Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: Year 2

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

Genesis 45:16 to 28; 1^st  Corinthians 8:1 to 13; Mark 6:13 to 29: 

“But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling-block to the weak.” (1^st Corinthians 8:9)

Paul here is talking about not eating food dedicated to idols. But we can all look deeper into our own lives as thinking Christians. Reason is one of the three legs of the three-legged stool that Richard Hooker used as a metaphor for us to think about in terms of our Church; Scripture, Tradition and Reason.  They all carry the same and equal guidance in our Church tradition as taught in our Anglican/Episcopal faith. We have the Holy Scriptures, our Church liturgy and leadership, and we each have our God-given sense of morality and right behavior given to us by God in Christ Jesus.

Personally, I like to have a beer every now and then.  But I will not stop at a store and purchase beer while wearing clericals (clergy shirt with tab or collar).  North Carolina, being part of the Southern “Bible belt” where beliefs are pretty fundamental, right or wrong, I don’t want people to think ill of me, or of my Church.  If the people in my community saw me purchasing beer, dressed as clergy they might think me to be a hypocrite.

Are there any practices or enjoyments that you have that could become a stumbling-block to the weak? The field of misleading activities are wide ranging; the movies we enjoy, the books we read, the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the company we keep, and on and on. I think we will be okay in our individual ways if we use moderation and discretion, but we must use caution with regard to what we reveal about ourselves, in person, and especially on social media platforms. “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling-block to the weak.” (1^st Corinthians 8:9)

Personal note: I continue to ask everyone to keep the Ukrainian people in your prayers. Prayers work.

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 Third Week of Lent: Year 2

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

Genesis 45:1 to 15; 1^st Corinthians 7:32 to 40; Mark 6:1 to 13:

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him.” (Mark 6:3)

Just because we know someone and their family, and our opinion of them is not very favorable to us, does not mean that God is not making good use of them for a better life in the community in which that person lives. But in this case, we’re talking about God Incarnate. His community thought they knew everything about Jesus solely because they knew his earth family and had already decided that he was not Godly.  They were so wrong.  Besides that, God is able to use anybody to do God’s work, which includes you.

When we judge someone as unusable by God, we are not judging them, we are judging, and limiting, the power of God.  God can use any human, (and in some cases our pets or even animals in nature, or a burning bush) to affect our path or direction in life.  Every one of us must be open and remain open to God’s desire to use us for the good of the communities in which we live, or quite possibly, for a distant community.

Ukraine is a distant community that can surely use God’s guidance working through us. You may not be known as a charitable person. And perhaps you did not come from a charitable family. But you can surprise the people who think they know you by doing deeds of wonder in giving to organizations that support the welfare of the Ukrainian people.  Listen to what the Spirit is saying to you on this matter.  And then respond with compassion.

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 Third Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;

Genesis 44:18 to 34; 1^st Corinthians 7:25 to 31; Mark 5:21 to 43:

“Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years.” (Mark 5: 25)

Jesus was on his way to heal a child when this hemorrhaging woman acted from her faith and touched Jesus and was healed. So our Lord Jesus, while on his way to do a good work, did an additional good work.  In the Cursillo movement we call this an “unexpected opportunity.”

Opportunities to do unexpected good works abound.  Our Lord Jesus models for us that there will be people in need all around.  We may not know them but they need us.  They come to us from their faith, trusting in God to work through us for what they need. These are unexpected opportunities. Had not our Lord Jesus been going to do a good work already, the woman in need may not have ever crossed his path.  The same is true for us today.  As we go about our business to do good, God will put people in our path who need us. From that point on, God is watching us, to see how we might respond. Remember, it is their faith in God working through you that works in, and for them.

Today we need to be open and receptive to the needs of the Ukrainian people. As America is on her way to Covid recovery, good work, we are presented with an unexpected opportunity in terms of helping the Ukrainian people.  We must take a page from Jesus’ playbook and stand up for Ukraine and her people dispersed throughout the world. It is and unexpected opportunity and the right thing to do.

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 Third Sunday of Lent: Year C

Exodus 3:1 to15;  Psalm 63:1 to 8; 1^st Corinthians 10:1 to 13; Luke 13:1 to 9:

 “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” (Luke 13: 3 &5 NRSV)

Verses 3 and 5 say the same thing about people being killed.  One was caused by human evil and one caused by an unexplained mishap.  In any case, bad stuff happened that caused human loss of life.

A word or two about what it means to perish before we look into what repentance is all about.  To perish here means (to me), to cease to exist. It is not the being brought into the heavenly realm promised to those who believe and repent of their sins.  To perish is the opposite of eternal life. Repentance avoids perishing.

Denial, retaliation, and minimization are sometimes the reasons we feel we don’t have to repent.

Denial of wrongs we have done or left undone does not alleviate or lessen the wrong done or undone. It still happened.  It is what God is aware of and we have to own it.  Then the process of repentance can begin.

Retaliation or eye for an eye is no excuse for evil done to another.  There is no excuse to perpetrate evil of any kind.  We are Christians, retaliation is not what we are called to do.

Minimization is the act of reducing the damage done in our own minds so that we don’t feel so bad about the harm done to others.  Minimization is the act of lying to ourselves. We must empathize with the one we have impacted and get their feelings in our head.  Only when we become the victims we created will we fully understand the damage caused.

The point of this Luke reading is repentance, and to repent as early as possible.  Whether it’s human fault or natures fault, it makes no difference.  This very evening is not promised to us. Are their acts, words, and/or thoughts that we wish we had not had or committed?  The time to set it right is now. 

We must remember that God brought us into being from nothing, and it will be into nothing that we will return if we do not accept God’s invitation to live in eternity through repentance as did those for whom Jesus spoke, and from whom we are no different.

The tree in the story is a metaphor for us as we are given another chance for repentance with the help of the Pastor/Prophet/Son of God. This Holy Helper (Jesus) will assist us in turning back to God.  Thanks be to God. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Continue to pray 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 Saturday of the 2^nd Week in Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 75 and 76; Evening, Psalm 23 and 27;

Genesis 43:16 to 34; 1^st Corinthians 7:10 to 24; Mark 5:1 to 20:

“Though an army should encamp against me, yet my heart shall not be afraid.” (Psalm 27:3)

It is amazing that this Psalm is given to us at this time. It depicts the situation in Ukraine today.  But I am pleased to hear of two internationally known celebrities of the world who are speaking out against Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Olga Smirnova, an international Russian ballet star has publicly denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And, she has left Russia and joined the Dutch national ballet in Amsterdam.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Mr. Universe, Movie Star and former Governor of California, and admired by the Russian people including their soldiers, has made an anti-war video wherein he speaks of his admiration of a Russian weight lifter who was at one time the strongest man in the world and how much this man inspired him.  It is hoped that this video makes it to both the Russian people and their soldiers. He addresses them in the video as well as President Putin appealing for an end to the hostilities.

These good people are just two examples of prayers being answered. Unfortunately the Russian people are fed false reports about what is going on. The Psalmist prays, “Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, and also those who speak malice,” (Psalm 27:16); but you and I must continue to pray for the well-being of the Ukrainian people. Olga and Arnold are God’s ways of getting the truth out to the Russian people and the Russian troops. And, I pray, also to President Putin himself.   

Again from Psalm 27, “Though an army should encamp against me, yet my heart shall not be afraid.”

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 Second Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 95 and 69; Evening, Psalm 73;

 Genesis 43:1 to 15; 1^st Corinthians 7:1 to 9; Mark 4:35 to 41:

“Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again” (1^st Corinthians 7:5)

I do not accept all of Saint Paul’s advice or his beliefs about the husband wife relationships given that he himself was never married.  But buried deep in his counsel is the recommendation that each of us should pray.  And from the way he says it I feel it means for each of us to find our own time alone to do so.  And then he writes “And then come together again.” This suggests that we are alone during our praying, but later we join with one another again. This means corporate and paired.

I do premarital counseling for couples engaged to be married.  Of the several categories of questions I ask, I ask about their faith (or faiths).  As they come to me (a priest) for doing the wedding it should be understood that the marriage is a Christian matter. My Book of Common Prayer says that at least one of them must be baptized.  Personally I prefer both of them to be Christian (even better if both are Episcopalian, but not necessary). I don’t expect the couple to provide me with what they resolved about any of the subjects that I want them to discuss, I just want to know that they had the conversations, especially about praying together. 

The importance of prayers said by people in love cannot be over emphasized.  As I have been, and continue to be, very concerned about the Ukrainian people since the Russian invasion began, I can’t help but ponder about how the Ukrainian husband and wife might have prayed together before she was sent out of the country, while he stayed back to fight.  I want our prayers to join their prayers as all of our prayers ascend to heaven as “Radiant Energy,” (a term I heard at my Shalem Circle Spiritual directors meeting last Monday).  I called these Radiant Energy prayers “Universal Prayers.”  I am again reminded that as such prayers go up, even in tears, that God’s ears, hears tears. Let us spend some time during our Sabbath time in prayer for Ukraine; Please.

 “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

Morning, Psalm  71; Evening,  Psalm 74;
Genesis 42:29 to 38; 1^st Corinthians 6:12 to 20; Mark 4:21 to 34:

“Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts” (Psalm 74:18).

The Psalmist speaks about a persecution taking place in Israel. A similar persecution is taking place today in Ukraine. All of Psalm 74 can be recited and meant by the people of Ukraine. They are not without help or hope, yet they struggle against the wild beast of the Russian military.

I feel like most of the rest of the west are going to feel ashamed for not getting involved in support of Ukraine. World War III or bust, nuclear devastation or come what may, just standing by and watching homes and hospitals  being bombed is not going to pass from our memory quickly. While the rest of the west is fearing what might happen if we get involved, Ukraine is feeling it now, with no choice of not getting involved. There comes a point that the wild beast should feel the sting of the whip.  It trains the beast.

Today is Saint Patrick’s day

Readings for St. Patrick

Psalm 96; 1^st Thessalonians 2:1 to 8;  Matthew 28:16 to 20:

“When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.”  (Matthew 28:17)

“Patrick was born into a Christian family somewhere on the northwest coast of Britain in about 390. His grandfather had been a Christian priest and his father, Calpornius, a deacon. Calpornius was an important official in the late Roman imperial government of Britain. It was not unusual in this post-Constantinian period for such state officials to be in holy orders. When Patrick was about sixteen, he was captured by a band of Irish slave-raiders. He was carried off to Ireland and forced to serve as a shepherd. When he was about twenty-one, he escaped and returned to Britain, where he was educated as a Christian. He tells us that he took holy orders as both presbyter and bishop, although no particular see is known as his at this time. A vision then called him to return to Ireland. This he did about the year 431.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for March 17)

Like our Lord Jesus who when the eleven met him after His Resurrection, “some doubted.” So too some in Ireland may have doubted that this returned person, now a bishop, was actually the escaped shepherd youth named Patrick. Some doubted Patrick’s education for Holy Orders. But I am reminded that God does not call the qualified, but rather, God qualifies the called. If you live and learn and love, long enough, you too will be made over.  You will be better.

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 2^nd Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 72; Evening, Psalm 119:73-96;

Genesis 42:18 to 28; 1^st  Corinthians 5:9 to 6:8; Mark 4:1 to 20:

“Do you not know that we are to judge angels—to say nothing of ordinary matters? If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church?” (1 Corinthians 6: 3 – 4)

I believe that people who are regular church attendees make the best police persons, military personnel , and lawyers and judges. There should always be some kind of community moral compass in place and activated in such work as police, military and the judicial system. 

Humane treatment and decency should always be at the forefront of all public service or conflict. People that do such work should come from a community of faith. I don’t believe such a faith community has to be Christian.  But it should be a community whose beliefs recognize the godly value of all people regardless of ethnicity, religion, nationality, language, or sexual orientation.  Yes, we must appoint or elect judges to make decisions about how to proceed in terms of what to do about offenders. However, compassion must be given to people, even those who themselves show no compassion. Being tough on crime does not mean being hateful to those who are different or who have made mistakes or even those who show no desire to improve.

Preachers or priests, or imams, or rabbis, must be mindful of the message they plant in the hearts of their listeners, from whom such public servants are called.  We all have the same loving God.  We have found different ways to relate to and worship God.  But just as we look up to God, we must also look to our right and left at our neighbor and remember to love them through this same God. I agree with Saint Paul, I think our judges (and other public service providers and military) should come from people who have an understanding of some kind of loving worship community. The religious leaders who plant the seeds of morality have a huge responsibility for making sure such seeds are loving and inclusive.

I was an active duty Marine for 30 years. I have been in several conflicts. While I have never been responsible for prisoners of war, I hold a vow of decency regarding the treatment of captives. This also applies to those whom we fire upon. There is an awful upheaval taking place in Ukraine right now perpetrated by the Russian military. It is sinful. If these military persons were God-fearing they would not be bombing civilians, hospitals and other non combatants. Further, if the people who sent them understood the right of a government to be free, they would not have invaded Ukraine at all. It is so wrong, and as Paul explains, they will be judged accordingly.  Meanwhile, let us never cease from praying for Ukraine and the Russians who speak out against such evil.

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 2^nd Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 68:1-20(21-23)24-36;

Genesis 42:1 to 17; 1^st Corinthians 5:1 to 8; Mark 3:19b to 35:

“And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35)

Our Lord Jesus is saying that those who come to God in the way he does are his family.  I have a huge biological family but we often differ regarding the way we interpret the inclusiveness of God and the inherent Christian service required.

It’s Church.  I have friends here in Cumberland and Hoke counties of North Carolina who are not members of my Church; some are not members of any church.  They are also somewhat relationally distant from me. My Church family however shares with me our understanding of God in our lives and the lives of our collective community.  For me, the good news about our church is that we love providing Christian hospitality to all people.  Yes, there may be individuals some of us may have a problem with but for the most part, all are welcome.  We don’t care about what others believe or don’t believe. Our covenant Baptismal Creed requires us to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves and to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. (BCP 305)  To all this (and more), we answer “I will with God’s help.” 

My Pondering is from the Episcopal Church perspective.  I don’t apologize for that.  I have found spiritual family in this Church.  Our Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Michael Curry, says that we are the Episcopal path of the Jesus movement. There are many paths but this best suits me. I believe everybody should have a worship family of some kind.  Even if you say you believe in little green frogs, fine, but if you do, you should be found down by the pond every now and then.

Not being in my family is in no way a bad thing.  In fact if you are not, then you are on the receiving end of our love, care, and hospitality. As the Most Reverend William Temple, former Archbishop of Canterbury (1942–1944) said, “The Church is the one institution that exists for the benefit of those who do not belong to it.”

Again I appeal to all who follow this blog, regardless of what faith path you follow, to reach out in support of the Ukrainian people in prayer and deed. They are our family in Christ Jesus regardless of what their faith tradition might be. They are our family.  It is the will of God for us to care for them. So you see, it is as our Lord Jesus says, “Whoever does the will of God is my family.  Thank you Lord Jesus.”

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 2^nd Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening,  Psalms 64 and 65;
Genesis 41:46 to 57; 1^st Corinthians 4:8 to 20(21); Mark 3:7 to19a

“Have mercy on me, O God, for my enemies are hounding me; all day long they assault and oppress me.”  (Psalm 56:1)

This Psalm, as does many of the Psalms of lament, ask for mercy from God. I especially ask for God’s mercy for Ukraine, her people now dispersed, and for the good Russian people who have protested against the criminality of their leadership.

With things the way they are, the NATO nations not getting involved, only God and heaven above can help Ukraine now. This kind of help can only come from the prayers of you and me and people all over the world, including the people within Russia,  Our prayers are for our God of mercy to relieve the Ukrainian resistance.

I pray for God to intercede and turn their suffering into some kind of peace if not a distant joy.  How can they ever be happy again?  The first verse of Psalm 57, also for today, is likewise appropriate: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful, for I have taken refuge in you; in the shadow of your wings will I take refuge until this time of trouble has gone by.” (Psalm 57:1)

So I pray that this time of trouble quickly goes by and peace and reconciliation is restored. I don’t know how this is done. I just pray that it gets done and soon. Please come to their help O Lord. We, the world, will be looking and listening for your presence in this matter.

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