Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Friday in theWeek of the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 102; Psalm 107:1-32   Gen. 32:22-33:17; 1 John 3:1-10; John 10:31-42

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him” (1 John 3: 1)

Our Lord Jesus walked among us teaching us to behave like Children of God.  He adopted us as brothers and sisters in Christ and therefore heirs to the kingdom.  We are not like many in the world.  We, as believers, are grafted into the family-hood of God.  That means we are different.  We do not repay evil for evil.  We treat others like we would have them treat us.

There are people who do not know this about the nature of God.  When they see the love we have they know not where it comes from and don’t understand what it means to be civil and decent and loving towards others.  It is God’s way but “the reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him”

 Our Lord Jesus goes on to say, “All who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters (1 John 3:10).  I think the truth is that we are all from God but some of us have de-select to be a part of God’s family because they have decided to worship the created rather than the Creator. To remain a part of the family of God our Lord Jesus says we do what is right and love our brothers and sisters. We don’t de-select them.

If we are to do what is right then it is implied that we already know the right thing to do. It is implied that we have that “gut” feeling that tells us the right path.  That right path is not promised to be easy.  But it is right and good so to do.

Additionally, we are to love our brothers and sisters.  I’ve talked about this before. First we recognize that all people are our brothers and sisters (regardless of what they think). Please be cautioned about two things: first, most of our brothers and sisters whom we are called to love are different than ourselves (race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, language, and even political party.)  Second, some or our brothers and sisters go out of their way to be difficult to love.  Love them anyway.  In many ways it’s like being in any regular family.  It is no wonder then that most families have the so-called “lost child.”  Perhaps these lost family members are preparing us for what God is asking us to do on a global stage, love them anyway.  This earth is our family home and we are all family, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.  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 Frederick Douglass Orator and Advocate for Truth and Justice, 1895

Psalm 85:7-13 Isaiah 32:11-18 John 8:30-32

“My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.” (Isaiah 32:18)

Today we remember Frederick Douglass an early advocate for civil rights, especially for slaves and for descendents of former slaves.  “Born as a slave in February 1818, Frederick Douglass was separated from his mother at the age of eight and given by his new owner, Thomas Auld, to his brother and sister-in-law, Hugh and Sophia Auld. Sophia attempted to teach Frederick to read, along with her son, but her husband put a stop to this, claiming, “It would forever unfit him to be a slave.” Frederick learned to read in secret, earning small amounts of money when he could and paying neighbors to teach him.” (A Great Cloud of Witnesses for February 20)

Sometimes the most profound lessons come from the lips of people who are not respecting the dignity of another.  Hugh Auld said, learning to read “would forever unfit him to be a slave.” Therefore, reading frees people.  “At the age of 14, Douglass had experienced a conversion to Christ in the African American Episcopal Church, and his recollection of that tradition’s spiritual music sustained him in his struggle for freedom: “Those songs still follow me, to deepen my hatred of slavery, and quicken my sympathies for my brethren in bonds.”   (A Great Cloud of Witnesses for February 20)

“A strong advocate of racial integration, Douglass disavowed black separatism and wanted to be counted as equal among his white peers. When he met Abraham Lincoln in the White House, he noted that the President treated him as a kindred spirit without one trace of condescension. Douglass died in 1895.”  (A Great Cloud of Witnesses for February 20)

From Douglas we can, and should, understand Isaiah’s words for us today to be inclusive, that is, the term “My People” to mean people of an inclusive Christian faith, not just black or white, even though Douglas might have meant it that way. There is a truth here that defies race and bigotry. Reading, learning and loving are the gateways to a spiritual growth.  Listening, learning, loving and leading will enable us “to abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.”

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

Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; Psalm 119:121-144 Gen. 31:25-50; 1 John 2:12-17; John 10:1-18

“And the world and [and the desire for it] are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.” (1John 2:17)

We have an opportunity, and indeed an invitation, to adjust ourselves to being happy while doing the will of God.  Everything else that we do has an expiration date.  It is not a matter of “if.”  The end of our days is a matter of “when.”  My brother still remembers, with sadness the day I told him that one day he will die.  He told me that recently, even though it has been more than sixty years ago.  I’m not sure that as a child that I even knew what I was talking about. 

Now what good is it to live forever while at the same time not liking the life you live?  But if we learn to appreciate doing the will of God to the point that we look forward to every opportunity to do it again, we are happy living forever.

Remember, it is at the intersection of what you love to do, and what the community needs, that is the joy you will have and it is also the will of God. Each of us are here for a reason, a divine reason.  A personal goal for each of us should be to ponder about what our niche in this life is.  What is it that we really enjoy doing? Rule nothing out!  Even if it sounds silly, that very silliness may just be what you get to enjoy for all eternity.  Some will say “I can’t think of anything that I would want to do for all eternity.”  To which I would respond, “You haven’t found “it” yet.”

This world is passing away.  But we, as believers, have a chance to be with an eternal Presence that welcomes us, and the gifts that we are blessed with, into an eternal household.  

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

Psalm 97, 99, [100]; PM Psalm 94, Gen. 31:1-24; 1 John 2:1-11; John 9:18-41

“The man answered, ‘Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.” (John 9:30)

After the interrogation of the man who was given his sight by our Lord Jesus and his parents also, that man stands up to the Temple Elders (a better term than “the Jews”).  He has contempt for the Temple Elders and sarcastically asked them if they too wanted to become disciples of Jesus. If we don’t know where a person comes from then, if we are smart, we will leave open the possibility that maybe perhaps he or she could actually be from God.  We identify the tree by its fruit.

These so-called educated men argue with the man who was given his sight but he catches them off guard when he says, “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind” (John 9:32).  But even this does not move them to admit that they are in error. 

Finally the newly sighted man stumbles into Jesus after being thrown out of the Temple.  Jesus lets him know that he is speaking to our Lord Jesus and the man worships him.  I can’t begin to know what it must be like to have never seen anything and then be given sight. Wow!  But perhaps it’s not too different from living under false doctrine for all of one’s life and then be given real sight about who God is and what God wants of us. Again, Wow!

“Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind” (John 9:39).  This is a way of saying that our Lord Jesus will open our eyes to what is real but if we choose to not see, so be it.  “Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not blind, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains.” (John 9:40 – 41)  Therefore, we cannot see wrong-doing and pretend not to see it. Once we know, we can’t un-know.   If we see it we must acknowledge it and respond in godly ways.  Anything less and we fall into that judgment that our Lord Jesus spoke of.

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

Psalm 89:1-18; PM Psalm 89:19-52 Gen. 30:1-24; 1 John 1:1-10; John 9:1-17

“The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’ But they kept asking him, ‘Then how were your eyes opened?’ He answered, ‘The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” Then I went and washed and received my sight.’ They said to him, ‘Where is he?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’”  (John 9: 8 – 12)

I can relate to this formerly blind man.  I am so different from how I was raised and how I grew up.  Perhaps some old friends or even relatives would say of me, “it is someone like him.”  I know I am different now.  And it truly is like having my eyes opened.

The act of having one’s eyes opened is a collaboration. Our Lord Jesus touches us but then also he gives us instruction that we must obey. “Go to Siloam and wash.” For me it was my Lord Jesus saying “Go, be Baptized.”  And I did, at St Anne’s in Memphis, Tennessee forty years ago at the Easter Vigil. It was life changing. But it was just part of a lifelong process.

Jesus giving us sight is a lifelong process.  We have to do our part in this healing ministry.  Jesus touches us and gives us instruction.  We then must listen and do as we are instructed, continually. I have many altars in my life; starting out at St Vincent de Paul Catholic School, my finally getting in the Marines, my baptism at St Anne’s, my Call to ordained ministry, and hey, I’m not done yet.  I’m still receiving more sight.  As Jesus is the Light of the world, I am still receiving further light.  It just gets better and better. 

The Spirit of God in our Lord Jesus Christ continually asks us to partner with him in order that we might better see the world and the heavens.  When you follow, you will change.  And old friends and perhaps even relatives, will ask if you are the same person.  And the answer is “no.”  You really are a new creation in Christ 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

Eucharistic Readings for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year A

Deuteronomy 30:15-20  Psalm 119:1-8  1 Corinthians 3:1-9   Matthew 5:21-37

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said” (Matthew 5)

In this section of the Gospel of Matthew our Lord Jesus re-interprets the Hebrew Testament. Specifically, Our Lord Jesus tells them what they have heard and re-orients them in a more godly way. He speaks of hate, of marriage and of the swearing of oaths.

Of hate we are to repent and seek forgiveness. Every Sunday (today) we open our service with the words, “Almighty God to you all hearts are open, all desires known and from you no secrets are hid. Cleanse the thoughts of our heart by the power of your Holy Spirit…” You see, it is only through prayer that we can overcome hate, hate of any kind, racial, ethnical, national, and today in America, political hatred.

Of marriage ,we are to honor our spouses. This has to do with the keeping of our word. Its more than just each other, it’s about the whole family. Just as we are told to honor our mother and father, mom and dad must honor each other. They Must model, if you will, what love and honor means. The marriage metaphor is also symbolic of the relationship we have with our Lord Jesus as the Bridegroom of our Church. and we are to be faithful to Christ always.

Of oaths, we are to let yes be yes and no be no. This is not “no because,” or yes if.”  This is about seriously pondering a proposition and then stating your yes or no response after thinking about it.

All of these particular reinterpretations are about monitoring our hearts such that what we say is what we do.  I have created for myself several five pointed stars. My first five pointed star reads, Praise God, love all, keep word, work hard and live plain.  I’m still a work in progress. But this gets me through the day.

All we have is our word.  We want God to keep God’s word. If we are created in God’s Image, and I believe we are, then we too must keep our word.  Perhaps commitment supersedes anger, perhaps commitment supersedes even love.  However, since commitment is all about your word, then it cannot, by its very nature, supersede itself, that is, your word. A promise, is a promise, is a promise.

Our baptismal covenant is an oath.  We promise that we will renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God; We promise that we will renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God; We promise to renounce all sinful desires that draw us from the love of God; We promise to turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as our Savior; We promise to put our whole trust in his grace and love; and finally, We promise to follow and obey him as our Lord.  Do you still promise these things?  Yes or No only please.

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 Thomas Bray: Priest and   Missionary (15 Feb 1730)

Psalm 85:7-13 Isaiah 52:7-10 Luke 10:1-9

 “Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid.”  (Luke 10:7)

Being Sent: Jesus sent out the seventy with strict instruction to be entirely present with those whom they were with, whose house they were in.  He told them do not go from house to house looking for the best deal. Being sent takes a lot of pressure off because it’s not about the one sent but rather the Sender. We are representing the Sender.  We just deliver the message.  We also report back to the Sender about what we saw and what we were able to do in the Sender’s Name.

Thomas Bray was sent by the Bishop Henry Compton, Bishop of London, in 1696. Bishop Compton appointed Bray as his commissary to organize the Church of England in the Colony of Maryland to see how the priests were conducting themselves in the New World.  Bray did not talk so much to the priest.  He talked to the people about how the priest conducted themselves on the voyage; whether they were given to drinking too much or chasing after women and such.  He also inquired as to whether they held regular hours of prayer and study of God’s word and did he conduct services on Sunday in keeping with the Church of England.

Thomas was not in the colonies long. And all of his time was spent in the Colony of Maryland.  But he advocated for the liberation and education of African slaves and Native Americans.  He also began the SPG (Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) and an educational and publishing society, SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge), both of which are still active today. 

Thomas Bray was quite a priest. I was blessed to see a stone monument dedicated to him and others while on Sabbatical in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Christ Episcopal Church down town Philadelphia in 2015.  It does my heart good to see the history that I read about being made manifest in such a way. 

 I highly encourage anyone who can, to go to Christ Church Philadelphia and take in some of our Church history.  We are still being sent out.  And as we go, we are to be thankful and grateful for the hospitality received.  Yes, we too are sent, sent to spread the good News of our Lord Jesus Christ and be comfortable where God leads us and sends us.

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

Psalm 88; Psalm 91, 92   Gen. 27:46-28:4,10-22; Rom. 13:1-14; John 8:33-47

“Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”  (John 8: 42)

All of the reports of the Gospel, from all four of its sources, complement each other.  From Matthew’s account we read, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)  Those of us who insist on peace are truly children of God.  And as our Lord Jesus says, “If God is our Father we would love him,” and not only him, but all people.

Loving people does not mean agreeing with them. We can come away from an issue with different concerns about how things should be done.  However, there should be some fairness and reasonable livability on both sides without harm or detriment to anyone; just different interests. Love bridges differences.  

Love makes room for forgiving even when harm is done. If we are the victim, we pray for the strength to overcome what has happened. And, with God’s help, we can.  If we are the perpetrator we pray for the strength to repent, acknowledge the wrong we’ve done and be accountable for what we have done.  And we face those we have hurt. I believe it is the perpetrator’s soul that is most damaged when sinful acts are done.  Repenting is truly an act of sincere love and thus, soul repair.

We are children of God as we make peace and have love for one another as our Lord Jesus teaches us. We have the Holy Spirit of God within us.  This Spirit is trying to lead us and guide us.  All we have to do is listen and follow. We should look at every person and understand that they too are saying that “if we are God’s child we would love them.”  This is what the Holy Spirit of God is teaching us.  We need to listen and do likewise.

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 Absalom Jones

Psalm 126 Isaiah 42:5-9 John 15:12-15

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

This Commandment of love from Jesus is different from the Commandment we get from Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels. In Matthew, Mark and Luke we get Jesus commanding us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  The big assumption here is that we in fact love ourselves. 

John does not let us off so easy.  John records Jesus commanding us to love one another as he, Jesus, loves us.  And he loved us all the way to the cross.  Jesus literally loved us to death. 

Absalom Jones loved his people too in just the same way.  He also loved the new Episcopal Church.  He would not leave this Church to join Richard Allen in the African Methodist Episcopal movement. Jones was a man of conviction.  As a slave he bought the freedom of the woman he loved and married her and then bought his own freedom.

I can’t talk about Absalom Jones without also lifting up Bishop William White.  White was Bishop of Philadelphia and the first Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Bishop White ordained Jones to the Deaconate and then to the Priesthood.  And while this ordination was for Jones to be a priest was for people of color, he was still ordained in God’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.  Bishop White listened to God and opened his heart and the Church to make a space of this important ministry. 

Before this ordination, blacks were forced to leave a church and as a result Jones met with Bishop White and this brand new Episcopal Church made room for them.  Bishop White listened to the voice of God for what to do about this Episcopal Church and former slaves.  Being brought about in the midst of a revolution already, he further heard the call to be open to providing for displaced African descendents.  Absalom Jones then decided to work with Bishop White and not leave, but rather, give of himself to this perhaps, unexpected opportunity.  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

Readings for Charles Freer Andrews Priest and “Friend of the Poor” in India 1940

Psalm 113:2-8 Deuteronomy 15:7-11 Ephesians 2:13-22 Matthew 23:8-12

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19)

I don’t think Charles Freer Andrews cared that the people of India were not Christian even though he himself was a Priest of the Church of England. He saw them as “citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God” as spoke of in the letter from Paul to the Church in Ephesus.

He traveled to South Africa to help the Indians there in their dispute with the Government, and it was then that he met a young lawyer named Mohandas Gandhi.  Andrews was impressed with Gandhi’s teaching of non-violence and with his knowledge of the Christian faith, and helped him establish an ashram, or Indian hermitage, devoted to the practice of peace. (Great Cloud of Witnesses for February 12)

Andrews made a second visit to Fiji in 1917 and although reported on some improvements, was still appalled at the moral degradation of the indentured laborers. He called for an immediate end to indenture and the system of Indian indentured labor was formally abolished in 1920.

About this time, Gandhi reasoned to Andrews that it was probably best for sympathetic Britons like himself to leave the freedom struggle to Indians. So, from 1935 onwards, Andrews began to spend more time back in Britain, teaching young people all over the country about Christ’s call to radical discipleship. Gandhi’s affectionate nickname for Andrews was Christ’s Faithful Apostle, based on the initials of his name, “C.F.A”. He was widely known as Gandhi’s closest friend and was perhaps the only major figure to address Gandhi by his first name, Mohan. (Great Cloud of Witnesses for February 12)

Charles teaches us that all of us truly are “citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19) If every man and woman took the time to imagine being in the place of a person or a people in a subservient role in our midst we would then question how we treat them.  How would we live and raise our families when treated as second class citizens?  We all need to look around and see the other, and then “be” the other, for just a little while.  Perhaps then we can see how we, as a society, are treating them. And then, like Charles Freer Andrews, do something about it. 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