Author: John Thomas Frazier

Galatians:

“For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” (Galatians 5:5)  

These words from Paul remind me of my personal Creed.  It is an explanation of my faith while being brief. I still believe in our Nicene Creed but I needed a statement of belief more succinct. So I crafted these words:  “I believe in God through the Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word through whom we live and love and have our being and to whom we must give an account.”  I changed the word “move” to “love” (Forgive me Paul) because maybe we all can’t move but all of us are capable of love.  While there is no mention of Mary or Pontius Pilate or even Jesus by name, Jesus is mentioned as the Incarnate Word.  And it is Trinitarian: belief in God; Holy Spirit and The Incarnate Word, The Logos.  But there is also the realization that all of us are going to be held accountable when judgment time comes and we ought to be living that way now. Amen.

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

Ponder #7:

Last night I preached about the Martyrs of Japan.   After the monks and their followers were killed and Christianity outlawed, the Christian movement went underground.  It stayed underground for over two hundred and fifty years.  This is amazing! The people maintained their belief in the Salvation of Jesus without clergy, without Bibles and without churches.  When Japan was reopened they again began having public Christian worship again.

This reminds me of the time when the firsts Christians were persecuted by Rome until the year 325 and Emperor Constantine made Christianity legal throughout the Roman Empire.  It seems the Church is at its purest when it is in secret and/or at home.  The underground churches were home churches.  I think that is where real faith begins, in the home.  In fact I think all faith should begin in the home and then brought to church on our Sabbath for Communal Corporate Worship. If we have no home worship and we can’t find our particular tradition close to us, what do we do?  Therefore, we must keep our tradition as best we can at home even if we also visit other traditions.

We start home worship with the simple stuff.  A little prayer in the morning (our Book of Common Prayer can help with this), prayer at meals, some story telling about Jesus, (not Bible reading). Some appointed family member should read the Bible story in advance and then tell the story to the family. There is something very special about “telling the story.” And don’t forget prayer at bed time.  The Mother Church is stronger when the home church is stronger.

 “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” (From the 3^rd verse of Praise to the Lord)

Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, I will apply my mind to your decrees. (Psalm 119:95)          

It is a hard thing to do when we are tormented or in any way unjustly treated by those who want to cause us harm or punishment.  I have read stories where prisoners of war would turn to Bible Study to take their minds off their troubles. The Psalmist chooses to not focus on his unfair treatment but rather look at, and study God’s plan for all humanity and how we should all live together in harmony.

I can’t imagine trying to think of the love of God while undergoing pain and suffering.  But perhaps going to such a happy place is the only resolve that will either get one through it in this life, or will carry one on to the next with the least amount of hell.

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

Ponder #6:

“If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.” (Isaiah 54: 15)

I have often heard people misinterpret 1 Corintians 10:13 (No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.)

I would argue that the temptation Paul speaks of to the Corinthians starts from a desire within the person which is different from the Isaiah’s strife caused by another person or persons against us that has nothing to do with God.  As God says in the Isaiah reading “If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me;” But God tends to help us get out of messes that people put us in. 

God visits the oppressed and then looks back on the perpetrators and brings them down because of the evidence of the misery they caused.  God is so good. And says vengeance if mine. (Romans 12:19)  So God does not cause us harm or injustice but rather it is our fellow human beings.  But in our prayers we can always ask God to look at what is happening to us and come to our aid. God did not cause our trouble but God can fix it.  Thank you Jesus!

 “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” (From the 3^rd verse of Praise to the Lord)

This evening at our Healing Service we will remember the Martyrs of Japan. I want to share something very important about the Christian Faith that amazed me.

Galatians

“You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the Gospel to you?  Though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.”  (Galatians 4.13-14)

While Paul’s tone is going to shift to one of a reprimand shortly, he now praises the way the Galatians cared for him in a former time when he was not doing well, a situation not reported in scripture unless it was associated with the trip to Damascus event.  This physical infirmity seems to be the reason for bringing the Galatians the Gospel. 

I can almost hear Paul crying for help.  And he receives it from some Galatians who have accepted Christ and come to the aid of Paul.  We too are those helpful Galatians.  God moves us to compassion for those who suffer.  We may not agree with the way they conduct their lives that may have landed them in their misery in the first place, but there is no time for that when help is urgently needed.  God makes us move to assist them like the Good Samaritans we are created to be.

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

Ponder #5:

“Hear my cry, O God, and listen to my prayer.” (Psalm 61:1)

Crying is praying. Much of what I glean from scripture comes from repeated messages that hewn out a place in the heart of my mind and stay there only coming to the forefront when I’m presented with a situation that requires such knowledge.  Crying being prayer is one such message.  Let me share two such pieces of evidence.  Along with this Psalm there are many, but let’s look at one in Genesis and one in the Gospel of John.

When Hagar with her son is forced to leave the dwelling of Abraham by order of Sarah she is far away and her provisions have exhausted and their end seems almost immediate. “Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.  God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.” (Genesis 21:16 – 17)  Although she cried as well, it seems the boy’s crying was heard.  But God responded to crying.  Is not praying a call to God?

From the Gospel of John we read, “Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”  “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”  At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.  He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”  (John 20:11 – 15) 

There are people who claim to be atheist, but they cry. It is a behavior so intertwined to our emotions that it comes naturally.  God made it that way so that God would be notified when we are in need or trouble. Sometimes when we find that we think we can’t pray, just cry, because God’s ears hears tears.

“Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” (From the 3^rd verse of Praise to the Lord)

“But she answered him, ‘Sir,^* even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (Mark 7:28)

So this Syrophoenicia Gentile woman doesn’t mind being treated as less than human for the sake of her daughter.  She goes to another religion, another culture, another tradition to find God on earth in the person of Jesus.  She humbles herself enough to accept the leftovers of grace and healing for the benefit of her child.  There is no doubt in her mind that this Jesus can cure her daughter, it’s a matter of will he.

What I learn from her is to humble myself for the sake of others. Jesus is a loving and sacrificial healer and needs to know that the requester is loving and sacrificial as well.  This is about accepting whatever we can get for the sake of the other.  Thank you Jesus.

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

I love to go a pondering #4:

So what are the steps to authentic humility?  I think it is about loving to learn but not for the sake of building one’s self up but rather to learn how to best care for others.  This is the kind of understanding that Solomon asked God for, not for himself, but the wisdom he needed to best lead the people God put under him.  Solomon said to God, “ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:9) For authentic humility our priority must be first and foremost the care and nurture of others. God hears and answers this kind of concern.

“Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” (From the 3^rd verse of Praise to the Lord)

“When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.” (Luke 4: 28)

The people in the synagogue did not know Jesus as well as they thought they did and most certainly did not know the God of love. We can never say what God will do or who God will use in bringing the glory of heaven near.

As Paul tells us what love is in 1^st Cor. Chapter 13, he also tells us what love is not.  Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.

When we feel rage coming, we need to stop and breathe.  We need to ask ourselves what’s going on?    It is just as important to resist anger as it is to acquire compassion. There is a study of psychology around anger management. It deals with the whys and associated behaviors. It is important. Anger impedes compassion and understanding.  One of the first Biblical examples of anger out of control comes from Genesis Chapter 4 where Cain kills his brother Abel. In that chapter we have God asking Cain “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Gen 4: 6-7)

The people in the synagogue were filled with rage.  The proper response is to learn to do better, to correct whatever has been brought to their attention and try to be a better people. The same goes for us today.  Anger based action causes regrettable consequences.

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

I love to go a pondering #2019.003:

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1John 4: 8)  God is love. So from 1^st John we learn what it means to be a godly people.  It is not power or great intelligence, it is simply love. And as our Presiding Bishop says, love is the answer to everything.  I think that is because God is the answer to everything.  Bishop Curry is not alone in this opinion. St Paul in closing his definition of love says, “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (1^st Cor. 13:13) The greatest of all things in heaven and on earth is love.  Wow! What a valuable secret, Pssst, pass it on.

“Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” (From the 3^rd verse of Praise to the Lord)

“Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many.” (Isaiah 51:2)

I think we Christians forget or deny the fact that we are Judeo Christians.  Jesus was a Palestinian Jew.  His first followers were Jews all of whom understood Abraham as their ancestral father.  And what was it about Abraham that made him so special?  His listened to and obeyed God.  Abraham left what is now Iraq and went west following God’s leadership. 

It was Abraham’s faith and obedience that God so loved and wanted to spread among all people. His was a faith so strong that he would follow God even in committing the death of his son. The Israelite people are from the tradition of Abraham whose children went down to Egypt and were later taken out by Moses.  But the die of faith and belief was cast.  So we pick up from Paul to the Galatians where he says, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29)

Let us pray. 

O God, whose wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day, you once delivered by the power of your mighty arm your chosen people from slavery under Pharaoh, to be a sign for us of the salvation of all nations by the water of Baptism: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham, and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p. 289)

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

I love to go a pondering #2:

What can God do and what did God do? 

I ponder about God’s ability. I have understood Jews, Muslims and Christians to be children of Abraham:  fine.  So my question to all of us is this, Is God able to come among us as one of us?  Can God be human if God wanted to?  I think all faith traditions would agree that an all powerful God can do this.  So the big standout concern that really separates Christians from those who came before and those who came after is “Did God Do This.”  I think that whether God did or did not should not be a reason to build walls of separation dividing us. We all believe in One All Powerful God who is the Alfa and the Omega.  God will do what God will do, Thanks be to God.

“Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” (From the 3^rd verse of Praise to the Lord)

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many shall see, and stand in awe, and put their trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 40:3)

I hope and pray that people will look at me and have hope for themselves.  I even hope that they will see me and stand in awe of what God can do and put their trust in the Lord.  I don’t say this because I am a priest; I say this because I am a believer.  My life is not perfect.  But God is merciful and loving and works with me every day.  I have had all kinds of failures in my life; yet, here I am, healthy, double retired, loving and loved. I did not cause this of my own accord.  I listened to God and to the people God sent to talk to me, and I don’t think God is done with me yet.  I truly am a work in progress.

The same is true with you.  You are not perfect.  But by believing in God and living the best life you are able to God will meet you more than half way and will bless your efforts.  Please know this one truth, God will send you messages through others regarding the path you should take. Listen to the message! Obey the message! Life will turn around for you.  Then others will see what God is doing in your life and draw others near to God through you. God blesses us and gives us a “pay-it-forward blessing also.  God is Good, All the Time.

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

I love to go a pondering #1:

I ponder and I work.  Aside from sleep, ponder and work is all I do.  And with everything I do I fit conveniently into either ponder or work. For example; sitting at meditation, or a desk with lap top or pen and paper, or in church at worship, or at table with friends or family eating, I ponder.

Work takes place when I get physical, when I do exercises, or cleaning the house, or repairing something, or driving, or gardening or golf or cabinet making, or playing music, or running. It’s all physical therefore (to me) it’s all work. Some work is more pleasurable than others but it is still all work as I see it.

This journal blog is about pondering because even the physical work was first pondered at its conception. I think God pondered creation before God got physical. 

“Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” (From the 3^rd verse of “Praise to the Lord”)

AM Psalm 50; PM Psalm [59, 60] or 118 Isa. 49:13-23; Gal. 3:1-14; Mark 6:30-46

Mark

“After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.” (Mark 6: 46)

Jesus has just fed the five thousand and sent his disciples off in a boat.  It has been a hard day’s work and now he goes to the Father in prayer.  This whole episode started with prayer as he gave thanks for the few loaves and fish before passing it out to the multitude.

This is what I call a sandwich prayer.  Jesus prays to start the activity and then closes it with prayer at the end. So often we pray and pray for God to do something for us.  When God resolves the situation for us (as may be best for us) we take it and go.  Maybe God doesn’t hear from us again until the next crisis. But in this case with the feeding Jesus was praying for the work he has done, not for any new favors or life improvements or the next big thing but for the welfare of others that they might be truly fed with the Spirit.  This too is a misunderstanding we sometimes make.  When we receive unexpected opportunities like the chance to help somebody we should do it in a prayer sandwich.  Pray to ask for God’s help at the start.  Do the task, and then give God thanks for the opportunity just received.  This is a perfect sandwich.  Yum  Yum!

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

Part 2 of 3

Marcella had Jerome Wednesday Night Healing Service for January 30 2019

Readings for Marcella of Rome

1 Kings 17:8–16 Psalm 124 Mark 12:41–44

1Kings “Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. ^For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” (1 Kings 17:13 -14)

Marcella (325–410) is known primarily for her role in the founding of monasticism. After the death of her husband, she commenced a life of abstinence and many other women in Rome at the time followed suit. (Wikipedia)  Marcella’s day is actually tomorrow, January 31 but I use what I call preacher’s privilege and scan the week to see who I want to lift up on Wednesday night.

Summoned by Pope Damasus I (who arranged lodging at Marcella’s hospitality house), Jerome arrived in Rome in 382. It was an exhilarating time for Marcella, a woman of letters who had immersed herself in both Greek and Hebrew, to be entertaining one of the great minds of the age. Jerome spent the next three years in what he called her “domestic church,” translating the Bible into Latin. She learned under his teaching even as she critiqued his translation. He spoke and wrote of her Christian devotion and scholarship Indeed, his admiration of Marcella was unbounded, not only for her intellectual acumen but also for her deference to men who might be threatened by her vast store of knowledge. (Wikipedia).

The relationship of Marcella and Jerome closely resembles that of Elijah and Elisha as introduced in 1Kings 19: 19 – 21. Elisha gave up everything and followed Elijah.  So, at the risk of redundancy, we all need someone who could advise us, console us, someone we like to listen to.  Such a person should be honest and a good listener who wants to console and not control. Your mentor should be someone you like to listen to. And someone you want to emulate. I believe that by maintaining this mentor-protégé relationship we grow into being part of the person leading us and keep them with us long after they have gone on. Keep the good ones alive forever.

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

Part 3 of 3

Galatians

“And it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

I don’t really think it would be hard to let Jesus live in us.  We know so much about Jesus.  He would not hurt anybody.  He would feed people and it seems he really loved being at the table with friends. He was not impressed with money and could be found praying at any time of day. He would listen to anybody and only gave loving advice. 

These are traits that we can emulate: don’t hurt, feed people, be company, don’t let money rule you, listen quietly, and pray regularly.  Let’s do this starting right now.

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

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

Part 2 of 2

Mark

“And he was amazed at their unbelief” (Mark 6:6)

This is so much like the Paul episode above. Jesus went to Nazareth, the place where he was raised, but because his old friends would not let go of their old understanding of who he was there was little to no healing.  Belief is everything.  Jesus works with the faith we have. 

Perhaps the most difficult thing we can do is change what we believe.  We have had to change what we believed about the earth being the center of the universe and the little hot sun rotating around us.  We’ve had to re-think the earth being flat.  Currently we are, or should be, re-believing the issues of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, mental illness and even politics.  In these areas we become so polarized that no healing can take place because we are so tribal we won’t allow it.

The love that Jesus models is one of compassion.  It is a love of listening. But when we fear that we might change our minds and believe the earth is round we put up guards so that no matter what, we won’t allow it.  There are some developing countries today that will not receive medicines from the West because they believe its poison.  How do we open our minds to see what God is doing in our very midst today?  Jesus is always brand new!  He is so much more than the little Sunday School Jesus of our childhood.  We all should approach Jesus with new expectation to see what God is doing through him today, and believe so that Jesus can do his work.

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