upon our brothers and sisters as they express their joy in their vocations, their hobbies, their love of family, or their significant other.  We should not want anybody to be sad or miserable. When our neighbor is joyful, we can share in their joy.  Sharing in the healthy joy of others shows God the content of our character.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, and our schools.

 “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 serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 12: Year 1

 Morning, Psalm 71; Evening, Psalm 74;
2^nd  Samuel 4:1 to 12; Acts 16:25 to 40; Mark 7:1 to 23:

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them:” (Acts 16: 25).

Before I get to the holy habits o Paul and Silas and their systematic worship of prayer and song, let me remind us about the habits of David. He regularly killed those whom he felt wronged him.  He had habits of “getting even.”  I find this most ungodly. David killed, or had people killed who thought they were doing what he wanted them to do.  I understand that it was a time of no communications technology and  commander’s intent was not always known.  Perhaps more effort could have been made to ensure his troops understood that he did not want everybody killed, but rather brought before him.  Don’t get me wrong. I honor the contributions of David, especially the Psalms he wrote. But every biblical hero we have, had flaws, except our Lord Jesus.

Paul and Silas, who had been bound and whipped with rods, sang songs to God and they prayed when they could. I hope two things for myself. First, I hope I have the steadfast dedication to love, worship an honor God, even if only half as much as Paul and Silas did. Second, I really hope and pray that I am never tested like they were.

Saul, with the direction of the Risen Lord, was transformed from one who, like David of old, was moved from supporting having people killed to one who desired all to have hope for eternal life. As Paul and Silas sang and prayed, the prisoners around them listened and witnessed their inner strength. Hope was spread throughout the dark and dirty chamber of confinement. The men were transformed so much so that when the earthquake occurred and everyone’s chains were unfastened, they didn’t flee, as I think I would be inclined to do.  But no, they were drawn to the light that Paul and Silas were illuminating. The prisoners as well as the jailer realized and experienced a power greater than the limitations of human life with its mortal hurts and pains.  The jailer himself went from wanting to kill himself to having his whole household baptized.

Witnessing the power of our Lord Jesus is transformative. David was a man of writing Psalms and harp playing.  Paul too wrote letters, prayed and sang hymns, even as he had to remember Steven being stoned earlier when he assisted in such an act of sin; (Acts 8:1).  David and Paul, like ourselves, can be transformed. We too can experience conversion. It seems the prescription for such healing has something to do with praying and singing hymns. It may take us a while, but it works. And when we sing and pray, it not only changes us, it improves the lives of those around us.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of  Proper 12: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 72; Evening, Psalm 119:73 to 96;
2^nd  Samuel 3:22 to 39; Acts 16:16 to 24; Mark 6:47 to 56

“Today I am powerless, even though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too violent for me. The Lord pay back the one who does wickedly in accordance with his wickedness:” (2^nd Samuel 3:39)

David is sad that Abner, whom he sent away in peace, has been killed out of revenge.  David articulates his limitations. He is the King of Israel, he doesn’t have to acknowledge his weakness, but he does. 

David has shown that he can be a man of violence when necessary. But he maintains that he is not intentionally an evil man. I will reserve judgment about that. After all, he will, in the future, have one of his subordinate leaders killed in order that he might have his wife, but that’s later. Right now, he says something that I want to ponder; and that is, “These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too violent for me.”

I see or hear of mean and evil people on the news almost every day that are too violent for me.  And while I often reject Psalms, or parts of the Psalms which contain words of vindictiveness, I do ponder about David’s words asking God to “Pay back the one who does wickedly in accordance with his wickedness;”  I guess it stands to reason that the author of the Psalms would utter these words of payback, or revenge; that is, David.

The problem I have with revenge is that it produces what I call “consequential behavior.”  Consequential behavior is the behavior we do, or not do, based on what the community will do to us if discovered.  I would much rather people have a change of heart and behave in such a way as they themselves would want to be treated.  The old eye for an eye does not work.  It operates from a hate brought about because of the love we had for the one injured, mistreated or killed. However, I will agree with David, that God can deal with people according to their deeds, that is, according with their wickedness.  I will admit that I believe some people are unfortunately bent on being bad.

I believe the preferred way to deal with all people is to appeal to their goodness. The goodness of some people is deeper inside them than others. It can be hard, but rewarding work to dig out the goodness in them.  True sorrow and the accompanying repentance is worth the effort required of counseling.  The search for the elusive goodness in some people may be too difficult for the novice counselor or family member. However, prayer to God from the love you have for them, also works.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 12: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 68:1-20(21-23)24-36;
2^nd Samuel 3:6 to 21; Acts 16:6 to 15; Mark 6:30 to 46:

“On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there:” (Acts 16:13).

Paul was in Philippi but apparently there was no synagogue. So Paul went outside the gate by the river.  I ponder about whether or not this was the normal custom that an Israelite, or Christian, or any traveling worshiper looking for his or her faith community might do if there was no designated place for prayer.

I feel like there is something wonderful about being outside in nature that provides a closeness to God. I especially connect with the Holy at the beach or in the mountains.  But I have also felt a closeness to God in open plains as well.  God is everywhere.  Buildings built especially for the purpose of drawing us into the spiritual sense sometimes fail.  We perhaps, maybe just need to get outside more often and save buildings for rainy days.  Our Lord Jesus performed most of his healing and teaching outside.  Every part of this earth is sacred and holds a spiritual conduit to God.

Lydia is a person to ponder. While she obviously has a spacious home, large enough to house Paul and his companions, However, she herself was outside for worship. She was a business woman and a prominent member of her community. But it seems that going down by the water to pray is as ancient a human calling as is keeping a fire going.  It sometimes can’t be explained, it just is.

Lastly, there is something else in the verse that I want to explore, or ponder about. When we read words like “When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us:” (Acts 16: 15) 

 I wonder who the “us” are that the writer is talking about?  We believe that it was Luke who wrote the Gospel named after him as well as the Acts of the Apostles.  Perhaps Luke is a hidden tag-a-long on Paul’s journeys.  He records everything but does not mention himself. For me, this is another lesson in the humility of invisibility. I am learning that I don’t need to be the center of things and certainly should not bring attention to myself for some kind of human credit. The only credit we should care about is how God sees the love in our hearts.

Today our Church remembers Joseph of Arimathea who gave his own burial place to Jesus after Jesus’ death on the cross.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper12: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 56 and 57, ; Evening, Psalms 64 and 65;
2^nd  Samuel 2:1 to 11; Acts 15:36 to 16:5; Mark 6:14 to 29:

“The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord:” (Acts 15: 39 and 40).

Splitting in the Christian Church is as old as the Church is.  There is a little evidence of this at the Resurrection of our Lord when Thomas was not with the eleven and had to be told that they had seen the Risen Jesus. If we look closely we can see a little divisiveness in many places.

As our Church grew it split more and more. I have traced the thread that leads to the Episcopal Church of the United States today.  Our church starts at the foot of the Cross. From there it moves to Rome. But some who doubted that path never made it to Rome but rather went to Egypt, Asia, and other places. 

From the Church in Rome came the Western and Eastern Churches. From the Western Church came the Roman Catholic Church and from this Church came the Church of England. From the Church of England came the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.

Even our Episcopal Church has had a split as those of us who opposed the leadership of women; and also could not accept the full embrace of our brothers and sisters whose sexual orientation is not heterosexual, felt that they could no longer worship with us.

Many of our splits are not well thought out.  While it sounds old fashioned to say “What would Jesus do?” there is truth in it.  Any step away that encourages us not to love another is not Christ-like. Women had leadership positions with Jesus and we have no language from Jesus regarding homosexual rejection.  I feel like, sadly, we look for reasons (any reason), to separate from the main body of Christ. 

My hope and prayer is that at some level, no matter how small, we began the process of coming back together. It may take another thousand years or more. But I would like to see a Christian body reject the notion of splitting because something didn’t go their way. I would like to see something like a Lutheran, Methodist, and/or Episcopal merger. Wow! This would reverse what Paul and Barnabas did 2000 years ago.  If we could let our love of Jesus hold us together regardless of our selfish desires for the path of the Church, we would indeed be more Christ-like.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools.

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

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 12: Year A

Romans 8:26 to 39; 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 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, do not do to others) the Old; and the Christian Testament (do unto others as you would have them do onto you) the New, connect in you in your attitude towards others?  How do you bring these two of something old and something new together? Therefore, live your life as the scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 11: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalms 138, and 139:1to 17;
2^nd  Samuel 1:1 to 16; Acts 15:22 to 35; Mark 6:1 to 13:

“He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him.  On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him.” (Mark 6: 1 to 3)

This hometown response to the works of our Lord Jesus comes to us from the Gospel accounts frequently. This lesson reminds us that God can, and does, work through anyone. It should be understood by Christians today that this was not just anyone, it was God Incarnate, our Lord God in the flesh of Jesus.

But we must also understand that God can bring us a message through the lips of anyone.  The person delivering you the message may not even be aware of the content of the message.  But it will hit home with you.  Just because you know a person, and the family they come from, or how poorly they did in school, does not mean that God can’t use them for your good and the good of your community.

When we refuse to listen to what God is bringing us because of who is bringing it, we are saying that God is not able to use such a person for good use.  I recall the little story of Jonah.  Jonah did not want to do anything to help Nineveh.  He did not like them. But God loved them. So, when Jonah finally gave in and, (I think), half heartedly delivered the message of repentance, the people of Nineveh listened and repented despite the message coming from someone that they knew didn’t care for them. We can never guess who God will use for our own good.

Because the people of Nazareth knew the returning Jesus, and his family who were still among them, they made the hasty decision that he can’t be all that special.  They didn’t consider what God might be doing.  Let us not fall in the same way. Let us keep an open heart and an open mind and be accepting and thankful for any good coming from anyone.  All good comes from God regardless of who delivers it.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools.

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