Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 15: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 131 and 132, Evening, Psalms 134 and 135; 

Job 1:1-22; Acts 8:26-40; John 6:16-27

“Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.”  (Acts 8:29)

There are three significant entities in the reading; there is Philip, the treasurer of Candice who happens to be a eunuch, and of course the angel or Spirit of God. The eunuch is returning from the Temple in Jerusalem where he was probably not welcomed due to his bodily defilement.  But he is a faithful student of scripture and faithful practices. 

I wish we had the name of Candice’s treasurer; I don’t like referring to him as “the eunuch.”   We learn that, like most of us, he needs assistance in understanding what the scripture is really saying. I like the way Philip obeys the Spirit, and also, how he assists this treasurer. He doesn’t go back to Adam and Eve, or Abraham or even Moses.  No, he starts with Isaiah, he starts from where the person was, in his reading. Sometimes we try to give a person too much information.  The Spirit did not say go over to the chariot and rule it. The Spirit said, “Go over to this chariot and join it.”

Another part of our story that I really like is that after the explanation of the scriptures, which must have also talked about our Lord Jesus and the importance of Baptism, they come upon some water.  Then “the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.” As a priest I have used this model by Philip to baptise people who ask for it as soon as possible, normally at the next Sunday worship service if possible.

Beyond the lesson about how to coach or teach, and of baptism, there is the listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We today, should not think that the Holy Spirit of God does not speak to us today, it still happens.  At the end of this experience both men go their separate ways: the eunuch, back to Ethiopia rejoicing; and Philip, again following the Spirit and proclaiming the Good News!

Let us also proclaim the Good News in Christ Jesus.  And let us proclaim Good News for, and to, the people of Ukraine as we too listen to what the Spirit is saying to us.

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 15: Year 2

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

Judges 18:16-31; Acts 8:14-25; John 6:1-15

“Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.” (Acts 8:24)

This is Simon the magician who is trying to learn new tricks in order to make money.  He has money and therefore believes he can buy this new form of trickery.  But he finds out that God is not for sale.  “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”  (Acts 8: 18 to 19)

Simon thought it okay to buy this ability. “But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money!  You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God.  Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.”  (Acts 8: 20 to 23)

And repent he did.  “Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me” (Acts 8:24).  We don’t know much more about this Simon.  Perhaps the most important lesson is that once he realized that his heart was sailing in the wrong direction he requested a course change.  So should we, or at least ask our friends to pray for us.  God really likes intercessory prayer.

As I have said before, money is a necessary and smart way to obtain the provisions we need in life.  But it can also be used to deny people, or groups of people, their needed food, shelter, clothing, transportation and communications. If we are not careful, money will alter the course of our hearts and have us sailing in a non-loving direction.  Let us always remember that at any time, any of us could find ourselves down and out.  We must both, help others when we see their need and are able, and we must accept help when we are in need and help is offered.  This mutual aid is God’s plan.  We can’t buy a gift from God but by God we can be a gift.

This day, especially in the Diocese of East Carolina, we remember the Baptisms of Manteo, and Virginia Dare. Though not at the same time, they were the first baptized persons by the Church of England on what will become America.

I continue to reach out and ask our prayers for 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

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 15: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 121, 122 and 123; Evening, Psalms 124, 125 and 126,;
Judges 18:1-15; Acts 8:1-13; John 5:30-47

“Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves”

(Psalm 126: 6 and 7)

It seems that the way of life is that we must undergo some suffering, or at least challenges of duration before things get better.  But we work and suffer (if necessary) in hope, hope that God will watch us and ensure that those who sow, shall also reap.  Hope is about the harvest.

I practice music.  It is monotonous work.  But it is well worth it when I play “Praise to the Lord,” and it sounds right, and I celebrate in knowing that “I” played that. 

I workout daily.  Often when I wake I don’t really feel like working out.  It becomes boring and I play mind games about whether or not working out is really necessary, or even what I want to do. But I put such thoughts away. On the reward side, I am losing weight and feeling better and now better able to do things with less effort.

I make regular visits to the golf driving range.  I think my skill is truly lacking.  But when I manage to actually play with some of my friends, they, (and I), are amazed at how well I played.

With more serious sufferings, it seems sometimes we must undergo some degree of patient suffering in order to accomplish happiness.  The same is true with raising children. Parents must allow children to make a few mistakes, not dangerous ones, but enough to let them know that they are vulnerable.  Parents are now asked to be more participatory in the education of their children. The education of children is among the greatest of rewards. And all graduations are joyful.

The Covid pandemic virus has caused severe suffering in many segments of life.  It caused suffering in jobs and therefore finances; in education (and the education of our children impacts the jobs of parents); in hospitalizations, and most tragically the death of loved ones. We are all hoping to get through this COVID 19 virus.  And we are.  We might have a new normal on this side of it. But we will evolve.  We plant the seed of hope.   “Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.  Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves” (Psalm 126: 6 and 7).  Hope is about the harvest. Plant carefully.

Let us pray for the hope of Ukraine, that inevitably, they too will come to joy.

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 15: Year 2

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

Judges 17:1-13; Acts 7:44-8:1a; John 5:19-29:

“Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”  (John 5:28 and 29)

We Christians believe that Jesus will be the judgment of God for all humanity as our Lord Jesus was God participating in human existence.  No matter what, there is a resurrection for each and every human being.  The outcome of our resurrection is determined by what we believe as it is made manifest by how we conduct ourselves commensurate with that belief.  That is, that we believe in the love of God. and live out that love in our relationships with our neighbors.

This resurrection belief  and accountability is made manifest in the last part of my personal creed which says.  “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.”  The part that says “and to whom we must give an account” reflects the resurrection piece. 

My beloved of the Lord, we all will come before the judgment seat at the end of our days.  There is no getting around this fact.  However, being before the judgment seat dose not necessarily mean a trial. Just as sure as death is to come for all people, so too is the resurrection to the afterlife.  I believe that on this side of our being some of us believe in Jesus as Lord.  On the resurrection side, all will more than just believe, we will all know that Jesus is Lord of both the living and the dead. 

But our Lord Jesus is also the Lord of love and mercy.  Where we mortals often want to hold a grudge against people who differ from us, our Lord Jesus just wants to love us, all of us. We do not belong to ourselves, we are the Lord’s.  How we live out our lives in relation to our fellow persons is crucial. If you take nothing away from this post but one thing, let it be this; Love God and one another no matter what.  This does not mean to let others walk all over you, it simply means for us to recognize and respect their humanity and to refrain from quick judgment. Struggle to find love. It’s who we are created to be.  Love people, don’t judge their harmless differences. Your name will be called on the other side and you will find yourself before the throne.  And even as we come before the judgment seat, “Lord, do not bring us to the time of trial.” (Luke 11;4)

As always, please keep Ukraine in your 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

Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 15: Year C

Jeremiah 23:23-29; Psalm 82; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56:

“Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!”  (Luke 12: 51)

Jesus is now informing them (and us) that a moment of decision has come, and we must decide which side we are going to follow.  This is literally a fork in our faith road.  It is to believe, or not to believe, and then to act accordingly. To turn toward one person or value or goal is to turn away from another. “Peace in the sense of status quo has been disrupted,” (Says Fred B. Craddock writing for Interpretation; a Bible Commentary on Luke p.166).

God is acting toward the world in Jesus of Nazareth and has created a breaking point.  We must break to one side or the other. We cannot have it both ways. It is one thing to say that you don’t believe in God or Jesus or the Church.  It is a much weightier thing to try to live that out. Lord have mercy.  We all are going to be cast out of this life. And there is only One who will catch us, if we are to be caught.

When I told my mother many years ago that I had joined the Episcopal Church, I noticed a sudden sense of urgency in her. She wanted to know if I still believed in Jesus.  And, she wanted to know if I still celebrated Christmas and Easter.  After I assured her that I did to all of the above, she was fine. I am always amazed about how little people know about the Episcopal Church.

While my mother did not bring us up as a “churched family,” It was important to her that we trusted in Jesus.  She wanted us to believe. This brings us back to the division that Jesus talks about in Luke today.  There will be division on this issue even within households and families. What does it mean to choose on the side of Jesus? I have found four truths and a possible fifth.

First, If you believe in Jesus, you already believe in God. And God is good, All the time.

Second, you can believe God sent Jesus or that God is acting in Jesus. Christian churches have waged war over this issue rather than care for their needy. They seemed to worry more about what people say they believed about Jesus rather than how they followed Jesus in life.

Third, Believing in Jesus means we are called together with love-minded (not hate minded), worshipers weekly to remember him in the Sacraments, the Body and Blood, as He commanded us to do.

Fourth, (and this is too often missed) we are called to care for those who differ from us: Even those who don’t believe, to feed them, clothe them, heal them, and if their time comes, to bury them.

The possible fifth truth, is to teach and baptise and or confirm those who want to come and join us.

This is a division, a breaking point in our faith lives. Often it is a thankless decision of division. But this is what Jesus came to do. He said, “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!”  And, he has done it. This is the Baptism he came to receive and has now accomplished. A decision of division lies in our path. Which way will we go?

Will we just set back and worship Jesus? Or, will we have the courage to actually follow our Lord Jesus. Will we respect the dignity of Every human being? This is what we are called by the Holy Spirit of God in Christ Jesus to do. Are we listening?

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 14: Year 2

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

Judges 16:1-14; Acts 7:30-43; John 5:1-18:

“Do you want to be made well?”  (John 5:6)

Often, one of the ways we can tell that our priorities are out of order is that we find ourselves watching others and measuring their behavior against our list of what is right and wrong.  “Now that day was a Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.”  But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’”  They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take it up and walk’?”  Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there.”  (John 5: 9 – 13)

Before we begin, let’s be clear, all the people in this passage are Jews.  By “the Jews,” The Evangelist simply means temple authorities.  These temple authorities either forgot, or never knew, that the Sabbath was created for people, and not the people for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27)

Jesus asks the lame man if he even wanted to be made well. This is an important question and it is a universal one.  All too often we become comfortable in our weaknesses or disadvantages.  Some of  the freed Israelites of Exodus came to a point when they wished they were back in Egypt as slaves rather than be in the wilderness following Moses. Some people today who suffer from addiction would prefer to be left alone rather than attend AA meetings.  Yes, the question of “Do you want to be made well?” is a universal one that we all must deal with.  Of course our lame man doesn’t give an immediate “Yes” to the question. Rather, he formulates excuses for why he can’t get to the healing waters.  Jesus proves to be superior to the healing waters by just saying “Take up your mat and walk.” Like today, it was the Sabbath!  Our Lord Jesus is so awesome!

In his defense, the man who was made well, really didn’t know who Jesus was. But the temple authorities felt threatened. They wanted to know who it was that said to him, ‘Take up your mat and walk’. Note, that they were more concerned with the newly healed man carrying his mat than the fact that he was made well.  Now these temple authorities could not have done what Jesus did on any day of the week, yet they felt their position threatened. So their response is to hunt down our Lord Jesus who is doing good works in order that they might put him to death.  This is so sad.

At some level we all could be made better. We all should look beyond the carrying of the Sabbath  mat (petty), to the thankfulness of being made well (life changing).  Do you want to be made well?  Ukraine also wants to be made well. Please keep Ukraine in your 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 Friday of Proper14: Year 2

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

Judges 14:20-15:20;  Acts 7:17-29;  John 4:43-54

“Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.  As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive.  So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.”  The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household.  Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.” (John 4: 50 – 54)

Once again we see that Jesus does not have to be physically where the trouble or sickness is to fix the problem or heal the sick. All our Lord Jesus has to do is say the word, and it is done.

But let me also draw your attention to the fact that the man “believed” the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.  As I have said many times before, believing is everything.  As I have studied the language and culture of antiquity, I find that the word trust is the more definitive word for what we have as the word believe. The man with the dying son “trusted” in our Lord Jesus. And so do I.

Notice that the word faith is not a word that any English Christian translation of the Bible uses in the Gospel according to John. Faith is a noun.  Faith is the word used in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke).  John’s Gospel wants action.  Believing (or trusting) is a verb.  This again is why I crafted my own personal statement of faith.  Here it is (again):

“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 all must give an account.”

How would you sum up your faith, or just your outlook about life?  Try to write a simple sentence that says what you believe, or trust in.  My own creed does not replace our Prayer Book Nicene Creed, or Apostle’s Creed.  It is just a quick explanation of what I believe that can be said while standing on one foot, or in an elevator.  My faith statement has evolved as I have pondered over the years.  So might yours also, as you ponder anew what Christian life means to you.

Yesterday at my Cursillo Reunion group (4^th Day),  I asked the question; “Give me one word that states what being a Christian means to you. I got “love” from one, and “diversity” from another.  My word is, “Servanthood.” We should all ask those we meet, “What can I do for you?”

Today we remember Florence Nightingale:

 “Florence Nightingale, whom we remember today, was born to a wealthy English family in Florence, Italy, on May 12, 1820. She was trained as a nurse in a hospital run by a Lutheran order of Deaconesses at Kaiserwerth (1851) and in 1853 became superintendent of a hospital for invalid women in London. In response to God’s call and animated by a spirit of service, in 1854 she volunteered for duty during the Crimean War and recruited 38 nurses to join her. With them she organized the first modern nursing service in the British field hospitals of Scutari and Balaclava.”  (Great Cloud of Witnesses for August 12)

 Like most mystics, Florence had a very prayerful side. In truth, she was an Anglican, and, as “An Anglican, she remained committed to a personal mystical religion, which sustained her through many years of poor health until her death in 1910. Until the end of her life, although her illness prevented her from leaving her home, she continued in frequent spiritual conversation with many prominent church leaders of the day, including the local parish priest, who regularly brought Communion to her. By the time of her death on August 13, 1910, her accomplishments and legacy were widely recognized, and she is honored throughout the world as the founder of the modern profession of nursing.”  (Great Cloud of Witnesses for August 12)

Florence Nightingale served the sick and distressed as our Lord Jesus would have us all to do.

Please keep Ukraine in your prayers. Let us serve Ukraine as best we can.

“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 14: Year 2

Morning, Psalm105;1- 22: Evening, Psalm 105:23- 45

Judges 14:1-19; Acts 6:15-7:16; John 4:27-42

“They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)

Yes true, but they would not have even known that the Savior of the world was near if it had not been for the unnamed woman coming to them with this valuable information. Once again, the most valuable information a community could have is delivered by a woman. And in this case, perhaps not a woman the village is proud of, or has been shown any degree of love and respect.

She comes to the well alone at noonday, the hottest part of the day. She avoids others and their judgmental attitudes.  Maybe she has not made the best of her life.  Then again, maybe she played the cards that she was dealt in life the best she could.  She has had several husbands, which does not escape Jesus, but yet he loves her, and offers her the full life of living waters. Our Lord Jesus can, and does, use anybody to bring messages of hope. Even if we give up on ourselves, our Lord Jesus does not give up on us.

This is where we are today.  As a preacher, it has been my privilege and honor to inform people that God, in Christ Jesus, is near. And that God loves you no matter how many mistakes you have made or what others think of you.  Do not believe this only because I said so.  Believe this because you have heard it for yourselves throughout your lives, and have experienced little glimmers of grace in your own life.  Thank You Lord Jesus. God is good, all the time.

Folks, we must keep Ukraine in our thoughts and prayers.  If we beg God enough for help in Ukraine, God will give in to our requests. It’s the way God’s nature is. God can’t help but help.

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 14: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30, Evening, Psalm 119:121-144;

Judges 13:15-24; Acts 6:1-15; John 4:1-26

I chose two readings for today to ponder about:

“And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables.  (Acts 6:2)

And also, John: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”  (John 4: 24)

Today’s readings presented me with hard choices.  On the one hand I am disappointed about the self-righteous attitude of the apostles; on the other hand, I love the words of our Lord Jesus about who God is, the nature of God. 

I think the apostles wrongly decided that, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables.” I beg to differ.  Servitude is the Word of God. After John and James were caught trying to get good positions in heaven, and the rest of the apostles became angry, Jesus explains the importance of servitude. He told them,  “It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many,” (Matthew 20:26 – 28). Therefore, in my humble opinion, the apostles were wrong. Serving tables is following Christ, it is carrying out the word of God.

From the Gospel of John, Jesus explains to the woman at the well that God is not some old human looking man on a throne far away.  God is Spirit! God is Truth!  We must get rid of any notion that God is humanlike, save God Incarnate, Jesus himself.  God can, and should, be worshiped everywhere, and always. But my beloved of the Lord, don’t forget that, “God is spirit, and those who worship [God] must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4: 24)

As we worship God in Spirit and Truth let us not forget Ukraine. Ukraine is a nation of various faiths. But they too worship God in Spirit and Truth.  Let us keep them 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 Tuesday of Proper 14: Year 2

Morning, Psalms  97 and 99; Evening, Psalm 94; 

Judges 13:1-15; Acts 5:27-42; John 3:22-36

“But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time.  Then he said to them, ‘Fellow-Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men.  For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared.  After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.  So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail;  but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!”  (Acts 5:34 – 39)

This is very wise counsel from the Pharisee Gamaliel. He uses their history to show that there have been people who have come before but did not prove lasting.  When these former leaders rose up to change things, people followed as long as the leader was alive.  But when he died, they scattered. 

Our Lord Jesus said the same thing about “striking the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.”  But Jesus left good and faithful shepherds in his place.  And as Jesus rose from the dead, more and more followers came to follow him. It is still hard for me to wrap my head around having the apostles flogged before releasing them but that is what happened.  I think the flogging them is because of the jealousy of the High Priests.  They were about human designs, not Godly ones.

So while the other “want-to-be leaders” lost people when they died, our Lord Jesus gained more and more followers, and, is still gaining followers today.  Yes, Gamaliel, Jesus is from God, and no one will be able to overthrow us.  With daily Christian practices of prayer and where two or three come together, in person or virtually, we will always have someone who keeps the Christian fires going even if something happens to those who lead. We will prevail in this life, and certainly in the next.

Let us pray for the victory of Ukraine in this present life. May they have good and faithful shepherds even with the loss of a few.

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