Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 12: Year 2

 Psalms [70], 71 and 74;  Judges 4: 4 – 23; Acts 1:15 – 26; Matthew  27: 55 – 66

“At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment.”  (Judges 4: 4 –  5)

Women, in particular the strength of women, is often overlooked in the Bible.  Today, in our Daily Office Readings from the book of Judges we have two women who are revealed as very strong human beings.  Deborah the Prophet, and Jael, who I would bet was a builder of tents, inasmuch as she could drive a tent peg with the best of men.

While the Bible says that Deborah sat under a tree named after her, I believe it was her presence that gave the tree the name.  And all Israel came to her for judgment, for guidance and direction. They needed her presence so much that Barak, son of Abinoam, would not go to war unless she accompanied him. (verse 6). 

God has always included women in the carrying out of life and the promise of salvation.  Men have too often overlooked this important fact. But this does not negate what God intends for all people in the fulfillment of what God is doing. This is true even in the conflict of war itself.

During a battle with Sisera, the cowardly leader opposing Barak and Deborah, he fled to the protection of Jael.  “But Jael wife of Heber took a tent-peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, until it went down into the ground—he was lying fast asleep from weariness—and he died.” (Judges 4: 21)

Some of this language never comes up in “polite” company or our Sunday Lectionary.  But it is among our holy writings. It definitely shows God’s hand at work in women and that God’s wrath can also be made manifest in the leadership of women.  We need to see, and be aware of, God’s will being made manifest in all human beings.  This is the way God, has worked, is working, and always will work.  This includes you, whoever you are.

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 12: Year 2

 Psalms 72 and 119:73-96;  Judges 3:12 – 30; Acts 1:1 – 14; Matthew  27: 45 – 54

“In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”  (Acts 1: 1 – 3)

When I read scripture, I remember that I am standing behind the writer.  I am watching Luke, a man who never knew Jesus the way the other apostles did.  He learned from Peter and Paul.  I remember that his teacher Paul did not know Jesus in the flesh either, Paul met the resurrected Jesus while he, (Paul) was traveling to Damascus.

Even with this insight, I know that the “Acts of the Apostles” is Luke’s second book, his Gospel being the first.  Acts starts out with heavy input from Peter but ends with Paul speaking. It wasn’t until I saw the movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ” (with James Faulkner as Paul and Jim Caviezel as Luke) that I realized how significant Luke was in providing these writings to us.  He put himself at great risk going into and out of confinement with Paul.

Luke was an educated man, a physician.  He was accustomed to writing and taking notes.  God used the gifts of Luke to ensure we, of today, knew the history of Jesus and the first apostles, disciples and Christians. It must be remembered that he never met Jesus personally. He received his information from Peter and Paul. God still gifts a few of us with what we need as a community.  We get what we need for now, and we get what we need for the future – like Luke.

The only thing you have to do to please God is; live, believe, have courage when it seems dangerous, and make use of the gifts God has graced you with. This leads to the kingdom of God that Jesus spoke of through Luke. 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 12: Year 2

Psalms 61, 62, 68:1-20 (21-23) 24-36;  Judges 2:1-5,11-23; Romans 16:17-27; Matthew 27:32-44

“Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord would be moved to pity by their groaning because of those who persecuted and oppressed them.  But whenever the judge died, they would relapse and behave worse than their ancestors, following other gods, worshipping them and bowing down to them. They would not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.” (Judges 2: 18 – 19)

Perhaps judges were prophets of sorts but they seem to take on more of a military role.  God was with them for the good of the people.  But what’s important here is that the judges were raised by God for the well being and direction of the people.

I think it was through the feelings of the judges that God could feel what the people were going through. This would be kind of a pre-Jesus experience for God where the Creator felt a little of what the people were feeling. 

There is a timeless truth at work with the book of Judges.  There was no School of Theology or Seminary for human selected young ones to attend for a human crafted degree of certification.  God graced who God raised up as a judge. I believe this is still true today.  There are God-selected people, men and women, in our midst like Deborah and even Samson, who are graced by God for the strategic purpose of moving us to where God wants us to be.  Denomination or religious tradition notwithstanding, God will choose who God will choose. God always has, God always will.  According to the words that our Lord Jesus gave us to pray, “God’s will be done.” You might be such a person.  No person can say that he or she is not good enough.  Such thoughts and words do not really limit who you are; such thoughts and words attempt to limit the ability of God: for which, there is no limit, and for whom, nothing is impossible.  Pray to discern if God is raising you for the work of a modern day judge!

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 12: Year 2

Psalms 56, 57, [58],  64, 65; Joshua 24:16-33; Romans 16:1-16; Matthew  27: 24-31

“So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ Then the people as a whole answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.”   (Matthew 27: 24 – 26)

So Pilate washed his hands, but his heart was still filthy. He had our Lord Jesus beaten before being handed over to be crucified.  However, a literal interpretation of this translation implies that Pilate himself whipped Jesus.  Most readers would assume that Pilate had his soldiers do the dirty work. But in any case, Pilate re-soiled his “baptized” hands.

Yesderday I watched the news about the final crossing of the Edmund Pettus bridge by the deceased U. S. Representative John Lewis in a horse drawn caisson in Selma, Alabama.  He was saluted by, the new generation of Alabama State Troopers. He was beaten and arrested by the 1965 Alabama State Troopers 55 years ago on that same bridge.  Dirty hearts make dirty hands.  But clean hearts and clean hands saluted him yesterday.  This is not my Grandfather’s Alabama.

So often we all must look back on the misdirection of those who went before us and ponder anew the right thing to do.  John Lewis’ blood be on the hands of Alabama State Troopers until they too washed, “Baptized,” their hands for an honorable salute to the same man on the same bridge.

Today we remember William Reed Huntington, Priest (27 July 1909)

Huntington is remembered for his efforts to recognize Deaconesses as an important part of Christian ministry.  He is also remembered among Episcopalians as a devoted member of General Convention in the House of Deputies from 1870 to his death in 1909.  We still carry his notable prayer for Fridays in Morning Prayer which reads: “Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” This prayer is so fitting also for John Lewis who walked the way of the cross, to include beatings and arrests.

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

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 12: Year A

Romans 8:26-39;  Matthew 13:31-33,44-52

“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Matthew 13: 51 – 52)

Leading up to the part where our Lord Jesus asks if the disciples “understood all this,” is a series of “The kingdom of heaven is like,” statements. These similes are all intended to show both the growth-effect of the kingdom of heaven, (something old), and that the heart of a person’s greatest desire, can be accomplished (something new). 

The mustard seed grows to be the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.  The Israelites have been scattered and twice caught in bondage but in spite of all this they grew and grew. They overcame their captors and were freed. They became the foundational tree of a One God theology where all the peoples of the earth could find comfort in its branches.

When Jesus gave us the Commandment to first love God and then to love our neighbors as ourselves, he established for us what ought to be our greatest desire. Finding our love for God is like finding a treasure hidden in a field, something for which we would be most happy to sell everything we have to have it. Again, finding our love for God is like finding fine pearls and again selling all that we have to have them. Truly loving God is total and complete happiness. It is when we love God with all that we are that we can then love our neighbors. It does not work when trying to love neighbor or even family before loving God.  Love God first, then it works.

The reward of our faith, and the growth of it, brings us both something new and something old.  But also, this is to reflect the Christian Testament (something new), and the Torah (something old). So when the disciples were asked if they understood all this, I doubt they really did.  I doubt most Christians today really understand all this. The important question is, my beloved of Christ, do you understand all 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 Saturday of Proper 11: Year 2

Psalms 55;  138, 139:1-17(18-23);  Joshua 23:1-16; Romans15:25-33; Matthew 27:11-23

“While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.’” (Matthew 27:19)

We don’t have the name of the wife of Pontius Pilot but she was definitely spiritually connected with God.  Many people, prophets and leaders of Israel were contacted by God via a divine dream.  Jacob, Daniel, and even Joseph the earthly father of our Lord Jesus are just three.  Pilot’s wife is in good company but she is not listened to. I ponder dreams.  Scripture has shown that dreams are often used as conduits of communication by God for the purpose of doing God’s work. Dreams are places of revelation.  Pilot did not listen to his wife, perhaps it was destined to be that way, who knows?  For this Matthew Gospel it may be surprising that we today, even get to hear her voice.  But we do, and so I ponder that all of us should look deeper into our dreams of revelation.

Dreams are very slippery.  If we wait too long we forget the details of our dreams.  It could be an important message lost.  I have personally witnessed one person share a dream and another person at the table interpret what the dream could have meant. It made so much sense.  I think to prepare to download dreams we have to prepare in advance of sleep.  We could have paper and pen at the ready near the bed, or perhaps a phone or recording device with which we could quickly capture the experience.  And there should be some caution in doing this.  As we read from the experience of Pilot’s wife, “I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.”  However, for the most part, I believe God’s message for us will move us closer to the will of God in good ways.  I believe the Spirit of God connects with us in some of our dreams (not all) because we stay too busy with worldly things to hear God during our waking hours.

Today we also remember St. James the apostle:

“James, the brother of John, is often known as James the Greater, to distinguish him from the other Apostle of the same name, commemorated in the calendar with Philip, and also from James “the brother of our Lord.” He was the son of a Galilean fisherman, Zebedee, and with his brother John left his home and his trade in obedience to the call of Christ. With Peter and John, he seems to have belonged to an especially privileged group, whom Jesus chose to be witnesses to the Transfiguration, to the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and to his agony in the garden. (From Lesser Feast and Fasts at https://extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/21034)

I often think that while we like to hold up twelve apostles, Jesus specifically chose about seven, as recorded in the Gospels.  Of the seven, three were particularly invited to witness very special events like those mentioned from the Lesser Feast and Fast above.  Yes, James was special.

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 11: Year 2

Psalms 40, 54,  51; Joshua 9:22-10:15; Romans 15:14-24; Matthew 27:1-10

He said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent^* blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’  (Matthew 27: 4)

Judas has betrayed our Lord Jesus.  He is sorry he did this.  He goes to the religious and spiritual leaders of his community for repentance.  There is no compassion to be found, no consolation.  He goes off and hangs himself.  Poor Judas.

What’s going on here?  First of all, the chief priests and the elders were, sadly, co-conspirators in the plan to arrest and kill Jesus. They were co-conspirators with Judas.  I ponder what made him think he could then go back to them for any kind of understanding.  However, what really stuns me is their response to Judas.  “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”  See WHAT to yourself?  They are in a hard place.  If they acknowledge that Judas was a bad actor, they must own blame themselves. But what they have done is to forsake one of their own people by not helping him find a way to repent.  Too bad that John the Baptist is already dead, Judas could have used him.  Clergy today have the same responsibility.  Often we clergy are called to reflect on any part we may play in the guilt of those we are called to help. The typical problematic areas today seem to be misconduct regarding money and/or sex. Like the chief priests and elders, Christian clergy today must remember, as someone once told me, “it takes sheep to make a shepherd, otherwise, you are just a man with a funny looking stick.”  The sheep are the most important part of ministry, no sheep; no ministry.

Ironically, we remember Thomas a Kempis today who had much to say that is so fitting for our theme today.  Thomas wrote: “When God bestows Spiritual comfort, receive it with a grateful heart; but remember that it comes of God’s free gift, and not of your own merit. Do not be proud, nor over joyful, nor foolishly presumptuous; rather, be the more humble for this gift, more cautious, and more prudent in all your doings, for this hour will pass, and temptation will follow it. When comfort is withdrawn, do not immediately despair, but humbly and patiently await the will of Heaven; for God is able to restore you to a consolation even richer than before. This is nothing new or strange to those who know the ways of God, for the great Saints and Prophets of old often experienced these changes. …Indeed, the temptation that precedes is often a sign of comfort to follow. For heavenly comfort is promised to those who have been tried and tempted.”To him who overcomes,” says God, “I will give to eat of the Tree of Life.”  (Contributed by James Kiefer at  http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Thomas_a_Kempis.htm)

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 11: Year 2

Psalms 50;  [59, 60] or 66, 67 Joshua 9:3-21; Romans 15:1-13; Matthew 26:69-75

“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15: 5 – 6)

These words of Paul about who God is, is worth some deep pondering.  Paul says the God of “steadfastness and encouragement.”  Steadfastness, to me, means discipline.  It means to keep on keeping on.  This is the discipline of my blogging, every day.  However, we must look at content.  The discipline of steadfastness is negative if the content of what we are being steadfast about is negative.  The content of steadfastness must be both good and uplifting for our family and friends.  This then is the encouragement part.

We all should lift up the good traits and habits we see in others.  Such lifting up is encouragement and it promotes harmony.  Even the most introverted person likes to hear words of encouragement. Such words really do bring about harmony in the community. This is how the God of love is revealed in the community.  I think this is why Paul says that God is the God of steadfastness and encouragement.  God is made manifest in how we embrace one another in steadfastness and encouragement. In this way, when people see you coming, they will say to themselves, “here comes “Good News!”

This blog is an example of my steadfast discipline and encouragement to all who read this blog so that readers may, with one voice, glorify God and Father of 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 Wednesday of Proper 11: Year 2

 Psalms 119:49-72,  49, [53] Joshua 8:30-35; Romans14:13-23; Matthew 26:57-68

“The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God.” (Romans 14:22)

I am a mentor of Education for Ministry (EfM) administered from School of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.  As such, I have learned through many sessions to develop my own theology and I have  framed it with a personal creed; a creed to live by; a faith that I have, that I have as my own conviction before God.  I have put together words that I believe really capture my belief. Here it 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.”

I think it is the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus that was promised to us when He went back to where He was before he came to us more than 2000 years ago.  We read in the Gospel of St. John, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (14:26).  Jesus prayed to Creator God that those of us who continue to believe (long after His initial visit) that those of us who follow, will also believe their words. “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20 – 21)  This handed down lesson is my conviction before God.  I am very aware of the “account” part of my creed.  I will do the best that I can to be a good person and to love all people.  This too is my conviction before God.

We also remember Mary Magdalene today.  My heart always goes out to Mary Magdalene.  Again from the Gospel of John: “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to lookinto the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.’ (John 20: 11 – 18)  First Resurrection sermon ever preached. Enough said.  Praise 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 11: Year 2

 Psalms 45, 47, and 48: Joshua 8:1-22; Romans14:1-12; Matthew 26:47-56

“Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.”  (Romans 14: 5)

Paul is teaching Jews and Gentiles alike that all should accept the way the other understands and worships God in their own way.  This is still a valuable lesson for us today.  This applies not only in the wide world of religions, but also within our Christian religion itself.  Whether we are Baptist or Episcopalian, or Roman Catholic, or Presbyterian, or Lutheran, or United Methodist, or Non Denominational, or Amish, we all worship our Lord Jesus in our own way. There is one Jesus but more than one way of having a loving interpretation of, and relationship with, him.

I have dear relatives and close friends who are not Christians.  Some are Jews, some are Muslims and some are of faith-walks I don’t fully understand.  But they believe in a Higher Power in some way. I also know a few so-called, self proclaimed atheist.  I fully believe the latter will come to believe on the other side of this life.  While our walk in faith helps us to navigate this current life, our faith is our preparation for eternal life, at least that’s my Christian understanding.

Paul will go on to say that, “We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.  If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”  (Romans 14: 7 – 8) These words are part of the opening words used at funerals in the Episcopal Church. Pretty much all funeral services are for the assembled living. The deceased have already moved on. So it is while we are living to the Lord, that is, living in the “dash,” (date born “dash” date died) that we should not shape our faith, but rather, let our faith shape us.  Being convinced in our own minds does not mean never changing our minds. Rather, it means being open minded to the other’s way as well as the possibilities for one’s own way.  

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