Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 20, Year 2

 Psalm 78;  Esther 5:1 to14 or Judith 8:9 to17, 9:1, 9 to7-10; Acts 18:12 to 28; Luke 3:15to 22

“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.  And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus.” (Acts 18: 26 to 28)

Apollos spoke boldly in the synagogue but with limited and incorrect understanding.  However, he was smart enough to listen to good counsel.  We all could benefit from the example of Apollos.  If we think we know it all and are opposed to listening to others, we could err in our speaking and in some cases, do more harm than good.

Perhaps the best way to practice our faith is to live a life of life-long learning.  I know that for me, seminary showed me how much I did not know. Since seminary I have continued in my theological studies.  Education for Ministry (EfM), a program of study from the School of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, continues to be a good source of Christian education for me. While EfM is a four year program, I am an EfM mentor and therefore I continue to learn every year as I mentor participants in the program.  Also, clergy conferences, and Bible studies as well as one on one dialogue with people who God puts in my path, helps me to learn more and more. 

All of this informs my understanding of what God is doing in the world, and in my own life.  I just have to follow Apollos’ example and listen to the people God sends 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

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Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 20:Year 2

 Psalms 80,  77, [79]: Esther 4:4 to 17 or Judith 7:1 to 7 and 19 to 32; Acts 18:1 to 11; and Luke (1:1-4),3:1-14

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, ²during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.”  (Acts 3: 1 and 2)

 Wow!, Really? Look at all the prestigious titles of human achievement exhibited here.  We have the Emperor of Rome, Tiberius by name.  We have Pontius Pilate as Governor of all Judea. We have the puppet king Herod figure head, called the king of Galilee, and his brother Philip who lost his wife to his brother Herod as witnessed by John The Baptist.  Philip was the ruler of two small sections of the occupied Palestinian area of Judea; and we have Lysaniaas, ruler of Abilene.  In addition to these, self absorbed government rulers, we have the self absorbed clergy also, Annas and Caiaphas as high priests.  Now, here is the striking part; The Word of God by-passes all of these self absorbed men and goes to the selfless John hanging out in the wilderness sustaining himself on whatever the earth can provide.  He is the empty cup that God can fill because he has room to be filled.  The lesson here is that if we are full of ourselves, there is no room for God.

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Eucharistic Gospel Reading for St Matthew Day

“ Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9)

Today is Saint Matthew’s Day.  Matthew is one of possibly seven (if you count Philip and Nathaniel) that we actually have written evidence of a call by Jesus to “follow him,” who accepted the invitation.  At least one was called but refused, such as the rich ruler in Luke (Luke 18:18 to 25). Again, he was a ruler who refused to be ruled. His cup was full of himself. We can read where John, and James, and Peter and Andrew, were fishermen but when called, they left everything and followed Jesus.  So too we have Matthew, also called Levi, who, upon being invited to follow Jesus, left his appointed task of collecting the Roman tax to follow Jesus.  So Matthew emptied his cup that was filled with a vile substance in order to fill it with the sweetness of our Lord Jesus.  How many of us are filled with ourselves, or with stuff we don’t like, and wish we could just empty ourselves and follow our Lord?  Well, we can.  Just open your eyes and ears and mind and heart.  We are still asked to “Come and follow Him!”

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

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Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 20: Year 2

Psalms 93, 96,  34 Esther 3:1 to 4:3 or Judith 5:22 to 6:4, 10-21; James 1:19 to 27; and Matt. 6:1-6,16 to 18

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  (James 1: 27)

I think this is the real benefit of religion, it is a communal benefit for the community.  If it serves no community benefit, why be religious at all?  Charity (which is love expressed in action), is the most important virtue we can aspire to have.  We must take care of our own needs and then look for ways to help the helpless.  It is what God wants of us.  All of us, and especially those of us who say we are followers of our Lord Jesus, should always ask, “how can I help you?”

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New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 20:Year A

Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 20:1-16

Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?” (Matthew 20: 14 and 15)

This is an old story about paying the last laborers the same as the first.  Perhaps the owner (a stand-in for God) is looking past the working men themselves.  Maybe the land owner is looking at the mothers and children whom the working men represent.  These mothers and children require the same rents and food as the families of the men who were hired early on.  Should the mothers and children of the men who weren’t hired early, suffer “Because no one has hired us.”  (Matthew 20:7) Again, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  (James 1: 27)

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 19; Year 2

Psalms 75, 76,  23, and 27; Esther 2:5 to 8,15-23 or Judith 5:1 to 21; Acts 17:16 to 34; and  John 12:44 to 50

“The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.”  (Acts 17:24 and 25)

Paul explains to the people who believe in gods that there is only one God and God is unknown and not in need of human support or shelter. This means that if we humans did not exist, God is still God. God gives to us, not we to God.  Paul goes on to say “For “In him we live and move and have our being”” (Acts 17:28)

Paul is speaking to an educated people.  These are learned philosophers and people who strive to seek more knowledge.  Paul also speaks about human ignorance.  He says, “While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”  (Acts 17:30 and 31)

It is because of this Acts writing, and the understanding that the English word “believe” really has more to do with “trust,” that I crafted my own theological creed which is, “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.” 

We have a wonderful Nicene Creed in our Book of Common Prayer.  And I totally believe in it.  However, I needed something short that I could both easily recall as a guide for myself, and share quickly with someone while on an elevator if asked what I believe.  I ask you to do the same.  Use mine if you want.  But if you believe in a Supreme Being, write down a simple sentence that articulates your belief.  We have the gift of words.  Use this gift to help guide your relationship with our unknown, but very loving 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 Friday of Proper 19: Year 2

 Psalms 69:1-23(24-30)31-38, and  73; Esther 1:1-4,10-19 or Judith 4:1-15; Acts 17:1-15; and John 12:36b-43

“And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women,” (Acts 17:4)

The language of the Acts of the Apostles is very interesting.  Christians were first identified as Christians in Antioch as explained in chapter 11, verses 25 and 26.  But I notice that as we move through this chapter the followers are referred to as, “believers.”  I like it.  I like it because I think first of all, as observers of all that takes place in the world; each person must see that there is a creating and ordering hand at work in life and in the universe.  Once we acknowledge and “believe” that, we can wrestle with what we want to believe about our Lord Jesus and his relationship to the Creator.  Believing is not limited to one sex or gender.

As the people listened to Paul and Silas with an open mind the Spirit of God began to make sense to them, all of them, men and women.  Some of the women were people with power and it helped Paul and Silas to continue with the work of spreading the word.

The fact that women were included is mentioned again.  Luke writes that, “Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men,” (Acts 17:12).  These new believers were men and women with equal standing in this new form of Judaism, or the Way.  I say Judaism only because Paul and Silas were Jews who branched off from their traditionally male dominated theology, to be open to where the Spirit of our Lord Jesus was leading them, and the new believers, all the believers who followed them.

This leadership is still at work today.  When we take the time to ponder about the love of God and how God came among us as our Lord Jesus, we too, men and women, are still empowered by that same Holy Spirit to continue the work of spreading the word.  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 Thursday of Proper 19: Year 2

 Psalms [70], 71, and  74;  Job 28:1 to 28; Acts 16:25 to 40; and John 12:27 to 36a

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25) 

Imagine, singing uplifting church hymns while being bound after being whipped.  I have heard that this coping mechanism worked for prisoners of war. It got them through the most difficult time in their lives.

Then there was a divine earthquake that released the prisoners.  “When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.  Then he brought them outside and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They answered, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’  They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.  At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay.  He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.”  (Acts 16: 27 to 34.)

The jailer was well acquainted with the merciless system in which he lived and worked.  There would be no excuse for prisoners escaping. He now moves from beating Paul and Silas with rods to using his own sword on himself.  Death would be better than the wrath he would face, not to mention the demise of his family and home.  But Paul, freed from fetters, still feeling the sting of the rod while singing hymns, calls out to save the jailer from himself.  How powerful is this kind of love?  Who today would prevent our tormentor from harming himself given the chance?  Folks, this is Christian love, this is Agape love.  There is nothing else like it in all creation, and it’s ours for the asking.

The jailer was so moved by Paul and Silas that he realized that they had their sights set on a salvation beyond this life.  He wanted this, for himself and for his family.  “He brought them outside and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’”  Paul tells him and us, “‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’  I take this to mean, not just to believe in Jesus, but also to amend one’s life and live in accord with your belief about our Lord Jesus.  It means not only not returning evil for evil, but to bless those who curse you, to feed those who, are not only hungry, but have stolen from you.  Folks, this is Christian love, this is Agape love.  There is nothing else like it in all creation, and it’s ours for the asking. It will save us from ourselves and it brings us salvation.

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 19: Year 2

Psalms 72; 119:73-96;  Job 42:1to17; Acts 16:16 to 24; John 12:20 to 26

“One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling.”  (Acts 16: 16)

There is so much in this Acts reading. First of all, did the slave girl recognize Paul and his partners as fellow slaves, even though she says they were slaves of the Lord almighty? (Perfect Freedom)

Second, I’m guessing Luke is the silent partner as he records the Acts and says, “While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, ‘These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.”  (Acts 16: 17)  She gave insight to those who did not know salvation, that is, a Way to eternal live, and a path to achieve it. This is “next life” stuff.

Third, “She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.”  (Acts 16: 18)  So we are to understand that Paul, through the Name of Jesus, took away the slave girl’s “gift.”  She was devalued in the eyes of her master.  But she was freed in terms of her own autonomy.

Fourth, “But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place before the authorities (Acts 16: 19).  So it turns out that it’s all about the money.  Perhaps not much has changed, even for us today.

It is awful the way we use money to misuse others.  It is equally awful the way we retaliate against those who hold us accountable for the dignity of others. “When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, ‘These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.’ The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods.”  (Acts 16: 20 to 22)  This was clearly an anti-Semitic attack on this group of Jewish believers in Jesus, and was only brought about because of the loss of money.  

The lesson for me in all of this is to remember to be decent to others always. We must not look for ways to bring hurt on those who hold us accountable.  We should not have needed it, but if we do, better to be held accountable in this life rather than the “next life.”  Paul removes the spirit that was at work in the girl but does not attempt to use his divine gift to resist or retaliate against his oppressors.  Decency towards others and discernment of the spirit are key here.  We all can do this.

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 19: Year 2

 Psalms 61, 62,  68:1-20(21-23)24-36;  Job 40:1,41:1to 11; Acts 16:6 to 15; John 12:9 to 19

“They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.  When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” (Acts 16: 6 and 7)

I often ask my followers to be attentive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  The idea is that the Spirit is moving us to go here or there or to do this or that.  I ponder, from this passage in Acts, that sometimes the Spirit is telling us not to go here or there, or, not to do this or that.

Maybe such guidance is more important than the doing, or saying, or going, or anything that requires action or moving ahead. Maybe there is something to be said for being quiet and being still.  This message is about hearing the Holy Spirit say “stop.”  Do not move another step.  Do not say another word. 

Even sin comes packaged in commission and omission.  We ask for forgiveness for things done, and left undone.  So too, we must hear the Spirit say “this is what you should do, and, this is what you should not do.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit forbids us from certain courses of action. And, sometimes the Spirit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will not allow us to do certain things. My brothers and sisters in Christ, even the Ten Commandments are constructed with do’s and not do’s.  Half of them say what we shall do, the other half say what we shall not do. The point in all of this is that there are real occasions when we are guided by the Holy Spirit to not do a certain thing; to not go to a certain place, and to not say certain words. This is often expressed as a gut feeling, or a bad feeling. We must always heed the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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 Proper19: Year 2

 Psalms 56, 57, [58]; 64, 65; Job 40:1 to 24; Acts 15:36 to 16:5; John 11:55 to 12:8

“Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)”  (John 12: 3 to 6)

This is what happens when we look at each other around Jesus instead of through Jesus.  Judas, who the evangelist informs us, is less than honorable, gazes upon Mary with contempt. This looking around Jesus is also reported in the Gospel of Luke. I think it was at the same time, with the same people, in the room, but seeing something different.  “Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.  She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.  But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.”  But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.”  (Luke 10: 38 to 41)

My point in both of these situations is that Judas, in the first reading, and Martha in the second, move their eyes off of our Lord Jesus and look at Mary.  When we look around Jesus instead of through Jesus we see others through our human lens rather than through how God sees them.  If we take the time to see family or the stranger through the eyes of our Lord we would see them with love. If we look around Jesus instead of through him we tend to see people with contempt, disdain, disrespect, and sometimes if they are different than us, with hate. Let’s not see people in this way. Try to always look upon another through the eyes of our loving Lord.

Today is also Holy Cross Day.  Personally, I’m not a fan of the cross. It was a Roman death tool. Our Lord Jesus lived a holy life.  I believe he also died a holy death but that death was our doing while working in the darkness of evil.  The good news is, our Lord Jesus also had a holy Resurrection: Halleluiah!

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

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Daily Office Readinggs for Sunday of Proper 19: year 2

Psalms 24, 29;  8, and 84; Job 38:1,18-41; Rev. 18:1to 8; and  Matt. 5:21 to26

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.  Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?” (Job 38: 1 and 18 to 20)

This fable of the Hebrew story of Job has always fascinated me, especially chapter 38 and beyond.  God patiently listens to Job’s lament in previous chapters.  In chapter 38 however, God calls Job to task.  In spite of all that he has suffered, Job has no idea of what it means to be God.  Yes, bad things do happen to good people, but because God is so loving and merciful and compassionate God will make all things right in the hereafter.  Maintain faith no matter what.

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New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 19: Year A

Romans 14:1 to 12 and Matthew 18:21 to 35

 “But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”  (Matthew 18: 28 – 35)

This gets back to our Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.”  We should plead with those we have offended for forgiveness, and whether we receive forgiveness or not, we must have compassion for those who come to us and plead for the same. We all admit that we are fallible.  Therefore it should not surprise us when we err.  We must remember that when we see the unrepentant, that except for the grace of God, there go I.

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