Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday in the Week of the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 78:1-39; Psalm 78:40-72 Gen. 26:1-6,12-33; Heb. 13:17-25; John 7:53-8:11

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.” (Hebrews 13: 17)

I believe we all are led by another person or persons.  From our president down to the least followed person on the planet.  Sometimes our leaders are a group of people as in a council or a cabinet, or vestry or board of directors. The reason we have this body of leadership is because in and of themselves, leaders often can’t figure out the next best move.

If we have any care about whom our leaders are we should then keep them in prayer, asking God to aid and assist them in good thoughts and right actions for the welfare of their charge.  Whether our leaders are one person or a group, they are not outside the influence of God.  Even if we don’t like our leader, it would be all the more reason to pray to God for them.  God will make them who they need to be in order that they “keep watch over our souls.”

God can, and will, also have our leadership be joyful in doing the good works pleasing in God’s sight.  As one who served in the Marines for thirty years under all kinds of leaders, and now being led by a faithful bishop and a loving parish vestry, I know firsthand that prayer for leaders work.

Leaders (including myself) are often conflicted about how priorities should be set but prayer to God for right judgment always helps.  I can say to you honestly that praying for leaders makes a good and positive difference.  The big thing to overcome is that we must really “want” them to be better, to do good works for the people they serve.  We can’t hold grudges or wish ill upon them.  But rather, work with God for their improvement. If we didn’t have people we wouldn’t need leaders.  So it is really for the people that we are praying. And when (not if) the leader improves, relish in the pride of working with God that changed him or her. And you know what?  They didn’t even see it coming. Bless their hearts.

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

Psalm 80; Psalm 77, [79] Gen. 25:19-34; Heb. 13:1-16; John 7:37-52

“Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ ⁵²They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.”  (John 7:50 – 52)

So this is Nicodemus who first went out to Jesus in darkness, perhaps so as not to be seen.  But the darkness could also be used to describe his darkness of ignorance.  Albeit, he now pushes for some level of fairness for Jesus. And what happens?  His colleagues immediately turn on him.  They have that mentality that says if you are not with me, then you are against me.

Nicodemus took a risk for Jesus because he knew in his heart that Jesus was a good man and at least a prophet sent from God.  His friends want to use our Lord Jesus’ origin as a way to say he cannot be sent from God. Now even they will admit that God can do whatever God wants to do.  And one thing is for sure; God does not depend on “the way it’s always been” as the limits of what God can do.

We too should not use our history as a locked in boundary that will suppress any hope of evolving, that is,of growing spiritually.  When writings get old, somehow they become sacred text that suggests that the people who wrote them were in some way, smarter than we are today. This kind of misguided idea, be it the Bible or the Constitution, becomes our new god.  But they are not God.  They are writings by people all of whom had faults and misunderstandings.  While Jesus did not originate in Galilee as they thought, it really makes no difference.  God, the real God, can, and does do, whatever God wants to do.  God is always doing something new.  

How many of us today are where we are originally from? Some of us are, some of us are not. Either way, it makes no difference. God is present at our beginning, in our present and will receive us when we close. Nicodemus was right, we all deserve a hearing and God, and the real God, listens.  We too should listen to one another, and with compassion.  Remember, listening leads to learning, which leads to loving, which can lead to leading itself.

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 Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year A

Isaiah 58:1-9a, [9b-12]  Psalm 112:1-9, (10)  1 Corinthians 2:1-12, [13-16]  Matthew 5:13-20

  “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot.  “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13 – 16)

Being a true Southerner, I love grits. But I don’t want anyone who doesn’t like grits to cook them for me.  You have to know the value of salt.  Without salt grits aren’t fit to eat.  Salt is a seasoning that makes foods palatable. 

The “you” that Jesus uses in the Matthew verses above is the plural form.  This grit-eating Southerner would say “Y’all.”  The “y’all” that our Lord Jesus uses applies to the Church.  That means our Christian Church. So when our Lord Jesus says that you are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, he is telling us the we, the Church, are the salt and light of the world.

Salt is that property of the Church that seasons the people of the earth.  It brings forth peace and harmony.  It blends us together. It does not make us one, it’s not suppose to.  And that’s where light comes in.

With light we can see and appreciate the differences between us.  We are like a bowl of vegetable soup.  We, the people of the earth, are seasoned with the salt of the church and brought into harmonious relationship with one another.  However, with the light of the Church we can still see the different textures of one another.  It is like looking at green beans, and corn, and carrots and a few potatoes and some spinach leaves all brought to a piping hot dish and seasoned to perfection with a little salt to make it a very delicious meal.

The world needs to live in harmony with each other and at the same time recognize and honor the distinctive differences we bring to the bowl. 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 Saturday in the Week of the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 75, 76; Psalm 23, 27  Gen. 24:28-38,49-51; Heb. 12:12-29; John 7:14-36

“Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

Sometimes seeking peace is hard to do.  Some people act as if they don’t want peace.  As hard as it might be, listening is probably the one (although sometimes painful) thing we can do to soften ourselves, and the other, in order that we might begin the process to establishing some sort of peace.

When we listen, we learn.  We might learn that we were right all along about the stubbornness and ignorance of the other person.  But, listening might also bring about learning the fears and misunderstanding that the other harbors. When we listen, we learn.

Learning brings about some degree of understanding. Learning casts light on the darkness of misunderstanding.   It’s hard to remain harsh to a person when we fully understand what the argumentative problems are, when we see the issue from their perspective.  When we understand we become more tolerant.  When we become more tolerant we shift into feeling the concern of the other and a little compassion seeps in and love for the other begins to develop.

Listening, learning and loving takes place in pursuit of peace.  The grace of God follows the peace of God. And it is the peace God that our Lord Jesus intentionally shares with us if we will but accept it. This truly makes us a holy people.  And how do we seek holiness?  Holiness has to be freely given by God as grace.  As you read this, may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always so that with God’s grace you may see the Lord in Spirit and in 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 Friday in the Week of the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 69:1-23(24-30)31-38; PM Psalm 73 Gen. 24:1-27; Heb. 12:3-11; John 7:1-13

“For no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”  (John 7:4)

I think they misunderstand our Lord Jesus.  And this reading says that his brothers did not believe him as yet.  Jesus stayed on fringes.  He was never looking for just praise, but rather he looked for what was the good work that needed to be done. He healed the sick, and taught morality.  So he was doing things that made communal life better. He didn’t want to be widely known but rather widely received.

Too often we look at good people from the paradigm of their own self serving.  We ask “what’s in it for them?” We don’t ask, “What gifts has God given them that enhances our lives?”

Knowing that his friends were all about the popularity of people he told them, “Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.’ After saying this, he remained in Galilee.” (John 7: 8 – 9)  However, after a little while Our Lord Jesus had a change of mind and went to Jerusalem and to the Festival of Booths, but he went in secret.  “But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret.” (John 4:10)

Even today we never know when our Lord Jesus is near, but in secret.  The good news is that when he is near, he is near to do good.  And while it is good to give our Lord Jesus praise and honor, the additional rejoicing should be about how much better our situation is about to be.  Thank you Lord Jesus and please stay near us, even if in secret, we need you close.

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

Psalm 70], 71; Psalm 74 Gen. 23:1-20; Heb. 11:32-12:2; John 6:60-71

“It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63)

We have the Spirit of God in us. And our Lord Jesus says it is this God-given spirit that gives us life.  We are more than blood-pumping hearts and lungs that exchange air.  As the saying goes, we are so much more than the sum of our parts. I know, and have had experience with, medical doctors who place their faith well ahead of their practice.

The Spirit speaks to us. The spirit in us serves as a communicator that connects us with the will of God. To realize what God is saying all we have to do is be still and be quiet.  Sure, our minds will wonder.  But as we practice contemplative exercises by keeping times of sitting quietly we will get better at receiving God’s guidance. As we learn from the lost son in Chapter 15 verse 7 of Luke’s Gospel, we will get better at coming to our senses, or to ourselves (depending on which translation you read). Times of meditation will reorient us into being who God intends for us to be.

From Blaise Pascal we learn that “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”  Down time, specifically quiet time, is the medicine of the soul.  It is during such quiet times that God visits us.  This lesson runs throughout the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Hagar, Elijah, Mary, Joseph and our Lord Jesus who was setting the example for us to follow.  Therefore….

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to and through the saints of God and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do.  John

Readings for The Martyrs of Japan 1597

Psalm 16:5-11 Lamentations 3:46-48, 52-59 Galatians 2:19-20 Mark 8:34-38 

“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel,will save it.” (Mark 8: 35)

This Mark verse clearly reminds us of the glorious life after death and the reward of maintaining our faith as our faith is shown in the Gospel.  This is a life of dedication.  And as Dr Martin Luther King Jr. said “If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”

I’m conflicted about the exact date for remembering the Martyrs of Japan, the 5^th or the 6^th of February.  In any case since I am going to preach on them this Wednesday night I thought I would reflect on the permanency of Christianity.  But first let’s get the back-story from James Kiefer.

by James Kiefer

“The Christian faith was first introduced into Japan in the sixteenth century by Jesuit and later by Franciscan missionaries. By the end of that century, there were probably about 300,000 baptized believers in Japan.
     Unfortunately, this promising beginning met reverses, brought about by rivalries between different groups of missionaries and political intrigues by the Spanish and Portuguese governments, along with power politics factions in the Japanese government itself. The result was a suppression of Christians.” (http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Japan_martyrs.htm)

These rivalries between different groups of missionaries and political intrigues by the Spanish and Portuguese governments are the kinds of things that happen when we forget about our Lord Jesus.  We must always remember that there is one Christ.  There are many ways but all should be respected. No one way is perfect.  Real Christianity maintains itself.

“By 1630, what was left of Christianity in Japan was driven underground. Yet it is remarkable that two hundred and fifty years later there were found many men and women, without priests, who had preserved through the generations a vestige of Christian faith.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for February 6)  This is a WOW! moment for me.  It seems the Christian Church prospers best in secret, like the persecuted Church prior to Constantine. But even deeper than the Church, please know this in your own personal faith-life, real Christianity maintains itself no matter what contemporary label we put on it.

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 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 61, 62; Psalm 68:1-20(21-23)24-36 Gen. 21:1-21; Heb. 11:13-22; John 6:41-51

 “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day.” (John 6: 44)

Maybe not everybody is called to follow our Lord Jesus Christ or even to be a Christian.  Jesus says that “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me.”  God sends certain people to our Lord Jesus.  This was evident in the star that led the wise men in Mathew’s Gospel; it was true for Simeon who was called to the Temple when Jesus was taken there at his Presentation; it was true when people like Andrew and  Philip and others brought their relatives or friends to Jesus.  In my own life a Marine friend brought me to Jesus at St Anne’s Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee more than forty years ago.

Now having said all that, I don’t believe only Christians are saved.  I think God uses us Christians to assist in the saving.  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Ruth, and David and Elijah and Elisha and others were saved and none of them were Christians. This saving includes some non-Christian  New Testament folk as well because the term Christian was not put into use until the teachings about our Lord Jesus was taught in Antioch. We read, “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:25 – 26)

We Christians are the volunteer flight crews making passengers comfortable and safe on the flight.  And one thing I have noticed about flight crews as we prepare to board the plane, they get a pass to go right on board.  So too, we have a pass to be raised up on the last day. God loves all people and we are here to help them on the journey. God’s kingdom is not about us or them; it is about us and them, together.  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 Monday in the Week of the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 56, 57, [58]; Psalm 64, 65 Gen. 19:1-17(18-23)24-29; Heb. 11:1-12; John 6:27-40

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”  (Hebrews 11:6)

When we believe that there is a God, a loving God who created, and is still creating, all life, we have choices to make.  We can just sit back and enjoy the good works that God is doing, or through some antisocial twist of mind work against the works of God,  or we can be a part of what God is doing by participating in the beauty and health of God’s works.

God wants to co-create with us.  And God will meet us if we take steps toward God. From our Hebrew reading we learn that there is a reward for us as we seek God.  That reward is more than we can ever ask or imagine. But more than that, I believe there is reward in the approach to God.  Because we believe that God exists and that God is good, the sweat equity we apply in our beliefs simultaneously rewards us.  This then is not looking forward to some specific award of reward, that once accomplished, tends to encourage us to stop and bask in our accomplishments.  No, I believe that as we approach the will of God, we are pleased more and more by each step that we take. 

I saw a cartoon in the paper the other  day where the child in the Charlie Brown Peanuts series who plays the piano was asked by the little girl, who I believe has a crush on him that,  “What if he practiced for twenty years and never became rich or famous?”  To which he replied “The joy is in the playing.” And she responded somewhat upset, “Really?”  This really captures how I feel about our approach to God.  The joy is in the approach. The joy is in the journey, really.

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 Presentation of Our Lord Jesus

Malachi 3:1-4  Psalm 84  or Psalm 24:7-10  Hebrews 2:14-18  Luke 2:22-40

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.” (Luke 2:25 – 26)

Here we have an independent story of the Lord’s favor on a person not directly called to a ministry other than contributing to us by sharing his story of revelation, the revelation of grace. This Simeon is only one of a few that the Holy Spirit rested on.  His specific identity is not revealed except that he was a righteous and devout man. That’s probably good enough.

Simeon seemed to be a quiet man and Anna who lived in the Temple (unusual for a woman) at prayer continually were both led out to see Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus at the same time. This presence and leadership of the Holy Spirit was at work then and is at work today.  But like Simeon and Anna, we have to have our own quiet time in order to receive the message.

“Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”” (Luke 2:27 – 32)

These words resonate with me because they are almost the same as the words found at close of Compline at the top of page 135 of the Book of Common Prayer.

“Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.” (BCP 135)

 Simeon only wanted to know that God was in fact at work in restoring the world as had been promised.  God was doing this through Mary, and through Israel and to the world. And still is. I believe this and this is why I always end my page with the invitation to listen for the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  God is always doing something new. Do you believe this?  If so then: 

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