onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the Last Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 37:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 37:19 to 42;  
Deuteronomy 7:6 to11; Titus 1:1 to 16; John 1:29 to 34;

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” (Deuteronomy 7:6)

What an honor, to be chosen by God to be God’s chosen out of all the people of the earth!  However, this “chosen” status does not make them superior.  It is a calling to spread the word about the One, Loving God, to the entire world.

Moses is continuing the call of God that was first started in Abraham when God called him from his father’s house to the land promised to be the starting place for true religion. (Genesis 12:1)  From this place the Word of God spreads over the earth-globe through the Incarnate Word, Jesus our Lord. The invitation to be “chosen” now extends to the whole of humanity. Much care is required for True Religion. It was easy for the people following Moses to get it wrong and it has been easy for us who follow our Lord Jesus to get it wrong.  We inevitability add structures to religion that have nothing to do with God’s call. 

Anything that divides us or in any way diminishes others is disingenuous to the message of inclusive love that God wants us to show the world. Such inclusiveness has no boundaries of race, gender, political affiliation, language, nationality, or even how the other might find a path to God as long as such a path is also as inclusive as we should be striving to be. We become God’s treasured possession when we inform others that they too are God’s chosen people.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine.

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

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Ash Wednesday: All Years

2^nd  Corinthians 5:20 to 6:10  Matthew 6:1 to 6 and 16 to 21:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6: 19 to 21)

Moth, rust and even thieves, are not eternal; they can’t follow you into heaven. Personally, I don’t like the “Reward Seeking” aspect of this teaching.  It teaches us to do good for a good that will come to us later. It smacks of “Works Righteousness” to me. As the old Christmas song goes, we should “be good for goodness sake.” 

Also, I like switching the wording around from what the writer of Matthew has written.  I prefer, “For where your heart is, there your treasure will be also.”  Our hearts determine what our treasure is. Our treasure may be the company of good friends, or the company of the Great Cloud of Witnesses, the saints, who have gone before us. And, our treasure could be, sadly, having more money than our neighbor.  

What our heart desires is what we long for. It could be position, career, power, good and eternal fellowship, or temporal material things. My point is that whatever our heart craves is what our treasure is. Let the moths, rust and thieves have the temporal things. 

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine.

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 Last Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalms  26and 28; Evening, Psalms 36and 39;   
Deuteronomy 6:16to25; Hebrews 2:1to10; John 1:19to28;

“It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will. Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere, ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them?”  (Hebrews 2: 3to 6)

This passage from the Letter to the Hebrews has very important words for us to ponder. “God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit,” It is by gifts of the Holy Spirit that changes everything. We cannot look with mortal eyes and draw our own little conclusions about matters of all things. The Gospel of John gives us a clue about being open to receiving revelation from God. “God is Spirit. And so, those who worship [God] must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

This Great Creator of the universe who made all things and all life took a special fancy to humanity.  I imagine God thinking “Look at what a wonderful creature I caused to be, I will dwell with them and lead them.”  We, as humans, are so blessed that God thinks so much of us. From our Hebrews reading today we read, “But someone has testified somewhere, ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them?”  These words originated from Psalm 8, verse 5; it reads, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you visit him?”  And yes, God did indeed visit us in the person of our Lord Jesus.

Jesus, (God Incarnate), walked among us teaching us to listen to one another, learn from one another, love one another, and to live in harmony with one another. Maybe sometimes we are not following His example so well. But there is no plan B. I believe God is still creating us and it’s only a matter of time and we will have heaven among us. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Turkey and Syria.

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 Last Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning,  Psalm 25; Evening,  Psalms 9 and 15;
Deuteronomy 6:10 to15; Hebrews 1:1to14; John 1:1to18:

“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. (Hebrews 1:1 and 2); and; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.” (John 1: 1 to 3)

These two openings of our Hebrews Scripture and, the Gospel of John readings, seem to be making the same point; God Incarnate brought all things, and life itself, into being and sustains it.  This Holy Presence of God on earth we Christians call Jesus.

All of the Abraham faiths will agree that God, Creator of all that is, has the ability to come to us as one of us. So the question is not about the ability of God to do such an act but whether or not God actually did.  We Christians believe that not only God can, but that God did. God came to us as one of us. This Jesus, that part of God through whom all things were made, proclaimed peace and the promise of eternal life to all who believed in God and that God did this wonderful deed.

This power of belief is our human connection to that heavenly place that will grasp us by our belief and swoop us away to that eternal heavenly place at our mortal death.  Why?  Because God keeps God’s promises. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  It all makes so much divine sense.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Turkey and Syria.

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 Last Sunday After the Epiphany: Year A

Exodus 24:12-18;  Psalm 2  or Psalm 99;  2 Peter 1:16-21;  Matthew 17:1-9:

“As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (Matthew 17:9)

Peter, James and John are picked to go up the mountain with our Lord Jesus. These three were called out from the others to go to spend a special time with Jesus.

I’m guessing they were informed about who Moses and Elijah were, given that they both were historic figures and there were no “photographs” of them.  This was a revelation given to them by the Cloud of all knowing.

And after the experience of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus, the revelation Cloud of all knowing using the voice of God, being told to not tell anyone, was asking a lot. But in hindsight, we can see why these stories were actually written much later and in a different language (Greek).

  Today there is a church built on the site where the Transfiguration supposedly took place and it is called the Church of the Transfiguration located on Mount Tabor in Galilee of Israel.

Being told not to talk about something gives one time to process what happened. Today we say that the introvert processes quietly while the extrovert processes by “talking it out.”  This might be the reason for taking these three, but then there is Peter. Peter can’t hold back even in the midst of the Transfiguration.  Peter said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Matthew 17:4) 

So Jesus took with him both the extrovert and the introverts. Jesus takes with him both you and me.  We are invited to see God Incarnate who is the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).  Moses, in his day, didn’t want to go but was sent anyway.  Elijah was all in, even taunting the prophets of Baal, “At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”  (1 Kings 18:27)  Elijah mocked the prophets.

So God calls any of us to do the Lord’s work.  Be attentive therefore, our Lord will call you also to have that mountain top experience.  Dr Martin Luther King Jr. says that he experienced it in his kitchen after a hateful phone call.  This mountain top experience can happen anywhere. When it happens, it is life changing. The place it happens has nothing to do with the time God chooses. God is everywhere, all the time.  Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907 to 1972 was internationally known as a scholar, activist, and theologian. He was Professor of Ethics and Mysticism that the Jewish Theological Seminary of America), says in his book, The Sabbath, that it is not the event that makes time significant, but rather, it is the time that an event happens that makes the place significant.  Jesus could have taken these followers out on a boat ride, or in a cave or a barn.  He just needed to be alone with them.

Jesus can be transformed in your presence today.  anywhere, any time. And may still ask you to not tell anyone about what you have experienced; just live out what has been revealed to you by word and deed.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Turkey and Syria.

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 6^th Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13); Evening, Psalm 33;
Isaiah 66:1 to 6; 1^st Timothy 6:6 to 21; Mark 12:35 to 44:

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

I feel the Daily Office should have Psalm 33 read in the morning rather than at night. It is very motivational.  There is not a sad note in it. This Psalm encouraged us to play musical instruments and sing to the Lord and it tells us what does not work to save us, that is, personal strength or horses or anything of the earth.

This thought of depending on God and in Christ Jesus is also found in the words of Paul as he writes to Timothy in our reading for today.  Paul says of our needs; “Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.” (1^st Timothy 6: 6 to 8) 

Paul also addresses those who might think they can save themselves. He says, “As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.”  (1^st Timothy 6: 17 to 19)

Psalm 33 and Paul’s words to Timothy for today are uplifting and a good way to start our mornings.  I encourage all to read the office for today.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Syria and Turkey.

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 6^th Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1-32:
Isaiah 65:17  ; 1^st Timothy 5:17 to 25; Mark 12:28-34:

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”  (Psalm 107: verses 6, 13, 19 and 28)

The above verse is repeated at regular intervals throughout this first half of Psalm 107 but not found at all in the remaining parts of this Psalm which is set aside for tomorrow morning. The author wants to remind us of the loving and forgiving mercy of God.

There are people who say they don’t know how to pray. But all people are engineered to cry when a sad or hurtful situation happens.  Crying is praying and God’s ears hears tears.  The Bible and more especially, the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer is a wonderful catalyst for initiating prayer.  But if you have neither, just let go and cry. There is never an occasion in the Bible where God, or an angel of God, did not attend to the one crying.

I looked ahead and will share with you the last verse of Psalm 107. I consider it food for the wise.

 “Whoever is wise will ponder these things, and consider well the mercies of the Lord.” (Psalm 107: 43)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Turkey and Syria.

 “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

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 6^th Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 105:1-22; Evening, Psalm 105:23-45:
Isaiah 65:1 to 12; 1^st Timothy 4:1 to 16; Mark 12:13 to 27:

“Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1^st Timothy 4: 7 and 8)

While Paul says to be cautious about profane myths and old wives tales, I wonder if Paul realizes that many of the myths and old wives tales are actually found in our Scriptures.  But I do agree with Paul regarding both physical and godly training.  I also believe that while physical training enhances our current mortal health, our godly training continues with us in our next life.

Paul informs us, especially the faithful among us, that while in this mortal life we carry on as we are physically able depending on our physical health. However, in the spiritual realm our faith keeps us alive in Christ Jesus. Paul says, “For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” (1^st Timothy 4:10)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Turkey and Syria.

As we listen to what the Spirit 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 6^th Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; Evening, Psalm 119:121-144;
Isaiah 63:15 to 64:9; 1^st Timothy 3:1 to16; Mark 11:27 to 12:12:

“Why, O Lord, do you make us stray from your ways and harden our heart, so that we do not fear you?  Turn back for the sake of your servants, for the sake of the tribes that are your heritage.” (Isaiah 63:17)

These ancient words from the prophet Isaiah cause me to ponder about so many mass shootings in America.  “Why, O Lord, do you make us stray from your ways and harden our heart, so that we do not fear you?”  Where has our compassion gone? People today shoot others and then end their own lives.  This is so sad. As a preacher I am always concerned about the spiritual health of all people. 

The words that precede verse 17 captures our relationship with God.  The words read:  “Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and glorious habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The yearning of your heart and your compassion?  They are withheld from me. For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O Lord, are our father; our Redeemer from of old is your name.” (Isaiah 63: 15 and 16)

America, and indeed our planet, needs a renewed and redeemed realization with God the Father of us all. Sadly we have either forgotten about God or never heard of God. The compassion and love of God is missing in our lives today.  I want it back for all of us.  “Turn back [Oh God] for the sake of your servants, for the sake of the tribes that are your heritage.”

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Turkey and Syria.

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 6^th Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 97, 99, ; Evening,  Psalm 94:
Isaiah 63:7-14; 1 Timothy 1:18-2:8; Mark 11:12-26:

“Having faith and a good conscience.  By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith” (1^st Timothy 1:19)

Before we start to ponder about the word conscience, let us examine it. Conscience means a sense of right and wrong: the sense of what is right and wrong that governs somebody’s thoughts and actions, urging him or her to do right rather than wrong.

Paul says that by rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith. Faith, for me is believing. Believing has to do with my understanding of a Holy and Good Presence – that is, God. Is Conscience taught to us, or placed in us by divine intervention?  In any case Paul suggests that there is a strong correlation between conscience and faith.  Conscience affects faith, or rather, our faith affects our conscience. If we believe that God is, and that God is good, and that God also wants us to be good, then we should not reject our guiding conscience, our moral compass, and thus not suffer shipwreck in the faith.

Happy Valentines Day to All

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Turkey and Syria.

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