Author: John Thomas Frazier

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

Eucharistic Readings for Tuesday of Easter Week: All Years

Acts 2:36-41  Psalm 33:18-22   or Psalm 118:19-24; John 20:11-18 

“Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, for in his holy Name we put our trust.

Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, as we have put our trust in you.”             (Psalm 33: 21 -22)

By most translations, these are the last verses of Psalm 33.  I think “trust” is the key word here.  Some translators have suggested that the English word trust is a more accurate word for believe.  Many translations have the word “hope” in verse 22. But for me, hope has an element of uncertainty about it or, in the least, the possibility one’s hope may not be made manifest. Trust on the other hand, is putting all our eggs in one basket.  It is not having a plan “B” or a back-up plan. It’s God or nothing.

I know that on our currency we print “In God We Trust.”  I hope that is true for all of us but I have heard some self-proclaimed atheist swear there is no God, but I believe that same God loves them.  Just as our currency is a communal way of acquiring our personal and family needs, so too should our trust in God be for the welfare of ourselves, our families and our community – in that order. The God that we trust is a personal, family and Communal God.

Our Lord Jesus, an exact Image of God, began life in his earthly family.  His mother Mary, though poor by the world economy of her day, never had want as her Son and Savior could feed thousands with only a few fish and loaves. Mary trusted in Jesus. Jesus later moved out and into the community. And the communities in which he visited also followed him and trusted in him, although some didn’t. Jesus is present in our hearts, and families and communities today.  But folks, we must trust in him, though we have not seen him in a visual way, still we must trust in him. 

Let us pray:

 Oh Lord Jesus  Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, as we have put our trust in you. Help us with patience and kindness and tolerance as we meet one another today. Assists us dear Lord as we live into our trust in you. This we ask in your most holy 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 Monday of Easter Week: All Years

Acts 2:14,22b-32; Psalm 16:8-11 or Psalm 118:19-24;   Matthew 28:9-15

“When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.” (Matthew 28: 12 – 15)

Our Lord Jesus walked into human history not too many years after coin money made its way into our trading markets.  While money has some good qualities insofar as having a long shelf-life while food (vegetable or animal) can’t be kept for trade for very long.  On the downside however, money quickly became the ends rather than the means of maintaining life.  So the chief priest and elders gave the soldiers a large sum of money, which is in addition to their pay as soldiers, to perpetrate a lie. 

For me, the saddest part is that these men (chief priest and elders) are supposed to be the faith and moral leadership of their community.  These clergy study and maintain the Ten Commandments of Moses, one of which says, “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”

Being a person of religious responsibility I must keep my eyes and ears open to other faith traditions and always ask if my own tradition could learn something from another faith walk. None of our religions are perfect. But each of us, clergy or not, has a personal responsibility to monitor our own integrity.  We should not devise schemes that lie about others nor should we become a party to such a scheme if it is proposed.

Our Lord Jesus was moved however, that is, Raised!, not by disciples or soldiers or any human being, but by God, as a way of keeping an unbreakable covenant with us, forever.

Let us pray:

Dear Raised and eternal Lord Jesus, please keep each of us ever mindful of the trust placed on us to be faithful to the truth no matter what situation we might find ourselves in.  Help us dear Lord to be a people of integrity and honesty after the example you set for us, You who now live in unity with God Almighty, 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

A Gospel Reading for Easter Sunday: All Years

John 20: 1 to 18

“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the feet.” (John 20:11 – 12)

All of us share with Mary in the fact that it is through Jesus that we even know who we are. We read from the Gospel of Luke that our Lord Jesus casts out 7 demons from Mary; (Luke 8:2).  It is in this way that Mary even knows who she is. She owes her identity to her Lord Jesus. It was when she heard him call her name, “Mary,” that she knew beyond any doubt that her Lord and Savior was back! Which to her means, she can remain who she is supposed to be. Because Jesus lives, she lives.  Because Jesus lives, we live.

We, you and I, are who we are only through our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. I am sure that throughout my life I have had some demons. However, knowing and loving Jesus has enabled me to rid some demons and more fully know who I am supposed to be. Like Mary Magdalene, we come to know fully who we are in Christ Jesus our Savior.  We have a Covenant of knowing ourselves in Christ. This Covenant in Christ Jesus will never be broken.  

God has had many covenants with humanity.  All were broken at some point.  We had a covenant with Noah symbolized by a rainbow; we had a covenant with Abraham that all nations will be blessed through him; we had covenant through Moses with the Law, whether it was the 10 Commandments or the 613 recorded in the Hebrew Book of the Law: we broke covenant with God every time. 

In Jesus, we again tried to break covenant by crucifixion.  But God knowing we are not able to hold a covenant, became one of us and “un-broke” the attempted brake by Raising our Lord Jesus, the living Covenant, thus, not allowing His covenant with us to be broken. In this move by Christ death itself has died.  “I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues?   Where, O grave, is your destruction? (Hosea 13:14).  What we get from this is that death does not win.  Our Lord Jesus defeats death and keeps us with him forever in Covenant.

We have so much to be thankful for.  God loves us and has walked among us to experience what it is like to be us, the good and the bad.  Easter is about God keeping Covenant with us in order that we can be who we are intended to be, a Covenant we are not able to break. Thank You Lord Jesus.  Happy Easter Everybody!

Let us pray:

All mighty God, who lives and reigns and loves forever, we give you thanks for being one of us in our Lord Jesus Christ and enduring the pain and suffering that came with it as well as what it means to be family and to live in community. Thank you for inviting us into your family and community of eternal life and love through baptism by breaking the bonds of death as we remember this Holy act this day. In your most Holy Name 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 Holy Saturday: All Years

Job 14:1-14; or Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24;   Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66; or John 19:38-42

“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.” (1^st Peter 4: 8)

In this 1^st Peter writing, Peter admonishes believers to stop living reckless lives and to live like Christ wants us to live. He says that while we have sinned in our past, following the example of people who knew no better, we are held to a higher standard because we have been taught by our Lord.

To this I will add that once we know, we can’t un-know. As we pray for things to be better, we must live into our prayers in a better way.  Our behavior must be a continuation of our prayers.

Let us pray:

Most Holy Lord Jesus, You walked among us as a prayer from God Almighty. You set the example of what it means to live as a holy people. And now as we await the celebration of your Resurrection, we ask you to give us new life in loving one another and to lay aside our sins. O Lord we cannot continue without you. Be with us Lord Christ, lead us and guide us still. 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

Lessons appointed for use on Good Friday: All Years

Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

 “Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds.”  (John 19:39)

Nicodemus finds himself near the beginning of the Gospel according to John, in the middle, and at the end like this reading for today.  Nicodemus is a secret admirer of Jesus.  But because of his position with the Pharisees he was distant and secret.  He almost got in trouble defending Jesus with his fellow authorities. We read in John’s Gospel, “Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ^“Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” (John 7:50 – 51). He was quickly jumped on about that question and he backed off.

Nicodemus is another follower of Jesus who felt shame for not standing up for Jesus more than he did. Perhaps this is why he brought well more than enough mixture of myrrh and aloes to anoint his body.  When we act outside of our Christian values we too disown Jesus. Today we remember his crucifixion. This is a very sad thing we did.  I say we, as in humanity.  I think God looks upon this act as an example of our ignorance.  For the most part, we still are.  Many theologians believe this was a necessary sacrifice for the atonement for our sins. Because of this sacrifice, we dub today “Good Friday.” I must confess, I have a hard time connecting “good” and murder together.

Let us pray:

Most Holy Lord Jesus, who has gone through death’s dark door and kept it open for all who believe in you, stay with us as we strive to stay with you as Nicodemus did. You were with us at the beginning of our lives, and we ask you to visit with us throughout our lives so as to strengthen our faith. Help us Dear Lord to not have regret for our neglect of You, You who live and love all people in this life and the next, forever and ever. 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