Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 5^th Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 80;Evening, Psalm 77;

Genesis 25:19 to 34; Hebrews 13:1 to 16; John 7:37 to 52:

“Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.”  (John 7:50 – 52)

So this is Nicodemus who first went out to Jesus in darkness (Chapter 3 of the Gospel of John), perhaps so as not to be seen.  But the darkness could also be used to describe the darkness of ignorance.  Albeit, he now pushes for some level of fairness for Jesus. And what happens?  His colleagues immediately turn on him.  They have that mentality that says if you are not with me, then you are against me.

Nicodemus took a risk for Jesus whom he knew in his heart was a good man and at least a prophet sent from God.  His friends want to use our Lord Jesus’ current home town as a way to say he cannot be sent from God. Now, even they will admit that God can do whatever God wants to do.  And one thing is for sure; God does not depend on “the way it’s always been.” 

Neither should we use our own history as a locked-out boundary that will suppress any hope of evolving, or growing spiritually.  When writings get old, somehow they become sacred text that suggests that the people who wrote them were in some way, smarter or more holy than we are. This kind of misguided idea, be it the Bible or the Constitution, becomes our new god.  But they are not God.  They are writings by people, all of whom had faults and misunderstandings like us of today.  While Jesus did not originate in Galilee as they thought, it really makes no difference.  God, the real God, can, and does do, whatever God wants to do.  God is always doing something new.  

How many of us today are still where we are originally from? Some of us are, some of us are not. Either way, it makes no difference. God is present at our beginning, in our present and will receive us when we close. Nicodemus was right, we all deserve a hearing and God, the real God, listens.  We too should listen to one another with compassion.  Remember, listening leads to learning, which leads to loving, which can lead to leading itself.

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 5^th Sunday of Epiphany: Year C

Isaiah 6:1 to 13;   Psalm 138;  1^st  Corinthians 15:1 to 11;  Luke 5:1 to 11:

 “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.” (Luke 5:1)

These are the words that are easy to overlook or in some way, we miss their importance.  Yes we could go on and talk about the abundance of obeying Jesus as made manifest in the overwhelming catch of fish caught by two boats.  But I think what we really need to look at is what the crowd of people realized, that the actual word of God was coming out of the mouth of Jesus who we now hopefully realize is the Word of God in human form!

So Jesus gets in a boat we think belongs to Simon Peter and then goes out a little bit over the water. And now we have the voice of God moving over the waters (again). A quote from the opening of the Book of Genesis: “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters;” (Genesis 1:2).  Once again the voice of God is moving over the waters.  “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light;” (Genesis 1:3). So now again the voice of God moving over the waters of Lake Gennesaret (Lake Galilee), and letting there be light for the clouded minds of the people.

We have fishermen catching more fish than needed so that they can take leave of their vocation to fulfill a calling of feeding souls.  The same is true for us today.  God blesses us abundantly and then calls us to bring in people to the presence of God, to the Voice of God.  That same voice of God now moves in us.  We must now fulfill our call to live according to our Christian principles: both for ourselves, and for those we serve, and we all will be richly blessed by God in ways we may not understand right now. All we need to do is listen to the voice of God.

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 4^th Week of Epiphany: Year 2

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

Genesis 24:28 to 38 and 49 to 51; Hebrews 12:12 to 29; John 7:14 to 36:

“Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

Sometimes seeking peace is hard to do.  Some people act as if they don’t want peace.  As hard as it might be, listening is probably the one (although painful) thing we can do to soften ourselves in order that we might begin the process to establishing some sort of peace.

When we listen, we learn.  We might learn that we were right all along about the stubbornness and ignorance of the other person.  But, listening might also bring about learning the fears and misunderstandings that the other person harbors under. If we are true to ourselves, we might also learn that we were ignorant and stubborn. When we listen, we learn.

Learning brings about some degree of understanding. Learning casts light on the darkness of misunderstanding.   It’s hard to remain harsh to a person when we fully understand what the problems are, when we see the issue from their perspective.  When we understand we become more tolerant.  When we become more tolerant we shift into feeling the concern of the other and a little compassion seeps in, and love for the other develops . Loving others is God’s hope for us.

Listening, learning and loving takes place in pursuit of peace.  The grace of God follows the peace of God. And it is the of peace God that our Lord Jesus intentionally shares with us if we will but accept it. This truly makes us a holy people.  And how do we seek holiness?  Holiness has to be freely given by God as grace.  As you read this, may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always so that with grace you may see the Lord in Spirit and in Truth.

On a personal note: I received notification yesterday afternoon that a grandson of mine had passed. I ask for prayers of comfort and consolation even as I fully believe he now has that final peace with God.

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 4^th Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 69: ; Evening, Psalm 73;

Genesis 24:1 to 27; Hebrews 12:3 to 11; John 7:1 to 13:

“For no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”  (John 7:4)

I think they misunderstand our Lord Jesus.  And this reading says that his brothers did not believe him as yet.  Jesus stayed on the fringes of towns.  He was never looking for praise, but rather, he looked for what was the good work that needed to be done. He healed the sick, and taught morality.  So he was doing things that made the communal life better. He didn’t want to be widely known but rather widely received. Too often we look at the good works of some gifted people of God from the paradigm of our own self serving ways.  We ask “what’s in it for them?” We don’t ask, “What gifts has God given them that enhances our lives?”

Knowing that his friends were all about the popularity of people, he told them, “Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.’ After saying this, he remained in Galilee.” (John 7: 8 – 9)  However, after a little while our Lord Jesus had a change of mind and went to Jerusalem and to the Festival of Booths, but he went in secret.  (John 4:10)

Even today we never know when our Lord Jesus is near, but in secret.  The good news is that when he is near, he is near to cause good to happen.  And while it is good to give our Lord Jesus praise and honor, the additional rejoicing should be about how much better our situation is about to be.  Thank you Lord Jesus and please stay near us, even if in secret, we need you to be close to us.

“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. 

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

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 4^th Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 71; Evening, Psalm 74;

Genesis 23:1 to 20; Hebrews 11:32 to 12:2; John 6:60 to 71:

“It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63)

We have the Spirit of God in us. And our Lord Jesus says it is this God-given spirit that gives us life.  We are more than blood-pumping hearts and lungs that exchange air.  As the saying goes, we are so much more than the sum of our parts. I know and have had experience with medical doctors who place their faith well ahead of their practice.

The Spirit speaks to us. The spirit in us serves as a communicator that connects us with the will of God. To realize what God is saying all we have to do is be still and quiet.  Sure, our minds will wonder.  But as we regularly practice contemplative exercises by keeping times of sitting quietly we will get better at receiving God’s guidance. As we learn from the lost son in Chapter 15 verse 7 of Luke’s Gospel, we will get better at coming to our senses, or to ourselves (depending on which translation you read). Times of meditation will reorient us into being who God intends for us to be.

From Blaise Pascal we learn that “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”  Down time, specifically quiet time, is the medicine of the soul.  It is during such quiet times that God visits us.  This lesson runs throughout the Bible: we learn this from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Hagar, Elijah, Mary, Joseph and our Lord Jesus, all of whom were setting the example for us to follow.  Therefore:

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 Presentation of Our Lord Jesus

Malachi 3:1 to 4;  Psalm 84;  Hebrews 2:14 to 18;  Luke 2:22 to 40

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.” (Luke 2:25 – 26)

Here we have an independent story of the Lord’s favor on a person not directly called to a ministry other than contributing to us by sharing his story of revelation, the revelation of grace. This Simeon is only one of five that the Holy Spirit rested on (Mary, the mother of Jesus; Elizabeth, Zachariah, Jesus Himself, and Simeon).  His specific identity is not revealed except that he was a righteous and devout man. That’s probably good enough.

Simeon seemed to be a quiet man and Anna who lived in the Temple (unusual for a woman) at prayer continually were both led out to see Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus at the same time. This presence and leadership of the Holy Spirit was at work then, and is at work today.  But like Simeon and Anna, we have to have our own quiet time in order to receive the message. “Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”” (Luke 2:27 – 32)

These words resonate with me because they are almost the same as the words found at the close of Compline at the top of page 135 of the Book of Common Prayer.

“Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.” (BCP 135)

 Simeon only wanted to know that God was in fact at work in restoring the world as had been promised.  God was doing this through Mary, and through Israel and out to the world, and still is. I believe this, and this is why I always end my page with the invitation to listen for the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  God is always doing something new. Do you believe this?  If so then: 

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 4^th Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 68;

Genesis 21:1 to 21; Hebrews 11:13 to 22; John 6:41 to 51:

 “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day.” (John 6: 44)

Maybe not everybody is called to follow our Lord Jesus Christ or even to be a Christian.  Jesus says that “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me.”  God sends certain people to our Lord Jesus.  This was evident with the star that led the wise men to the child Jesus in Mathew’s Gospel; it was true for Simeon who was called to the Temple when Jesus was taken there at his Presentation, (which we will ponder tomorrow); it was true when people like Andrew and  Philip and others brought their relatives or friends to Jesus.  In my own life, a Marine friend brought me to Jesus at St Anne’s Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee more than forty years ago.

Now having said all that, I don’t believe only Christians are saved.  I think God uses us Christians to assist in the saving action of God.  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Ruth, and David and Elijah and Elisha and others were saved and none of them were Christians. This saving includes some non-Christian, New Testament folk as well because the term Christian was not put into use until the teachings about our Lord Jesus was taught in Antioch. We read, “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:25 – 26)

We Christians are like volunteer flight attendants making passengers comfortable and safe during the flight.  And one thing I have noticed about flight crews as we prepare to board the plane, they get a pass to go right on board.  So too, we have a pass to be raised up on the last day. God loves all people and we Christians are here to help them on their journey. God’s kingdom is not about us or them; it is about all of us together.  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 4^th Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening, Psalms 64 and 65;

Genesis 19:1 to 29; Hebrews 11:1 to 12; John 6:27 to 40:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”  (Hebrews 11:6)

I don’t care much for the idea of reward seeking, but rather, just participating with God.

When we believe that there is a God, a loving God who has created, and is still creating, all life, we then have choices to make.  We can just sit back and enjoy the good works that God is doing, or through some antisocial twist of mind, work against the works of God.  Or, we can be a part of what God is doing by participating in the beauty and health and love of God’s works.

God wants to co-create and maintain creation with us.  And God will meet us if we take steps toward God. From our Hebrew reading we learn that there is a “response,” (rather than reward), to us as we seek God.  That response is more than we can ever ask or imagine.  Because we believe that God exists and that God is good, the sweat-equity we apply in our beliefs simultaneously invigorates us.  I think we should just do good for goodness sake. This then is not looking forward to some specific award, or reward, that once accomplished, tends to encourage us to stop and bask in our accomplishments.  No, I believe that as we approach the will of God, we are pleased more and more by each step that we take. 

I saw a cartoon in the paper once where the child in the Charlie Brown Peanuts series who plays the piano, was asked by the little girl, who I believe has a crush on him that,  “What if he practiced for twenty years and never became rich or famous?”  To which he replied, “The joy is in the playing.” And she responded, somewhat upset, “Really?”  This really captures how I feel about our approach to God.  The joy is in the approach. The joy is in the journey, the joy is in the participation, really.

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 4^th Sunday of Epiphany: Year C

Jeremiah 1:4 to 10; Psalm 71:1 to 6; 1^st Corinthians 13:1 to 13; Luke 4:21 to 30:

“When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.” (Luke 4: 28 to 30)

This is the second time in chapter 4 of Luke that our Lord Jesus is threatened with death by being thrown down from a high place.  Verses 9 through 12 of this chapter also have the devil trying to have him throw himself from the highest point of the temple. But Jesus refuses and moves on just as in this case with the people where he was raised.

You and I must also move on when threatened by evil, be it in our minds or in the minds of our peers. Sometimes in our lives all seems lost. It is in these times that we must not succumb to thoughts of defeat or hopelessness. I have found that just watching the minute hand on my grandfather clock and listening to the seconds tick by, telling me that yes, I have survived another second; another minute, and it shows me that this too will pass. There may come a time that it does not, but that is not my story to tell, I’m still here. 

Our Lord Jesus lets his truth defeat the devil and I am sure that as he walked past those wanting to do him harm, his truth and love also overpowered their hatefulness.  The same is true for us today. If we live in truth, speak the truth, and walk the truth in love, we too will avoid hateful intentions. However, even Jesus will be killed when both the devil and the hatred of people are combined to do him in. But God does not let that win. God brings him back. And God will bring us out of death as well. With truth and love leading us, God wins, every time.

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 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalms 138, and139:1 to 17;

Genesis 18:1 to 16; Hebrews 10:26 to 39; John 6:16 to 27:

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it. Where can I go then from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”  (Psalm 139)

While I don’t agree with all of Psalm 139, at least not the “hate” parts, the all-knowing acceptance about who God is, I totally do agree with.   From my previous ponderings I have come to understand that God is “being”, is “existence”, is “thinking”, and therefore, is living “pondering,” This is the AM of the “I AM” of God.  It is not God was, or God will be.  No, this is “God Is.”  So there are two points to note here.  First, God is fulfilled in God is Love.  All creation, including you and me, are made manifest in love, God’s love.

Second, from the Psalmist, God is everywhere. Wow!  There is no place we can go that God is not there and this includes to the rest room (location), or in a coma (your state of being). And, no matter where you go or what your state of being is, God has always been there and will always be there.  God is in our history, in our present, and in our future.  God’s will is an option in our decisions and our emotions.  God does not always like our decisions or the outcomes of what we decide to do, but God, the God of love, is still very present.

We cannot attain to the level of God’s intellect.  We can try, and I think, should try, even though we cannot.  Being made aware of this does not mean we shouldn’t try.  I am a life-long learner and life-long lover. So I have modified the Sci-Fi  Vulcan greeting of “Live long and prosper.”  My version is: “Live long, learn and love.” You Star Trek fans out there will understand this. So for all of us, let’s live long, learn and love always and to the last of our mortal days. There is no escaping God. We can’t hide from God nor can we deny the good of God that is made manifest in our lives. And for that, 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