Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening, Psalm 119:25-48
Isaiah 44:24-45:7; Ephesians 5:1-14; Mark 4:1-20

“And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that “they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.” (Mark 4:11 – 12)

This is a clue that in order to hear what the Spirit is saying to us through Biblical readings, that we must look deep beneath the surface of the literal text.  Truth was veiled in parable because truth required the work necessary to get the reward.  Those who just scrape the surface attain nothing of real value and could even be misleading or short circuited.  We can’t just grab and go. Sometimes we must soak in the soup for a while to collect all the rich flavors of what’s there.

So, before we go deeper we must believe that there is something hidden beneath the perceived obvious. We also must believe that the treasure is worth the work of going deeper.  I once was in a cabinet making class led by a craftsman in his 80’s.  He had been making cabinets for more than 50 years.  This class moved slowly.  There are many small steps that require patience to learn them. Getting in a hurry will cause mistakes and a waste of wood and possibly personal injury.  The fruit of the study and patience is a well made and beautiful cabinet.  Living the Christian life is the same way. To us has been given the secret of the kingdom of God.  We only have to follow the Master Craftsman, Jesus, and we will perceive, understand, and turn and be forgiven.   Be well.

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

Let us pray                                                                                                    

O Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts and graces, help each of us to be patient in our learning and understanding in order that we might truly turn and live in more holy ways that are pleasing in Your sight, You who live and love eternally. Amen.

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening, Psalms 36, and 39;
Isaiah 44:9-20; Ephesians 4:17-32; Mark 3:19b-35:

 “My heart was hot within me; while I pondered, the fire burst into flame; I spoke out with my tongue”  (Psalm 39:4)

I have been in this place; a place of hurt.  My heart too has been hot within me and when it happens, my mouth shoots forth words that hurts the hearts of others. I don’t know how to fix this.  I don’t think it’s mine to fix.  Sometimes we break things that are beyond our ability to repair.  Wounded hearts are the healing of God.  This is why we pray, “cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the power of your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love you….”  (Book of Common Prayer p. 355)

I am forced to remember that God is beyond all limitations.  Situations that wreck my mind, God solves effortlessly.  Meditation then, on the Holy of holies is perhaps the only way to settle us down and realign our attitudes in order that we might be better enabled continue our earthly pilgrimage in a way that sustains us and is pleasing to God. So, when heavy hearts burn, and they will, we must quiet ourselves and be still with God while asking for the relief that only God can give. Be well.

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

Let us pray: (BCP p. 355)

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the Second Week of Epiphany; Year 1

Morning, Psalm 25; Evening, Psalms 9 and 15:
Isaiah 44:6-8,21-23; Ephesians 4:1-16; Mark 3:7-19a

“And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message” (Mark 3: 14)

Jesus appointed people to assist in the work of caring out the message.  I think caring out the message is the work of every Christian.  To receive the message in Church and then carry that message out from the Church into everyday life. This message is carried out not only in word but also in our conduct.  As St Francis said, “Go out and preach the Gospel, and when necessary, use words.”  This means that the primary method of spreading the good news is by our compassion and kindness. There are so many now who don’t bother to go to Church.  They have given up on Good News.  But they still need it.  That’s where we come in.  We hear the word and take it into ourselves.  Then we go out and do good works through the faith re-kindled in us through the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Table.  With the Presence of Christ in us we go out and meet people, some are family, some are friends, some are people we have never met before.  But we have the Risen Christ within us. 

I can remember when I took Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and was assigned a floor in a hospital.  I was nervous about entering a patient’s room.  I don’t know why, I just was.  Then, I remembered the words of our supervisor who said “Go to them and just be, Christ will do the work of relationship.”  And that is exactly what happened. I never experienced one problem. All Christians are appointed to do the work of taking Jesus out to people who need him.  Do not worry and do not be afraid.  God in faith, and Christ in you, will do the heavy lifting. Be well.

Today we remember Fabian; Bishop and Martyr (January 20, 250) and his information may be found at: Fabian

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

Let us pray: (BCP p.834)

Be present, be present, O Jesus, our great High Priest, as you were present with your disciples, and be known to us in the breaking of bread; who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Gospel Reading for Sunday of the Second Week of Epiphany: Year C

John 2:1 -11

His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ (John 2:5)

This is one of the two most important messages of the whole Christian Testament. The other also comes from a Mary, Mary Magdalene, and her message of “I have seen the Lord!”  (John 20:18)

Obeying Jesus and the Easter Message of “He is risen,” makes us who we are as Christians.

Obeying Jesus is not always simple. It requires participation in our blessings. Jesus changed water into wine but we filled the water jars. We, the servants, to whom His mother said, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’  This required more than simply turning a valve on a faucet. In the days of Jesus it required filling buckets from a well and carrying it to the jars. But in their obedience, the servants didn’t see what was happening in their own labors, the first sign of who Jesus is.

The same is true for us today. As we go about loving God and loving our neighbors, realizing that all people are our neighbors as was the man found injured on the side of the road in the Gospel according to Luke about the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29 to 37); where Jesus instructs him (and us) to ‘Go and do likewise.’ Can we, will we, obey?

More often than not Jesus calls us to inconvenient tasks that sometimes costs us our time and, or, money or both. Jesus will instruct us to go back to places where we were kicked out of in order to bring them good news. Jesus instructs us to not worry about insults that come our way but to pray for those who hate us. And his mother says “Do whatever he tells you.”

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

Let us pray: (BCP p.215)

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Confession of St. Peter: Eucharistic Readings:

Psalm 23; Acts 4:8-13, 1^st Peter 5: 1 – 4, Matthew 16: 13 – 20:

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 16: 13 – 17)

There are at least two important teaching points going on here.                          

First, who do you say that Jesus is?  We Christians can be found proclaiming Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  And he is. We say this with the most convincing words.  What do we say about who Jesus is with our behavior, our actions, and our love?

I am sure I read a quote from Maya Angelou (who has many life-inspiring quotes) that said, and I’m paraphrasing, “I do not define my Church, my Church defines me.”  In my understanding of her words it means that she does not tell people what her Church is about, but rather, as she walked her life, her Church said who she was.  Who do you say Jesus is by the way you conduct yourself?

Second, Jesus points out that Peter did not “figure out” who Jesus is.  Jesus lets us know that Peter’s revelation comes from God.  All holy revelation comes from God, but like Peter, we have to be close to Jesus to receive it. Such closeness is only possible through prayer and ponder. My dear friend and one-time mentor The Rev Gene Carpenter called it a “Glimmer of Grace.”  I like that term. It fits. It’s God’s doing, not ours. Be open to divine revelation and be well.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for the people suffering from the devastating fires in California. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and 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 Week One of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 16 and 17; Evening, Psalm 22

Isaiah 42:1 -17; Ephesians 3:1-13; Mark 2:13-22 

“I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations…” (Isaiah 42:6)

I believe human beings are the flagship of God’s creation. And within us, God has given us “free-will.”  Further, the Righteousness that God has placed in us is made manifest in all humanity and was enacted in our past by Confucius for the Chinese, Moses for the Jews (through whom Jesus of Nazareth came to us as God Incarnate); Zoroaster for the ancient Persians; and Mohammed for the Muslims.

God has taken us by the hand in our human walk to be a light to all nations regardless of language, ethnicity, or nation itself. We are God’s prized possessions. A few of us are set aside as examples to teach and coach our communities in the righteous living that God wants for us. The rest of us have it easy; we just live, learn and love. This has been true since the foundation of the universe.

“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 serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (BCP p.832)                                      

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings of Week One of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 18:1-20; Evening, Psalm 18:21-50;
Isaiah 41:17-29; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 2:1-12 :

 “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5)

This action takes place after four friends tear open a roof in order to place their paralyzed friend before Jesus for healing.

I am absolutely convinced that Jesus takes the faith that is planted and developed in us and uses it to do good works.  Almost every time we see Jesus doing a miracle he mentions the faith of the person or persons involved. This is amazing to me because although this faith is in us we are not equipped to make use of it ourselves.  It is through prayer, in thought, word and/or deed that our request is made known to the Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word of God and then God reaches inside us, uses our God-given spirit in us for the benefit of us.  Wow! 

I have seen this in action when one of my young parishioners was in a terrible motorcycle accident years ago.  His mother, sister, other family members and myself gathered in the visitor’s lunge of the hospital. Then  one of the doctors came into the visitor’s lounge asked if she could pray with us. It was powerful.  At that prayerful moment we were on Holy Ground.  It was later that I heard another one of the surgeons approaching our waiting area saying “that was a strong young teenager.”  No sir, I thought to myself, that was God using our faith for the healing of this child.

 Sometimes our sins cripples us. Jesus addressed this concern in our reading for today. When Jesus is challenged regarding his authority to forgive sins, He shows the doubters that His power is beyond the simple physical matter of nature. Jesus is Lord of the seen, and the unseen – of this world and the next. Jesus not only forgives sins, which is something we also are equipped to do, He also makes the lame walk which even with all of our technology we often fall short of physical healing.

Yes, I said that, we, you and I, can forgive the sins of others and ourselves. It’s not easy, but it is possible.  Jesus told them and us, “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic— ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’” (Mark 2:10, 11)

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

Let us pray: (BCP  p.458)                                                     

O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servants the help of your power, that their sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Week One of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 119:1-24; Evening, Psalm 12, 13, 14; 
Isaiah 41:1-16; Ephesians 2:1-10; Mark 1:29-45: 

 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

We are saved through faith – believing. I have always liked to look at faith as that handle or grip by which God uses to pull our souls to God’s Self when we give up the ghost.  Just as our doing won’t earn our way into heaven, so too, our wrong doing shouldn’t keep us out, but our lack of faith will.  It is all a matter of faith, believing, and in believing, we will do what is loving and pleasing in God’s sight. What we do, or not do, then becomes a by-product of our faith or, lack of faith.  

We are who God has made us whether we live into that loving being or not. We were created to do good works based on faith and for good faith-works to be our way of life. However, we have free will. We can choose not to follow who God designed us to be. I don’t believe in specific predestination. But I do believe we are generally predestined to be good and loving people as guided by God’s Holy Spirit.  I think this is what St James is trying to tell us when he says, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.” (James 2:26)

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

Let us pray: A Collect for Guidance (BCP p. 100)

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the first week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 5and 6; Evening, Psalms 10 and 11;
Isaiah 40:25-31; Ephesians 1:15-23; Mark 1:14-28 

 “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.” (Ephesians 1:17 – 19 NRSV)

St Paul prays that God gives us the spirit of wisdom and revelation as we come to know God.  We really need to ponder these words.  We can study God all we want but until God decides to share wisdom with us we will not have it.  The same goes for revelation.  We are made aware of divine things when God shares it with us.  I think the only way we can participate in this sharing is that we first believe and await God’s pleasure.  For if we choose not to believe, there is no place in us for God to put the greatness of God’s glory, which contains the hope to which we have been called. We must learn to listen with the ears of our heart and see with the eyes of our heart.  I hope St Paul appreciates my explanation.

Some pondering on revelation from Mark McIntosh as he has written “Mysteries of Faith” for The New Church Teaching Series. The following is taken from chapter four of his book which I am mentoring in Education for Ministry (EfM) at St Paul’s in the Pines, Fayetteville, NC.

Mark McIntosh writes: “Revelation is Jesus. Think how, as you come to spend more and more time with a person, you come to know more deeply who she is. That is only possible because at the same time you are being changed by your friendship with her – sometimes brought up short, sometimes delighted, sometimes wounded in your pride, sometimes healed and forgiven.  All these changes in you are the means by which you come to know your friend more and more, because knowing someone in that intimate way is only possible through a process of transformation and growth – sometimes painful, always unsettling – by which you and your friend come to share life together.  Similarly, revelation happens when, by the miracle of God’s grace, we are brought to share in the love of the Trinity.  As we know, such sharing is risky for us in the world we have made.  God’s giving-life-in-you (usually called “grace”) leads you out of the self others have made for you by their anger or their possessiveness, and it tugs you out of the life you have  settled into as a way of hiding from what God longs for you to be.  It sends you into soup kitchens and night shelters, to hospital bedsides and communion rails, it exhausts you and gives you life, it gets you crucified and yet raises you into life itself.”  (Page 77 “Mysteries of Faith”)

Thank you Mark McIntosh. What I get from this is that God reveals God’s self through the other.  We should never dismiss another person who comes to us to share a message.  If we ever say to ourselves, “I know this person and God would never use him or her to bring me a revelation,” we are not really dismissing them. We would be limiting God; we would be saying that God is not able to use him or her to reveal anything.  Have you not heard, God is able to use anybody to do anything?  The lesson here is to always be open to what God might be saying to you through someone else, and further, companion the ups and downs that accompany the revelation. Sometimes God is tough, but always merciful and loving.

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

Let us pray:                                                                                                      

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p.291)

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the first week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 1, 2 and 3; Evening, Psalms 4 and 7:   
Isaiah 40:12-23; Ephesians 1:1-14; Mark 1:1-13: 

 “In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:11 – 12 NRSV)

After studying this sentence that runs through two verses in English, from various English translations, we have the words “destined” or “predestined” and the word “might” in the same sentence. I believe God has blessed humanity with free will.  I also believe God has set a path for us in Christ Jesus to be for those of God’s creation who gives praise back to God.  We don’t have to, but we ought to. We have been hard-wired for praise. I love the doxology that sings, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise him all creatures here below. Praise Him above Ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.” 

Many people avoid the Book of Revelation (to John from Jesus Christ).  However, a close examination of this book will reveal a regular round of singing praise to God from the heavenly host.  I don’t think it’s even a matter of singing ability; it’s just a matter of the heart. I don’t have any memories of my childhood as a Church family but I can distinctly remember my mother singing Gospel hymns as she did our laundry. She would sing, “When I woke up this morning children, I didn’t have no doubt….”  I meet people all the time who have never heard this hymn.  But I love it.  One day I will try to find a copy of it.  I think this is who God wants us to be – God “wants” us to be, not “makes” us to be.  All we have to do is have no doubt.

Let us practice singing praise to God regardless of what we might think of our ability to sing.  I’ve heard it said over and over again, God just wants a joyful noise. Our praising God now is practice for our eternal presence with God in glory everlasting.

Today we remember Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor (January 13, 367) and his information may be found at: Hilary of Poitiers

I ask your prayers for Ken Short, the father of a dear friend of mine.

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

Let us pray:

O Holy One of Israel, giver of all good gifts and graces for all people. Be with us Lord in all of our several situations (especially Ken) and keep us all mindful of your active presence in our everyday lives. Help us to live for the praise of Your glory forever and ever. Amen.