Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 9: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 5 and 6; Evening, Psalms 10 and 11;

Numbers 35:1-3,9-15 and 30-34; Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 23:13-26

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8: 30 – 39)

This is such a powerful statement from Paul.  And, while some of Paul’s rhetoric comes from his own somewhat vague personal understanding, there are moments like Corinthians 13: 1 – 13, and this one for today, that I believe come straight from God as made manifest in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s break it down.  First of all, Paul is “convinced.”  This means that his mind has been set, it is a revelation from God.  This kind of revelation is from God and not only to Paul but to us today as well.  And for all of us, once we know, we can’t “un-know.” We too are convinced.

Second, the love that God has for us overcomes all obstacles outside of ourselves.  I say outside of ourselves because it will be inside our deliberate and stubborn refusal to listen and learn from our Lord Jesus that hinders us from following our life path, and eternal path, that God has placed before each person.

I read once from a Russian priest that as we transition from this life to the next, as we all will, we begin our ascent to the divine.  As we approach the purity of heaven, whatever is amiss in us begins to diminish us. Whatever hate, or jealousy, or any unloving way we have about us will hinder us from our approach to God.  God will not stop us. According to the priest, the toxic baggage we attempt to bring with us will reduce us, and may completely eliminate us. So, it is nothing outside of ourselves that will hinder us from the love of God.  But any continued sinfulness within us will.

It is therefore, of the utmost importance then, that we work on ridding ourselves of all such maliciousness now, so that we will be unimpeded as we approach the throne.  Nothing outside of ourselves will impede our journey to God.  And nothing outside of us will separate us (whatever is left of us), from the love of God.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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 who made us and now dwells among us, protecting us from outside evil hindering our chance of eternal life with you, be inside us also we pray, helping us to rid ourselves of all selfish desires of idolatry and vainglory, so that we will only glorify your holy name; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 9: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 1, 2 and 3; Evening, Psalms 4 and 7; 

Numbers 32:1 to 6 and 16 to 27;  Romans 8:26 to 30; Matthew 23:1 to12:

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.  And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spiritintercedes for the saints according to the will of God.^”  (Romans 8: 26 – 27)

I think Paul really gets it right here.  We do have a weakness when it comes to prayer.  We do not know how to pray as we ought. These are the times we just need to sit quietly and ponder about God.  The Spirit of God dwells within each believer. And that is really it, we don’t have to know what we are doing, all we have to do is believe.  The Holy Spirit of God walks on the path of our faith, our believing, right into our hearts, and responds to God from whom it came in the first place.  We do not belong to ourselves.  We belong to God. We do however have the privilege of knowing one another, and if we obey our Lord Jesus, love one another also. 

Language is a wonderful thing.  But it is not the end-all.  There are feelings and emotions and expressions, as Paul says, “too deep for words.”  I am a member of a Spiritual Companion Group where silence is the norm of our time together.  I can’t say enough about how valuable the movement of the Spirit is as the Spirit moves and weaves through our group meetings.  

The Spirit of God mingles within our hearts and actually moves our personality needle to more and more love.  And, as Paul says, God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for us.   Truly folks, all we have to do is back off and let God be God. We are on a journey but we are not driving. We are passengers.  All we have to do is enjoy the ride and love one another.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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 all knowing and all loving God, whose Spirit moved about when there was nothing, and then moved over created waters, and then created all life, and then walked among human-kind. Your spiritual depth is more than we can understand. Help us to channel our spirits to your all-loving Spirit in our prayers beyond our understanding.  Knowing that we don’t have to understand to have faith, search our minds and enliven our spirits to have love for you and for one another. Amen

Gospel Eucharistic Reading for Sunday of Proper 9: Year B

Mark 6:1 to 13

“And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.” (Mark 6: 5 and 6)

This is further evidence that our Lord Jesus uses the faith that God has implanted in us to cure us, to save us. Many times in the Gospel accounts we read where our Lord Jesus says to someone made well to “go, your faith has made you well;” or “healed you.”  All we have to do is believe. The Risen Jesus of today will take it from there.

Faith is spiritual, and works with spiritual matters that impact our biological wellness.  Believing a locked door is not locked will certainly not unlock the door.  However, just believing in God, our Lord Jesus will improve your spiritual health, and by extension, your physical health. Jesus makes faith work. Believing will unlock death.

Questioning the credibility of a familiar source, like the people of Jesus’ home town, only raises doubt and weakens the presence of the faith. We must always focus on God, the Unknown, who shows up in whoever God chooses. We should always ask, “Is God in this.”  We should not rule out someone because we think we know them.  We don’t know God enough to say who God will use. And we can’t even say God won’t use you or me. If we are human, God can use us for the spiritual enhancement of the community in which we live. We probably don’t have to be human. God is everywhere, in all and with all. Just believe.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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, who prayed all creation into being with the words, “Let there be,” and then from creation brought into being human kind, making us products of your prayers, strengthen the bond between You and us so that we might believe beyond any doubt, now and in our days to come; You who live, love and reign, forever and ever, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 8: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 137:1-6 and Psalm 144; Evening, Psalm 104;

Numbers 24:12-25; Romans 8:18-25; Matthew 22:23-40:

“Jesus answered them, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29)

It was in this Gospel according to Matthew that we have Jesus re-interpreting the Scriptures, particularly in chapter 5.  Now we have Jesus telling the Sadducees (and many of us), that they have interpreted the ancient writings incorrectly. And he informs them that they also don’t really know about the power of God. 

I look at the ancient biblical writings, mostly written by men, as recording their experiences with God as best they could in accordance with their very limited understanding of the planet and space and themselves.  They did not always get it correct as Jesus informs this group of theologians. As an Education for Ministry (EfM) mentor and Christian Education teacher, I always explain that with God’s help, and with prayer before and after, we conduct our studies, we are looking for truth, not facts. So called facts are sometimes shown to be not true but the truth always is.

I believe God is truth, pure goodness and merciful love. I believe God loves this fragile earth our island home and has caused all life to be good (until it is corrupted). I also believe there is a different, and holy realm that we pass on to when we expire from this life. And, as Jesus says in our Matthew reading for today, we will then be like angels in heaven. (Matthew 22:30).

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Today our Church remembers Eva Lee Matthews. Her information can be found at Eva Lee Matthews (satucket.com)

We also remember Jan Hus at Jan Hus (satucket.com)

Let us pray:

O Holy God, the very existence of The Way, The Truth and The Life, be with us as we struggle through what we think are facts only to find out in your good timing, that only truth prevails. Love us through our ignorance and pride and bring us to you for the fulfillment of eternal life; through your unknown power we pray. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 8: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 140 and 142; Evening, Psalms 141 and 143:1 to 12);

 Numbers 24:1-13; Romans 8:12-17; Matthew 22:15-22:

“Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’”  (Matthew 22:21)

In trying to trick our Lord Jesus, the disciples of the Pharisees, along with the Herodians actually learn something about the real use of money and the reality of what belongs to God.

The real use of money is to purchase the necessities we need for living healthy lives.  Also, money can be used for fun and comfort. However, as money is a nonperishable trade commodity that the whole community needs to make use of, it should never be hoarded to the deprivation of others.

The emperor can be seen as the government, and money back to the emperor is the same as paying taxes.  The emperor or our government, are the printers of the money (hopefully) as a means of enabling citizens the ability to get their needs and maintain their common good which includes paying wages for those who work for the emperor or our government.  Money is too often misused.

Our souls and hearts on the other hand belong to the One who loaned it to us, Almighty God.  While money is a human construct, our being is the design and creation of God. Loans of money can, and should, be paid in full.  What we owe God can never be paid.  But then, who we are, and how we are made, never really stops being the property of God.  And the fact that we cannot pay God back for our being, we must inevitably return  “to God the things that are God’s.”  This has always been true, even before time, since before the heavens and the earth were finished.

“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

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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 Lord God Almighty, it is in You that we live, move, love and have our being. We pray that as you live, move, love and be with us that you guide us along right pathways as we journey home to you, our everlasting home, Amen.

Eucharistic Readings for the 4^th of July

Deuteronomy 10:17-21  Psalm 145;  Hebrews 11:8-16;  Matthew 5:43-48

“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11: 16)

I decided to use our National Hymn verses for this Fourth of July blog.  What I take from our Hebrew reading is God’s will for this planet to have, as President Reagan once said, a “City shining on a hill.” In the years to come, Winthrop’s “city upon a hill” sermon would become “the shining city on a hill” of President Reagan: a celebration of individual freedom, material prosperity, and American power—above all, a call for Americans to renew their optimism and believe in themselves again.”  “Beginning in the 1970s, Ronald Reagan placed that line, from that sermon, at the center of his political career. Tracing the story of America from John Winthrop forward, Reagan built a powerful articulation of American exceptionalism—the idea, as he explained, “that there was some divine plan that placed this great continent between two oceans to be sought out by those who were possessed of an abiding love of freedom and a special kind of courage.” (https://www.neh.gov/article/how-america-became-city-upon-hill)

So let us sing: “O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, o’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?  And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.  O say does that star spangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

I never realized that 2 questions were asked in the first verse of our national anthem.  The answer to both however is “Yes.”   Did you know there is a second verse, and in my humble opinion, a more powerful verse?  It too asks a question, but it makes a declaration also.  Here it is;

“O thus be it ever, when free men shall stand between their loved homes and the war’s desolation! Blessed with victory and peace, may the heaven rescued land praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation?  Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto, “In God is our trust.”  And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave;” (Francis Scott Key: Hymn 720 of the 1982 Hymnal ). We will find racist demons wherever we want to see them. These words are good and true. We shouldn’t make them something they are not.

While the readings for today are fine, I would add the words from 1^st Samuel 8: 9 also: “Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of the practice of the king who will reign over them.” God warned us that monarchies don’t work. Let me be clear, I love England. At the same time I understand monarchies don’t work. My faith tradition comes from the Church of England, my language, this language, is English. While I celebrate Independence, I do not celebrate war. There is a difference.

I am a black man, as racist see me, but standing proudly, I say, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”  

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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:

Independence Day July 4 (BCP 242)

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 8: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:145-176; Evening, Psalms 128, 129 and 130; 

Numbers 22:41-23:12; Romans 7:13-25; Matthew 21:33-46:

“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.” (Matthew 21: 3)

This starts out as a beautiful parable then quickly goes south.  It goes into evil, self-serving people (the tenants), who beat up and kill the prophets and then the Son of the owner of the vineyard. The preferential Christian understanding for many Christians is that God has sent His Son into the world, the vineyard, and he was crucified by those who thought themselves to be first in authority, and the vineyard was given to Christians. Not all Christians adhere to this idea.

But before all that, I want to focus on our human duty to care for this earth, this vineyard, regardless of a particular religion.  The Great Creator of the universe has caused to come into being this perfect life support system for all living creation upon it.  And, call it what you will, creation or evolution, humanity came into being last.  I think we are the flagship of God’s work and placed here to care for this earth.  This earth is perfect for our wellbeing.  But there is more to it than that.

We have a responsibility to help maintain this precious life-support system that we depend on. We have made telescopes and cameras and we have placed them in space such that we can look back and see this fragile earth, our island home as God would see it. I truly believe that God enjoys looking at this earth and sees that it is (or was) very good. This earth is a unique blue ball giving life to countless forms of life.  This blue ball is the vineyard, and we, all humans, are the tenants, given the responsibility to maintain it until the owner, either sends someone for a report, or returns personally.  So, what do you think our Earth-care grade should be on our report card to God?

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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:                                                            

Almighty God, the Great Architect and Crafter of all life and especially of this earth; be present with us and teach us to better care for our place of life, not only for ourselves, but for all your living creatures.  Make all humanity more aware of our planetary needs and inspire us to monitor our actions so as to make it clean again and to keep it clean as you have intended from the beginning, Amen

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 8: Year 2

Morning, Psalms  121, 122, and 123; Evening, Psalms 124, 125 and 126;

Numbers 22:21-38; Romans 7:1-12; Matthew 21:23-32:

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went.  The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go.  Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.” (Matthew 21: 28 – 32)

Our Lord Jesus points out that those who made the wrong decision initially, but then turned their lives around and did the will of God were forgiven and accepted; while those who gave the pleasing lip response initially, did not change for the better. It seems, over time, we tend to improve.  I hope this is true for most of us anyway.

I must confess that I think that I am a much better person now than I was even 10 or 20 years ago.  How do I know this?  I evaluate this by how I now see and listen to people; I evaluate it by the friends I cherish. And finally, I evaluate it by the fewer regrets I have for things done, and left undone.

The son who said no but did the will of the Father was, I believe, happier with himself in the end.  The son who said yes, but did not do the Father’s will, lived a double life of shame, shame for not pleasing the Father, and shame for lying about it in the first place.  The first son did not follow through with his emotional resentment of not wanting to do the work, but after deeper thought, did the work anyway.  The second son told the Father what he thought the father wanted to hear, either knowing he had no intention of doing the work; or, deciding later that he would not keep his word.

The words we produce with our mouths are important, especially if they truly represent what we are thinking and believing.   But the words we produce with our actions are the most important because they validate what is really in our heart.  Jesus has cornered the chief priests and elders in a situation wherein they would not say what they truly thought about John the Baptist. Rather, they conspired to say words pleasing to each other.  And unlike the tax-collectors and the prostitutes, the chief priests and elders would not change their ways.  How about us?  Do we always say what we really mean?  And “when” we err, will we repent and change?

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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:

Most merciful Lord Jesus, be with us and help each of us to see where we have erred in the past and stay with us through our efforts to repent and do the Will of God. Be with us in our thinking and pondering so that we will both say and do that that is good and right so to do, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 8: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 106:1-18; Evening,  Psalm 106:19-48;

Numbers 22:1-21; Romans 6:12-23 Matthew 21:12-22

“In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry.  And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once.” (Matthew 21:18 – 19)

A fig tree born of creation yet refuses to provide food for the One through whom it has its being.  We might argue that it was not the “proper” time for the fruit to produce fruit; therefore, it is not the tree’s fault.  But we don’t know the hidden relationship that the Creator had with this tree.

I have read where as Jesus was on his way back to the Temple, which was also in full leaf, insofar as its population and care was concerned, but produced no fruit in terms of spiritually feeding the people who came to it for spiritual nourishment.  The Temple was there for the pleasure of Temple authorities only. There was a similarity between the fruitless tree and the fruitless temple.

How about you and me and our Church?  What is the spiritual fruit of our labors or the labors of our worship houses?  Are we found visiting the sick, or assisting those with no transportation to the store or medical appointments?  These are especially challenging questions as we recover from the COVID pandemic.  But we must not use the pandemic as an excuse, or free pass, to not help our neighbors, less we too become the fruitless tree. Our parishes should feed our faith as we return to regular attendance so that God is not disappointed when looking for the fruits of our faith.

Today our Church remembers Pauli Murray at :Pauli Murray (satucket.com) and Harriet Beecher Stowe at Harriet Beecher Stowe (satucket.com).

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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:

Energize us O Lord God to love and participate in our community in ways that bring people closer to you. Rejuvenate our heart’s desire to bring people together again for your loves sake; Amen.  

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 8: Year B

Mark 5:21 to 43:

“Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” “(Mark 5:30).

We get to be with Jesus as he disembarks the boat into the great crowd.  And we see one of  the leaders of the synagogue get down on his knees and beg Jesus on behalf of his daughter for her healing and her life. Jesus agrees and goes with the synagogue leader to his house, and then, something happens!

This is what is meant by “unexpected opportunities.”  Our Lord Jesus is on his way to a dying child.  While in route, a woman of strong faith does her self-talk and follows through with her plan for her healing. She touches the clothing of Jesus and the faith she holds – heals her.

Have you ever been about doing something for someone, family or friend, and while taking them somewhere, or buying them something, someone in a parking lot, with a car that won’t start,  asks if you can give them a jump? Unexpected Opportunity.

We can have our minds focused on something –something good, something needed, and God will notice the goodness in us and make use of it. God sometimes will put in our path a good act that needs to be done. When this happens, it is not the “interruption” that God is looking at, but us.

God is looking at how we are going to respond to the help-request put before us. In moments like this God can tell when our love is genuine. A calculated plan that looks like a love effort may not be an accurate indicator of what you are made of.  However, a sudden event that requires of you whatever is available at the moment, will reveal what you are made of.  Love must be genuine, not just something done to make us look loving. Jesus shows that His love is genuine through and through. We too can become this loving through prayer. Expect unexpected opportunities.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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 Jesus, keep us ever loving and doing those things that are pleasing in your sight. And then use as is your need, even as we are already busy, for the mission of mercy for those around us, to the glory of your Name: Amen.