Author: John Thomas Frazier

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

Eucharistic Readings for Maundy Thursday: All Years

Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14; Psalm 116:1, 10-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: John 13:1-17, 31b-35

“For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.  Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.  If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” (John 13: 15 to 17)

Our Lord Jesus has just gotten down from the table of breaking bread and washed the feet of his followers. They were shocked and bewildered. Peter even refused, at first, to allow Jesus to wash his feet. But after an explanation, he consented. This baptizing of the feet reminds me of the importance of our feet as understood from the Prophet Isaiah where he says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns;” (Isaiah 52:7).  Jesus has just made their feet beautiful in order for them to carry the Gospel out into the world.

We too should keep this tradition of humble access and servant ministry in order that we have the foundational feet necessary to bring Good News to all whom we meet.

Let us pray:

Oh Lord, Most Holy Lord Jesus, in the hardest of your earthly time you set us an example of how to be steadfast servants on our journey with you as our guide.  Help us to not forget that we are not greater than you who sets the example of humble compassion, wherein we serve others and also allow others to serve us. It is in your Holy Name we pray this: 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 Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalm 74;

Lamentation. 2:1-9; 2^nd Corinthians 1:23 to 2:11; Mark 12:1 to 11:

“Hear my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my petition.  Listen to me and answer me; I have no peace, because of my cares. (Psalm 55: 1 and 2)

The Psalmist sounds distressed about something and is begging God to be more present in what he cares about.

All of us have something, large or small, public or private, that we are concerned about and as we believe in God, we go to God for answers or at least divine intervention; as we should. As we pray, it may seem sometimes that God has hidden from us and refuses to respond to our petition. To this I say, “Balderdash!”  God works in God’s time, not ours. However, based on what I have studied and pondered about God, God truly does work in mysterious ways. God answers prayers often in ways outside of our sphere of knowledge and understanding. We should continue to pray for God to act in our lives, and then, just watch and listen and be amazed at what God is doing.

Let us Pray:

Oh Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of life and beauty, without you there is no us.  Walk with us we pray that our lives may reflect your will, on this earth, for this earth, and all its inhabitants. You are the Grand designer and lover of all life. Make yourself known in our lives in order that we might live, love and work in ways pleasing to You, You who knows our needs before we ask, be with us and help us 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

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 6 and 12; Evening, Psalm 94;

Lamentation 1:17 to 22; 2^nd Corinthians 1:8 to 22; Mark 11:27 to 33:

“So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”  (Mark 11:33)

When our Lord Jesus says, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things,’ it suggests that the chief priests and the scribes did in fact know that John’s Baptisms were from heaven. But they would rather play the “ignorant” card than admit that John was more holy than they were.

The truth is an amazing thing.  The truth is not always pretty, but admitting it, is always noble. When our personal truth is not pretty or noble we want to conceal it. We forget that God knows the truth that is in us just as God knew about Cane killing Able. While the actions of our personal truths may not be noble, being accountable for them is very noble.   Instead of concealing their thoughts about John the Baptist, the chief priests and scribes should have just told our Lord Jesus that they truly believed his Baptisms were from heaven. God did ask Cane where his brother Able was. God was giving him a chance to be truthful.

Let us pray:                                                                                          

Almighty God in Christ Jesus, we believe that you truly are the Way, the Truth and the Life, and as you are in us, the Truth is in us. Give us the strength to be honest in our thoughts and words no matter the costs. Help us we pray, to be truthful in our walk of faith, truthful in our determination to live into the integrity of your teachings and guidance all the days of our lives. 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 Monday of Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 51:1-18(19-20); Evening, Psalm 69:1-23

Lamentations 1:1-2,6-12; 2 Corinthians. 1:1-7; Mark 11:12-25

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.” (2 Corinthians 1: 3 – 4)

When I read these biblical passages I always try to seek out the timeless messages, those passages that are still relevant for us today.  Paul identifies God as “Father of mercies and the God of all consolation.” He goes on to say that as God consoles us, so we then are able to console others. This consolation that God blesses us with is truly a blessing.  And just like God told Abram, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you:” (Genesis 12:2 and 3).  So I see this divine consolation as God’s blessing that comes upon us and then we are to console others.

Consoling, that is, the listening to, and blessing of, the other, is so important today.  We need to be spiritually present with our neighbors.  A phone call, a text message, an email, any form of spiritual consolation we can do means a lot to someone suffering from loss of work, fearing sickness, stuck in their home and are at their wits end.  Our neighbors need us and we need them, now more than ever.

God has blessed you with the blessing of consolation.  Some of it is for you, be blessed and wear it like a new suit. But some of what God has given you is for you to give to someone else. See who God puts in your path or on your mind today and give them that consolation that God gave you for them.

Let us pray:

Oh Lord God, as you provide each of us with your divine consolation, remind us to also receive this same consolation from the people you put in our path, both on line or in line, wherever we encounter them. And also remind us to be generous in proving the same to others. In your 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

The Gospel Reading for Palm/Passion Sunday: Year B

Mark 14:1-15:47

“At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.” (Mark 14:72)

I have seen myself in the person of Peter. I mean well, but often the price of keeping my word is beyond my earthly mental ability. This is true even when it comes to my relationship with God. But like the centurion said, “Truly this man was God’s Son;” (Mark 15:39). What the centurion didn’t know is that this man is STILL the Son of God!

Many of us, me included, fear our outcome in this life based on our human relationships. We fail to understand that acknowledging our Lord Jesus is the freeing relationship that will get us where we really want to be, in glory everlasting. Jesus loves Peter and His first followers, and the same Jesus loves us today. We must not by our actions or words deny Him, but rather, walk the walk He set before us.

Let us pray:

Oh, All loving Lord Jesus, you know our weaknesses beyond our own knowledge of self, but you love us anyway.  Help us to really live into our faith no matter the costs. Help us daily dear Lord to not only believe in you, but also in your resurrection, your invitation into life eternal, where you live and reign in eternal glory forever and ever; 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 Saturday of the 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 137:1 to 6 and Psalm 144; Evening,  Psalms 42 and 43;

Exodus 10:21 to 11:8; 2^nd Corinthians 4:13 to 18; Mark 10:46 to 52:

“So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” (Mark 10:50)

This is the healing story of blind Bartimaeus son of Timaeus who asks for his sight “again.”  This means he once had sight, could see clearly. What is often kind of glossed over is Bartimaeus throwing off his cloak.  Think about it, if you are blind you become well aware of keeping up with things so that you can put your hands on them again. I have my sight and still, I lose things all the time, my keys, my phone, my glasses, many things.

Bartimaeus, knowing he has the opportunity to stand (or kneel) before our Lord Jesus, throws off his cloak – his security blanket.  He lets go of his “security blanket” knowing that being before Jesus will make all things new. He knew that having the attention of Jesus changes what he values. He wants to see again.  Which means, he was once able to see but lost his sight.

The same is true for us today. The only way we can put our whole trust in our Lord Jesus is to let go of false security. Our Lord Jesus asks us today, What is it that we want Him to do for us?

Let us pray:

Dear God, in Whom we put all our hopes and desires, be present with us in our doubts and fears and receive us in our absolute trust in Your goodness. As we witness Your gracious hand at work in our lives, hearts and minds, teach us to through off all false securities and to value Your presence with us as the most important fact of our lives. 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

Daily Office Readings for Friday after the 5^th Sunday of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 22; Evening,  Psalms 141 and 143:1-11(12);

Exodus 9:13 to 35; 2^nd Corinthians 4:1 to 12; Mark 10:32 to 45:

“They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.” (Mark 10:32)

Here we have our Lord Jesus leading the pack to his own torture and death.  He is very much aware of his imminent pain and suffering and yet he leads the way. He sets the example for future Christians.  The brothers James and John are going to request places of honor in the kingdom of Jesus.  Jesus informs them that those places are determined by God Almighty.  The rest of his group becomes angry when they find out what James and John were up to.  Jesus gives them the lesson about the upside down world of honor in the kingdom of heaven.  He explains that it is those who serve others that are the most honored in the kingdom.  Our Lord Jesus tells them (and us) that the worldly demand of harsh leadership, which demands for itself to be pleased no matter the costs, is not who we are.  We are to lead in loving ways.  We are to lead by caring for those whom we lead.  We then, are to be copies of the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus himself.

Let us pray:

Abide in us Lord Jesus as we study your ways and follow your teachings. Help us to see that in Christian love we are to recognize all others as our brothers and sisters of our heavenly family, and as such, we are to care for them without fear as God intends for us to do since the foundation of our creation. In your most holy name we pray: 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 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 131and 132; Evening, Psalms 140 and 142

Exodus 7:25 to 8:19; 2^nd Corinthians 3:7 to 18; Mark 10:17 to 31:

“The magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, but they could not. There were gnats on both humans and animals.” (Exodus 8:18)

The magicians of Pharaoh were able to replicate the “staff – to- snake” action even though Moses’ snake destroyed those of  Pharaoh’s magicians; and they could also produce the frogs as God did.  But when God raised up the finer creatures of creation, the gnats, the magicians were lacking. All of creation comes from God. No exception. The gnats remind me of the small and insignificant status of human beings in the great expanse of the universe except that God in Christ Jesus elevated our status by being one of us.

To my knowledge, no other creature on earth has been reasoned with by God, only human beings.  Through Moses, God has tried to reason with Pharaoh several times to release human beings, but he would not. So God showed Pharaoh that the God of Moses is indeed the God of all beings, human and non-human alike. And all humanity, regardless of where we live, are connected to God our Creator through Christ Jesus our Savior.

While we are geographically disconnected from one another, we are Spiritually and  prayerfully connected with one another and God. Moses spoke with God for the relief of his people even though it was not something he wanted to do from the beginning. I ponder that it may not have been just Pharaoh whom Moses feared; he may have feared having a continued close relationship with God whom he just met and who was pushing him way out of his comfort zone. We know deep down in our hearts that a continued prayerful relationship with God will push us past our comfort zone. Unlike our Lord Jesus, we have never been physically connected with God although God intercedes on our physical behalf as is often requested by us in our prayers for ourselves and others.

Our God is not a God of convenience.  God is not “use now and forget.”  We are in this prayer relationship with God forever and we should show God our thanks for even being alive, My preaching is not so much a job.  It is a calling from my own spiritual burning bush. What I am called to say is not always pleasant to ponder but none the less, needs to be said. The Spirit of God is eternal and moves among us always. This is the Spirit we should listen to and heed its Divine direction. The last verse of our 1^st Corinthian reading for today says of the Spirit; And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (1^st Corinthians 3:18)

Let us Pray:

Come O Holy Spirit, Who with your eternal and life-giving presence of love, fortifies all life, dwell in us that we may see and hear you in one another to the enhancement of our lives together, You who made us and loves us all, 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 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:145 to 176; Evening,  Psalm 128, 129, 130;

Exodus 7:8-24; 2^nd Corinthians 2:14 to 3:6; Mark 10:1 to 16:

“I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope. My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130: 4 and 5)

These verses capture our state of being right now.  We are waiting.  We are finally witnessing the beginning of the end of the devastation of Covid 19. And while it might stay with us in one form or another, we are now better able to protect ourselves from serious hospitalization or death. God has worked with us in our prayers to help us make vaccines against it.  Our hope and faith and trust continues to be in the Lord.  And we pray that God Almighty continues to  intervene with healing and health for all. “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope.”

God’s Word is that God loves us, that we are created in God’s Image. Our very souls wait for the Lord’s action.  Our souls already know the Lord our God and our souls speak to us (if we would but listen) informing us to put all our hope in the Lord.

In the old days the watchmen were those who stayed vigilant while everyone slept. They served as alarms if danger came near but also they watched for the first signs of the new day. They watched for the sun. Our souls today still watch for the Son.  But the Psalmist informs us that our souls watch even more intently.  Our souls today watch for the coming again of the Son of God.  

Let us pray:

Almighty God, creator and lover of all souls, give us that patience necessary to continually wait for your guidance in our lives. Help us to ever strive for your Word through Christ Jesus to lead us and guide us in all matters in order that our words and actions may be pleasing in your sight. 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