Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 4^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 50; Evening,  Psalm [59 and 60] or 114 and 115:
Wisdom 5:9 to 23; Colossians 2:8 to 23; Luke 6:39 to 49:

“But the righteous live forever, and their reward is with the Lord; the Most High takes care of them.”  (Wisdom 5: 15)

In the writings of Wisdom, the writer has shown how the unrighteous are so temporary. They vanish and are remembered no more. The writer uses a ship through water and an arrow through the air as metaphor for how the unrighteous have their time but are soon forgotten as they leave no lasting goodness behind them. 

I can remember times while serving in the Marines our aircraft squadron would visit various air bases of other services. Often we would be put up in old, and seldom used barracks.  Without fail, our Sergeant Major would have us clean and restore the facility in addition to flying the missions we were there for.  He said that we would leave this barracks in better condition than we found it. I am surprised that this word didn’t get out to the whole country and we were “invited” to visit even more bases as a way to renovate old buildings; (just kidding).

The point could be made that if we create and maintain goodness we could be allowed to dwell in that goodness for all eternity. Such goodness applies to human relationships as well as the care of the earth.  “But the righteous live forever!” God is righteousness. And God is eternal. To be righteous then, is to be godly, as best we can. We are visitors here on this earth our fragile and temporary home. And we should strive to leave it better than we found it. In this way we are “invited” into a permanent home, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Our reward is with the Lord who will take care of us for all eternity.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Most Holy Spirit of the living God, as you make all things and provide for the same, help us, created in Your Image, to also assist You in caring for one another and all creation. Help us to be a righteous people in Your sight in order that we may dwell with You in Your heavenly abode for ever and forever; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 4^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 119:49 to 72; Evening, Psalm 49:
Wisdom 4:16 to 5:8; Colossians 1:24 to 2:7; Luke 6:27 to 38:

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)

This is what we call the Golden Rule. It makes so much sense. We all want a fair deal and an equal opportunity to at least apply for jobs, loans, schools and so forth. None of us want our property or identity stolen. This Luke verse simply says if you don’t like something, don’t do to others.  And if you do like something, try to do it for others.

This verse is the other side of the same coin as the “Torah on one foot.”  From the web I found this: “There’s an old story we all learned as children about a stranger who came to the two teachers of the first century, Hillel and Shammai, with an odd request. “Teach me the Torah while I stand on one foot.”…… “So Hillel taught him: “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah, all the rest is commentary. Zil u’gemar, now, go and learn it.” The entire writing can be found at; ON ONE FOOT – Valley Beth Shalom (vbs.org). It’s well worth the read.

Both of these sayings are good lessons that should be followed closely.  The only way to end the disrespect we show to one another is to learn empathy.  We must learn to be the other as God learned to be one of us in the person of our Lord Jesus.

These are the lessons that we learn from our Lord Jesus.   The Writer to the Colossians says in our Colossians’ reading for today,   “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6 and 7)

Saint Francis of Assisi (Friar 4 October 1226) lived his life dedicated to poverty and the dignity of others. He empathized so strongly with respect for others. There is a prayer in the Book of Common Prayer that really fits his lesson with which I will close with for today. 

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: A Prayer attributed to St. Francis:                          

“Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”  (BCP p.833)

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 4^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 45; Evening,  Psalms 47 and 48;
Wisdom 3:1 to 9; Colossians 1:15 to 23; Luke 6:12 to 26:

“They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.” (Luke 6:18)

Hearing the Word of God in Christ Jesus is still healing today. Sometimes the little things we do to hear the word can be overlooked. The first three words we read is, “They had come.”  It required them to walk to the place where the word was spoken, where Jesus was.

So many people today have stopped coming to Church. Maybe the practice of not going to Church was started during the Covid pandemic. But whatever the reason, high-tech face time through computer websites; or plain laziness, many people who believe in God in Christ Jesus, have not come to hear his words and be cured of their unclean spirits. As with every healing or miracle that Jesus performed, it required some effort on the part of the one receiving it. We need to realize and appreciate the value of Church and go.

A long time ago, in the desert of Saudi Arabia, a few of us Marines would gather together while waiting for our Baptist Chaplain to come and hold a service. And while I was, and am, an Episcopalian, any service will do in a Desert Storm. On one such occasion one of my junior Marines asks me, “Gunny, why do you come to Church?”  I answered, “Because it’s Sunday.” It was no time to give a theological explanation, and I was probably not equipped to do so back then. I just wanted the young man to know that attending a Church service was one of the many good habits that made me successful in the Marine Corps and in life. Maybe hearing my words was healing for him.

We are people of the Word. We were made to hear and believe and follow. We were also made to be physically with each other. 

Today we remember Frances Perkins, Public Servant and Prophetic Witness, 1965,  and her information may be found at: Frances Perkins

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: For the Church (BCP p. 816)                               

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 4^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 41 and 52; Evening, Psalm 44;
Wisdom 1:16 to 2:11 and 21 to 24; Colossians 1:1 to 14; Luke 6:1 to 11:

“This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant.  He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:7 to 10)

Some people, even in high political status, say that prayer is not enough.  I vehemently disagree.  In our world of racism where people with dark skin are killed at a higher rate by authorities than people with lighter complexions, some say that we need to do more than pray. I say No!  Prayer works. Prayer is the beginning of whatever action is seen as the solution. And such action, is also prayer.  Prayer brings about changes that some say are a results of action outside of prayer.  Nothing is outside of prayer. Prayer brings about the physical action that makes the change we need.  Prayer is where we start.

For this reason we Christians pray without ceasing for the action of change.  This is why the writer of  the letter to the Colossians says, “we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.”  My beloved in the Lord, we pray not only for change, we pray for people who pray for change.

Have you ever prayed for people who said that they would pray for something?  As a priest I often let people know that I will be praying for them. Every now and then, some will reply saying that they will also pray for me. I am moved by this. They are praying for the “pray-er.”  I will do that also. When someone says that they are going to pray for someone, or something, or a situation, I will pray for them, that God will listen and that God knows that the person praying is supported by at least one other person praying.  Prayer works.  We must never devalue prayer.

Remember, prayer does not have to be audible words carefully composed, or words from the Book of Common Prayer. Some of the most touching prayers are the silent opening of your heart to the pure love of God, even with tears. God’s ears, hears tears.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Lord our God and Parent, we pray now for what You know that we need. As we are not always aware of what we need that enables us to please You, we pray you to gift us and guide us in ways that bring Your goodness into our lives and peace among all people through Jesus Christ our Lord; Amen.

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the 4^th Sunday of Easter: Year C

John 10:22 to 30:

“Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.  (John 10:25 and 26))

Jesus promises us eternal life because he knows those of us who follow his voice.  This is fascinating! This is what our Christian faith is all about.  Our passport to eternal life is through believing in Jesus Christ.  At more funerals than I can count I hear the words “he or she is in a better place now.”  We all at one point or another ponder about the “here-after.”  I have seen movies where the next life was still one of seeing and breathing and enjoying foods but seem to be in another dimension or at least another planet very similar to our earth. I ponder about the resurrection and what eternal life will be like.

Nowhere in the Gospel according to John do we read the word faith. No, John wants a verb, John wants action. John wants the readers of his words to believe.  Jesus says to the temple authorities, “I have told you, and you do not believe.” It was Augustine of Hippo who said we must believe in order that we might come to understanding. According to James Kiefer, a Church biographer, Augustine’s mother, Monica, undertook to bring him up as a Christian. She believed, and insisted that he believe also. As he agreed to baptism, she passed away handing him off to God in Christ Jesus.

In my own undergraduate studies long ago, my professor at the time informed us, in an adolescent psychology course, that most children adopt the beliefs or faith of their mothers. Even God, in his plan for walking among us, collaborated with a woman, Mary by name,  her name also not found in the Gospel according to John, and Mary’s  response to the angel was, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Today we remember with love, our mothers; especially mothers who pass on their faith to their children. It is this mother- given faith that enables us to follow Jesus as his sheep. For he says of his doubters, “You do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.”  We must trust the faith of our mothers and believe in order that we might one day fully understand.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O God, You loved us so much that You came to us through a human mother showing the importance of motherhood. So bless our mothers present, and receive those mothers who have come home to you, where they may dwell in eternal joy with Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms  30 and 32; Evening,  Psalm 42 and 43;
Daniel 6:16 to 28; 3 John 1 to 15; Luke 5:27 to 39:

“When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, ‘O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Daniel then said to the king, ‘O king, live for ever!  My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.” (Daniel 6:20 to 22)

King Darius was forced by his own words to place Daniel in the lion’s den, but his heart was not in it. The “Darius – Daniel” situation reminds me of the “Pilate – Jesus” situation.  This is a reminder to me to be careful about what commitments I make. John the Baptist lost his head because Herod made a foolish promise to a young dancer.  Our tongues cause us much grief if we are not careful. The Letter of James in the Christian Testament also teaches this important lesson.

God intervened in Daniel’s case with an angel again, (remember the angel with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire?).  God will save who God will save. We are never without the Presence of God.  But it is God’s will that we live, and die by.

Darius will go on to support the Hebrew people in rebuilding Jerusalem.  God tends to intervene for the good and well being of the community of faith.  Darius, a Persian, comes to respect the God of Daniel and is grateful that Daniel is alive. 

God has gotten me out of dreadful situations that I got myself into from time to time.  I always say that while I can’t see where God is in my life right now, I can always look back and see where God was in my life. I can recall times that I was in a downward spiral and God would “cause” something, or someone, to redirect the trajectory of my movement. Like king Darius, I am grateful. Now I just try to slow down and ask God to lead me and guide me. And I will try to be more attentive to God’s hand in my life and the life of my community.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (The Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)      

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning,  Psalm 105:1 to 22; Evening,  Psalm 105:23 to 45; 
Daniel 6:1 to 15; 2^nd  John 1 to 13; Luke 5:12 to 26

“The men said, ‘We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:5)

Throughout the Bible, and in our life today, we try to justify our evil intentions by finding fault in the tradition and pious practices of others. These subjects of King Darius now conspire to destroy Daniel out of their jealousy and contempt for him.

This jealousy and contempt happens when we behold others around God rather than through God.  People who perhaps didn’t pray in their tradition at all, go and point their finger at one who is trying to hold to his practice of regular prayer.  “Then they responded to the king, ‘Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day.” (Daniel 6:13)  Of course this accusation will condemn Daniel even though the king does not want to do this. 

Regardless of the faith path we are on we must view one another through the eyes of our Creator as we understand that the Creator does not make worthless people or people brought into the world only to be hated.  We are all worthy of God’s love and therefore should be worthy of the love of each other.  We should question any interdict, rule, custom, policy, law, or legislation that hinders or harms another human being who is trying to honor God in his or her own way.

If we admire the good of a person who worships different than ourselves we should lift him or her up to be appreciated if not copied. I have heard that Muslims pray five times a day. I think that’s wonderful. Our own Book of Common Prayer offers opportunities for us to pray at least four times a day: we have Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayers, Evening Prayer and Compline for the close of the day. Unfortunately, some of our none praying Episcopalians will be critical of the practice of Muslims and other traditions to include some Christian traditions. Such criticism comes from gazing at others around God rather than through God. It leads only to condescension and an arrogance that is not born from the love of God as is the love of our Lord Jesus, who loves everybody, as we should also.

Blessings on the Roman Catholic Church who now have a new Pope: Leo the XIV.

Today we remember Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop and Theologian (May 9 389) and his information may be found at: Gregory of Nazianzus

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom. 

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray (BCP p. 824)

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 37:1 to 18; Evening,  Psalm 37:19 to 42; 
Daniel 5:13 to 30; 1^st  John 5:13 to 20(21); Luke 5:1 to 11:

“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’  For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken;  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’  When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5: 8 to 11)

So we all will react the same way in the presence of the might of God almighty. Peter obeyed Jesus and it paid off in huge dividends for God.  The miracle of Jesus paid off so much in fact that it shamed Peter and he gave himself up in full confession as a sinner to the presence of God in Christ Jesus.

So too it is with us today.  As we pray for God to reorient our lives to the Gospel. The Gospel holds a special place in the liturgy of the Episcopal Church.  It is the last biblical reading in our opening Eucharist, normally after a hymn, and it is walked out into the midst of the congregation and is read in the language of the majority of the people listening, by an ordained person, most appropriately by a deacon.  The whole congregation turns to face the Gospel book and reader. They “reorient” themselves towards the Gospel. This simple turning towards the Gospel signifies our lives and our direction being changed and redirected towards the Jesus path of love.  It can cause us to fall on our spiritual knees.

Like the experience that Peter had, our own reorientation towards the Gospel will bring with us those close to us, our partners, as well as many in our communities. It will amaze us. Our Lord Jesus says, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’  This is God’s plan for our salvation.

Jesus the carpenter taught fishermen to fish. Jesus the carpenter taught the Pharisees to be “Born again of the Spirit. Jesus the Carpenter healed far more people than all their doctors combined. Perhaps this Jesus was more than a carpenter.  We can’t judge people by “what” we see on the surface.  People are not “What’s;” people are “Who’s.”  Our life of love is not about what we are; carpenter, welder, doctor, truck driver, police person, store clerk, black, white, rich, poor, gay or straight.  Following our Lord Jesus is not “what” we are; it is “who” we are and whose we are. We are catchers of people, reoriented towards the Gospel of God in Christ Jesus.

Today we remember Dame Julian of Norwich, Contemplative (May 8, 1417)   and her information may be found at: Julian of Norwich.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Almighty God, our heavenly Father, help us to not be afraid of new callings in our pastoral lives as we are called to new opportunities to bring our sisters and brothers to You. Move us we pray as it pleases You to do that work, that vocation, that is the Lord’s work through Jesus Christ our Lord; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening,  Psalm 119:25 to 48; 
Daniel 5:1 to 12; 1^st John 5:1 to 12; Luke 4:38 to 44:

“As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them.”  (Luke 4:40)

Just before the above passage, Jesus cured the mother-in-law of Peter. This healing is probably what prompted others to bring their sick to Jesus. Our Lord Jesus was a prolific healer, still is.  Maybe we should call him “Doctor J.” I’m just kidding here with my ponderings.

Healing our bodies was a secondary duty that Jesus performed.  He proclaims that his primary responsibility is to spread the word about the Good News. We read, “But he said to them, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” (Luke 4:43) 

Jesus was both sent, and he sends. All who profess themselves to be Christians are sent by our Lord Jesus to spread the word about the kingdom of God. I don’t believe that spreading the word about the kingdom of God means indoctrinating others to be Christians also. But rather, it means spreading the word about this temporal existence and informing people about the eternal life possible through a life dedicated to God by loving God and loving all others. After hearing about the Good News, people must decide for themselves the path that best fits them.

While Doctor J. was a healer, He is even more a Prophet in the sense that he is a seer. Perhaps it was easier for Jesus to speak of the kingdom of God given that he was in the kingdom of God before he came to be among us. It is always easier to talk about what we know than what we believe.  But, believing is where we must start.

I know medical doctors who are also very faithful Christians.  They pray, and they heal, in that order.  Luke, the author of the Gospel account from which we are reading today was also a physician. Maybe Luke’s vocation made him more aware of Jesus as a physician also.  Either way, Luke puts bodily healing in its proper place behind faith healing. We must hear about the Good News regarding the kingdom of God and strive to get there regardless of our bodily condition.  Like Peter’s mother, once we are healed we should serve. The Christian call is a call to serve.  Serving others is the evidence of our love for others.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (For those we love; BCP p. 831)

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening, Psalms 36 and 39;
Daniel 4:28 to 37; 1^st John 4:7 to 21; Luke 4:31 to 37:

“Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.”  (1^st John 4:11 to 13)

Notice that the writer doesn’t say that since God loved us so much we ought to love God. But rather, he says that since God loves us so much, that we ought to love each other as well.  The writer is saying that God sees value in each of us even if we can’t see it in each other. He says that if we love one another that God lives in us. Wow! This moves me to at least see in every human being a place reserved for God, whether the other person realizes it or not.

A few years ago our parish hosted a Vacation Bible School.  We were blessed to have about 15 children attend. One little boy stands out for me.  He was very talkative and had an extraordinary vocabulary.  In one of the stories we told them there was a search for God. Finally, the teacher announced that she found God. They all wanted to see God.  The teacher handed them little mirrors whereby looking at it, each may see God.  Upon seeing himself in the mirror, the little boy said, “This is impossible!” I guess he thought some kind of mistake was made.  We truly are vessels of love. “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us.”  We have the potential for being small portions of God’s love.  In this way we make heaven manifest right here on earth.  Thank You Lord Jesus for your example of love.

Also, according to the writer of 1^st John, there is a place in God where we are present.  I hope our presence in God does not corrupt God.  We, all humanity, need a continuously loving God.  We mortals are not always loving; to one another, or to God.  It would be sad to poison the pure love of God. Truthfully however, I don’t think we can.  God would not give us that kind of power.  But if we are loving, God will take us in and let us dwell within God, forever. Therefore, our work here on earth, and in this life, is to learn to be as loving as we can possibly be.

Today we remember George of Lydda (c. 304) and his information may be found at: St. George.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:                                                            

O Loving God almighty, as You are the very essence of love and through Whom all creation came into being, give us the gift, we pray, to see one another through the eyes of love whereby we may see You in each other regardless of skin color, language, nationality, sexual orientation or any other human limitation, but through the love of You Incarnate, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.