Author: John Thomas Frazier

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 4^th Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening, Psalms 64 and 65;

Genesis 19:1 to 29; Hebrews 11:1 to 12; John 6:27 to 40:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”  (Hebrews 11:6)

I don’t care much for the idea of reward seeking, but rather, just participating with God.

When we believe that there is a God, a loving God who has created, and is still creating, all life, we then have choices to make.  We can just sit back and enjoy the good works that God is doing, or through some antisocial twist of mind, work against the works of God.  Or, we can be a part of what God is doing by participating in the beauty and health and love of God’s works.

God wants to co-create and maintain creation with us.  And God will meet us if we take steps toward God. From our Hebrew reading we learn that there is a “response,” (rather than reward), to us as we seek God.  That response is more than we can ever ask or imagine.  Because we believe that God exists and that God is good, the sweat-equity we apply in our belief simultaneously invigorates us.  I think we should just do good for goodness sake. This then is not looking forward to some specific award, or rewards, that once accomplished, tends to encourage us to stop and bask in our accomplishments.  No, I believe that as we approach the will of God, we are pleased more and more by each step that we take. 

I saw a cartoon in the paper once where the child in the Charlie Brown Peanuts series who plays the piano, was asked by the little girl, who I believe has a crush on him that,  “What if he practiced for twenty years and never became rich or famous?”  To which he replied “The joy is in the playing.” And she responded, somewhat upset, “Really?”  This really captures how I feel about our approach to God.  The joy is in the approach. The joy is in the journey, really.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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 4^th Sunday after the Epiphany: Year B

Mark 1:21-28

“Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?”  (Mark 1: 23 and 24)

In today’s Gospel reading according to Mark, Jesus has gone and settled in Capernaum on the coast of Lake Galilee where he as already gathered a few followers. As he meets in their Synagogue on the Sabbath he has this encounter with a local who shows signs of being possessed by an unclean spirit.

I ask myself about his choice of words as he asks, “What have you to do with us?”  Is he talking about the community of Capernaum, those in the Synagogue, or perhaps those who are possessing him?  In any case Jesus orders the unclean spirit, or spirits, out and his order is quickly obeyed. 

The people around Jesus hear his teaching with authority. And then see an example of his power in healing a man with an unclean spirit. So now they are convinced that Jesus is not like their normal teachers, he is one with authority. So both the citizens of Capernaum and the unclean spirit are aware of the authority of Jesus.  As this lesson has been handed down to us, we too should recognize the authority of Jesus and bring our ills to him.

The Spirit of Jesus of Capernaum is still with us today. We too must recognize the authority in him to do that which is good and right so to do.  Jesus gives us new teachings that will amaze and astound us. We need to trust in the power of Jesus and spread the word about him to those who are less informed about who Jesus really is and what the Holy Spirit of Jesus is still doing today.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalms 138 and 139:1-17;

Genesis 18:1 to 16; Hebrews 10:26 to 39; John 6:16 to 27:

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it. Where can I go then from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”  (Psalm 139)

While I don’t agree with all of Psalm 139, at least not the “hate” parts, the all-knowing acceptance about who God is, I totally do agree with.   From my previous ponderings I have come to understand that God is “being”, is “existence”, is “thinking”, and therefore, is living “pondering,” This is the AM of the “I AM” of God.  It is not God was, or God will be.  No. this is God Is.  So there are two points to note here.  First, God is fulfilled in God is Love.  All creation, including you and me, are made manifest in love, God’s love.

Second, from the Psalmist, God is everywhere. Wow!  There is no place we can go that God is not there and this includes to the rest room (location), or in a coma (your state of being). And, no matter where you go or what your state of being is, God has always been there and will always be there.  God is in our history, in our present, and in our future.  God’s will is an option in our decisions and our emotions.  God does not always like our decisions or the outcomes of what we decide to do, but God, the God of love, is still very present.

We cannot attain to the level of God’s intellect.  We can try, and I think we should try, even though we cannot attain to it.  Being made aware of our limitations does not mean we shouldn’t try.  I am a life-long learner and life-long lover. So I have modified the Sci-Fi  Vulcan greeting of “Live long and prosper.”  My version is: “Live long, learn and love.” You Star Trek fans out there will understand this. So, for all of us, let’s live long, learn, and love always to the last of our mortal days that living and learning might continue on in our immortal days as well. There is no escaping God. We can’t hide from God nor can we deny the good of God that is made manifest in our lives. And for that, Thank You Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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 of the 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 40 and 54; Evening, Psalm 51;
Genesis 17:15 to 27; Hebrews 10:11 to 25; John 6:1 to 15:

“When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’” (John: 6:14)

I find John’s language to be puzzling. The part about “Who is to come into the world,” is clearly a prophetical prophecy about an event that is yet to come. Jesus has just “taken” food, “blessed” it in giving thanks to God for it, and “divided” it up among the people whom he had seated.  This is the four fold mark of take, bless, brake, and give, that is replicated  in our Holy Eucharist liturgy. It is God’s Way of being with us and leading us.

While Philip, in our John reading for today, argues that they do not have enough to feed all the people even a little taste, Jesus commands him, (and us), to just be patient, and have them to sit down.  I have noticed that in some Church communion services, the sacrament is indeed brought to “seated” parishioners who then partake of the food and drink. Maybe there is a lesson here for us who are stuck in our way of having people come to the rail. Maybe this is our form of “Altar Call.”

I don’t know the answer to all this but I do know that our Lord Jesus is still making His mark on us as He is the One who is still coming into our world. We would do well to be still, sit down and be patient, and remember, whatever we have, ever how little we might think it is, it will be enough and with some left over. We just need to develop the desire to be servants of Christ. Thank You Lord Jesus.

“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.

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 Conversion of Saint Paul.  

Galatians 1:11 to 24;  Psalm 67;  Acts 26:9 to 21;; Matthew 10:16 to 22

“And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death.”  (Acts 26:10)

Today we remember the Conversion of St. Paul. In this Acts reading Paul laments his past hatred against people who followed in the Way. I have noticed that when we take our eyes off the Lord and look at each other we tend to be judgmental and condescending. Paul followed the teachings of his elders, even to the point of bullying those who believed differently.  If this is true of us today, then I think we must seek change, and the sooner, the better.

Saul to Paul was a conversion.  Conversion is not a condemnation to hell.  It is a period of growth.  We don’t need chief priests or even our clergy of today to demand how we should live and how we must view the world. We only need our prayers and conscience awareness. We need to put ourselves in a place where we will be able to explain to our children and our grandchildren exactly what we believe and why, and be proud of it. We need to hear what the Spirit of our loving God in Christ Jesus is saying to us.

Paul’s conversion was not completed on the road to Damascus, it only began there.  It took him three years before he went back to Jerusalem to be with Peter; (Galatians 1:18), to really come around to God’s Dream.  But he did, and we can too.  Conversion, that is, changing what we believe and how we feel about God’s relationship with us could take considerable time. But it’s worth it. In my own life I was brought up being taught that homosexuality was a perverted evil. During seminary I underwent a conversion process whereby I learned about the all embracing love of God and that while we are sexual creatures, we are also creatures who need one another for more than just sexual gratification. We need to bond with someone who loves us, and that we also love, and to be with one whom we can trust with our very lives if necessary. God does not make trash. Consensual sexual orientation should not be discriminated against. While I never participated in the bullying of gays or lesbians, I certainly did not advocate for them or befriend them as I should have, and now do. I have changed, I have gone through a conversion process with regard to this topic of human relationships. Praise Jesus!

Are there other areas of human relationships that we need to work on and hold in prayer?  Where are you with regard to homosexuality, with capital punishment, with abortion, with ____; (you fill in the blank).  If the subject causes you to be defensive, welcome to Saul’s world before he became Paul.  Who will you be converted to be even if your name doesn’t change?

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:49 to 72; Evening,  Psalm 49;

Genesis 16:1 to 14; Hebrews 9:15 to 28; John 5:19 to 29:

“Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5: 21 – 24)

This lesson from our Lord Jesus says that God has “delegated” all next life invitations to our Lord Jesus.  One way to receive such an invitation is to believe this and live accordingly.

As a priest I often officiate at funerals.  The biggest message that people want to hear is the one about our being raised from the dead.  Sometimes it’s hard to connect the life of the deceased to his or her life of faith.  We preachers preach faith, that doesn’t mean we know the faith of others.  Only God knows the faith of a person regardless of the faith path they live.

And God has left all decisions about eternal life to God Incarnate, our Lord Jesus. After closely studying the words from our John passage this morning I get the sense that believers already have eternal life.  Believers may not live what some of us consider the so called perfect “Christian” life but still believe that Jesus is Lord. Having faith is not necessarily about being in church all the time.  It is about one’s prayer life.  Prayer is not necessarily about audible words. It is about where your heart is.  It is about how much you cry.  Crying is praying. God’s ears hears tears.

For those among us who have not accepted our Lord Jesus, such people come under judgment.  I believe the language clearly says all people must pass again through our Lord Jesus (from Whom all creation came into being), to eternal life. Such non-believers come under judgment. The faithful believer does not. I don’t believe a loving God lays waste a life lived in love for fellow human beings, but instead, leaves that judgment up to our Lord Jesus, who is also our loving God; our  God, who loves all people.  Some do not believe this all-inclusive love of God because of bad teaching and preaching.  Some don’t believe because they have never heard about our Lord Jesus and His loving and inclusive way.  God in Christ Jesus will not let the lack of being informed separate us from eternal life.  This includes infants who never had a chance, to the so-called atheists who are trying to figure things out for themselves. God is love. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 45; Evening,  Psalms 47 and 48:
Genesis 15:1-11 and17-21; Hebrews 9:1 to14; John 5:1 to 18

“One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’”  (John 5: 5 and 6)

Our human minds are so adaptable.  This adaptability is also adjustable. We can train our minds, our muscle memory, and even the foods we like to taste, to like and appreciate differences.  The downside is, however, that we can allow our circumstances to dictate our comfort. The man at the Sheep-Gate pool fell into this situation. He was comfortable in his crippled state of being and even made up excuses that supported his lack of willingness to even try to do better.  Jesus asks him (and us), “Do you want to be made well?”

We must want to be made well. It means never giving up and never creating excuses that give us false reasons for why we can’t do better. Today many of us hide behind limited physical ability that we never try to improve. I have seen some young persons with missing limbs participate in competitive sports like swimming and basketball and baseball, and they thrive!

Some of us try to use race or gender or orientation as reasons we aren’t good enough or accepted in certain associations. If these kind of reasons hold us back then we should start mew and more inclusive organizations that better align with the will of God for who God made us to be. 

Speaking a different language, being born in another country, missing limbs, dark skin or same sex love notwithstanding, we must stand up and walk. Sometimes that walk also means cutting a new trail. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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 the 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 41 and 52; Evening, Psalm 44:

Genesis 14:8 to 24; Hebrews 8:1 to13; John 4:43 to 54

“The official said to him, ‘Sir, come down before my little boy dies.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.” (John 4:49 – 50)

Intercessory prayer is so important.  In fact, prayer on behalf of others may be the most prayed prayers.  But like the official above, when we pray for someone, we must believe and go, go believing our Lord Jesus has done, or is doing, what is best.

I’m not so sure I like the follow up in this passage because the official who is the father is trying to prove to himself that it was in fact Jesus who did the healing.  “As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, ‘Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.’ The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he himself believed, along with his whole household.”  (John 4: 51 – 53)

Prayer is not all fact based.  It is however, all love and hope filled.  We must hope and pray for people we love and for anyone whom we realize is in dire straits.  Prayer to our Lord Jesus works.  When we sincerely ask for help, or healing, or comfort for others, our Lord Jesus will hear our plea, and will respond.  Remember, “God’s ears hears tears.”  Never, never, never give up, and don’t try to make sense of, or seek proof of, the Lord’s work.  But rather, just be thankful for it. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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 3^rd Sunday Week of Epiphany: Year B

“As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (Mark 1: 16 to 18)

As I study these ancient writings, I see more and more the second calling of people. David was a shepherd and Amos also a shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees before David was called to be a king, and Amos a temporary prophet to Israel, as Amos testifies, “Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel;.” (Amos 7: 14 and 15).

Jesus continues his recruiting walk down the beach and enlists the help of the brothers John and James who were also fishermen before being called to be evangelist. Jesus himself was a carpenter before moving on to the work of salvation as was His mission from before time began.

How about you and I? I was first called to serve in the military and served in the Marines for 30 years.  Now I am called to serve as preacher and spiritual companion for any who need me. What a wonderful biblical tradition I am following. But it is one of service. When God invites us to follow Him, it is not about us, it is about a community. It may not be the community you are currently residing in as with Amos or even Abraham who was told by God; “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing: (Genesis 12:1 and 2)

The way God calls us is the same in both the Old and New Testaments. Often (but not always) we get a name change as in from Abram to Abraham, and from Simon to Peter. Also our additional call to God’s service does not necessarily eliminate our previous vocation. Amos went back to his work as a shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees, and Paul continued as a tent maker in addition to his call to preach the Gospel. I don’t do anything pertaining to national defense anymore but I do still continue to manage people in order that they might be the best they can be.  How about you?  When our Lord Jesus says to you, “Follow Me,” how are you called to preach the Gospel in word and deed, and where are you called to do it?

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 30 and 32; Evening, Psalms 42 and 43;
Genesis 12:9 to 13:1; Hebrews 7:18 to 28; John 4:27 to 42:

“They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world; (John 4:42).

This is the experience with the unnamed woman at the well. Was it necessary for the people, (I’ll bet mostly men), to tell the woman that it was not because of her that they believe? Because, it truly was her doing.

She has just done the work of John the Baptist and every Christian denomination we have today; she has brought people to Christ.

You and I can still meet Christ at the well today. And such an encounter can make us also forget our bucket and why we were there in the first place. Private time with Jesus is overwhelming. It will make you go to those, even those with whom you have issues with, and proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world!  And here is the thing folks, once you know, you can’t unknow.

Once the Spirit of God enlightens you, you too will be reminded of everything you have ever done as well as the good in you that lies ahead. Maybe someone you tend to avoid will bring you a word of Jesus being present in them, and you would rather ignore them.  However, I would suggest that you remember such a person and re-member them back into the fold, for they got out of God’s way and let God work through them for their faith’s sake, and for your faith’s sake as well.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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