Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 2^nd  Week of Advent 2020: Year 1

AM Psalms 26 and 28; PM Psalms 36 and 39;
Isaiah 5:13 to 17 and 24 to 25; 1^st  Thessalonians 5:12 to 28; Luke 21:29 to 38

“And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good;” (1^St Thessalonians, 5: 14 to 21)

In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians he gives them, and us, lessons in how to relate with each other. His instruction requires us to at least notice others; are they idlers, are they faint-hearted, are they weak?  We can’t live in community in a vacuum.  The implied answer to Cain’s question of “Am I my brother’s keeper?” is, yes. (Genesis 4:9)

It is hard to be patient and to rejoice always.  We have sad times.  We can however pray without ceasing.  Such prayer is not formal, spoken prayers, but rather, thoughts of appealing to God for help.  This can, and often should be done, quietly. It is being thankful and saying “Thank You Jesus” when you realize things could have been worse.

Regular reading of scripture certainly helps us in our relationship with others.  As you know, I read our Daily Office daily.  I don’t really get a lot from all of the readings.  But even acknowledging what I don’t like helps.  There is much wisdom in the Bible.  But I advise you to say a little prayer before you read asking the Holy Spirit to assist you with understanding, and then one of thanks at the conclusion. Perhaps a Bible Study group would help.  The prophets still speak to us through these ancient words.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the Second Week of Advent: Year 1

AM Psalm 25; PM Psalms 9 and 15;
Isaiah 5:8 to 12 and 18 to 23; 1 Thessalonians  5:1 to 11; Luke 21:20 to 28

“All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Psalm 25:9)

Our Presiding Bishop, the Most Reverend Michael Curry, has said of our Church that we are the Episcopal path of the Jesus movement.  I like it!  There are several Christian paths to God.  And just as there are several Christian paths, Christianity is only one of several faith traditions that the people of the world cling to for reconciliation to God.  Judaism and Islam are a couple of other well established faith paths.

Of these three, Judaism is the oldest, and in fact, Christianity has its roots in Judaism. The Psalmist says, “All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.”  Keeping covenant is something we have failed to do over and over again.  The Bible records over and over again how the People of Israel fail to keep covenant with God and then go into repentance and God saves us again.  It makes no difference if covenant is made up of two laws (Love God and love your neighbor), or, if covenant is 613 laws from the Hebrew Testament. We repeatedly fail and must call on God for salvation. Failure requires love and faith.

Love is expressed in all of the three mentioned religious traditions.  There is love of deity and love of fellow human being.  There should be no room for jealousy or hatred within our faith path or of another faith tradition.  We are all God’s children.  And God loves us all the same.  All humanity is favored.  There is no one group within humanity favored over another.

Faith is the other necessary component of a religion.  We must understand that there is a Master of Creation, the Creator and Maintainer.  There is a Presence larger and far more important than ourselves.  It is in this Presence that we place our trust. This trust is for the benefit of life in creation: a creation held together by the love of the Creating Maintainer.

Love and faith make up the Christian covenant (and perhaps others faith covenants) that our Lord Jesus left for us Christians.  We are to love the Lord our God with all that we are.  We are also to trust in the lord in all situations, no matter what.  And the second is like onto it, we are to love our neighbor as our self, (which includes loving ourselves).  Our faith is a path that the Holy One uses to enter our heart.  From our heart, the Holy One spreads love. “All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.”

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of the Second Week of Advent: Year 1

AM Psalms 148, 149, and150; PM Psalms 114 and 115;
Isaiah  5:1 to 7; 2^nd  Peter 3:11 to 18; Luke 7:28 to 35

“So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.” (2^nd Peter 15 and 16)

Rather Christian of Peter to hold up Paul as “beloved brother,” given that the two did not get along very well. But Peter and Paul did agree that Jesus is Lord of all, and so should we also agree.

Part 2 of 2

Isaiah 40:1-11  Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13  2 Peter 3:8-15a  Mark 1:1-8

“John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” (Mark 1: 4 and 5)

In February of 2018 I was baptized in the River Jordan.  We were all Christian clergy.  I can remember that when it came to be my turn to be among the baptizing ministers, there were more clergy in my line than the others and so my line was the longest line of clergy.  When I inquired why, the response was, that these clergy folk wanted to be able to say that they were baptized in the River Jordan by “John.” 

While I truly believe in one baptism for the remission of sins, This ceremonial baptism in Israel was something I couldn’t pass up.  I enjoyed walking the Holy Land.  But more important was re-living the life that our Lord Jesus experienced.  The God in man who had no sin, was baptized for the remission of sins, our sins. We are so blessed because of Him.  He has planted in us the seed of redemption and will soon come again to harvest his vineyard.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the First Week of Advent: Year 1

AM Psalms 20 and 21:1-7; PM Psalms 110:1-5, 116, and 117;
Isaiah 4:2 to 6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 to 18; Luke 21:5 to 19

“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.” (1^st Thessalonians 4: 14)

I’m guessing it is our Lord Jesus whom God will bring us to the realm of God.  Jesus, after all, is God’s way of being with us – Emanuel.  It was, and is, a holy time.

For Education for Ministry (EfM) we are reading “Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Heschel.  The opening words makes us aware that time, and the holy events that take place within time, is more sacred and important than things or places. 

Paul writes from a perspective of immediacy. He believes the Lord’s return will occur within a matter of days. Over time, with the return of the Lord not happening, we who are still waiting, become complacent.  However, we must remember that God does not care about time.  God is outside of time.  We can’t comprehend this concept. Therefore, we must rely on our faith.

We must endure in our faith regardless of the hour, or day, or month, or year.  If we don’t leave our children anything else, we must leave them with the message that the Creator of the universe will return and judgment will take place.  Also our children must be taught that death will not be an escape from judgment.  All will rise.  It will be like when a judge enters a court room, “All Rise.”

Perhaps complacency should be the most dreaded of attitudes.  I battle complacency by having a habit of regular prayer and study; by meditation and communal worship. I am trying very hard to not be caught off guard or surprised when, not if, the Day of the Lord comes.  I encourage all people of faith to also not be surprised when it happens, and not only that, even if we die before the Lord comes in a cosmic way, we need to pass on to those who come after us that such a day will come. It really makes no difference where you are on this planet or in space. Things and places are not as important as preparedness.  The event itself is the most important thing. We must remain vigilant.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily office Readings for Wednesday, of the First Week of Advent 2020: Year 1

AM Psalms 16 and 17; PM Psalm 22;
Isaiah 3:8 to 15; 1^st Thessalonians 4:1 to 12; Luke 20:41 to 21:4

“Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved,  to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave properly towards outsiders and be dependent on no one.” (1^st Thessalonians 4: 9 to 12)

Finally, after Paul is done with ranting about what he perceives as sexual misconduct, he gets to what I believe God really wants us to understand; and that is, that we should contribute to the community in which we live with the work of our hands.

Church is the living example of the benefit of our working with our hands.  The church needs people who are both able and willing to, setup the Altar, play music, cut the grass, fix the broken furniture or structural repairs to the building, prepare food and by all means, make coffee.  Yes, we need workers who perform ministries of working with their hands.  During this pandemic we are asking our ushers to also wipe down the pews with antiseptic cleansers.

From the church, there is always the need for people who must leave home and perform duties that can’t be done at home.  Builders, drivers, store clerks and so forth, must go out into the community and work with their hands in order to hold our community, and outsiders together.  Paul was a tent maker.  He is recorded as plying his trade with a fellow tent maker in order to not be a burden to his host.  (Acts 18: 1 to 3)

Many of us consider ourselves fortunate to be able to work from home.  This type of work normally consists of computer skills that primarily get business done around informational types of work.  Computer work cannot get the ditch dug, or drive supplies to the needed area, or build a house, or prepare a much needed vaccine.  No, we must go out and behave properly towards our community and outsiders and work with our hands as God has directed us through the words of Paul.  What is developed in the heart (good or bad), is made manifest through the works of the hands rather than the words that spill from the mouth.  This is heart to hands folks, and as Larry the Cable Guy would say, Let’s getter done!

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Week One of Advent 2020: Year 1

AM Psalm 18:1-20; PM Psalm 18:21-50;
Isaiah 2:12 to 22; 1^st  Thessalonians 3:1 to 13; Luke 20:27 to 40

“Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:36)

Jesus explains to the Sadducees that marriage is a human construct, not a heavenly one.  I would add that except for Tobit 8: 4 to 8 which is only found in the Apocrypha (if your Bible has one), you will not find marriage vows at all even though there are several places where men took women for wives, in many cases, several women as wives. 

Jesus assures the Sadducees (and us), that there is certainly a resurrection.  We will all be raised before the Host of heaven, the good and the not so good.  Then judgment comes!  A military leader once told me that forewarned is forearmed. I get it.  This means straighten out now before it’s too late.

Jesus uses scripture to show the reality of eternal life as he talks about the exchange between God and Moses at the burning bush. “And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”   (Luke 20:37 and 38)  And this will be us as well; we will be alive in God.  This is not something to try to explain but rather, to prepare for.

Folks, there will be a resurrection for each one of us, and also, for each one of us, there will be judgment. I will again share my personal creed and invite you to create your own statement of belief regardless of your faith tradition. Put it in writing and then revisit it from time to time and see if you are living by it.  Here is my personal creed or statement of belief: (I use “trust” instead of “believe” as I have learned that trust is closer to the original meaning).

“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.”  You may use my creed as your own if it is true for you as well.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the First Week of Advent: Year 1

AM Psalm 119:1-24; PM Psalms 12, 13 and 14;
Isaiah 2:1 to 11; 1 Thessalonians 2:13 to 20; Luke 20:19 to 26:

“For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again—but Satan blocked our way.  For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?  Yes, you are our glory and joy!”  (1^st Thessalonians 2:18 to 20)

Full disclosure, I don’t always agree with Paul. But there are times like his conviction that nothing separates us from the love of God as articulated in Romans 8: 38 and 39; and his definition of love in his First Letter to the Corinthians (1^st Corinthians 13:1 to 13) that I am fully on board with. And now this, about seeing the coming of our Lord Jesus in the face of believers.

There is a hymn that goes, “Have you seen Jesus my Lord, he’s here in plain view. Take a look, open your eyes, he’ll show life to you.”  The implication, of course, is that we can see our Lord Jesus in the face of one another.

The further implication is that you and I are Jesus to others.  We give others a chance to see Jesus today by the way we live among others.  We do this by not returning evil for evil.  We do this by not adding fuel to the fires of hate or jealousy.  We do this by reaching out and hugging the “untouchables.”

When someone turns the other cheek when assaulted by racial or gender insults rather than engaging in a back and forth volley of hateful words they are showing their Jesus within them. Unfortunately, this kind of response is considered cowardly today rather than godly. It’s okay to be disappointed with bad behavior and not retaliate in kind.  We must remember that we are being watched by others.  Let us model for them a peaceful way of avoiding ugly behavior.  In doing so, we too may become their glory and joy. They too may also become disgusted with bad behavior.

All believers have the opportunity to bring our Lord Jesus into full view today.  Maybe the way Jesus responds to insults is not popular today, but responding in loving ways is eternal because love never dies.  The way we prepare ourselves for life eternal is to practice being Jesus now, in this life. You should try this Jesus suit on, I think it fits you.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Week One of Advent: Year 1

AM Psalms 5 and 6; PM Psalms 10 and 11;
Isaiah 1:21 to 31; 1 Thessalonians 2:1 to 12; Luke 20:9 to 18

“For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.” (Thessalonians 2: 3 and 4)

We come not from trickery or intentions of self-promotion.  We are doing the Lord’s work. We are going to be straight up and honest with ourselves and with you.  We are the Lords. You are the Lords. We need to work harder in finding ways to come to consensus on all concerns. As I understand consensus it is the chipping away at a proposition until its properties are at least something all can temporarily live with.  It’s not perfect yet, but tolerable.  Unlike voting where there must be winners and losers.

As Christians, what we are doing in spreading the love of the Gospel, is not about human goals, but rather, about God and about what God wants; what God wants from us and for us. God has made this earth as our only life-support system. God wants us to live together in harmony and maintain this planet for the benefit of all its inhabitants.  We are to be Adam and Eve in the Garden; and Noah and family on the Ark; and Jonah for Nineveh where God reminded Jonah, “And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?” (Jonah 4:11) This may be the only book in the Bible where God has the last word, and that word is “animals.”

Paul’s message of the Gospel could very well be, “Do good onto others in the Name of the Lord, even to the neglect of self.”  Do not take credit for what God is doing through you.  We are working God’s purposes out for our community, not for our personal desires.  And that’s a good thing. God’s purpose for us is love and peace and harmony among all the people of the world, for the benefit of the world and all creatures, great and small.  And remember this, all said and done; it is the Lord’s work we are doing, and God wins, with or without our individual participation.  Let’s be willing and loving participants in God’s plan. God in Christ Jesus is coming to check on us!

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Week One of Advent: Year 1

AM Psalms 1, 2, 3; PM Psalms 4 and 7;
Isaiah 1:10 to 20; 1^st  Thessalonians 1:1 to10; Luke 20:1 to 8

“But if we say, “Of human origin”, all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”  (Luke 20: 6)

The supposed leaders of the faith, are not sticking to their own professed faith. If we believe in something, anything, we ought to hold on to it as the very core of our existence; at least until we learn better. They are missing such an opportunity.

I don’t know how, but we are able to hear the inmost thoughts of what was going on within the circle of chief priests, elders and scribes, The leaders are afraid of the people who they are in charge of leading. What an opportunity to model correct learning. If they think the people believe that John the Baptist is a prophet, then perhaps they too ought to submit to the gifts of the Baptist. Sometimes, but not often, the people are a better judge of who’s who.

There are times that we should not be influenced by the mob.  However, we should conduct a little informal test as a way to see if God is acting in our midst.  Our Biblical history informs us that when God invites us to do the Lord’s work it often requires sacrifice, will costs us some of our money, our time, and will be out of our comfort zone. But just as much, it will be something that benefits the community without bringing praise or accolades to ourselves. Our God is all about the communion in which we live.  The chief priests, elders and scribes seem to be about themselves at the expense of the community they are suppose to spiritually lead.

Each one of us should look around and see who in our midst seems to be doing the Lord’s good work for the benefit of our community. Who among us are teaching people to read, taking meals to those who are hungry, donating to those in need, and so forth?  They may not be the ordained or political office holders.  Like John the Baptist, they may be people who live on the fringes themselves.  But their ministry is of the Lord’s calling whether we want to admit it or not. Such are the saints of God.  Don’t you want to be one too?

Today we remember Saint Andrew who brought his brother Simon Peter to our Lord Jesus (John 1:35 to 42). This is the scripture upon which the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew was founded. The Brotherhood of Saint Andrew is an Episcopal men’s organization devoted to prayer, study and service.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for the First Sunday of Advent: Year 1

AM Psalms 146 and 147; PM Psalms  111, 112 and 113;
Isaiah 1:1 to 9; 2 Peter 3:1 to 10; Matthew 25:1to 13:

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.” (2^nd Peter 3:10)

Welcome to the Church’s New Year!  This is now Year One of the Year 2021.  This is Advent.  We are reminded to be expecting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Saint Peter.

Part 2 of 2

Eucharistic Readings for the First Sunday of Advent: Year B

Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37

“Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” (Mark 13: 35 to 37)

To find us sleeping is the same as finding us complacent. Heaven forbid that when our Lord Jesus actually comes and we are acting as if we didn’t know such a thing could happen. The truth is, we believe or we don’t believe.  There is no “I’ll hedge my bets.”  We must fully buy in, or be willing to face the consequences of our disbelief.

What all this means is, that we must live our lives every day, as if it is the last day.   This is probably harder for me than most of you.  I am amazed at how often Sunday comes around.  Another week has passed.  Time flies. Writing these blogs makes me very aware of how fast time is moving. I get mixed up about what day it is.  But sense I have to date each blog, and do two parts for Sundays, I am quickly made aware of another week has passed. 

Jesus has not come in a universal way yet.  But who knows?  At midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, He may appear!  Are you ready?  I’m not, at least not yet.  I’m struggling. But I’m trying. How about you? “And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John