Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Reading for Friday of the 2^nd Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 16 and 17; Evening, Psalms 134 and 135;

Exodus 16:23 to 36; 1^st Peter 3:13 to 4:6; John 16:1 to 15:

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)

I used to wonder why people in the Superman comic book series, especially Lois Lane, didn’t realize that if she never saw Clark Kent and Superman at the same time, they might be the same person! It is amazing what a business suit and a pair of glasses will hide. 

Jesus says “if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” It sounds like a phone booth transformation to me.   So, they are one and the same perhaps. I just feel like Jesus is God’s way of really knowing what it is like to be one of us.  In Christ Jesus, God experiences our joy, pain, sorrow, abuse, tyranny, foods, relationships, work, play and on and on. There is no existence or experience in human life that God has not experienced personally in the person of Jesus except for maybe giving birth. Therefore, God knows all, and every kind of our delights and our troubles.  As the old hymn goes, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, Nobody knows but Jesus.”

Our Advocate, sent by our Lord Jesus, can best be summed up in the words of the Preacher to the Hebrews as he writes, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin;” (Hebrews 4:15).  I think it is very important to believe in, and hope for, eternal life. Without the expected accountability and judgment to come, and the possibility of life everlasting, where is the governance of our conduct now, in this life? We need to learn this message now and improve ourselves daily.

Let us pray:

Oh Holy Lord Christ, as you have sent us Your Holy Spirit to be our Advocate in this life, so open each of our minds to see and behave more faithfully each day until that day we come to you. Amen.

“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

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 2^nd Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 18:1 to 20; Evening, Psalm 18: 21 to 50;

Exodus 16:10-22; 1^st Peter 2:11 to 25; John 15:12 to 27

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15: 12)

I really like this “John” rendition of the love commandment better than the ones in the Synoptic Gospel accounts where it is said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”  The presupposition is that you love yourself. I have met people who do not love themselves. How then can they be expected to love others? 

I am not trying to promote narcissism here but a great many people need to know that they are loved by God, and to suggest that God can’t act in them is not saying they are not good enough, but that God, in all God’s unlimited ability, they feel that God is not able to act in them. Balderdash! God can, and will, use any person to do God’s will.  We are definitely commanded to love ourselves as part of the commandment to love. But just in case we don’t get it, St. John records our Lord Jesus as saying love “one another” (which includes yourself), as I have loved you. Jesus says, “As I have loved you.”  And remember, Jesus loved you all the way to the cross. Every human being is so worthy, and so loved.  Thank you Lord Jesus.

Today our Anglican Communion remembers George Augustus Selwyn, Bishop and missionary (1878). He was a fine example of extending love to others different than himself. The article also shows God working good through “clerical errors.”

This can be found at http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/GA_Selwyn.htm

Let us pray:

O Lord God, who showed us how to love one another through Your time with us in our Lord Jesus Christ, please help us to tear down whatever hinders our affection for one another, be it language, culture, nationality, color of skin or whatever. Continue teaching us even now, through one another, to love one another,  as You love us. Amen.

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

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

Morning, Psalm 119:1-24; Evening,  Psalms 12, 13 and 14; 

Exodus 15:22 to16:10;  1^st Peter 2:1 to 10;  John 15:1 to11: 

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2: 9)

When Peter says we are a chosen race he is not talking about Jews or whites or blacks or Asians or Hispanics or Europeans.  All are included in the faith. But specifically he is talking about God-believing humans. He is talking about those of us who have said that we believe and are in fact God’s people no matter how we are packaged.  And we will proclaim God’s mighty acts, of old, and what we witness God doing now.

How has God acted in your life?  What good has happened in your life that is not easily explained outside of God’s mighty acts?  God is all around us and God knows that when we, who believe, see something mysteriously happen, we know God is doing this work and it delights us.  When it happens we pause and say, “Thank you God,” and we chuckle to ourselves.  It is in such ways that God calls us out of darkness into God’s marvelous light.

The Bible does not really end with the Revelation to John, at least not for the record of humanity’s relationship with God.  We, you and I, are the continuation of the Living Bible. God still lives and will always live. And we are invited to join in the heavenly kingdom beyond the pages of scripture. Scripture will remain here for God’s own chosen race of faith to continue to read, heed and even lead.  There comes a time however when we leap from our earthly relationship to that all spiritual relationship into the full identity as a child of God in our Lord Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. My beloved of the Lord, please do all in your power to live fully into a life of faith.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, Crafter and Creator of all that is, enlighten us more and more as we age to see your will being done in both outwardly and inwardly ways. And them encourage us to share Your acts among us so that others might also come to believe. We give You thanks Dear God for our lives and Your care of us. Amen.

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

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter: Year 2

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

Exodus 15:1 to 21;  1^st Pet. 1:13 to 25;  John 14:18 to 31;

“Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.” (1^st Peter 1: 21)

I think Peter in his first letter here is correct about who our Lord Jesus was then, what he was doing, and is still doing now.  It is through our Lord Jesus that we Christians have come to trust in God.  Often we only focus on Jesus and not on where he is still pointing us to, that is, to the Creator of all creation. It is in the early hours that I ponder these things. “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; early in the morning I make my appeal and watch for you.” (Psalm 5:3)

God is Creator, Sustainer and Sanctifier.  God is everywhere, all the time.  Peter tells us that through God raising Jesus from the dead, and then placed in our midst, our faith and hope should be set on God, the All Mighty, invincible, God only wise.  We all should be looking to God for answers to all our problems.  God cares for us and wants us to come to God for spiritual survival.

Regardless of how we build and use a path to God, there is only One Source of love and life. Some individuals, institutions and even some countries don’t get it. Love and life come from the same Source, and it is to this Source that Jesus was directing us so that our faith and hope are set on this Source of love and life. The Spirit of the Source was surely speaking through Saint Peter. Thank you Saint Peter.

Today we remember Dietrich Bonheoffer, Pastor and Theologian (April 9, 1945). His bio can be found at; Dietrich Bonhoeffer (satucket.com). Bonheoffer has written many books on faith and walked his faith until the day he was executed.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, the great Source of life and love, You came to us as one of us to show us Yourself. Let us learn and trust in You as did Peter, your apostle, and Dietrich Bonheoffer, Your dedicated disciple. Help us to follow our Lord Jesus’ instruction to look to You in all matters of life, now and forever; Amen.

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

The Gospel Reading for the Annunciation

Luke 1:26-38

“But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” (Luke 1:29)

Today we remember the Annunciation, that is, the announcement from the Angel Gabriel to Mary about what God wants of her. After a little bit of back-and-forth, Mary complies with the words, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38: NRSV Translation of the Bible)

In the Gospel according to Luke of the NRSV Translation of the Bible, there are two significant times that Mary” ponders” about what is happening in her time and with herself. The Annunciation is one, the other is when the shepherds revealed their own visit from heaven by angels and told them about the child born in Bethlehem. And again, “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”  (Luke 2:19)

It is from Mary’s pondering that I ponder. It is also why I named this blog in this way, “One Who Ponders.”  I ponder about what God is doing in my time, and with me in particular.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord God, who loves us so much as to come among us for our sakes, please help us to build up in ourselves the trusting nature of Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus, Yourself Incarnate. Help us to see in ourselves a little of what You see in us so that we might live better lives to the glory of your Name. Amen.

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

Eucharistic Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter: Year A

Acts 2:14-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31: 

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”  (John 20: 29)

Perhaps we have not “seen” Jesus, at least, not in human form as a Palestinian Jew.  But we see him in the acts of people who believe in him.

In scripture we see Jesus come to people huddled up in a room as did the apostles. They had their own quarantine so to speak. They were behind a locked door but that did not stop Jesus.

Jesus seems to really get upset about people who have first heard and then did not believe. Jesus was upset with the disciples who heard Mary Magdalene declare “He has risen,” but they didn’t believe her.  Jesus reprimanded the two on the road to Emmaus.  You see, “In the beginning was the Word! not the sight. We walk by faith, not by sight. I think Jesus is trying to make the point that we should believe the Jesus stories we are told, at least believe until we find out different, and I don’t believe we ever will. 

But we can see the presence of Jesus through the acts of believers today. I saw and heard Jesus in a Doctor at Chapel Hill more than twelve years ago, who asked if she could pray with us for one of our then teenage high school boys who was run over by a school bus while riding his motorcycle. She asked to pray with us before she performed surgery on him.  I was so moved by her asking.  It is good to witness doctors of faith and feel the presence of Jesus today in our presence. We can hear and see our Lord Jesus in Doctors and nurses and store clerks, and truck drivers cooped up in their various, and sometimes locked-in environments today. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Even more blessed are those who have heard and then come to see our Lord Jesus in the loving acts of his people. I bid you all, to go and be blessed, and then be a blessing to others. Tell your own Jesus stories so that others may first hear and then see our Lord Jesus in their own way.

Let us pray:                                                                                  

Blessed Lord Jesus, as you have been raised from the dead and continue coaching us through this life in order to lead us into everlasting life, be patient Lord Christ as we can be a stubborn people. Instill in us our way of sensing your presence today by word and deed in order that we may follow where you lead us to the glory of your Name. Amen.

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

Eucharistic Readings for Saturday of Easter Week: All Years

Acts 4:13-21;  Psalm 118:14-18 or Psalm 118:19-24;  Mark 16:9-15 and 20

“But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4: 19 – 20)

This is something we don’t think enough about, that is, what is right in God’s eyes.  No matter where we are or who we are with, God is always present, looking and listening. I will confess that I still find myself in situations where I am saying things about one person to someone else that I wouldn’t say if the subject person was present.  I forget that God is standing right beside me. I’m getting better, but not quite there yet.

Sometimes it is hard to hear what God is saying.  Many people try to find similar life situations or problems in the Bible in order to discern what God said then and apply it to now.  This does not often work and it may not be what God is saying to us now.  Each time, each situation and each people have their own, and often, very different responses, from God.

Peter and John learned from our Lord Jesus that prayer brings about the voice of God. And just as they were partnered in their standing before the rulers and elders and scribes as formerly uneducated men being only fishermen, they consoled with God and fed off each other for even wiser counsel with God in the mix.

Each one of us, clergy or not, needs another person, of whom we respect their caring and nurture, that we can voice our concerns with.  And then we must be willing to heed their counsel given to us. This is not to take away our own “alone” time. But sometimes God needs to use the voice of a trusted friend to say a word or two that will enhance our discernment and decision making. God is good, all the time. God wants what is good for us. Often our traditions and laws conflict with the good that God wants for us.  We must listen to the Holy Spirit of God speaking through others and understand what is right in God’s eyes. It varies from situation to situation.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord God in Christ Jesus, as you were witnessed by Peter and John about Who you are and what is right to do and say, so also be with us in our time that we too may share your truth and love to the world. In Your eternal presence we pray: Amen.

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

Eucharistic Readings for Friday of Easter Week: All Years

Acts 4:1-12 Psalm 116:1-8 or Psalm 118:19-24; John 21:1-14

“When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” (John 21:9 – 10)

The just caught fish, in this case, is an example of the bringing together of new people to Jesus and those who have long been followers for some time. They did this around food wherein our Lord Jesus again took the fish, blessed it and divided it up and then gave it to them to eat. Our Lord Jesus seems to be a person who enjoys good friends with good food.  Notice too that there is also the requirement for those joining to bring something where he says, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” We are all participants and partakers in the feast with Jesus.

This was a fish breakfast! I wonder if it is on purpose that this reading is scheduled on a Friday. When I was in seminary a few of us from our dorm would go to Eastern Market in D.C. on Saturday mornings for a fish and grits breakfast.  It was great. Meals are truly the meeting place for people to reduce differences and become spiritual family.  I had an old 1978 Mercury Marquis in those days. It was huge.  Five of us would climb into that car and head for Eastern Market.  There was always excitement about going there and just being together.  We talked and joked all the way there.  This was kind of like the excitement Peter had when he was told that it was the Lord that was talking to them from the shore.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord Jesus, as you are the Way, the Truth and the Life, please teach us daily to enjoy good Christian fellowship as often as we can regardless of our minor differences or the day of the week. Help us also to bring others into our circle of saints as they may be called to join us. This we humbly ask in your most holy Name: Amen.

“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

Eucharistic Readings for Thursday of Easter Week: All Years

Acts 3:11-26; Psalm 8 or Psalm 114 or Psalm 118:19-24; Luke 24:36b-48

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,

What is man that you should be mindful of him? the son of man that you should seek him out?”  (Psalm 8:4 – 5)

I have read somewhere that we are byproducts of star dust.  If we are, I don’t think it is a random act.  I believe God created the stars and used the dust of those stars causing us to be, and it was, and is, intentional. We are so special that God came among us as one of us.

 Sometimes I just like to look up at the stars and just be in awe at the marvels of space.  I love our Eucharistic Prayer C which reminds us that “At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.”

And then the words of the Prayer go on, “From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation.” Of course we are also reminded that “we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another.” (All of this is on page 370 of the Book of Common Prayer) A sad lot we sometimes are but God loves us anyway. We are not a mistake by God.  However, we have our God-given free-will that we too often misuse.

So, as the Psalmist says, God is so mindful of us that God became born among us to model for us what real love looks like, agape love,  God became the living covenant that holds us together, forever.  God in Christ Jesus overcame death that through our Lord Jesus we too might believe and become born of a heavenly life for all eternity. Thank You Lord Jesus. So, are you thankful for God’s mindfulness? How are you using your God-given free-will in expressing agape love?

Let us pray:

Most glorious Lord God, who formed all creation and all living creatures, strengthen us in a way that we will use our God-given free-will to willingly accept your loving leadership, and follow your ways now, and in the everlasting, where we may seek you out and witness your mighty hand at work unveiled before our new eyes. Amen.

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

Eucharistic Readings for Wednesday of Easter Week: All Years

Acts 3:1 to10; Psalm 105:1 to 8 or Psalm 118:19 to 24;  Luke 24:13 to 35:

“But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” (Luke 24: 29 – 31)

Our Lord Jesus walks up and asks what was going on.  The two on the road are taken aback by this unrecognized person.  Only to discover this person knows much more than they do in terms of the destiny of Jesus. To quote Paul Harvey, “now they know, the rest of the story.” In telling the story Jesus starts with Moses.  And he ends with what they knew, that the Messiah was crucified, died, and has been seen alive.

 As it was getting late, they invite this “stranger” to their house for a meal and shelter. The stranger accepts. It was at the table that they come to realize that this stranger is in fact Jesus Himself.  They recognize him in the manner in which he performs this sacred ritual; he takes, blesses, breaks and gives the bread. This is the same thing our Lord Jesus did with his disciples; he took them in, blessed them with teaching, preaching and healing; split them up into pairs like these two we meet on the road to Emmaus and gave them to the world.   And now has given us to the world at large to continue His work of teaching, preaching and healing to the best of our ability. So now our eyes too are opened and our hearts burning within us as we are also to make people aware of the prophecy of the scriptures, the fulfillment of the destiny of our Lord Jesus.

Let us pray:                                                                                    

Oh Holy Presence of God, come among us and have us to know and believe more fully in what lies ahead in the afterlife. Encourage us to live our current lives more faithfully so that we may welcome life eternal with fewer regrets. Lead us and guide us and teach us Dear Lord; Amen.

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