Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 7: Year 2

Psalm 105:1-22; Psalm 105:23-45; Num. 17:1-11; Rom. 5:1-11; Matt. 20:17-28

“It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20: 26 – 28)

Jesus has just heard the plea of John and James (his brother) along with their mother. It appears that she asks Jesus to let her sons be on his right and left side in his kingdom.  To this he explains, it is not his to give.  The other apostles find out and are angered by their request.  Jesus calls them together and explains the difference between this world and heaven.  On earth, we have a lordship of tyranny where we rule by threats and punitive measures.  In heaven, it is a kingdom of servanthood.

I’m guessing the problem I have with the language of Jesus, as it is translated and spoken in Matthew, is the part about “whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave.”  These words still show an initial goal of seeking the self-serving glory of being great, or, of being first.  Can we not live to serve and be happy with serving without looking forward to sitting on the right or left hand of our Lord and Savior in some kind of shared glory?  Let’s just be ok helping others to be ok. Ok?

Today we also remember James Weldon Johnson

James Weldon Johnson (June 17, 1871 – June 26, 1938) was an American author, politician, diplomat, critic, journalist, poet, anthologist, educator, lawyer, songwriter, and early civil rights activist. Johnson is remembered best for his writing, which includes novels, poems, and collections of folklore. He was also one of the first African-American professors at New York University. Later in life he was a professor of creative literature and writing at Fisk University. (http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/james_weldon_johnson.htm)

I am always interested in men and women who used more of themselves for the good of the world than most of us even know we have.  James Weldon Johnson worked to make this world a better place.  We still have a long way to go.  But if more of us would make use of our own God-given gifts, we, you and I, could bring about happiness and world peace more quickly.  I believe happiness and world peace is God’s plan for creation.  And, God is going to win no matter what.  But all of this could be expedited if we would follow the examples of people like Johnson and others who made use of all the blessings God has already given us.  Explore your gifts.  What gifts do you have that you haven’t used yet? Try.  You take one step and God will take two.

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

Eucharistic Readings for the Nativity of John the Baptist: June 24

Isaiah 40:1-11  Psalm 85 or 85:7-13  Acts 13:14b-26  Luke 1:57-80

 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”  They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.  He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.  All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.” (Luke 1:59 – 65)

Today we remember the birth of John the Baptist.

This is the custom of the day, on the eighth day circumcision was performed and the naming of the male child.  So at first, without any questions they were going to name John the Baptist, “Zechariah,” after his father. But Elizabeth spoke up and said “NO.”  He will be called John, she said.  They didn’t believe her because no male in her family had that name, and so, they dismissed her.  (Just a note: Peter and John did the same thing to Mary Magdalene at the Resurrection of Jesus. Too often men still don’t listen to women as we should)

Meanwhile, Zechariah was silenced by the angel Gabriel for doubting his authority (Luke 1: 18 – 20).  So therefore, when they wanted to ask him about the baby’s name, they had to hand him writing material for his response.  “And to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” I want to point out here that Zechariah did not say “he will be called John,” but rather, his name IS John.  He was fore ordained by God.

John grew up in the wilderness, unpolluted by the false doctrine of the Temple authorities.  He was an empty vessel and therefore useful for God’s filling.   He spoke truth to power and is praised by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We too are called to speak truth to power, no matter the costs.  We all need to empty ourselves as John the Baptist did in order to be made useful for God.

Today we remember the birth of John the Baptist. You have six months to Christmas Day!

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 7: Year 2

Psalm 97, 99, [100]; Psalm 94, [95] Num. 16:20-35; Rom. 4:1-12; Matt. 19:23-30

“Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”  (Matthew 19:27)

Peter is someone in the Gospel that I really identify with. I sometimes shoot from the hip without thinking.  I am sometimes scared and deny even knowing Christ.  I have family and yet have decided to follow Jesus.   However, I have moved beyond asking “what’s in it for me.” Peter explains to Jesus how he and others have followed him and now wants to know about the payoff.

I am in a place now where I want to do good for goodness sake.  It’s like the Santa Clause song, “he knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you are wake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.”  Being good for goodness sake is a kindness that is not looking down the reward road.  Being good for goodness sake is basking in the goodness as you perform it. It’s Wonderful.

Our Lord Jesus is very much aware of our human need for good outcomes.  So he assures Peter, and us, that we will receive the good reward. He says, everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19: 29)

So let us not be so concerned about a future reward.  Let’s just be kind and do what is good and right so that we can say (humbly but with a little bit of pride) I did that!

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 7: Year 2

Psalm 89:1-18; Psalm 89:19-52; Num. 16:1-19; Rom. 3:21-31; Matt. 19:13-22

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.” (Matthew 19: 21 – 22)

I like to bracket the words [the money] in verse 21 of chapter 19.  My Greek translation does not have those words. It reads, “ ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Εἰ θέλεις τέλειος εἶναι, ὕπαγε πώλησόν σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ ^[x]δὸς πτωχοῖς, καὶ ἕξεις θησαυρὸν ἐν ^[y]οὐρανοῖς, καὶ δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι.”  Roughly translated it says, “ to him Jesus said, if perfect you wish to be, go sell your stuff and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.” 

Translation is a tricky business.  There is a difference between “give to the poor,” and “give the money to the poor.”  Our Lord Jesus and his unemployed followers could certainly use some of the money.  We are told that certain women who had money helped with the necessities of the group. (Luke 8:1 – 3) We could miss the practical necessity here by too loose a translation.

In this story we see not a man with possessions; but rather, a man who was possessed by his wealth.  We might have had his name had he let go of his possessions. He could have been one of the apostles!  He was invited among them by Jesus as he said, “then come, follow me.”

Based on a real and practical understanding of this Bible reading it becomes clear that money is not bad but it can distract and rule us if we are not careful.  We should give to the poor but we must care for ourselves as well. If we don’t first care for ourselves, we may not be able to help anyone else. It takes a strong swimmer to save a drowning man.

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

Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 7: Year A

Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17;  Romans 6:1b-11;  Matthew 10:24-39

“ Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master.”  (Matthew 10: 24 – 25)

Today is Father’s Day. To the disciple and teacher; and to the slave and master; I would add the child and the father. Jesus said, “It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master.”  And I would add, it is enough for the child to be like the father; the good father.

Throughout the Gospel of John Jesus proclaims “that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” Good fatherhood comes from the godliness of parenting.

I have talked with many teachers who tell me there is a significant, and positive difference, between children who have a father in the home and those who don’t.

Let me tell you about three fathers: Jesse, Joseph and Tom. Jesse was the proud father of eight sons.  He proudly presented seven of them for anointing by Samuel but held back his youngest, David. Yet, David changed the world and was the apple of God’s eye. (1 Samuel 16)

Then there is Joseph. Of all the men of the world, God almighty chose the carpenter Joseph to be His earthly father as he joined us, to be one of us.  Joseph was a good and moral man who would not even use the corrupt rules of his day to put Mary aside, being that she was already pregnant by who knows who as far as others thought.  Being a father is more than making a pregnancy.

Tom was an over-the- road truck driver.  At the age of thirty nine he married a woman eleven years his junior who already had a daughter some twelve years in her past.  Tom was a loving man who had disagreements with my mother but was always gentle with her and with us, his children.  I did not realize the importance of his loving gentleness until much later in life, when I became part of a domestic violence rehabilitation team at the New River Air Station, Family Advocacy Program.  Real fathers make all the difference.

Some governments still have corrupt rules in place that penalize mothers with children who try to hold on to the good fathers of their children, either natural or like Joseph, just dedicated, and cause a financial burden on them.  The mothers of these children struggle to make ends meet besides having no role models for the children. This is sad in light of the fact that teachers show the benefit of having a father in the home. We should probably look into these rules and make it easier for fathers to stay in their families.

“It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master and the child like the good father.”

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 Propere 6: Year 2

Psalm 87, 90; Psalm 136; Num. 13:31-14:25; Rom. 3:9-20; Matt. 19:1-12

“Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to another.” (Psalm 90:1)

God is our timeless Parent.  We have a beginning and an end, at least in this earthly life.  God is circularly infinite: no beginning, no end.

“The span of our life is seventy years, perhaps in strength even eighty; yet the sum of them is but labor and sorrow, for they pass away quickly and we are gone.” (Psalm 90:10)  As I have now passed the seventy mark and moving towards eighty, this Psalmist has my full attention.  I don’t consider my life only labor and sorrow while at the same time I acknowledge there are some things I could have done better.

Over my years of life I have become more and more aware of living in the “Dash.”  I have conducted many funerals as an Episcopal Priest.  Normally the dates of the deceased are inscribed by; month, day and year; then the dash; and then closes out the life with the ending; month, day and year. So it’s what we do with our hands and mouths (or don’t do) in the dash that makes all the difference.

“So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)  The hands (as well as the tongue) follow the heart.  We Pray at our Sunday Morning worship, “Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of  your Holy Spirit.” We only have so many days on this earth. Numbering our days may indeed help us to be more lovingly responsive to the needs of others as we await the coming of the other end of our dash.

“May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; prosper the work of our hands; prosper our handiwork.” (Psalm 90:12)  I really like Psalm 90, it grounds me.

God is our timeless Parent.  We have a beginning and an end, at least in this earthly life.  God is circularly infinite: no beginning, no end. Through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we have an invitation to join God in eternity.  How shall we RSVP?

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 6: Year 2

Psalm 88; Psalm 91, 92; Num. 13:1-3,21-30; Rom. 2:25-3:8; Matt. 18:21-35

“For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical.  Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal.” (Romans 2)

I want to thank Paul for this important clarification.  He says “circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal.” This is so important to understand.  Since it is spiritual and not literal, this kind of circumcision is inclusive of women also.  Further, the spirituality of it opens the idea of being inclusive of all humanity, regardless of skin tones, hair texture, language, nationality, gender or sexual orientation.  Thank You Lord Jesus and thank you Paul.

While Paul was addressing what it means to be a Jew, he was really deconstructing the argument about the difference between being a Jew and being a Gentile, to whom he was sent. His whole point is that what makes us a holy people is what is on the inside of us, not how we are packaged. It is that that is inside each of us that is both holy and eternal through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 6:Year 2

Psalm [83] or 34;  Psalm 85, 86 Num. 12:1-16; Rom. 2:12-24; Matt. 18:10-20

“Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. And he said, “Hear my words: When there are prophets among you, I the Lord make myself known to them in visions; I speak to them in dreams. Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house. With him I speak face to face— clearly, not in riddles; and he beholds the form of the Lord.” (Numbers 12: 5 – 8)

Moses’ brother and sister are called on the carpet for their jealousy of God’s relationship with Moses. It does not turn out good for them, especially for Miriam.  What I want to bring out in this passage is the almost hidden way of God as is made manifest throughout our Old and New Testaments; and this is still God’s way of communicating with us, that is, through us; in visions and dreams.

In Genesis, God appears to Jacob in a dream as Jacob sees the vision of a ladder extending to heaven. (Genesis 28: 10 – 17)  Also, in the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph was about to separate himself from Mary when an angel appeared to him “in a dream” and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20 – 21) There are other such biblical cases as well. This is God’s Way.

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  God is unchanging but causes all changes. Occasionally God still gives the prophetic message to some of us for the benefit of the world.  We never know who gets the message. It could be anybody, not necessarily a seminary graduate or ordained person. This is why we must always listen to anyone who comes to us with a message. Therefore:

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 6: Year 2

Psalm 119:97-120; Psalm 81, 82;  Num. 11:24-33 (34-35); Rom. 1:28-2:11; Matt. 18:1-9

“For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.” (Romans 2: 6 – 11)

To this New Testament Reading I have some critiques and some Amen’s. I believe that God will take into account what we do and what we say over what we just think about doing or saying.  We might think many things that are not noble or divine.  But as we use the discipline not to speak or act on them, we are pardoned.  Thank You Lord Jesus for helping us overcome the demons in our minds. 

Twice Paul says “the Jew first and also the Greek.”  And yet follows up with “for God shows no partiality.”  This seems partial to me however on the part of Paul.  Full disclosure, I don’t care if I am second, as long as I get there.  As I have studied various cultures I have learned that some cultures use different ways to separate themselves from everybody else.  The Japanese have two different alphabets. One is used for original native Japanese society; Hiragana; and they have an alphabet used for words foreign to Japanese speaking; Katakana. The Amish also say that all persons outside the Amish community are called “the English,” regardless of where they live or originate from. So I understand Paul and his “Jew first” attitude.  I also fully understand that with God there really is no partiality.

I think what I really like here is the fact that we are held more accountable for what we do and say rather than what we think.  Our minds are free and sometimes wild, but left to be regulated by our sense of the moral plumb line. Giving in to the temptations of saying or doing wickedness is ungodly. Self seeking and self-serving is ungodly. By patiently doing good works and seeking glory and honor for God, we will have immortality, and God will give us eternal life. 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 Tuesday of Proper 6: Year 2

Psalm 78:1-39; Psalm 78:40-72; Num. 11:1-23; Rom. 1:16-25; Matt. 17:22-27

“And say to the people: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wailed in the hearing of the Lord, saying, ‘If only we had meat to eat! Surely it was better for us in Egypt.’ Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall eat not only one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you—because you have rejected the Lord who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’” (Numbers 11:18 – 20)

All of the prescribed readings for today are very good.  But the presence of God in the manna in our Numbers reading was particularly interesting to me.  They are told that they “rejected the Lord who is among you.”

This manna was the food of faith and freedom.  They were living in the wilderness without taskmasters. All they had to do was breathe and eat the simple meal that was provided for them.

It doesn’t take us long to become bored and complain does it?  Meat is nice, but bread is our staple.  I see the communal nature of what’s going on with the manna, the Emanuel of it, the God with them, in it.  Today in our Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina, we are limited to the wafer only at Holy Communion. And even that bread must be received outside, in the wilderness of our church yard due to the high contagion of the COVID 19.  Some may complain, but the bread is enough. It is God with us. As the hymn goes, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

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