Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 23: Year 2

AM Psalms 1, 2, 3; PM Psalms 4, 7:  Micah 7:1to7; Acts 26:1to23; Luke 8:26to39

“The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8: 38 and 39)

It seems that the many demons in the man only needed a biological host in order to live.  So they asked permission to pass from the man to the pigs.  Jesus grants them the permission.  When they entered the pigs they immediately made the pigs go into the lake (Lake Galilee).  This is the same body of water from which the fishermen caught their fish.  Could not the spiritual demons then go into the fish?  This then would be their cycle of life. For they would go right back to the people who caught the fish and it starts all over again.  This is just my pondering.

I try to keep up with the actual accounts of Jesus actually inviting followers to follow him. I have 5: Simon and Andrew – Matthew 4:18 – 20; John and James – Matthew 4: 21 – 22; Matthew (AKA Levi) Matthew 9:9.  I know we try to claim the twelve as it matches the twelve tribes of Israel.  But we don’t have the actual recorded words of “come, follow me” for the remaining seven.  There is also the Rich young man in Mark 10:21 -22 who was told to “come follow me,” but he rejected Jesus’ invitation because he wanted to keep his wealth. 

Now we have one who asks to follow Jesus but Jesus says no. Jesus wants him to go back among his people and show what God can, and will, do. Of course he “went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him;” the point being made that “Jesus” and “God” are synonymous.  We don’t get to follow this man as he proclaims our Lord Jesus among non Jews. But Jesus leaves hints about what’s going on. Jesus says in the Gospel of John “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16) 

The power and love of our Lord Jesus is witnessed by Jew and Gentile alike.  All report in their communities about Jesus being Lord of all, the seen and the unseen (like demons). Jesus himself will return to his spiritual nature for all eternity.  But he does not abandon us.  The Spirit of our Lord Jesus is with us, leads us and guides us.  Jesus still asks us to “come, follow him” and to “declare how much God has done for 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

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 23: Year 2

 Psalms Am 146, 147; PM 111, 112, 113; Micah 6:1to 8; 1 Cor. 4:9to16; Matthew. 15:21to28

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

So justice, kindness and humility are the requirements of God from us. So for me, justice means being fair and impartial to all people regardless of the so-called race, gender or sexuality, ethnicity, religion, country of origin or anything else.  If they are human they are entitled to justice.  Justice then opens the door to kindness. And kindness can only be accomplished if we humbly put the need of the other ahead of the want for ourselves.

Part 2 of 2

New Testament Readings for Sunday of Proper 23: Year A

Philippians 4:1to9  and Matthew 22:1to14

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless.”  (Matthew 22:11 and 12)

In this parable from our Lord Jesus the king has deemed the original guests as unworthy and has now “scraped the barrel” so to speak, for anybody that could be found to attend the wedding banquet.  Then why be intolerant of one who can’t afford or just doesn’t have a proper robe, unless of course, one was offered but then refused? 

Today, in the midst of our COVID crisis most communities require people gathered to wear masks.  If they don’t have one, quite often the host will offer one.  If the guests still refuses to wear it, they are asks to leave; where there “might” be weeping and gnashing of teeth, (or not). 

The point is, if we look at justice, kindness and humility from the Daily Office Reading in part 1 above, we will see that insisting on our own way of being free of the mask requirement could endanger a vulnerable person thus denying them justice, and not being very kind, which shows arrogance, rather than humility. It is so easy to slip into unintended behavior. 

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 Proper 22: Year 2

 Psalms AM 137:1-6(7-9), 144; PM  104; Micah 5:1to 4,10 to 15; Acts 25:13 to27; Luke 8:16to 25

“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lamp stand, so that those who enter may see the light.” (Acts 25:16)

Light is often used as a metaphor for moral enlightenment.  When some of us learn about better ways to live harmoniously in community, we model this higher morality, thus extending this light to others.  Morality is like money or food stores, it is not meant to be hoarded.  There are plenty of people in need of such learning; of such light.

Every village, community or parish, has those in their midst who are above the fray of challenging relationships.  These are sometimes quiet people who are easy to get along with.  But some are not so quiet, none the less, they are upbeat and positive.  Either way, quiet or engaging, these people of the light seem to be the few among us who bring in the light of love and share it with us.  

From them we need to light our own torches from their light and continue to carry it into this dark world.  Such light illuminates our tendency to be self-righteous, self-centered and challenging when there is no reason to be this way. 

Sometimes the light does not show us where to go, but rather, where not to go.  It’s like having my flashlight with me when I take the dog out in the morning.  The light does not show me where to step, but rather, where not to step.  The light of morality works as a guard on our lips and hands and feet.  This moral lamp, from a shared lamp stand, helps us to avoid trouble and move closer towards the glory of God.  My beloved of the Lord, walk in the light, and then carry the light for others so that they too, might see.

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 Friday of Proper 22: Year 2

Psalms AM 140, 142; PM 141, 143:1-11(12); Micah 3:9to4:5; Acts 24:24to 25:12; Luke 8:1to15

“He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plough shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.”  (Micah 4:3 to 5)

The prophet Micah speaks of a distant peace.  He speaks of a time when we will no longer need a military to go up against another nation; and maybe not even police because all people will honor the laws of their God. I know it sounds radical; maybe even impossible.  And, it is an especially strange concept since it seems so much like we are going in the other direction.  Our swords and spears are going more and more into nuclear weaponry rather than instruments of agriculture, food and medicines for the world.  If we only focused our resources towards the care of others instead of the threat of others.  What a wonderful world we would be.

How do we get to this radical way of living?  If we prayed more in private, and worshiped more earnestly in community, we would be a planet where all people in every walk of life would sit in their own planted gardens in peace while being thankful to God.  What a beautiful sight that would be. All people will walk with their God, as they understand God in their worship communities, regardless of how God is named in that community, and live in peace.  Be we Muslims, Jews or Christians, we ought to see God as a God of love and peace.  We are not competing.  We need to understand, for whatever reason; God is made manifest to different people in different ways.  However, the characteristics of love and compassion for the stranger and those who are different must be appreciated and respected.  There is no manifestation of hate in any understanding of God.

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 Proper 22: Year 2

 Psalms (AM) 131, 132, [133]; (PM)  134, and 135; Micah 3:1to 8; Acts 24:1to23; Luke 7:36 to50

“I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.  Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience towards God and all people.”  (Acts 24: 15 and 16)

This is the verse in Acts that I always try to remember and make known.  Our life hope is on the resurrection, or, it should be.  From what Paul says, the resurrection is not something earned.  It’s going to happen to all people, the righteous and unrighteous alike, because we are God’s, and God wants to see us on our fateful day. 

Eternal life, on the other hand, does not seem to always follow the resurrection. It appears that waking up before the throne doesn’t mean we live happily ever after.  There is judgment. There is accountability.  Paul, and maybe even a few of us, struggle to have a clear conscience towards God and all people. 

A life of dedicated service to Christ will bring us eternal life, but it is not as something earned, rather, it is something asked for in prayer and supplication.  And in receiving the grace of God, it brings about a life of dedicated service of its own accord.  Believe it or not, it is freedom.  There is a prayer that says, “O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom” (BCP 99). How about that?  Serving God is perfect freedom!  This only feels this way if we really live into the words, “Your kingdom come, your will be done.”

I have thought, since seminary, that the most important service I could provide a family is the burial service or funeral for a beloved relative.  As Christians, we are an Easter people – a Resurrection people.  We say things like, “he or she is in a better place now.”  That might be true (or not), or he or she might not exist at all anymore. The alternative to eternal life is not death but non existence.  Personally, I don’t believe a loving God would make us live at some post death level only to be in continual pain for all eternity. We either get our hearts right or cease to exist. But first there is our resurrection which we all must undergo.  We have no choice.

So like Paul, we also must do our best to have a clear conscience towards God and all People.  And my beloved, it must always be God first, and then, all people.  The important piece here is “all” people. We can’t pick and choose.  God loves all people.  The only way you can clear your conscience is to try and love those that God loves; all people.  There are people on this planet who will not get through your filter for one reason or another.  So I say don’t filter people at all, let it go. As our Presiding Bishop (Michael Curry) says, “Just love.”  It is not required that they love you back.  God is looking at your personal effort and the hope –the eternal hope that is in you as you approach your day of unavoidable Resurrection.  Love your conscience clear.

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 Proper 22: Year 2

Psalms 119:145to 176,  128, 129, and 130;  Micah 2:1to 13; Acts 23:23 to 35; Luke 7:18to 35

“And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them.” (Luke 7: 22)

Jesus could have just said “Yes, I am the one.”  But there is a lesson in paying attention to what we see and hear.  The two disciples of John would have been well aware of their Isaiah scripture where it says, “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God.  He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” (Isaiah 35: 4 to 6) This is almost verbatim of what Jesus reminded John’s disciples of in our Luke reading for today.

We can’t realize our scriptures are being lived out right in our presence unless we first know our scriptures. It is when we articulate what we have seen and heard in our own life stories that we realize that God in Christ is working in our lives in the same ways as of old.

I think I should confess to my readers that I am and optimist.  I think Christian hope has shaped me this way.  I believe the world is getting better more and more.  I know that I live in a world of nay-sayers who will say it’s never been this bad and will say it’s getting worse.  But I don’t accept that. The improvements are small and incremental but better none the less.

The incremental steps of being better are often bitter.  We are experiencing the “Me Too Movement” now.  This movement is putting a light on sexual harassment and abuse. It has been happening all during human existence.  But now there will be consequences that will reduce it. We have the “Black Lives Matter Movement” now. Again, racial discrimination is a social sickness and unchristian. People of all shades of skin color are behind this movement. Yay!

Our eyes are being opened, we are learning to walk in new ways, and we are given hope for a better world.  We have had a man of color as President of the United States.  At this writing we have a woman of color running for Vice President.  These progressive and just steps have come as the result of the labors of people who follow in the example of John the Baptist who sent his disciples to ask Jesus about whether or not He was the one.  We have the late Martin Luther King Jr., the Most Reverend Desmond Tutu, and former President Jimmy Carter to mention a few, too few.  My point is that we have people among us who still follow the example of John the Baptist and our Lord Jesus in making our world better, little by little.  These saints speak to us today, not so much with their words, but rather, with their personal sacrifice for a better world; and folks, it’s happening!  I hope this is good news brought to 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 Proper 22: Year 2

Psalms [120], 121, 122, 123; 124, 125, 126, [127]; Micah 1:1to 9; Acts 23:12 to 24; Luke 7:1 to 17

“When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” (Luke 7:9)

Here is yet another example of Jesus raising our awareness of the faith of non-Israelites.  I have learned from reading Acts, that the Tribune is over the centurions, but even the centurions have privilege and power.  In this case, it is the Gentile centurion who values his relationship with his slave (which the same Greek word also means servant), so much that he seeks out Jesus to save his life.

This Gentile centurion models the understanding that we should have; that is, we do not have to have the physical Jesus under our roof to do the healing.  We too, like the centurion, must believe that if Jesus just says the word, regardless of where he is, the healing will be done.

This is the kind of faith that is really needed now during this time of COVID 19.  We can’t get a pastor to every sick person.  In some cases it’s hard to even get first responders to where they are needed. 

My beloved people of faith, you who are true believers, you must find a still, quiet place in your homes and in your hearts and quietly and intentionally ask our Lord Jesus to just say the healing words for the one you love who is in trouble.  When you do this, I have found that relief often comes in one of two ways.  First, perhaps the first responders do arrive on time, or some other human response.  Second, the situation seems to just resolve itself.  Both are born of our Lord Jesus. But we must have the faith of this centurion.  As I have said before, Jesus uses the faith in us to heal us. It is astonishing to me that the cure is already in me but I can’t make use of it.  Faith is like a first aid kit on a military person’s belt.  One might think he or she has the first aid kit in case they have to use it on someone they find that is injured.  But no, you have that first aid kit in order that if you yourself are wounded, whoever finds you will use your first aid kit to assist you.  Therefore, it is so important that you examine the kit often to make sure it contains all that is necessary in case you are in need of it.  The same is true with our faith.

Jesus is the one who finds us but then uses our “faith-aid” kit to heal us. Our Lord Jesus has been doing this remotely, as far back as two thousand years ago. How about this for remote healing?; and these people back in antiquity never heard of COVID 19. Our God is amazing! Thank You Lord Jesus.

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 Proper 22: Year 2

Psalm 106: Hosea 14:1to 9; Acts 22:30 to 23:11; Luke 6:39 to 49

“When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead.’ When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.  (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.)” (Acts 23: 6 to 8)

Perhaps Paul was playing them against one another in a way that would buy him more time.  But perhaps there was a deeper rationale behind his oratory.  Perhaps Paul wanted simply to state his most sincere belief and his new understanding about the history of the scriptures and the prophets as had been revealed to him through the Risen Lord regardless of what it might cost him. 

As a Pharisee, Paul acknowledges the resurrection, and angels and the world of the spirit.  I myself might be what could be called a Christian Pharisee in that regard.  I believe in the Resurrection and in angels, and in the Holy Spirit and in the spirits of those who have gone before us.  All of this belief comes from first believing in the love of an eternal and loving God.

I have found that pondering about this life and the next is having a profound effect on how I live my life day to day.  Yesterday was the celebration of Saint Francis of Assisi.  Francis basically forfeited his earthly life with all its attractions and diversions in order that he might be totally devoted to God.  I am not there yet.  But I have become aware of the language I use.  I say things like, “my car, my phone, and my house,” rather than the car, the phone and the house that I make use of.  The only thing that is mine to keep is my soul, I hope.

I don’t think Francis considered himself a Pharisee but he was a pious man. Pondering about the resurrection, angels and spirits is challenging.  It makes me aware of my relationships with others, past and present.  How might I have a more loving tolerance of others? What accountability awaits me in the next life? I realize now that when I learn something new about fairness with others, God knows that I just learned it and is expecting me to live into my new understanding from that point on.  My sincere belief and my understanding of the scriptures and the prophets, as they are revealed to me through the Risen Lord, are improving me. I need, more and more, to listen to what the Holy Spirit of God in Christ Jesus is saying to me.  How about 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

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 22: Year 2:

 Psalm 118;and Psalm 145;  Hosea 13:4 to 14; 1 Cor. 2:6 to 16; Matthew. 14:1 to12

“None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”  (1 Corinthians 2:8)

Paul, in his first letter to the Church in Corinth, suggests that given certain knowledge before hand, they would not have crucified our Lord Jesus.  There are theologians who say that the Crucifixion of Jesus was destined from before time.  I am not on board with that.  I do believe that God Incarnate, in Christ Jesus, would live as a human being and eventually die as a human being.  This was God’s way of experiencing what it means to be human and to model for us how to live in harmony with one another.  Yes, if we understood, (maybe),we would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Part 2 of 2

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 22: Year A

Philippians 3:4b-14 Matthew 21:33-46

“Jesus said, “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.””  (Matthew 21:33)

We are the tenants of this earth today.  The Creator has done everything for us already.  All we have to do is monitor it and keep it in ecological and spiritual balance with the rest of nature on earth.  Jesus told this parable against the chief priests and the Pharisees by saying that the Hebrew people tried to hijack what is rightfully God’s.  These religious leaders began to put themselves in the place of God and putting their own needs and desires ahead of God’s will for the believers.

God has built a vineyard of faith whereby we may grow the fruits of love for God and for one another.  It is so important for us to understand that we are tenants here on this earth and in this earthly life.  The Owner of this vineyard is coming to see what we have grown. Will our children have faith?  Faith is the real fruit that God will be looking for.  If we live our lives fully believing that we are not the owner of anything, including our own lives, we will begin to see the value of living for the health and welfare of the other; like St Francis of Assisi, who we remember this day. Francis devoted his life to “Lady Poverty.”  Not many of us are this devoted to not owning stuff.  But Francis is a good example to follow as he himself followed the Gospel of God in Christ Jesus.

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 Proper 21: Year 2

 Psalms 107:33 to 43, 108:1to 6(7-13); and  33; Hosea 11:1 to 9; Acts 22:17 to 29; Luke 6:27 to 38

“And while they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and tossing dust into the air, the tribune directed that he was to be brought into the barracks, and ordered him to be examined by flogging, to find out the reason for this outcry against him.” (Acts 21: 23 and 24)

The momentum of the crowd began to control the tribune and his centurions.  They were having a tantrum, just as a child would do in a supermarket when he or she does not get their way. The shouting and throwing off their cloaks does not say much for me, but tossing dust into the air is weird.  Did they not know that what goes up, must come down?  But more than that, I have crafted an acronym from the word dust.  It is, “Don’t unnecessarily share thoughts” or DUST.  I have witnessed people that I liked get fired because reporters asked them what they thought and as a result, they were fired.  This was sad.  Paul also gets in trouble for what he both thinks and believes.  I think we all have a right to think or believe what we want.  We are all evolving.  What we think today, maybe totally different next month or next year. The same is true for what we believe.  

We ponder about things and we evolve.  Yes, we have fits about things that we don’t like and it indeed may cause us to shout and throw clothing.  But, for the most part, we get over it or, we do something positive about it.  I would be careful about what we throw into the air however.  It’s going to come back down.  But also, we must be careful and “DUST” even when asked sometimes.  Because sometimes, it’s a trap.  They tried to trap Jesus, and now they are trying to trap Paul.

The other problematic piece in this reading is the examination by flogging?  Sounds like the witch hunts, you can’t win.  You just keep getting beat until you say what the oppressor wants to hear, truth or not.  Paul was a natural born citizen of Rome.  Not even the Tribune was a natural citizen, he paid for his citizenship.  They had to back off when finding out that he was a Roman citizen.  Apparently there were harsh consequences for harming a Roman citizen.    

Our flogging today is more metaphorical.  We are challenged with day to day fear of the pandemic.  At this writing I am informed that our President, Donald J. Trump, has contracted COVID 19. Racial troubles still persist throughout a few major cities of this country.  Overwhelming fires are still happening on our West Coast.  Yes, we are being examined by flogging; and it hurts.  But Paul has set us a good example; we must persevere no matter what.  Be steadfast in faith.

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