Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Monday Proper 9 of Year 1

AM Psalm 1, 2, 3; PM Psalm 4, 7 1 Samuel 15:1-3,7-23; Acts 9:19b-31; Luke 23:44-56a

“When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.  But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 9:26 – 27)

Barnabas seems to be someone who looks deeper into how God changes people. The below article is from James Kiefer, an amateur (but well respected) Church biographer:

“Joseph, a Levite, born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (son of encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and turned it over to the apostles.” (Acts 4:36f). This is the first mention we have of Barnabas.

His new name fits what we know of his actions. When Saul (or Paul) came to Jerusalem after his conversion, most of the Christians there wanted nothing to do with him. They had known him as a persecutor and an enemy of the Church. But Barnabas was willing to give him a second chance. He looked him up, spoke with him, and brought him to see the other Christians, vouching for him. Later, Paul and Barnabas went on a missionary journey together, taking Mark with them. Part way, Mark turned back and went home. When Paul and Barnabas were about to set out on another such journey, Barnabas proposed to take Mark along, and Paul was against it, saying that Mark had shown himself undependable. Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance, and so he and Mark went off on one journey, while Paul took Silas and went on another. Apparently Mark responded well to the trust given him by the “son of encouragement,” since we find that Paul later speaks of him as a valuable assistant (2 Tim 4:11; see also Col 4:10 and Phil 24).” By James Kiefer

From James Kiefer’s article we learn that Barnabas is a giver of second chances. Not only that, he goes out and advocates for Paul before the apostles.  In this we get to see the difference between disciples (students) and apostles (those sent).  Barnabas gives Paul a second chance but interestingly Paul does not want to give Mark a second chance, at least initially. 

We all make mistakes.  We all need that very important second chance.  As Saul experienced, it is a hard thing to come by.  We need more people like Barnabas in the world.  We need more people willing to be with people who have erred and help them explain their change of position in life and then to walk with them as a partner in the new creation they are becoming. 

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through (and to) God’s people. John+

Eucharistic Readings for Sunday Proper 9 of Year C

2 Kings 5:1-14 Psalm 30 Galatians 6:(1-6)7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10: 20)

Before we get to the above quote, Jesus says twice for them to eat whatever they are served and to not go from house to house and whether they are welcomed or not, to let them know that the kingdom of heaven has come near.  Jesus wants us to be fully with the people that receive us. Jesus wants us to be one with them in their homes and at their tables. And if this can’t be, let them know that it does not stop the oncoming kingdom of heaven.

This kingdom of heaven is the new place of our citizenship and where we belong if we love the Lord and follow in God’s Ways. This is where our Christened names are filed. We should rejoice that our names are on the rolls of heaven.

This is the Independence Day Weekend.  We celebrate our temporal citizenship as Americans who are free to govern ourselves by majority rule as made manifest by the vote.  Scripture informs me however that the majority does not always get it right.  The majority wanted Aaron to make an idol calf to worship for the people in the wilderness (Exodus 32:1 – 6).  Likewise, it was the majority of the people in Jerusalem who insisted that Jesus be condemned to death (John 18:35).  So we the majority need to be checked every now and then.

But we have much to be thankful for as Americans. Our Independence freed us from the tyranny of a monarch so that we could start our own governance of he people, by the people and for the people.  However, even in that governance not all were treated as equals.  We are getting better. We are evolving.  Over time we are truly becoming more Christ-like even given that we were not founded as A Christen nation but rather an independent nation.

 America, I believe, is the city shinning on a hill.  We are a light to the nations. When we lift our voice to God in prayer, we can’t know how God will respond.  We only know that God will respond.  Like Naaman of 2^nd Kings 5, we must listen and obey God’s leadership and let go of our own preconceived ideas about how God should respond to us.   We must live into what it means to be the “land of the free and the home of the brave.”

When doing all the good that we can do following the commands of Jesus, we will see amazing things, amazing transformations taking place in people. We will see Jesus at work in the people we take Jesus to and see them transformed.  And we will notice that evil begins to diminish like Satan falling from the heavens – the heavens where we will reside forever.  It’s all part of God’s plan and it is truly marvelous in our eyes.

Thank you Jesus. John+

Daily Office Readings for Saturday Proper 8 of Year 1

AM Psalm 137:1-6(7-9), 144; PM Psalm 104 1 Samuel 14:16-30; Acts 9:10-19a; Luke 23:32-43

“But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:13 – 15)

Ananias is in a hard place.  He feared Saul and what he has come to do in Damascus.  Yet, he is in counsel with the Risen Lord who instructs him to go to Saul anyway.  God has given to Saul a great gift of preaching.  Saul however, has wasted his gift and his time following the ways of the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.  Now Jesus is calling in what is owed to God from Saul who is unaware of his own potential.

In the “Pauling” of Saul God opened his eyes to see a different way.  Saul/Paul never met Jesus in the flesh, he only met those who followed in his Way.  This “Jesus” Movement was something that was troubling to the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.  They had their henchman Saul to go out and do their dirty work. But he was taken away from them by Jesus himself and now the table has turned. Paul is preaching Jesus as the Savior of the world!

How many (or who) of us today possess Holy Gifts from God that we are either not using at all or (and even worse) using in the wrong way?  Far too many of us do not sit down quietly and meditate on what Jesus is asking of us.  Perhaps we think that Jesus doesn’t do that kind of thing anymore. Maybe some of us have already written ourselves off as unworthy to be used by God.

Let me address both of these.  First of all, God in Christ Jesus has always been, is now, and always will be acting in creation. There is no “used to do” with God. God is The Unchanging change agent.

Second, to say that God can’t or won’t use you is really not about you. Such a statement is about the limitation of God – God who has no limits.  I myself am living proof that God can and will use anybody to do good in the world.  I failed grades in elementary school; I dropped out of high school altogether and was set on my own destructive path to my dreaded Damascus.  But through various people in my life, my own experiences, with my own versions of Ananias, I was made to see the path that Jesus wanted me to follow.  I am still meeting Ananias in different persons today. They come in all walks of human life, black, white, old, young, male, female, American and foreign born, heterosexual and homosexual. And I am sure that some of my Ananias’ were afraid to approach me but they followed Jesus’ instruction and here I am. I earned a bachelorette degree and two Master’s degrees and am an ordained Episcopal Priest.  I am no Paul but I am trying hard to make use of my God given gifts.

Have you met any of your Ananias’ yet?  I’ll bet you have.  Now you just need to let the scales fall from your eyes and see what the Lord wants you to do.

And ponder anew what the Almighty is doing. John+

Daily Office Readings for Friday Proper 8 of Year 1

AM Psalm 140, 142; PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12) 1 Samuel 13:19-14:15; Acts 9:1-9; Luke 23:26-31

“For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’ (Luke 23: 31)

Jesus is observing the character of people in what they perceive as good times, “while the wood is green.”  So how will people act in hard times? Or as Fred B. Craddock writes in “Luke” (Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Knox Press 1990), “Jesus recites a proverb (Luke 23:31) to the effect that if such a tragedy as his death can occur in a time of relatively non-inflammatory, imagine the holocaust when Jerusalem is a tinderbox.”  (p. 271)

Today we have tragedies happening all the time. We have school shootings, work place shootings, and all kinds of man-made horror taking place during our relative “Good times.”  We should be very careful that we don’t get desensitized to these horrors.  It makes us callous and non caring about the slaughter of the innocent.  Every life matters. White lives mater, black lives matter, Asian lives matter, and Hispanic lives matter. Any person or persons killed or unfairly treated is a matter of “stop what we are doing and figure it out.” 

Our wood is green now in America.  There are no wars going on within our borders. We are not occupied by a foreign country.  There are many countries that can’t say that. Citizens of such places feel as though their lives are worthless.  Unfortunately, they also think we, here in America, feel the same way about their lives given that we do little to help them.  We indeed are our brothers and sisters keeper.  The wood is dry in other places, a virtual tinder box or powder keg. 

I can imagine a new kind of “Green Peace” wherein we go to places in an effort to bring the wood back to life – making it “green” again, all based on Jesus’ words, “For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’  If times were better in our neighbor countries they would be more inclined to be satisfied raising their families and becoming world partners in a global way from where they live. Moreover, there is more to this than just the wood being green.  Jesus spoke of the wood being green while Israel and Judah were occupied by Roman forces.  So, while the wood was green it was not flourishing, not budding.  We can do better.  

I believe the time will eventually come when we will need an Earth Police in order to establish and maintain peace on our planet.  We can’t continue to turn a blind eye to our neighbor’s problems and feel like it’s not our problem.  What effects them, affects us to the point there is no “us –them.”  We are all one under God. 

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through (and to) God’s people.  John+

Daily Office Readings for Thursday Proper 8 of Year 1

AM Psalm 131, 132, [133]; PM Psalm 134, 1351 Samuel 13:5-18; Acts 8:26-40; Luke 23:13-25

“As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip^* baptized him.” (Acts 8:36 – 38)

This is why I said a couple of days ago, “Let’s follow Philip the Deacon for a day or two.”  Philip should be called “Philip the Baptizer.”  He baptized Simon and now he baptizes the Eunuch. Baptism is the initiation into Christianity.  We, Episcopalians, require the Naming of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit right after our own Christening name is pronounced, at the point of Baptism.  I have done provisional baptisms for folk who after showing me their baptismal certificate only said in the Name of Jesus Christ.  Having said that, the Episcopal Church will accept Baptisms from other denominations with the provision that it was done in the Trinitarian way. Most main stream denominations are done this way.  And while I fully accept one baptism for the forgiveness of sins I could not pass up the opportunity to be baptized in the River Jordan while on Pilgrimage in the Holy Land in February of 2018.

Readings for Independence Day:

AM Psalm 33; Ecclesiasticus 10:1-8,12-18; James 5:7-10 PM Psalm 107:1-32; Micah 4:1-5; Revelation 21:1-7

“The Lord looks down from heaven, and beholds all the people in the world.” (Psalm 33:13)

As the Revolutionary war was coming to a close, an American ship followed in the wake of the defeated English war ships back to English waters. The crew of this American vessel wanted to have Priests ordained as Bishops in God’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.  It took a while; Sam Seabury had to go to Scotland in 1784 to be consecrated bishop. But finally in 1787 William White and Sam Provost were ordained Bishops in England for the Americans.  For me this was the real independence, to maintain our apostolic succession even through war.  God loves people on both sides of every conflict. The Lord looks down from heaven, and beholds all the people in the world.

Thank You Jesus.  John+

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday Proper 8 of Year 1

AM Psalm 119:145-176; PM Psalm 128, 129, 130 1 Samuel 12:1-6,16-25; Acts 8:14-25; Luke 23:1-12

“Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money!”  (Acts 8:18 – 20)

Poor Simon, he doesn’t get it.  He is learning about the Trinity, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit but he is trying to fit our Triune God within the paradigm he has been trained to understand, money. It didn’t work then and it doesn’t work today.

Often people will ask me how much I charge to conduct a memorial service or officiate at a wedding.  “Nothing” I tell them. Whatever gifts I have, I have from God and it was not given to me to profit from.  Full disclosure, many people have found ways to compensate me either by putting it in my discretionary fund (which is not used for me) or slipping money into my coat pocket, or even mailing it to my home long after the event.  But I was very clear when asked, that there is no charge for the Lord’s work. This position really makes it easy and inclusive for those who are unable to pay anything anyway.  The poor need to know that they are highly valued by God in Christ Jesus.

Our Simon, the money maker, is so different from Simon Peter.  Simon Peter and John are recovering fishermen now bearers of the Holy Spirit and doing holy work in the villages of Samaria.  It makes no difference what our origins were as far as God is concerned.  God took a tax collector and some fishermen and had them follow a carpenter and set about changing the world forever. This world is still being changed. And this change looks promising.

   God can do anything with anybody, and this most certainly includes you. This work is not for money but for the spread of the kingdom of heaven.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John+

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday Proper 8 of Year 1

AM Psalm [120], 121, 122, 123; PM Psalm 124, 125, 126, [127] 1 Samuel 11:1-15; Acts 8:1-13; Luke 22:63-71

“Philip went down to the city^* of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.” (Acts 8:5 – 8)

Let’s follow Philip the Deacon for a day or two.  Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed the Risen Jesus to them and they were thrilled to hear it.  This is amazing because just last Sunday in our Eucharistic Reading we saw where the Samaritans would not receive Jesus. (Luke 9:52 – 59)

But now things have changed.  A man named Simon who was promoting his own agenda was impressed by what Philip was doing in the Name of Jesus.  So Simon stayed near Philip and was baptized by him along with many of the Samaritans.  The power of Jesus working through Philip got rid of demons and made the lame walk. Simon, upon seeing this, was beside himself with jealousy.

The big point here is that because a person or persons did not accept Jesus at first does not mean that they will never accept him.  The other part to ponder is that while Simon was promoting himself, Philip was promoting Jesus.  Philip, in many ways was like John the Baptist.  John spoke of Jesus as the one who is coming after him and is greater than him.  Philip spoke of the Good News of the kingdom of heaven and how it has come near to us and as the Samaritans accepted this Good News, they begin to be healed.

Even today, letting our friends and community know that the Kingdom of God is covering us more and more with goodness will still have a healing effect.  The coming Kingdom of God is like two spheres merging together (kind of looks like the Master Card logo). In this case, the gold moving left is covering the red.  This is like the kingdom of heaven covering the earth.

As this happens more and more, God’s desire for humanity becomes fulfilled.  You and I have choices.  We can resist this movement of the Kingdom of God or we can help ease it in by letting people know it’s happening already.  It’s not really a choice.  We know the final outcome: God Wins.  It’s just nice that we have this wonderful opportunity to escort it in.  Despite all the bad news we hear today I believe we are becoming a better people more and more.

Thank You Jesus. John+

Daily Office Readings for Monday Proper 8 of Year 1

AM Psalm 106:1-18; PM Psalm 106:19-48 1 Samuel 10:17-27; Acts 7:44-8:1a; Luke 22:52-62

“Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit?  When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”  (Luke 22 52 – 53)

Jesus has done no criminal offence and yet the religious authorities come to arrest him. Many God centered people since this time have been killed because of their beliefs, especially when such beliefs undermine and threaten the comfort and power of those in charge, like the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders.

I am very glad to be able to live in a country that insists on religious freedom including the right to be non religious if we so choose. We are not a theocracy. However, we still have a ways to go in not persecuting people whose beliefs differ from main stream religious persecutors.  Many such beliefs have to do with sexual orientation and issues around the subject of abortion. Also there are concerns around the death penalty and war itself.

I continue to follow a path that asks the question “how is love and compassion informing me.”  It’s not always what you might think.  Love asks questions like who needs protection.  Love asks questions like what is the likely outcome if I do nothing.  What’s at stake?  As I look around the table at my children and myself, who are the ones in need but perhaps say nothing?  I am old enough now to say that all people in their forties and below are my children as well as (hopefully) my friends.  It doesn’t matter if they don’t get along with each other or with me.  It doesn’t matter if they speak my language or if they can speak at all, they are my children and my friends.  I may be called to go to war with them or forgive them for some mistaken deed or just accept them the way God made them.  They are my child-friends.

We should not come out after our child-friends with hate like the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders as if they were bandits.  They should be in the temple of our hearts. How does love and compassion inform us about how we should treat those with whom we do not agree?  Let us not let the power of darkness gain control of our actions but rather let us follow what love and compassion asks us to do.  Find someone twenty or more years younger than you and adopt them as your child-friend, the more different they are the better.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through (and to) God’s people. John+

Eucharistic Readings for Sunday Proper 8 of Year C

1 Kings 19:15-16,19-21 Psalm 16 Galatians 5:1,13-25 Luke 9:51-62

“And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.” (Luke 9:52 – 59)

These Samaritans are people who Jesus often showed as examples of compassion.  The Woman at the well who said “come see a man who has told me everything I have ever done.” (John 4)  And, the Good Samaritan of Luke (10: 30 – 37) who tended to the man left for dead by robbers. So Jesus saw the love of the Samaritans.  But they also were tribal.

Samaritans did not like the Israelites or anyone who liked Israelites.  So when they saw that Jesus was going to Jerusalem they cut him and his followers off.  It’s the old saying that the friend of my enemy is my enemy.

When James and John asked if they could call down fire on them Jesus turned and rebuked them.  This is some insight as to the power that they had through Jesus. It seems to be no doubt that they could do such a thing but needed permission to do so.  They forget however, that when Jesus sent them out in pairs to heal and cast out demons he said to them receive those who receive you.  And, if they don’t receive you just knock off the dust from your shoes and keep on moving.  But even to them let them know that the kingdom of heaven has come near.

So there is no part of Jesus that is retaliatory. And as followers of Jesus we should not be retaliatory either.  Accept those who accept you.  Accept those who do not accept you. Be pleasant to all.  Do not retaliate, ever.

Hear what the Spirit is saying through (and to) God’s people.  John+

Daly Office Readings for Saturday, Proper 7 Year 1

AM Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13); PM Psalm 33 1 Samuel 9:15-10:1; Acts 7:30-43; Luke 22:39-51

“Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength.”  (Luke 22:41 – 43)

I’m guessing a stone’s throw away is about thirty or so feet.  It is enough when it’s dark to be far enough away from others to have some sense of privacy.  Having said this, as Jesus is alone at some distance from the others, how is it then that we have his private words of his prayer? No one was close enough to hear.   Anyway, he prays, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.”  So the humanity of Jesus asks to be relieved of the oncoming misery, suffering and death. But Jesus is willing to go through with what is coming if it is God’s will.  He is teaching us that no matter what, put God’s will first.  I have to confess, I have been in situations where I asked God to take away the oncoming pain.  I am not so sure that in those times I was concerned about what God’s will was.  I was hoping my will was God’s will.  I had to discover that I am not God.

When the humanity of Jesus finished praying God responded to Jesus with an angel who gave him that necessary strength of undergo whatever was to come.  My closest comparison to this is receiving an anesthetic before a dental procedure. It doesn’t prevent what is about to happen but makes it bearable. And I must remember that I am in the dentist’s chair of my own free will and accord.

Today there are those who are forced to go through tough situations.  Those who must go through such ordeals need comforters.  Such comforters are like the midwives to the mother-to-be.  The midwife is not going to have the baby but will be a very present aid to the woman who is.  This midwife metaphor is just that, a metaphor.  The angel midwife can be a woman or man as was Ananias to Saul when he was blinded on the road to Damascus.  The Resurrected Jesus sent Ananias to strengthen Saul so that he would become Paul.  After some resistance, “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.” (Acts 9:17 – 19)  Saul/Paul was given strength from a mortal midwife of sorts following the commands of Jesus.

We too are sent to school children, to the homeless, to the elderly, to  the run-away’s, to the returning veterans with PTSD, to those seeking asylum, to victims of domestic violence, and many others who are praying “Lord take this cup from me.” You and I then are the angels, the anesthetic, and the midwives sent by God to strengthen those who are facing unavoidable hardships. Let’s be good angels now so that we will be good angels in eternity.

 Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through (and to) God’s people. John+