Author: John Thomas Frazier

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 17: Year C

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 and Luke 14:1, 7-14

“For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  (Luke 14:11)

Words by Mac Davis; “O Lord it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way, I can’t wait to look in the mirror cause I get better looking each day.”  Funny the way humility works.  If you brag about it, it’s lost.  Sorry Mac.

Humility is so lacking in our society today. However, it is still very much needed.  We all need people who put community first.  We need more people who want to take a back seat for themselves and focus on the needs of the welfare of family, of friends, and of neighbors.

Humility is putting others first without the thought of reward or even recognition for it. It is just a way of life. Once we learn to reduce our needs for vanity, we are better enabled to tend to the needs of others who are often in more dire straits than ourselves. From C.S. Lewis, he says about humility, “Humility is not so much about thinking less of yourself, but rather, thinking of yourself less.”

Self promoting seems to be the way of the world today. But as Christians we are called to be “other promoting.”  When I look at group photos I try to see who is in the back, or partially behind someone.  It’s hard to see them because someone who thinks they are “more important” has blocked the camera’s view.

Our Church is maintained by humble people. We are maintained by an Altar guild and worship support folks we never see, but we are cared for by them in the service materials being properly placed.  The church is financially functioning because unnoticed tellers receive, count and hand over to a “behind-the-scenes” vestry who accounts for contributions every Sunday. These are just few of the many “hidden figures” who humbly serve us out of the love in their hearts.

Perhaps the most humble act that we can do today is just showing up.  You don’t have to be special, you just have to be present.  Show up to visit someone who is sick; show up to take someone to an appointment; show up to attend a meeting.  All of these are selfless acts that are so meaningful to those you serve.  And remember the words from the letter to the Hebrews: “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1 – 2). And remember not to boast. “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 

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 16: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 20 and 21:1-7(8-14), Evening, Psalms 110, 116, and 117;

Job 9:1,10:1-9,16-22; Acts 11:1to18; and John 8:12to20

“Do you have eyes of flesh?  Do you see as humans see?”   (Job 10: 4)

There is something that I pondered about in each of our Biblical readings for today. There is Peter’s pondering on “The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us” (Acts 11:12).  This again is about the inclusiveness of God.  And then there is Jesus telling the Pharisees in the Gospel of John “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).  This light that our Lord Jesus speaks of is not the simple illumination as through the sun, but rather, through the light of the Son. It is the moral light of righteousness.

But what I want to share with you today are the words from the fable of Job where Job ponders, “Do you have eyes of flesh?  Do you see as humans see?”   (Job 10: 4)

This brought me back to a time when I visited the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Cape Fear Medical Center in Fayetteville , North Carolina, some years ago.  There was the baby of a parishioner whose name is Chloe.  She, at the time, was a premature infant.  I visited with this infant at least twice a week.  And I would pray, “Lord God, please see this baby through my eyes and behold her innocence and beauty.  I pray you strengthen the health of this baby that she will live and be healthy. Please God.”

When I prayed these words I could look in the incubator and see Chloe shiver and jerk as I prayed for her.  Later, when mom brought her to church she might have been a little unsettled at first but when I preached, she calmed down.  I think my voice was something that resonated with her.   I love it when mom brings her to church.

So this line form Job brings back for me the prayer I prayed for infant Chloe.  I wanted our distant and universal God to focus on this tiny, premature, infant by seeing her through my eyes as I gazed upon her while standing next to her incubator.  God heard my compassionate prayer and Chloe is doing fine.  Perhaps this is just another reason why God came to us in Christ Jesus.  In our Lord Jesus, God Almighty can, and does, see us through human eyes.  So now we can answer Job’s question.  Yes, God can see as humans see.  Moreover, I believe when any of us look upon another with love and compassion God is looking also through our eyes of flesh.

So, I ask you to pray for someone you love while looking at them.  And in your prayer, ask God to see them through your eyes. Also, let us look at the people of Ukraine and pray for them.

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 16: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 16, 17; Evening, Psalm  22; 

Job 9:1-15,32-35; Acts 10:34 to 48; and John 7:37 to 52

“Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7: 39).

I have noticed, particularly in the Gospel of John, that the Holy Spirit comes after our Lord Jesus has been “glorified.”  It is understood that being glorified means being crucified. For me this is sad.  None the less, the Spirit only comes when the physical Jesus leaves us.  It is this Spirit of Christ that abides with us today.

This concern about where a holy presence comes from also takes on a human concern.  Some were worried about where Jesus came from.  This was a geographical concern rather than a spiritual concern.  “Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah  does not come from Galilee, does he?” (John 7:41).  It seems one has to have read at least the Gospel of Luke or Matthew in order to understand the geographical, earthly origins of Jesus.  I think it’s neither here nor there.  We should be more concerned about the Spiritual origin rather than the geographical origin. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).  We need believe nothing else.  My belief is, “I Trust in the Creating Word through the Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word, in whom we live and move and love and have our being, and to whom we must give an account.”  I have been to the Holy Land, in particular northern Israel, a picture of which, is at the beginning of each of my daily blogs.  I also remember that our Lord Jesus began his ministry in Cana and in Capernaum of Galilee, a place he chose of his own free will. Everywhere else that he went, he was taken in his early life.

I believe it is the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads Christians, both in our individual souls and in our Churches, no matter the denomination or where we are on the planet.  We are the Lord’s and it is the Holy Spirit of the Lord that guides us if we would just listen and follow.

Please, please keep Ukraine in your prayers, Thanks.

“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 16: Year 2

 Morning, Psalm 18; 1 to 20: Evening, Psalm 18; 21 to 50;

 Job 8:1-10, 20-22; Acts 10:17-33; and  John 7:14-36:

“While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Look, three men are searching for you. Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.”  (Acts 10: 19 and 20)

This, for me is among the most amazing characteristics about how God works; God is on both sides of what God asked us to do.  God is with the Gentile centurion  as well as with Peter.

Our Resurrected Lord Jesus was with Saul (Paul) as he was blinded on the road to Damascus and also with Ananias who was sent to him,  (Acts 10: 9 to 12).  In fear and trembling Ananias obeyed the Lord.  He had heard of Saul’s hateful deeds but he trusted in the Lord and went anyway.

In the Hebrew Testament (Old Testament), Elijah was sent to a widow with a son for food.  Now as we read about this narrative we learn that perhaps the widow didn’t know that God sent Elijah.  She offered her reasons for not wanting to help him.  But Elijah prevailed, and what he promised about not running short of food, held true (1Kings 17: 8 to 16).  So while she might not have known cognitively, her soul knew well that the Lord wanted her to listen to, and obey, Elijah.

I raise these additional Biblical stories so that you and I can see how God works with us.  My beloved of the Lord, we are sent to people who need us. And people we need, are sent to us.  Sometimes we are afraid like Ananias.  Sometimes we might not be outwardly aware of what is going on like the widow with Elijah.  But like Peter, we must ponder and pray about what God is doing.  We need to always ask “where is God in this situation?”

Ukraine just celebrated the anniversary of their Independence. I pray they celebrate their renewed Independence and peace very soon, with God’s help on both sides, those sent to them, and they welcoming those who are sent. And I pray both sides see God in this situation.

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 16: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:1-24; Evening, Psalms  12, 13 and 14; 

Job 6:1 and 7:1-21; Acts 10:1-16; and John 7:1-13

“One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, ‘Cornelius.’ He stared at him in terror and said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ He answered, ‘Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.’ When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.” (Acts 10: 3 to 8)

This could easily be called the Tale of Two Simons. This passage follows the continuing call on Simon Peter to do the Lord’s work that I talked about yesterday. Simon the Tanner opened his home in Joppa to Simon Peter and he stayed with him. Later, Peter falls into a trance and receives a vision.  In the vision he sees various animals lowered down on a sheet.  He is instructed to kill and eat.  Peter still being a reverent Jew refuses to eat food considered unclean, or profane. After all, Peter was in the food business as a fisherman.  He is told by a heavenly voice that nothing that God has made is profane. This metaphor about food serves to demonstrate the inclusiveness of God as it pertains to all people.  Peter, like Paul, has a call to invite Gentiles into the love of our One God.

Sadly, we still divide ourselves between Jew and Gentile.  We are still very discriminatory. God is not.  God still sees each one of us as the babies were born to be without looking at what time and people and the toxic social, and cultural environment we live in, has done to us.  God does not care if we are American or Indonesian, black or white; rich or poor, gay or straight, male or female, old or young.  God loves all of us and wants to host all of us in eternity.

Like Peter, we too should meditate on the love of God to see what sort of trance God might gift us with.  Perhaps the Spirit has a message for you today that will cause you to travel to the assistance of another, another who God also loves, as God loves you. May God widen your appetite to include a love for all people.

Let us spiritually travel to Ukraine and include them in our love and care.

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 16: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 5 and 6; Evening, Psalms 10 and 11;

Job 6:1-4,8-15,21; Acts 9:32-43; John 6:60-71:

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 68 and 69)

You are so correct Simon Peter; there is no one to whom we can go. Our Lord Jesus does indeed have the words of eternal life. To me, eternal life means continuing to exist, hopefully in happiness.  I also like Peter’s identifying Jesus as “the Holy One of God.”  Simon Peter has come a long way since his days as a fisherman on Lake Galilee.

When Peter went to Lydda he saw Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bed ridden for eight years.  “Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!’ And immediately he got up.  And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 9: 34 and 35)

Peter became famous as a healer.  From Lydda two men came from Joppa seeking his healing for a disciple named Tabitha which in the Greek is Dorcus.  There was much mourning around her as she had just died. “Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.  He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.” (Acts 9: 40 and 41) 

Like Peter, all of us are new beings in Christ Jesus. We may not become healers but our communities are in need of so many different gifts.  We may be called away from our normal occupations to a vocation of counseling, or feeding, or educating, or errands, or even just being with those who are lonely. And like Simon Peter, you will be discovered and requested for holy help.  When this happens do not forget Peter’s words, “Jesus Christ heals you.”  Our Lord Jesus is truly the Holy One of God.

How might we help end the Russia – Ukraine conflict?  Only with our Lord Jesus working through us can we provide the Holy help needed to end this horror. Peter got it right. “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”  So let us call on our Lord Jesus for Ukraine and all our concerns.

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 16: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 1, 2 and 3,  Evening, Psalms  4 and7; 

Job 4:1,5:1-11,17-21,26-27; Acts 9:19b-31; John 6:52-59

“The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’”  (John 6:52)

Again, the term, “the Jews,” simply means the temple authorities, for Jesus and all his followers were also Jews. Another point to bring out is that the use of this metaphor regarding the eating of his flesh is that Jesus was not suggesting cannibalism.  He was inviting his followers to partake of holy food and drink that was taken by our Lord Jesus, blessed by our Lord Jesus and then divided up and shared with them.  He took, blessed, broke and gave.

The last interesting part of this John passage is this: while the Synoptic Gospel accounts walk us through the Great Thanksgiving, or the Lord’s Supper, John’s Gospel story mentions being at the table only as an aside from the foot washing.  However, much of the language of the Gospel of John speaks of the “Bread of Life.”

The Bible, specifically the Gospels, must be studied in prayer with people educated in the language and culture of the day of our Lord Jesus.  Also, it needs to be known that as we read the Gospel like this one according to John, it was assumed that the Synoptic Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) were already read and understood.  Most scholars believe that John’s Gospel was the last written.  Therefore the Gospel according to John filled in other details. 

Jesus went on to say, “Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me” (John 6: 57).   This means for you to be filled with our Lord Jesus so that Jesus works in you, and through you. In Church, at the Holy Eucharist, we believe that the Holy Spirit of Christ has come together with the bread and wine.  You then, are not doing what you think you alone ought to do, but rather, you are the “host” of Jesus who is working through you. That is, you are the host (wafer or bread), that you just consumed. When we receive Holy Communion, all we need to do is get out of the way and let our Lord Jesus do his work through us. As the Gospel according to John points out, He will be in us and we in Him.

I pray that our Lord Jesus works through us to bring about peace in Ukraine.

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 16: Year C

Hebrews 12:18-29 and Luke 13:10-17 

 “When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” (Luke 13:12)

This is not a new situation for Jesus who continually tells them, and us, that the Sabbath is made for us, not us for the Sabbath.  God brought us into the world without Sabbaths and then saw that we needed down-time in order to put things in perspective, to ponder, and to be thankful.

But this action from Jesus in healing the crippled woman, is far more than just a simple healing; it is a metaphor of what Jesus is doing for all humanity. It shows that God is teaching love to all people while at the same time, keeping Sabbaths as commanded. Jesus continues in this formula. “Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.”  (Luke 13:10) This is a time of gathering so as to learn about God and how God wants us to live with one another. If it wasn’t the Sabbath the crippled woman might not have been there in the first place. He noticed her and responded to her need. And as the situation would have it, an unexpected opportunity appears. We read, “And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight,” (Luke 13:11). This woman represents all who are made cripple by spiritual weakness. 

“When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.”” (Luke 13:12) Jesus makes the pronouncement, the Word says the word.  That, that was holding her,  was no longer in power. She is set free. But after eighteen years one does not just jump up and down in exaltation.  The body is not ready for that. It needs healing hands. So, is was “When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.” (Luke 13:13)  St Francis of Assisi said go out and preach the Gospel and when necessary use words.  Do you think this healed woman, by just walking around joyfully and praising God, is preaching the Gospel?  I do.

Meanwhile, back at hater ranch, “the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the Sabbath day,”” (Luke 13:14).  This leader of the synagogue could not heal like this on any day. Why then deny anybody healing no matter what day it is?  But the light is brought to bear on his hypocrisy as Jesus questions what any rational person would do no matter the day of the week it happens to be.  Jesus’ words were pleasing to the people “and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing,” (Luke 13:17).  We must remember that our time of respite is foreordained by God for our mutual benefit and personal healing – and for whatever good we can bring about for others.

As we walk along joyfully let us keep the spiritually challenged people of 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

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 15: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 137:1-6(7-9), and Psalm 144;  Evening, Psalm 104; 

Job 3:1-26; Acts 9:10-19a; John 6:41-51

“They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?” (John 6: 42)

If we are to really be people of faith, faith in a God who can do all things, with anything or anybody, then we ought to be looking for such a God doing what God does in all aspects of life, and in any person, all the time.

The leaders of Jesus’ old community decided that because they knew Jesus and his earthly parents, there was no way he could be the bread, come down from heaven as he purports to be.  They never considered what God might be doing in their midst.  They never considered that God might be acting in human form, regardless of what they thought they knew about Jesus (or God).

This is also demonstrated in our Acts reading for today.  The Risen Lord reveals the plan for Saul or Paul to Ananias.   Ananias knew of Saul and wanted nothing to do with him.  But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15).  I believe this is another characteristic of God.  When God sends us to someone, God is with us, and with that someone we are sent to, in order that they might be open to receive the message.

Yes, our Lord Jesus was, and is, the primary host for God participating in our human life.  And while it is our life, it is God’s world.  And God is working God’s purposes out.  And God can, and will, do this work with, or without you; around you, or through you.

Anytime we say that because we know him or her (or ourselves), and in our opinion, God would not use him or her (or me); what we are really saying is that we know what God will do, or who God will use.  And that’s just not true.  Nobody knows what God will do, or who God will use.  God uses who God chooses. And yes, this includes you. Let’s just be blessed and thankful.

Who will God use to make things better in Ukraine?  And what will that look like?  Let us keep that hope in prayer.

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 15, Year 2

Morning,  Psalms 140 and 142; Evening, Psalms 141and 143:1-11(12); 

Job 2:1-13; Acts 9:1-9; John 6:27-40 

“Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips; let not my heart incline to any evil thing.” (Psalm 141:3)

So many times in my life I have wished that I had a guard at the door of my lips.  Such an idea gives the term “lip lock,” normally indicating a long and passionate kiss, a new meaning. So many times I wish I had filtered what I was going to say before I hit the “send” button of my mouth. Too often a celebrity of some notoriety is fired because he or she used a homophobic or racial slur. Our mouths get us in trouble.  But it doesn’t start with our mouths.

The Psalmist also says, “let not my heart incline to any evil thing.”  Our heart and mind is where it all begins. And in most cases, we can’t fix our hearts by ourselves. We must seek help.  If we ask God to first fix our hearts, (and God will), the mouth and hands will fall in, and follow the heart as it always does. This is why I always refer to our Collect for Purity as found in our Book of Common Prayer.  It prays; “Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.” (BCP p.355)

This prayer really nails it, but if one does not really want to be better, praying it would be a waste of time.  We have to first want to be better people.  After the desire to be better is realized, then we must seek help from God.  With God all things are possible.  If the ugliness is not in our hearts it cannot come through our mouths or hands.  We won’t even accidently say anything wrong or hurtful.  “Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips; let not my heart incline to any evil thing.” (Psalm 141:3)  Please ponder and pray on this.

And, pray that the Russian military turns and becomes more and more the people God intended for them to be, that they might relent and repent from harming the people of Ukraine. God made us to be decent people from the beginning of creation.

“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