Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 7^th Week of Easter: Year 2

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

1^st  Samuel 16:1 to 13a; Ephesians 3:14 to 21; Matthew 8:18  to 27:

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1^st Samuel 16: 7)

For the first king, God allowed the people of Israel to have a say in the selection of their king.  But now, even though God does not like the idea of them having a king other than God’s self, God will select from among mortals for them.  

God is not looking at height, or intellect from among the Israelites. God is only concerned with a potential king’s heart, with his compassion for others. We should be the same way. When we select leaders we should be most concerned with the heart and compassion of a potential leader.

Today we recall the Visitation of Mary (the Mother of Jesus) as she visited Elizabeth (the mother of John the Baptist). This again shows that God wants leaders who love people to lead people.

Elizabeth cries out the greeting, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb,” (Luke 1:42).  I believe that it is from her words as recorded in the Gospel according to Luke that the Roman Catholic Church have the words used in part for their Rosary prayers. 

All of this shows God’s desire for us to have leaders based on their love for others. Such love in our leader should be for those close to us and live the way we do; and for those who are our neighbors with different lifestyles.  We are all God’s children.  We should not look for human ideals such as height or race or gender for leadership.  We should look for what’s in their heart.  It is 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 Monday of the 7^th Sunday of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 89:1to18: Evening, Psalm 89:19 to 52;

Joshua 1:1 to 9; Ephesians 3:1 to 13; Matthew 8:5 to 17:

“When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.”  (Matthew 8: 5 – 8)

A believing Roman commander (centurion) approaches our Lord Jesus for help.  In as much as he is asking Jesus for healing for his servant (whom he must truly love), but was not present,  this is intercessory prayer.

 I know parents who took their sick child to Europe for healing, healing that was not offered in the U. S. My point here is that we tend to drop boundaries when it comes to the lives of those we love. This centurion is a hoping believer.  He has already accepted the one true God in place of the many gods of Rome of that day and has now heard about the healing power of the man called Jesus. He is desperate.  He has nothing to lose.  Jesus senses the anxiety of the centurion and says ‘yes’ to his request and the servant is healed.

The commander shows a deeper than average faith in the power of Jesus.  When Jesus offers to come to his house the centurion shows that he has an understanding of the kind of power that Jesus has. He didn’t have to see it being done to witness it.  He just needed Jesus to say ‘yes.’

There are more healing stories in this assigned reading for today; Peter’s mother in law was healed; and Jesus cast out demons and performed more healings in, and around Capernaum.

The take-away for me (and maybe you also) is that our Lord Jesus seems to be as moved by the anxiety of those asking for others, as he is moved for the person in trouble themselves, maybe even more.  Jesus says in John’s Gospel, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, Believe also in me” (John 14:1).  I say often that God’s ears hears tears.  I am now seeing also that a troubled heart attracts our Lord Jesus. Maybe we can take a page from the centurion’s playbook and take our concerns to Jesus and know that we don’t have to physically see Jesus follow us.  We will see the healing in Jesus saying ‘yes.’ 

I continue to ask for prayers on behalf of Ukraine. God is particularly attentive to prayers for others, even those across the world.  Let us pray for Ukraine to have healing and peace and hear our Lord Jesus say, “ yes.”

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 the Seventh Week of Easter: Year C

Acts 16:16 to34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12 to 14 and16 to17 and 20-21; John 17:20 to 26:

“Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.” (John 17:20 and 21)

Jesus prays not only for those standing with him more than 2000 years ago, but also for us today who have come to believe through their teachings and tradition of worship. The story of Jesus is the greatest hand-me-down gift we could ever receive or give. And, to believe in order that we all might be one with our Lord Jesus, is life-saving and redeeming.

As we continue to follow the apostles and disciples of Jesus, their words continue on from Jerusalem, through the Church in Rome, and for us, on the Episcopal path, through England, to and through, Christ Church Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  We have the Gospel words of Matthew, Mark and John. And we have Paul, Peter, James and others.  I didn’t forget about Luke but he did not know Jesus personally as did those I named. Luke, like us today, is a recipient of the original follower’s words in which we too come to believe just as Jesus prayed that “also on behalf of [us] who will believe in me through their word, that [we] may all be one.”  These sacred words are still being passed on to us and from us to those put in our path today.

We are a mouth to ear people. We talk about our Lord Jesus and we try as best we can to follow him. It is by word and deed that we show who we are. The Word of Jesus is to Love God and love our neighbor as Jesus loved us. And Jesus loved us to death. So too we are called to love others in the same way, to death.  I will confess there are people that I am willing to lay my life down for.  I will also say that the more people that are in danger, the more likely I am to give my life, and yes, especially children.  I enlisted in the Marines and was sent to many hazardous clime and places during my 30 years on active duty. It could have cost me my life for this nation. And I understood that.  This weekend we remember all who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this nation.

As long as I am confessing, let me say that I know some people that I will not give my life for.  I have (perhaps wrongly) judged them not worthy because of what I have observed of them.  I have looked upon their addiction, their lack of compassion for others; their hatred of those different than themselves. I am not Jesus. Jesus would still die for those I  think unworthy.  I don’t think I would die for a child abuser or murderer. I don’t think I would die for a dictator bent on the annihilation of another country. I’m not Jesus. Jesus loves each and every one of us to death. I struggle with my lack of desire to be more like Jesus. Sadly, I don’t think I even want to be that much like Jesus. I am not proud of how I feel. I am being very honest. Jesus, God Incarnate, loves all people, without exception. As for me, I have heard the Word and I do believe. I pray that even I too will be included in the One with our Lord Jesus and the Creator.  And I pray the same for you.

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 Readngs for Saturday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 87 and 90; Evening, Psalm 136;

Numbers 11:16 to 17 and 24 to 29; Ephesians 2:11 to 22; Matthew 7:28 to 8:4

“For through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (Ephesians 2:18)

For through our Lord Jesus, fake race groups like, blacks and whites, along with groups like men and women, gays and straights, rich and poor, nationals and foreigners, have access in one Spirit to the Creator of all life.

This access does not mean giving up “who” we are ( although it very well may mean giving up “what” we think we are).  We have a uniting Spirit through our Lord Jesus. “For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us” (Ephesians 2:14).  So we are one Spirit group. We look different, we sound different, and we enjoy different foods and music and so on. None of what we enjoy should be based on our skin color or hair texture.  We are free to seek our own joy.  We are all pulled together for living and loving each other, and our various cultures and lifestyles, through God.  For God is the One in whom we all live and move and have our being.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone, In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.” (Ephesians 2: 19 – 22)

We are meant to approach one another knowing that we are already united by means of God’s Spirit.  It makes no difference about our language, skin color, religion, or place of origin.  We are all God’s people, we are all spiritual cousins. We should be behaving that way.

How then, or why then, should the people of God harm the people of God?  Except for self-defense, it is so anti- God to harm other human beings; especially for some senseless reason like the so called race differences, or nationality differences, or language differences.  There are no deep differences among us; black or white; Russian or Ukrainian; American or Mexican; Democrat or Republican; we are men and women of one species. All of our visual differences are insignificant “surface” differences.  We are one class of animal with one spirit which the Holy Creating Spirit of God imbedded in us. All of us are God’s special work and we should be thankful. “For through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

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 the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 85 and 86: Evening,  Psalms 91 and 92;

1^st Samuel 2:1 to 10; Ephesians 2:1 to 10; Matthew 7:22 to 27:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matthew 7: 24)

There are many people who can recite many good quotes and prayers but often fall short of living by them.  What’s important here is not only to hear these words of Jesus and to memorize them, but to act on them, and to live by them as well.  This is what our Lord Jesus meant by “hear these words of mine and act on them.”

Memorizing creeds, covenants, quotes and prayers and saying them everyday reshapes our personality.  Hopefully, we will become who we preach to be. I have created two five-pointed stars for myself to live by. The five points of the first (which I created in the 80’s) is, “ Praise God, Love All, Keep Word, Live Plain and Work Hard.  I was still in the Marines when my faith moved me to frame these five points as directions for my life.  Notice that Praise God and Love All are the first two, and are the two Commandments that our Lord Jesus gave us. The second star consists of five points that spell out the acronym DRIPP.  This represents Discipline (that I should maintain); Respect (for myself and others); Integrity (honesty in action); Prayer (always, especially Morning and Evening Prayer) and Patience (holy waiting and some quiet time alone.)

We all should have a code of conduct that we live by.  My heart is heavy because of the killing of 19 fourth graders and their teachers in Texas. The 18 year old shooter had no sense of loving God and neighbor. The Russian military carrying out atrocities against Ukraine also have no sense of loving God and neighbor. We all need holy words to live by, words that guide our lives, especially in stressful times. None of us should harm the innocent, regardless of whether they are 10 years old or adults trying to live in their own country in peace.  God created us as loving beings.

We must hear the words of our Lord Jesus and where necessary frame them in a way that makes sense for us without losing their meanings.  And then we must act or behave in the manner that our treasured words lead us.  Only when we build our lives with a solid foundation will we be “like a wise man who built his house on rock.”  What words or phrases or covenants do you live by?

“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

Eucharistic Readings for Ascension Day: Years A, B, and C

Acts 1:1-11;   Psalm 47;  or Psalm 93;  Ephesians 1:15-23;  Luke 24:44-53:

 “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:45)

This “opening of their minds” is the action of the Resurrected Jesus.  Jesus spent a lot of time with his followers before he was crucified, preaching and teaching about the scriptures and how the scriptures foretold of his destiny. You can see much of this in chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel where he says several times, “You have heard that it was said, …. But I tell you…..”  In this way our Lord Jesus re-interprets the historic Hebrew Law.

But now, Jesus goes beyond explanation to revelation. He “opens their minds.”  We have words written in the Bible that have been translated from Aramaic, to Greek, from Greek to Latin, and then for us, from Latin to English. Even this last translation is from old English to modern and then American English.  Has anything been lost or misrepresented in this human work? 

How wonderful it would be for us today for Jesus to “open our minds” so that we too can have a better understanding of the scriptures, or better yet, God’s actual intent – God’s will for us.  I think when we believe that our purpose is to love God and love one another to the best of our ability, we will indeed understand all the Law and the writings of the Bible.  And, what we come to understand may even be better than what our old recorders wrote.

I remember reading somewhere in a Jewish fable that someone asked an old teacher of the Torah to explain the Torah while standing on one foot.  The response was, “What is hateful to you, do not do to others.”  That is the whole Torah. It is another way of saying the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do onto you.”

The only other piece I would like to add about opening our minds is the opening of our hearts. Sometimes the words are interchangeable. Sometimes they are not.  The heart piece adds in the love component.  Psychologist within the last hundred years have found that the children of loving parents who hugged their children and spent time with them showed higher intellectual ability than the children of distancing parents.  Love matters. Bless those psychologists.  But then, bless our Lord Jesus who told us this over 2000 years ago.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

I pray that the Risen Jesus opens the minds of the Russian military so that they might cease from the devastation they are doing to Ukraine.  Help us today Lord Jesus and open our minds to God’s will for 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 the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:97 to 120; Evening, Psalms 81 and 82;

Leviticus 26:27 to 42; Ephesians 1:1 to 10; Matthew 22:41 to 46:

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”  (Ephesians 1:7 – 10)

These are the opening words to the Church in Ephesus by Paul or someone writing for Paul. The writer, through revelation from God, shares with us that the forgiveness of our sins has been God’s plan from the beginning of our time, to be made manifest in the fullness of our time. This is free grace that is lavished on us from God through the blood  (or life) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of whom we partake of at our Holy Communion.

As adopted children of God through our brother Jesus, we are called to continue in the work of gathering all things (all people) to God. I look at us Christians as the care takers of the world, both people and all creation. Hints from Genesis suggest that after the world was made the caretaker creatures (we) were placed onboard to maintain this place.  We are the caretakers.  “With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will.”

Our own human selves are not excluded from our own care. Just as charity begins in the home, so too does human self-care.  Among the human species, the Christian is like unto a flight attendant.  Flight attendants serve to make the passengers safe and comfortable while on their journey.  Flight attendants are not recruiting more flight attendants.  We Christians also are here to serve all people, Christian and non-Christian alike, while not trying to make all people Christian. “With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us [Christians] the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things [all people] in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”  This is what I believe the Spirit of God told the writer of the letter to the Church in Ephesus, and this is what I believe the Spirit is still  saying to us today.

As we assist people on their way to God let us not leave out the people of Ukraine.  Also, let us not leave out members of the Russian military who don’t always know any better. “All people to God” really means all people to God. We are not called to judge, but to love, and we do this by listening and learning in order that we might love and lead. “With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will:” that is “to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

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 the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 78:1 to 39; Evening, Psalm 78:40 to 72;

Leviticus 26:1-20; 1^st Timothy 2:1 to 6; Matthew 13:18 to 23:

“This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1Timothy 2:3-4)

I know that I am not perfect. I have many flaws and imperfections.  I am so thankful that we have a loving and merciful God and Savior in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of everyone being saved, and everyone coming to the knowledge of truth. I think the key word here is “everyone.”

The word needs to get out to “everyone” that God desires all people to be saved. Contrary to our normal fear of scarcity, heaven does not run out of room. Perhaps the biggest problem we might have is sharing total freedom and glory with our neighbors, all neighbors. The only thing hindering us from that glory is our personal story. However, once we understand ourselves, knowledge and truth will assure our place in God’s divine plan.

The Word needs to get out that God desires everyone to come to the knowledge of truth. Like most of us I was raised with certain prejudices and biases that caused me to not see the inclusive love of God.  As a Christian, and with some good Christian education, I have come to, and am still coming to,  the understanding that God, in Christ Jesus, came among us to both know about us and experience what it means to be us first hand.

Being saved and coming to the knowledge of truth is the message Our Lord Jesus gave to Paul for Timothy and for us. This message is for all of us who hear. But I think more especially for Christians as we have that calling to model, as our Lord Jesus did, love for all people regardless of who they are or what they think they believe or don’t believe.  There is more than enough room and comfort for all in heaven. Therefore we should be holding dear to us in prayer everyone from the president to the homeless; people of other countries (friend or foe); and people we have been taught not to trust.  All are invited by God to be with God.  We Christians are God’s helpers for all humanity.

While many have died in the Ukraine – Russian war, on both sides, I believe that there are innocent ones among them, particularly on the Russian side, who knew not what they were doing but believe in God. I believe those too will be brought to the court of God where they will be judged by our merciful God. None of us are perfect. Our calling remains to be ever diligent in prayer 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 Monday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;

Leviticus 25:35 to 55; Colossians 1:9 to 14; Matthew 13:1 to 16:

“He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.  The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.”  With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.”  (Matthew 13: 11 – 14)

I think that the part that says, “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive,” is that sometimes we are so hard-hearted and set in our own fixations that we literally block out the truth. If we already think we know what the speaker is saying before he or she finishes what they are saying, our hearts are hardened and we don’t get it.  In such a case, “even what we do have will be taken away.” Listening is an underdeveloped art.

Only when we let go of any and all our preconceived ideas (including the idea of race), can we fully see what our Lord Jesus is doing.  Only when we truly and objectively listen to another person will we discern what is in their heart.  If there has to be a bias, make it of love. I once preached a homily wherein I challenged my listeners to draw a heart with ears.  A few did and the hearts with ears on either side looked pretty good.  I challenge you to do the same.  Regardless of your drawing skills, draw a simple heart and then draw a pair of simple human ears on each side of it.  This represents listing with your heart.

I think Jesus’ main point is that we hear what we want to hear.  I also think his deeper point is that we should want to hear Good News.  We should listen optimistically as well as lovingly. In this way, even if we don’t understand the message of the parable, we will continue to delve deeper until we get it. If we seek, we will find. To their credit the disciples of Jesus stuck with him and followed him and pressed him until they got the parables unraveled, albeit after the Resurrection.  Maybe their determination for the truth was what they all had in common. Are you determined to be a disciple of Jesus?  If so, listen with the ears of your heart and seek the Truth.

Let us ever keep Ukraine in our prayers. Ukraine still has much, and they will be given even more. And they will have an abundance. This is the way God 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

Eucharistic Readings for the 6^th Week of Easter: Year C

Acts 16:9 to 15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10 and 22 to 22:5; John 14:23 to 29 or John 5:1 to 9:

“Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23) 

So much of our Christian teaching has to do with us going to God.  But here Jesus says that He and the Creator will come to us, and make their home with us! It might be time for some spring cleaning! What will it look like for God in the person of Christ Jesus to come and live in you? Will people see that God is acting out in you? When (not if) this happens, how can we get out of the way so that God can do God’s work?

Jesus gives us a peace which surpasses all understanding.  We have a peace which will assist us in resolving our problems – if we would but give it a chance. When Jesus, with the Creator comes to live with us and gives us this divine peace, how do we live into it?  Blaise Pascal says. “The heart has its reasons which reason knows not.” and “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” How about sitting quietly in a room with the Holy Spirit of Jesus, with the Peace that Jesus leaves with us?  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” (John 14:27)

In our alternative John reading, our Lord asks  the man who had been ill for 38 years, “if he wanted to be made well?”  (John 5:6)

For me, morning exercise is so wonderful!  The mornings are quiet. Exercise starts the blood moving. And, while it is good for the whole body, it is especially good for the brain.  It is with such an awakened mind that I review my journal just prior to posting to my blog site.  When I think of newborn babies I recall that they first express their aliveness in movement. This is the way we are made.  We move and then we reason, think, we pray and ponder. But it starts with the One in Whom we live and “move” and have our being. This is God Almighty, the Alpha and the Omega.  Yes, I want to be made well. Being made well requires effort on me as well and no excuses about what others are doing to me.  

Every day I also play the piano. The amount of time spent playing is not always the same. Some days are shorter, some days longer.  I don’t know how fast I am improving.  But I like hearing the music that I make. And here is the best part; it is me that is doing it!  I did not give up on me. I am reminded that we don’t quit playing because we grow old; we grow old because we quit playing.  That is just as true in music as it is in sports and exercise.  Thirty eight years is nothing. I’m almost twice that. We must keep on keeping on. Thank You Lord Jesus.

As God comes to us God can make a home in Ukraine. How wonderful for them to be made well.

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