Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 6; Year 2

Psalm 80; Psalm 77, [79] Num. 9:15-23, 10:29-36; Rom. 1:1-15; Matt. 17:14-21

Paul, a servantof Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spiritof holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,  To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1 – 7)

Wow! Paul: What an intro! I need break this down in order to digest it.  First of all, I do believe Paul was called to be an apostle of the Gospel of God.  That whole experience on the road to Damascus was proof of that. I also believe that the prophets of the Hebrew Testament foretold of the coming to the Messiah, the Lord, our Lord Jesus, who was raised according to the human household code of David but sanctified by the Holy Spirit of God by which he survived death and is with us today in the Spirit of God.

It is through the risen Lord that we receive grace and apostleship and all we will ever need to bring about the obedience of faith among all the inhabitants of earth. This obedience of faith is a slow process by human understanding but the work we are called to do nonetheless. You and I must keep the faith no matter what.  And so Paul dubs us saints. Therefore, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Today we remember Evelyn Underhill

My journaling, from which this blog comes, is all about my contemplative self.  I actively sit in quiet inviting God to enter my mind and move me in ways pleasing to God.  Evelyn Underhill is one of my major heroes. Here is some insight from her sharing:

“Evelyn Underhill’s most valuable contribution to spiritual literature must surely be her conviction that the mystical life is not only open to a saintly few, but to anyone who cares to nurture it and weave it into everyday experience, and also (at the time, a startling idea) that modern psychological theories and discoveries, far from hindering or negating spirituality, can actually enhance and transform it.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for June 15)

So we don’t have to be monks, or priests, to enter into the mystic life.  It is available to all of us who dare to be still and know that God is God. God says through the Psalmist, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)  This is further evidence or our potential sainthood.

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 Proper 6:  Year A

Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7) Psalm 116:1, 10-17 Romans 5:1-8 Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23)

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10: 22)

At this writing another African American man has been killed by police, this time in Atlanta, Ga.  People are justifiably angry.  This killing happened as people are still protesting about the George Floyd killing that took place in Minnesota two weeks ago.  There is much despair. We are taught by the Gospel passage above to never give up.  Some are calling for the defunding of police departments.  That makes me nervous. Who are we going to call when bad stuff happens?

I have helped some troubled people in counseling sessions by having them concentrate on a clock or even their watch.  I had them specifically focus on the second hand.  As the seconds ticked by I would remind them that they survived those seconds successfully.  When a minute was reached it seemed almost appropriate to celebrate, just a little.  Maybe even silently saying the Lord’s Prayer helps to pass the seconds and minutes. But don’t stop noticing the seconds and minutes tick by.  And maybe an occasional “Help Me Jesus” would fit in between prayers; tick, tock, tick tock.

What we must remember is that it is not our self who is getting us through these murderous times, but our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God has a plan but we have to be here for God to use us to fulfill that plan, even if such a plan makes us nervous.  We also must remember that the one who endures to the end will be saved; tick, tock, tick tock, watch the clock, and pray.

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 5: Year 2

Psalm 75, 76; Psalm 23, 27; Num. 3:1-13; Gal. 6:11-18; Matt. 17:1-13

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’  (Matthew 17:5)

This is the second time we hear this proclamation from heaven.  In chapter three of Matthew after Jesus was baptized a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)  The big difference here is the addition of “listen to him.”  I am currently putting together a book wherein listening is the first of five “L”s that leads to life enhancement and leadership.  More on that at another time.

Inherent in listening is learning and the expectation of amendment of life. Our duty here on earth, in this lifetime, is to prepare ourselves for our eternal time with God.  As much as the Book of Ecclesiastes talks about “all is vanity under the sun,” the writer sums the whole thing up in the last words from yesterday’s reading; “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

God said, our Lord Jesus is His Son, listen to 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

Daily Office Reading for Friday of Proper 5: Year 2

Psalm 69:1-23 (24-30) 31-38; Psalm 73Eccles. 11:9-12:14; Gal. 5:25-6:10; Matt. 16:21-28

“Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:26)

Sadly, we are team members. Maybe our school athletic teams have programmed us to think in this way.  Perhaps we are too team oriented. I can remember once when I went to a basketball game wherein my school played an undefeated school that had not lost a basketball game in years.  We beat them and one of their cheerleaders fainted. She just couldn’t believe it.

I think we need to check ourselves.  Sports are fine but still just sports.  Is it possible that our lessons about sports team loyalty has taken control of all allegiances, for example, political party, type of car, church denomination, the so-called “race” we happened to be born into and so forth? We are always competing against one another.  It’s silly and shameful.

There is the one team of God and the sorted little made-up human teams. In our Gospel lesson for today our Lord Jesus makes a clear distinction between the human team and the team of God.  When Peter began to rebuke Jesus about the God ordained path he was about to take, “He [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ (Matthew 16: 23)

It is difficult and often uncomfortable but we too must look beyond mortal loyalties to that immortal allegiance we have with God.  We must realize that being created in God’s Image we are all on the same team.  Anything less that absolute allegiance to God is just sports and should “get behind us Satan.”

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 5: Year 2

Psalm [70], 71; Psalm 74; Eccles. 11:1-8; Gal. 5:16-24; Matt. 16:13-20

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?”  (Matthew 16: 13 – 15)

All of the people who were asked who Jesus was brought up people from their own past, either known or taught about. Not one of them left room for a New Person, One they had not seen or heard of, but was indeed prophesied about.

Today we have a taught (and teaching) Jesus who existed in the flesh in our past. But our Lord Jesus also lives with us today in the Holy Spirit.  So, who do you say our Lord Jesus is? He is the living Holy Spirit that dwells in each of us and in our Church.  We then, are the fruits of His Spirit.  Paul tells us about the fruit of the Spirit in our New Testament lessen for today from Galatians.  He says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5: 22 – 24)

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 Proper 5: Year 2

Psalm 72; Psalm 119:73-96; Eccles. 9:11-18; Gal. 5:1-15; Matt. 16:1-12

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6)

 We have already seen in Chapter 3 of Galatians that “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”  Paul continues now challenging their sacred religious traditions of circumcision. Faith working through love means everything.  What we do to our bodies has little to do with our heavenly value.  We can get our bodies tattooed, pierced, tucked and “Botoxed” and while it may impress certain human interests, it has no value in the next life. And I also feel such practices don’t devalue our bodies either.

What counts in the next life, and what will get us to the next life, is belief in God and love for our fellow human beings.  Our little body art practices here mean nothing. When we live by a code of faith in the love of God and truly believe that God is overseeing what we are doing, and that God is good, all the time, we will live a life of love for all people.  And the truth is, we will love them even if they ink themselves, pierce themselves, tuck themselves and/or “Botox” themselves. In God’s love we will overlook their (and our) little makeovers and love them for who God made them to be with God’s indelible Word stamped forever on their hearts; even if they are unawares.

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 5: Year 2

Psalm 61, 62; Psalm 68:1-20 (21-23) 24-36; Eccles. 8:14-9:10; Gal. 4:21-31; Matt. 15:29-39 

“Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” (Matthew 15: 33)

Because of this COVID 19 virus we, the Church, have come full circle back to feeding the multitude camped on the Church grounds. Our Bishop instructs us (the priest of East Carolina) to Consecrate “Both Kinds” but to give only the bread.  I have compassion on the people who have missed Holy Communion for so long but at the same time remembering we could have no gathered church at all. At least the readings, message, prayers and wafer are better than not having church and it is full communion with Christ.

Who’s to say what would happen should the people continue without any communion at all for much longer.  Might they spiritually faint on the way?  I have witnessed firsthand how glad parishioners are to be in gathered community, even in the heat of the day.  Social media does not come close to satisfying the spiritual hunger people have as they struggle to keep Christ in their lives.  When I dismiss them I can see the satisfaction on their faces as they walk to the cars.  All I can say is, Thank you Lord Jesus for letting me be a part of Your ministry.

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 5: Year 2

Psalm 56, 57, [58]; Psalm 64, 65; Eccles. 7:1-14; Gal. 4:12-20; Matt. 15:21-28

“But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.”  (Matthew 15:25)

This is the unbreakable hold we have on God in Christ Jesus; He can’t refuse the word “help.” Help from God may not be packaged the way we expect it however. God is really good at surprises.

It is because of the woman’s faith that Jesus heals her daughter. I believe there are two components at work here.  The first is the love she has for her daughter.  I believe for the mother, and for us, that the power of our love for someone close to us, fuels our faith and humbles us.  Too often our faith doesn’t have a focus.  This Canaanite mother however, even though not a Jewish Israelite, brings her desperation to our Lord Jesus.  She is grateful for whatever help she can get from him, explaining that even the dogs get the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. Her love for her daughter and her acquired faith in the man known as Jesus humbles her and she asks him for help.  And, He does.

This is a transitional move by God to include the Jewish nation and all people beyond the Jews. It becomes clear that it is not genetics that makes one belong to the kingdom.  It is faith. Have you heard about the healer whose name is Jesus?  Do you love someone in trouble? Does this love and faith humble you? All you need to do is pray, “Lord, help me.”

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 Trinity Sunday 2020: Year A

Genesis 1:1-2:4a Psalm 8 2 Corinthians 13:11-13  Matthew 28:16-20

“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Our Lord Jesus is handed down through the generations, parent to child, to child to child.  He has been handed down master to apprentice and leader to follower for more than 2000 years. Being a follower of our Lord Jesus re-identifies us.  It has re-identified me.  I now hold being a Christian my most important understanding of who I am. It is not being a so-called African American, or even an American or even a man. No, for me it is first and foremost about being what I will always be, A Christian. Jesus being with me to the end of the age is Emanuel.

This Emanuel is God with us. Our Lord Jesus says “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Jesus has made a commitment to us.  He is of the Father and sends to us the Holy Spirit and never leaves us orphaned. We must respond by keeping this Trinitarian life alive in thought, word and deed. We must all sing the hymn: “I bind onto myself today the strong name of the Trinity, by vocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three.”  (Hymn 370 of the 1982 Hymnal)

We don’t have to understand the Trinity, just understand that it exists.  And it exists for our sake. Some of us live our lives historically.  We have to know how we got this way.  Such folk I call the Genesis people.  They want to know how we came to be.  They want to know how the races were divided.  They ask how police got started and then ask how police brutality started. They want to know the genesis of everything.  This is like the Creator story of who made the Clock, wound it and walked away; and will come back one day. Knowing the story may help us be ready for the return.

The Christian story is the story of the Son.  This is God Incarnate. This is the story of a beloved friend who will never, never, never leave our side, no matter what.   Jesus’ last words to us are that he will be with us, even to the end of the age. We have, in the same hymn, words that reflects this message: “Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.” (Hymn 370 of the 1982 Hymnal) We are never without our Lord Jesus, never.

Finally, we have the Holy Spirit Who resides in our Church. This is the Holy Spirit of God Whom our Lord Jesus said He will send to the Church. Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit who we remembered last Sunday, to our Church, to lead us and guide us in the way of truth and love.

We need all three.  We need to know, live and tell our faith stories. We need to see our Lord Jesus in the faithful faces of the friends we have as we worship together.  And we need to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us and abide in that holy leadership.  Happy Trinity Sunday!

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 4: Year 2

Psalm 55; Psalm 138, 139:1-17(18-23); Eccles. 5:8-20; Gal. 3:23-4:11; Matt. 15:1-20

“But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.  And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.”  (Galatians 3: 25 – 29)

For me, having no longer a disciplinarian means that being baptized in Christ, I become my own disciplinarian.  It means that I should know well what it means to err on the side of love and compassion. Jesus is my plumb line. Jesus is the straight line, I am the crooked line struggling to be straight as I align myself with my Lord Jesus.

Paul gets rid of the human descriptors of ethnicity be it Jew or Greek.  Along with these we can add black and white.  We are no longer black or white.  It is so hard to get us to realize this – on both sides. We have the Biblical story of Paul’s letter to Philemon about Onesimus and accepting him as a brother and no longer a slave.  We also have the post Biblical account of Perpetua and her raising Felicitas from being her slave to being her sister in Christ.  This is what it means to be “no longer” slave.  It is important to note here that the slave has no vote in this freedom.  No, it has to come from the conscience of the one who considers himself free – free to do the right thing.

All of this equally goes for male and female freedoms as well.  God resides in both sexes.  And we need what God has given us in both sexes.  Male and female, we are both made in God’s Image. (Gen. 1:27)

From here we go back to Abraham, again, not genetically, but faithfully.  Paul says, and I believe, we Christians are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.  It must be remembered also that being Christian does not mean that we are better than non-Christians.  It is the non-Christian that we serve and support and love as well. Ours is a humble walk as was Abraham’s and as was the walk of our 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