Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for February 29, 2020

Psalm 30, 32; PM Psalm 42, 43 Ezek. 39:21-29; Phil. 4:10-20; John 17:20-26

“Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you.” (Psalm 32:10)

I remember once having Morning Prayer with two other seminarians while in seminary and reading this Psalm.  We laughed as all three of us thought of people that we too would have to be fitted with bit and bridle, or else we would not stay near them.  But it was because we did indeed have understanding, and that we were loving, that we stayed near them even when it was uncomfortable.

The metaphor of bit and bridle may in fact be a good way of looking at how God holds us close to God’s will.  We often don’t have understanding.  Often we don’t know the will of God and when God reveals just a little of it to us, we run.  We become like Jonah trying to avoid Nineveh.

I think the point of the Psalmist is that not having understanding keeps us in fear. We don’t realize the power of God’s forgiveness. We need to stay near the rough un-comfortableness of God and be patient until understanding finally comes.

There was a time in my life when I did not want one of my daughters to be pregnant.  But she was.  I could feel a prayer welling up in my gut to ask God to not let her be pregnant because she was still a senior in high school.  But she was. She gave birth to her first born.  Alex.  Alex is a gift from God to us.  I love my granddaughter so much.  So glad that God gave me what I needed rather than what I asked for.  I am so glad God fitted me with bit and bridle, or else I would not have stayed near God.  I had no understanding.

Is there any lack of understanding in your life that causes you to want to move away from God? God will fit you with that bit and bridle and hold you close unless you turn and run to your own peril. We as seminarians learned that while this verse sounds funny, holding on to what God wants for us is as serious as it gets. Every human being has a story, or two, or more, of challenge. We need to tell these stories as did the prophets of the Bible. Our stories help others know that God holds us close – bit and bridle close.  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 February 29, 2020

Psalm 30, 32; PM Psalm 42, 43 Ezek. 39:21-29; Phil. 4:10-20; John 17:20-26

“Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you.” (Psalm 32:10)

I remember once having Morning Prayer with two other seminarians while in seminary and reading this Psalm.  We laughed as all three of us thought of people that we too would have to be fitted with bit and bridle, or else we would not stay near them.  But it was because we did indeed have understanding, and that we were loving, that we stayed near them even when it was uncomfortable.

The metaphor of bit and bridle may in fact be a good way of looking at how God holds us close to God’s will.  We often don’t have understanding.  Often we don’t know the will of God and when God reveals just a little of it to us, we run.  We become like Jonah trying to avoid Nineveh.

I think the point of the Psalmist is that not having understanding keeps us in fear. We don’t realize the power of God’s forgiveness. We need to stay near the rough un-comfortableness of God and be patient until understanding finally comes.

There was a time in my life when I did not want one of my daughters to be pregnant.  But she was.  I could feel a prayer welling up in my gut to ask God to not let her be pregnant because she was still a senior in high school.  But she was. She gave birth to her first born.  Alex.  Alex is a gift from God to us.  I love my granddaughter so much.  So glad that God gave me what I needed rather than what I asked for.  I am so glad God fitted me with bit and bridle, or else I would not have stayed near God.  I had no understanding.

Is there any lack of understanding in your life that causes you to want to move away from God? God will fit you with that bit and bridle and hold you close unless you turn and run to your own peril. We as seminarians learned that while this verse sounds funny, holding on to what God wants for us is as serious as it gets. Every human being has a story, or two, or more, of challenge. We need to tell these stories as did the prophets of the Bible. Our stories help others know that God holds us close – bit and bridle close.  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

(Edited from last year’s Pondering)

Readings for Anna Julia Haywood Cooper: Educator 1964

Psalm 119:33–40 Proverbs 9:1-6 Luke 4:14-21

 “Lay aside immaturity and live, and walk in the way of insight.” (Proverbs 9:6)

It is not my custom to copy and paste an entire biography but the Episcopal Women’s History Project did such a wonderful job of reporting on Anna Julia Haywood Cooper, with detail and brevity, that I decided to just give it all to you and end with my very brief comment.

“Anna Julia Haywood Cooper (August 10, c1859- February 27, 1964). Educator, advocate and scholar. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina to an enslaved woman and a white man, presumably her mother’s master. Anna Julia was an academically gifted child and received a scholarship to attend St. Augustine Normal School and Collegiate Institute, a school founded by the Episcopal Church to educate African-American teachers and clergy. There she began her membership in the Episcopal Church. After forcing her way into a Greek class designed for male theology students, Anna Julia later married the instructor, George A.C. Cooper, the second African-American ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in North Carolina. After her husband’s death in 1879, Cooper received degrees in mathematics from Oberlin College, and was made principal of the only African American high school in Washington D.C.  She was denied reappointment in 1906 because she refused to lower her educational standards. Throughout her career, Cooper emphasized the importance of education to the future of African Americans, and was critical of the lack of support they received from the church. An advocate for African-American women, Cooper assisted in organizing the Colored Women’s League and the first Colored Settlement House in Washington, D.C. She wrote and spoke widely on issues of race and gender, and took an active role in national and international organizations founded to advance African Americans.  At the age of fifty-five she adopted the five children of her nephew. In 1925, Cooper became the fourth African-American woman to complete a PhD degree, granted from the Sorbonne when she was sixty-five years old. From 1930-1942, Cooper served as president of Frelinghuysen University.” (From the Episcopal Women’s History Project)

There are many take-aways here but most notable is the idea that it is never too late to continue one’s education.  This is the idea of life-long-learning. Dr. Cooper got her PhD when she was sixty-five. She lived to 105 years of age.  I say, keep the brain alive and working. She also had a heart that moved her to do for others which caused her real self denial.  She is an example of agape love. 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

Readings for George Herbert

Psalm 23 1 Peter 5:1–4  Matthew 5:1-10 

“Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock.”  (1 Peter 5:1 – 3)

Today, February 27, we remember George Herbert, a priest, who died in 1633.  “George Herbert is famous for his poems and his prose work, A Priest to the Temple: or The Country Parson. He is portrayed by his biographer Izaak Walton as a model of the saintly parish priest.  Herbert was unselfish in his devotion and service to others. Izaak Walton writes that many of the parishioners “let their plow rest when Mr. Herbert’s saints-bell rung to prayers, that they might also offer their devotion to God with him.” His words, “Nothing is little in God’s service,” have reminded Christians again and again that everything in daily life, small or great, may be a means of serving and worshiping God. Herbert died on March 1, 1633.”  (Great Cloud of Witnesses for February 27)

These dedicated priests, St. Peter and George Herbert are among those I consider my heroes. I try to emulate their dedication to our Lord Jesus as Peter exhorts me “to tend the flock of God that is in my charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have me do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly.”  And as Herbert was unselfish in his devotion and service to others realizing that nothing is little in God’s service. 

The message today is that we don’t have to be clergy to be the elders of our community.  In fact clergy can learn to be better clergy from non-clergy, from the laity.  There are good, God-fearing people woven throughout our lives.  I see them in homes and hospitals and stores and yes, in the pews at Church.  They are doing God’s work realizing nothing is little in God’s service.  These people are truly hidden figures.  In many cases we don’t consider them for clergy positions because we don’t want to be without them even for the short time of their training. And, we can’t stand the thought that when they are ordained, we might lose them to another community. All this is kind of selfish. But let’s not get hung up on ordination. 

While Peter and Herbert were ordained, the “why” of their lives is really what moved them to do the Lord’s work.  The “why” of their lives was not limited to ordination.  These men prayed.  And God heard them. God hears your prayers.  Herbert was unselfish in his devotion and service to others. One does not have to be ordained to be devoted to the welfare of others.  I see the loving support our parishioners extend to one another all the time.  And while they may not have any ordained title here in our time, I am certain that they are already saints on the roster of heaven.

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 Ash Wednesday (All Years)

Joel 2:1-2,12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12 Psalm 103 or 103:8-14  2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10  Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

“But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  (Mathew 6:3 – 4)

Here we are in Lent again.  Today starts Lent with Ash Wednesday. Many times people will come up to me to proclaim what they are giving up for Lent. They let their left hand know what their right hand is doing.  I then ask, to what charity is the money you would have used on your creature comforts, going to? There is always a pause.  Rarely is anyone thinking, in advance, about the charitable side of doing without in order to give to the less fortunate.

We should always have our eyes set on the “why” we are doing something rather than the “what” we are doing. Lent is a Church tradition.  It is not biblical.  We are reminded by Richard Hooker (Reformation, 17^th Century Church of England Priest) that our 3-legged stool consist of Scripture, Tradition and Reason.  Tradition then is where practice of Lent comes from. Why? It is our Church’s historic way of reconciling folk back into the fold and reminding all of us of the sacrifice our Lord Jesus made for our salvation.

Lent will not be “celebrated” with fancy sales or special ornaments.  Lent can’t be purchased or hijacked with sleighs or bunnies.  This is the season in which the Church is at its purest. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It ends with Palm Sunday or the Sunday of the Passion which is the beginning of Holy Week which leads us into the Sunday of the Resurrection – Easter. All of this is part of our Church Tradition.  Lent is a memory milestone wherein we remember the suffering of our Lord Jesus and reorient ourselves back to the importance of corporate worship.

The ashes on our foreheads remind us that we are dust and ashes made up of the chemicals found throughout the earth and the universe. But with the Holy Spirit of God imbedded in us we are so much more.  It is during Lent that we give thanks by emptying ourselves of all that is not necessary for our wellbeing and at the same time contributing to the welfare of the less fortunate who are also created in the Image of God.  And we do not do this in a boastful way.  “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward 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 the Week of the Last Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39  Prov. 30:1-4,24-33; Phil. 3:1-11; John 18:28-38

“Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?” (John 18: 38)

Our former Arch Bishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverent Rowan Williams, said, this question from Pontius Pilot about what is truth is the most profound question in the New Testament.  I too  have found that many of the most amazing statements in scriptures, do in fact, come from the lips of people who are less than holy but none the less raise the most interesting subjects to ponder.

When I mentor Education for Ministry I often have to remind participants that we should look for truth, not facts, as we ponder the scriptures and other readings. The truth is that there is a God and that God created all things and loves what is being created.  Some of our so-called facts were that this earth was created in six days, and that it is flat.  Facts are not the truth in all situations.  We should look for truths.

There is truth in the history of the world that God Incarnate walked among us to experience what it is like to be one of us. Often what separates truth from fact is when it happened.  So-called facts tend to have happened in the past, recent or long ago (six days).  Truth, on the other hand is ongoing and now (God loves us). 

For me, I thrive on the now.  God loves us.  We all have history. Some good and some not so good but God loves us anyway. More often than not we are treated by one another by what we believe to be facts (whether criminal or heroic).  It is only ourselves and God Almighty who know the truth.  Our Lord Jesus before Pilot knew the Truth. Pilot did not.  And yet our Lord Jesus was being tried on alleged facts.  But our Lord Jesus tells of another way, the truth.  In fact he proclaims that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). 

Facts tend to exist in the evidence, be it from a microscope, telescope or forensic for the purpose of prosecution.  Truth, on the other hand, resides in the heart.  No matter what we have done in this life, God is beyond facts, God measures our hearts.  Thank you Lord Jesus for you are the Truth.

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 the Week of the Last Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39  Prov. 30:1-4,24-33; Phil. 3:1-11; John 18:28-38

“Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?” (John 18: 38)

When I mentor Education for Ministry I often have to remind participants that we should look for truth, not facts, as we ponder the scriptures and other readings. the truth is that there is a God and that God created all things and loves what is being created.  Some of our so-called facts were that this earth was created in six days, and that it is flat.  Facts are not the truth in all situations.  We should look for truths.

There is truth in the history of the world that God Incarnate walked among us to experience what it is like to be one of us. Often what separates truth from fact is when it happened.  So-called facts tend to have happened in the past, recent or long ago (six days).  Truth, on the other hand is ongoing and now (God loves us). 

For me, I thrive on the now.  God loves us.  We all have history. Some good and some not so good but God loves us anyway. More often than not we are treated by one another by what we believe to be facts (whether criminal or heroic).  It is only ourselves and God Almighty that know the truth.  Out Lord Jesus before Pilot knew the Truth. Pilot did not.  And yet our Lord Jesus was being tried on alleged facts.  But our Lord Jesus tells of another way, the truth.  In fact he proclaims the He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). 

Facts tend to exist in the evidence, be it from a microscope, telescope or forensic for the purpose of prosecution.  Truth, on the other hand, resides in the heart.  No matter what we have done in this life, God is beyond facts, God measures our hearts.  Thank you Lord Jesus for you are the Truth.

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 the week of the Last Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 25; PM Psalm 9, 15 Prov. 27:1-6,10-12; Phil. 2:1-13; John 18:15-18,25-27

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—   a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2)

Every day we hear more and more of the rhetoric of presidential candidates telling us how good they are and how unfit their competitors are for the office of the President of the United States.

If I were running for an elected office I would want my campaign manager, or at least those who want me to run for an elected position to boast about my fitness for the office, and not myself.  But this is the way of the world today.  Even in the election of a Bishop for a Diocese each candidate is presented with an opportunity to say how good he or she is. We encourage narcissism.

Perhaps it would be better if computers did the hard work of tabulating information and then recommend candidates best suited for election based on experience, education and history.  After some candidates are identified, sponsors can then promote their person for the office. In this way all persons interested in an elected position will have to do is do the best they can every day so that the computer collecting the information can put the best qualified persons  names forth for consideration and election.

In any case, those who want a certain person in an elected office should be the ones boasting about how their choice is best suited for the position, not the person him or herself. We all should be doing the best we can in everyday life.  While education and experience carry a lot of weight, one’s history of doing good probably is the most valuable marker of what kind of person you are.

Wait a minute! Isn’t collecting our information what God is doing now? All we have to do is the best we can everyday.

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 Last Sunday After the Epiphany: Year A

Exodus 24:12-18  Psalm 2  or Psalm 99  2 Peter 1:16-21  Matthew 17:1-9

“As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (Matthew 17:9)

Peter, James and John are picked to go up the mountain with our Lord Jesus. I would think it was because they are the ones that could keep quiet about what was going to happen except that Peter was included.  None the less, these three were called out from the others to go to a special place with Jesus.

I’m guessing they were informed about who Moses and Elijah were given that that both were historic figures and there were no “photographs” of them.  So this was the revelation given to them by the Cloud of all knowing.

And after the experience of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus; the revelation Cloud of all knowing; the voice of God, and then being told to not tell anyone, was asking a lot. But in hindsight, we can see why these stories were actually written much later and in a different language (Greek). Today there is a church built on the site where the Transfiguration supposedly took place and it is called the Church of the Transfiguration located on Mount Tabor in Galilee of Israel.

Being told not to talk about something gives one time to process what happened. Today we say that the introvert processes quietly while the extrovert processes by “talking it out.”  This might be the reason for taking these three, but then there again, there is Peter. Peter can’t hold back even in the midst of the Transfiguration.  Peter said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Matthew 17:4) 

So Jesus took with him both the extrovert and the introvert. Jesus takes with him both you and me.  We are invited to see God Incarnate who is the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).  Moses didn’t want to go but was sent anyway.  Elijah was all in, even taunting the prophets of Baal, “At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”  (1 Kings 18:27) 

So God calls any of us to do the Lord’s work.  Be attentive therefore, Our Lord will call you also to have that mountain top experience.  Dr Martin Luther King Jr. says that he experienced it in his kitchen after a hateful phone call.  This mountain top experience can happen anywhere. When it happens, it is life changing, and the change is forever.

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 in theWeek of the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13); PM Psalm 33 Gen. 35:1-20; 1 John 3:11-18; John 11:1-16

“Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”’  (John 11: 13 – 16)

Finally, our Lord Jesus had to just come out and say it, “Lazarus is dead.”  The disciples were looking for any reason they could find to not go into Judea, an area they considered dangerous. Jesus however would not let fear determine his footsteps. And neither should we. Moreover, his friend Lazarus needed him. We too should not look for, or accept any excuse as a way to avoid doing what is right.

Thomas shows his dedication to our Lord Jesus. “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”  Thomas too often gets a less than honorable reputation.  He is called “Doubting Thomas.”  But there is no doubt about his loyalty to our Lord Jesus.   We tend to label people by the one perceived negative thing they do.  But here Thomas calls on his fellow disciples to stay the course.  Jesus is going in the way he came to go. When things do go bad for our Lord Jesus we will see that Thomas will not be behind a locked door in fear with the other ten disciples.  It will be a week later that he hears of our Lord Jesus rising from the grave.  Thomas was a fearless Christian as we all should be. Thomas was out in the midst of people going on with his life.

Loyalty to friends is demonstrated here as Jesus goes to raise Lazarus from the dead and Thomas is standing by Jesus even onto their own possible death.  Friends are often our “chosen” family.  We are born to some, we choose some.  My dad used to say to me that I am the company I keep.  He probably heard from somewhere else but it rings so true.  Just as we need our friends when we are in trouble, so too, our friends need us when they are in trouble.  Friendship, like family, is priceless.

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