Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 18: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 119:49 to 72, Evening, Psalm  49; 

Job 29:1,30:1 to 2,16-31; Acts 14:19 to 28; John 11:1 to 16

“Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16)

I am so glad that I get to bring you this passage for its own use.  I often have to make it an aside when talking about Thomas not being a doubter. Thomas is willing to give his life to follow Jesus.  Jesus requires no less from us today.

The good news for us (in addition to the Good News of the Gospel itself), is that we don’t follow Jesus to a real and painful cross.  We dedicate our lives to our Lord Jesus by dedicating our lives to prayer, study and charity while living a life of love.

When we are baptized, we are baptized into the death of Christ.  This always needs an explanation when baptizing an infant.  Death maybe the last thing on the mind of parents and family of the baby.  But death is the unavoidable path of all life in creation. However, being baptized into the Death of Jesus we are raised into the Resurrection of Christ as well; (Romans 6:3 and 4).  The one brings about the other.

We cannot ransom our lives.  We all are destined for death. But in death life is not ended, life is changed. “For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.” (BCP 382)

There are many martyrs in our Church history.  These were people who gave their lives for the sake of the Gospel of God in the Name of Jesus Christ.  Thomas was willing to give his life by following Jesus, even to the cross.  How about you and me?  Let’s start by dedicating our lives to prayer, study and charity while living a life of love.

And, let us extend our love and charity to the people of Ukraine and Ethiopia.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 18: Year 2

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

Job 29:1 to 20; Acts 14:1 to18; John 10:31 to 42

“When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.”  (Acts 14: 14 and 15)

In today’s John Reading, as well as this Acts passage above, people witnessing God’s work are misreading what they see.  In the Gospel of John people are upset because they say that since Jesus is only a human being, how can he say that he is God (John 10:33).  The truth is, Jesus is not only human. Jesus is both human and God.  In the Acts passage, people see what Paul and Barnabas are doing and want to worship them as gods. However, they both truly are human only.  In both cases the people who see what God is doing want to focus on the instrument of God rather than God.  They forget that it is God who is at work.

The same is true today.  God works through us to do the will of God. But God mostly works through people of faith to do this work. Miracles still happen!  People are miraculously healed.  People miss having accidents through no foresight of their own.  Such events are not coincidental. They are the will of God. I have seen where God also works through people of little or no faith for the benefit of a community. In such cases the people used by God are unaware of God using them.

Our experiences are all about what God is doing.  If we don’t like what God is doing, or think the person who God is working through is undeserving, as in the John passage, we should calm down and ponder the greater benefit to our community.  If we really like what we see God doing in someone, a doctor or teacher or pastor, or anyone, we need to realize that in most cases, such a person has allowed themselves to be used by God through faith. Or, God has decided that our need can’t wait for faith and the benefit needs to happen regardless.  If we want to honor a person for some good deed, we should honor their obedience to God’s call on his or her life and their willingness to obey.

God is good, all the time.  And God is at work, all the time.  The only thing that God wants in order to help us is our faith.  If we believe in God and submit to the will of God, God’s will, will be done.  God uses us, to fix us.  All we have to do is be faithful, user friendly, and thankful.

Please remember to keep Ukraine and Ethiopia in your prayers, both are in real need.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper18: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 41, 52, Evening, Psalm  44;  

Job 32:1- 28; Acts 13:44 to 52; John 10:19 to 30

“When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers.  Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region.  But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region.  So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium.  And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13: 48 to 52)

We just can’t please everybody.  The Jewish authorities took offense to the message of Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their region.  Today we still do not want to sit and listen to people who disagree with us.  We only want to win, even if winning our way is really not the best outcome for all concerned.

We must pay attention to the words that say, “devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city” were incited by smooth talkers.  We must ponder about the words we hear.  From social media to politics and religion, we sometimes lose the purpose of what we are fighting about and are only concerned about our side winning. We need to stop letting ourselves be manipulated and follow the advice of Blaise Pascal who said,  “All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.” 

And when polarized persons will not accept our need to ponder the deeper meaning of our choices, we need to follow the model that Paul and Barnabas set for us and shake the dust off our feet in protest and just be filled with the Holy Spirit.

To our continued prayers for Ukraine, let us also add Ethiopia where people are starving. Nothing is impossible for God to fix but it must be brought to God’s attention.  Therefore, we pray.                                                                                            

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 18: Year C

Philemon 1-21 and Luke 14:25-33

“Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.”  (Luke 14: 25 – 26)

Hate?  Today’s English understanding of the word hate is way too strong for the way Jesus is intending to mean it, and the way the people around him understood it. Hate, the way we understand it today is to have a strong negative emotion towards someone. Jesus is using this term as mutually inclusive; he is saying you can’t be his disciple unless you have put everybody else aside, or behind him. Jesus is saying that while he is in the relationship, he must be the priority.

In our old Spanish class the language was much different than hate, a softer expression was used.  Jesus said (as translated from Spanish) unless we are willing to “postpone or put aside our parents, children, spouse, and siblings, we cannot be his disciples. 

Even the language that follows, from farming peasants to ruling kings, from lowest to highest, the costs of discipleship must be dealt with.  We must ask ourselves, first, if we think we are even able to pay the price. And then second, if we are willing to pay the price.

Jesus is not asking us to choose between him and the devil; that would be too easy.  Jesus is asking us to choose him over parents, spouse, children and siblings.  These might seem like hard choices but the truth is that if we make Jesus the priority we are better enabled to love parents, spouse, children and siblings.  Through Jesus we can love them and all people more deeply.

In this passage Jesus has shifted from talking to the twelve, to talking to the great multitude.  There is much enthusiasm at first but it turns into shallow delight in the walk towards Jerusalem. Jesus wants them to be well aware of what it means to keep his movement going.

Sometimes people who love this Church don’t want us to tell perspective new members about the cost of discipleship; about the cost of maintaining a Church.  They would rather postpone it until a more opportune time, or just drop it altogether.  Jesus says no. He wants to let them (and us) know right from the start the cost of the journey he is on to Jerusalem. He wants them (and us) to know that this is not a parade, but rather, a funeral procession. Now, who’s in?

The cost of discipleship is not about our possessions, but about being happy on the path to pleasing God and having eternal life.  We can’t afford not to be in. Following Jesus is a commitment to eternity.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 17: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 30 and 32, Evening, Psalms 42, and 43:

Job 22:1 to 4 and verse 21 to chapter 23 to verse7; Acts 13:26 to 43; John 10:1 to 18

“I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”  (John 10: 16)

This is an undeniable ecumenical statement by our Lord Jesus. In spite of this pronouncement, John will come and say to Jesus that he tried to stop someone from casting out demons in Jesus’ name because he was not following Jesus in their group.  But Jesus rebuked him and said do not stop him, (Luke 9:49)

We Christians often get wrapped around the axel when it comes to denominations.  All Christians are on the path that best suits them. Given this, I do feel that some experimentation is necessary. Christianity is not “one size fits all.”  Our Presiding Bishop of our Episcopal Church says that we are on the Episcopal path of the Jesus movement.  I like that explanation.

Pretty much any path is better than no path.  But even if we encounter someone on no religious path we are still called to love them as if they shared a pew with us. Christianity is about our personal relationship with our Lord Jesus and that faith is demonstrated in how we love and treat others without regard to what they believe or do not believe.

Much good work is being done through ecumenical organizations.  It saves precious resources when we don’t try to build and maintain staffing networks to feed the poor or provide health care when many good Christian organizations already have it in place, right? 

As an Episcopal priest, my most ecumenically challenged time is when I am asked to conduct a marriage between a couple of different denominations (or even different religious affiliations).  I am thankful that they have a faith path but really wish they were the same.  My Prayer Book only requires that at least one of them be baptized.  However, I want more.  Please don’t judge me.  I’m still a work in progress.  Besides, later on, according to our Lord Jesus, there will be one flock and one Shepherd.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

I believe both Ukrainians and Russians will be with us in this same flock. But both need our prayers now to bring them together.  Let us pray for both.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 17: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 31, Evening, Psalm  35; 

Job 19:1 to 7 and 14 to 27; Acts 13:13 to 25; and John 9:18 to 41

“Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.”  (John 9:32)

I think the operative word here is “born” blind.  Our Lord Jesus did not restore the man’s sight as he has done for others.  Jesus gave him something he has never had, his ability to see for the very first time.

There is more than one kind of blindness.  When we are made to see our lives in only one sad way, we are blind to the realities and love of the world.  It is almost like being color blind. 

Being born into a world in which you are told that you are less valued than others, makes you blind to all the potential God has placed in you.  In my own story, I feel that I was mismanaged twice by an elementary school teacher.  I was told that I was stupid and hopeless.  This was not a race issue.  It was an issue of family hatred that I only found out about later in life.  In fact it was a combination of joining the Marines, taking psychology courses and joining the Church, that made me aware that I was not stupid or less valued than anybody else. 

In this way, joining the Church was coming to Jesus in my early thirties, and was in fact being able to see my true self for the first time.  Sometimes we lose sight of who we are.  But sometimes we never had sight of who we are.  It is a very big deal to see who we are for the very first time.  Far too many people, of all walks of life, never really see who they are and what God wants for them.  I suggest finding the Lord and let God open your eyes for the first time.  And please know this, it is never too late. In all the world, only our Lord Jesus can give sight where there was none, ever. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Let us continue to keep Ukraine in our prayers.

“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 is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 17: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 37:1-18; Evening, Psalm 37:19-42

Job 16:16 to 22,17:1,13 to 16; Acts 13:1 to 12; and John 9:1 to 17

“Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil.”  (Psalm 37:9)

Psalm 37 says a lot about what will happen to the wicked and how God will deal with them. This Psalm also advises us regarding doing good deeds.  Verse 9 however gives good counsel regarding our hateful emotions.

We get angry at others from time to time; why?  What makes us want to feel really bad about another?  How long does it take for such a feeling to pass, if they pass? 

When we are angry, what does it take to discipline ourselves to not act on such anger?  Can we separate our anger from our resultant words and/or action?  Saint Paul says, “be angry but do not sin.”  To the Church in Ephesus he writes, “So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.  Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.  Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.  Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:25 to 29)

I think the Psalmist is correct, anger and rage lead only to evil.  The word “regret” comes to mind. Some tools to prevent regret is the standard “count to ten.” I had one friend who suggested, “stop and wind your watch, even if it’s not required.”  I think the point is to force yourself to occupy your mind with something else, and do it quickly.  Once a few seconds have passed you will realize how thankful you are that you didn’t say or do something regretful.

Maybe a short prayer or a short Bible verse like “Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil,” will work just fine.

Moreover, maybe many short prayers will cause God to intervene in the anger against Ukraine. I pray it does.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 17: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening, Psalms 119:25 to 48;

Job 12:1 and 14:1to 22; Acts 12:18 to 25; John 8:47 to 59

“If mortals die, will they live again?”  (Job 12: 14)

I’m betting on living again Job. The writing of the story of Job gives a wonderful account of a tree dying. “For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.  Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stump dies in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a young plant,” (Job 14: 7 to 9) 

So how about humans, that is, mortals?  Can we sprout shoots?  And if the stump of us dies, will the shoots of us, retain who we are? 

In the Gospel of John, the persecutors of our Lord Jesus addressed Jesus with hatred, and wanted to show his words to be false and blasphemous. But Jesus stood his ground.  He said to them, “Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad” (John 8: 56). The accusers around Jesus wanted to discredit him by looking at his human age, (not yet fifty).  “Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am,” (John 8: 58). I don’t think they caught the, “I Am” part”. “I Am,” was God’s identifier to Moses.  That statement however, was more than they could bear.  They wanted to kill him on the spot.  But as God would have it, His time for dying had not yet come.

So Father Abraham died a human death but was still around, in some manner of being, to witness our Lord Jesus come into this world, and he (Abraham) rejoiced!  Let us too rejoice in our risen Lord who defeated death for himself, for Abraham, for the prophets, and for all of us, so that mortals will indeed live again!  Hallelujah! Thank You Lord Jesus.

The only point to ponder about the afterlife is how we are living in this life.  All of us should be decent with one another.  There is no reason to treat people mean or disrespectfully.  I believe there will be an accounting in our next existence.  But even if there is no accounting, why have to have all in the next life be a witness to how you mistreated others?  Be kind always.  And be good for goodness sake.

I just heard where the former president of Soviet Union, (Mikhail Gorbachev) passed away at age 91.  He came to reason with our own President Ronald Reagan. If only we could reason with Russia’s current President to come to peaceful terms with the President of Ukraine today. Prayer works.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper17:Year 2

Morning, Psalms 26 and  28; Evening, Psalms 36, and 39;

Job 12:1 and13; 3 to17 and 21 to 27; Acts 12:1 to 17; and John 8:33 to 47

“While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.” (Acts 12:5)

This Church was assembled in the home of Mary, mother of John and of James, the latter having been killed with a sword by order of Herod. What I really want to get to is the Church praying for a miracle and getting it!  It was so surprising that the maid left Peter at the door knocking and “When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.  On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.” (Acts 12: 13 and 14)

Interesting that Rhoda “recognized” his voice!  Recognizing his voice is one it the pieces of evidence that identified Peter when Jesus was arrested.  “After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you,” (Matthew 26:73).  Apparently Peter’s voice is very distinct, like a Morgan Freeman or a James Earl Jones.

But it was the voices of the Church that got him freed. They asked for a miracle and then couldn’t believe it when it happened.  The same is true for us today.  When we are in the midst of a pandemic the Church prayed for relief.  And we are getting it.

Between Peter standing at the gate here, and having the traditional keys to the church, many Christians assume that it will be St. Peter whom we will meet in the Resurrection standing at the pearly gates.  Who knows?  I just hope to get to the gates of heaven.  In the mean time, we, the Church, need to be praying for the relief of Ukraine.  Prayer really works.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 17: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 25; Evening, Psalms  9 and 15; 

Job 12:1to 6, and 13 to 25; Acts 11:19 to 30; and John 8:21 to 32:

“Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians” (Acts 11: 25 and 26).

Like everybody else in the world, Christians did not name themselves, thus; they were called Christians by non-Christians, and it stuck.

So who are we really?  We Christians are still disciples.  We are students.  We are learners.  Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and he rejoiced when he saw how people had been changed for the better.  Ironically, this was a time of the persecution of Christians and was right after the time of the stoning of Stephen.  Christians were afraid for their lives.  The Church was scattered, and for the most part, a secret society.  It seems that it is under such conditions that the Church thrives.  Christians grow their faith, first and foremost, in their homes with prayer and supplication, and then with study and service.  We are not so much recruiters as we are seekers of greater love and understanding and compassion and empathy.  We strive to learn the Way of Jesus Christ.  This is who we really are.

While many joined the Christian movement in Antioch, it was something they sought after, not something they were corralled into.  It is when we individually stop and ponder about the meaning of life that we evolve in good ways. Blaise Pascal said, “All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.” Sitting quietly in a room alone can be scary.  Our Lord Jesus might actually speak to us!  Before one can really be prepared to be called a Christian, a student or disciple; he or she must first be prepared in their hearts.  For where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.  I invite you to start this practice.  Find some time to sit quietly alone and ponder about what in means to you to be a Christian.

As we ponder about following our Lord Jesus let us keep Ukraine in our prayers.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John