onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 1^st Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 20, 21:1-7; Evening, Psalms 110:1to5, 116,and 117
Isaiah 43:1 to 13; Ephesians 3:14 to 21; Mark 2:23 to 3:6:

“Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”  (Mark 2: 27 and 28)

This has new meaning for me after reading “Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Hershel. Our time is way more important than all the things we could ask for. 

I am reminded that God created time and then created us within time. And lastly, it is a special day within time as a gift to us, for us to rest with God.  For me, the Sabbath may not even be a time for worship, but just to rest and allow contemplation to take place.

When someone gives us a gift, that gift becomes our own possession. We do with it what we please. The giver may or may not be pleased if we put his or her gift in the garage never to be seen again until we decide to have a yard sale.  But the gift was ours. I am not Jewish in the traditional sense. But I am a “Judeo-Christian.” Our Lord Jesus kept his Jewish traditions throughout his life.

For me, keeping the Sabbath does not mean worshiping on the Sabbath. Worship is work, at least for clergy and worship support people.  We Christians should keep the first day of the week, (Sunday) as our worship day.

I have lived for over 70 years not realizing how important the Sabbath is. But thanks be to God, I have not, and could not “sale” my Sabbath. It is a gift from God and I intend to live into it more reverently going forward. This will be an adjustment over time. I am also remembering that while the Rest of God came after the creation of humanity, the restfulness that is found in the Sabbath is shared with humanity as an opportunity to be with God our Creator.  We were not made for the Sabbath, but rather, the Sabbath was made by God, for God, and yet shared with humanity as gift. We have choices. We can ignore the Sabbath, or, we can live and rest into it.  I now choose the latter. It is never too late for the revelation of God to change us, Thank You Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.

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 Friday of the 1^st Week of Epiphany 2021: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 16 and 17; Evening, Psalm 22;
Isaiah 42:1 to 17; Ephesians3:1 to 13; Mark 2:13 to 22 

“Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.”  (Ephesians 3:7)

For some reason the words, “Of this gospel I have become a servant,” has caused me to ponder.  I ponder that the word Gospel literally means, “Good News.”  So Paul has become a servant of the Good News.

Normally to receive Good News on the television, by people who bring us the news, I have to watch it to the very end, and if I am lucky, the anchor will share something, something charming or wonderful, good news. Such anchors are servants of whatever news that they are given to report.  Paul, on the other hand, has volunteered to be a servant of the Good News of God in Christ Jesus.

So how would you or I go about being the servant of the Good News?  Such servanthood requires us to bring positivity to people who may not see anything to be happy about.  And we must remember, we are not necessarily the servant of the people to whom we are bringing the Gospel to, but the Gospel itself.  We then are servants of the Gospel – the Good News.

This means we must be servants of an idea, a faith, a hope.  We are called to be servants of the idea of love and forgiveness.  We are servants of the idea of our Lord Jesus bringing us into eternal life. It is this Gospel which we escort to people as our master, There is the ideal and the real.  But you and I can align the real with the ideal in our Gospel of love and hope, and faith, and Good News. It’s hard work.  Some people don’t want to be happy.  But we are not servants to them; we are servants to the Gospel.  We take the Gospel to them.  God then takes it from there.  Paul says, this is “the gift of God’s grace that was given to [us] by the working of his power.”

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.

 “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 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 1^st Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 18:1 to 20; Evening, Psalm 18:21 to 50;
Isaiah 41:17 to 29; Ephesians 2:11 to 22; Mark 2:1 to 12:

“For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.”  (Ephesians 2:14)

It seems we have a dividing wall that separates us from our neighbors, our brothers and sisters. There is hostility within, and between us.  My prayer is that we calm down and listen to what our hearts are saying to us.  Paul says that Jesus is our peace.  He says that, “in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall.”  Somehow, I still fill like the wall is there.  Perhaps not everybody has heard about what Jesus has done, and is doing. We are one group now.  There is no separation anymore.  Whatever the issues are, we should be able to come to some kind of consensus, and perhaps, enlightenment in this time of Epiphany.  

In Christ Jesus we Christians must realize we are all one in Christ. We should not want to win at the expense of others. Is there a way we can be satisfied with enough while at the same time, those who have a different opinion, may also be satisfied with enough?  We all make up the body of Christ Jesus.  And the body of our Lord Jesus does not succumb to cancer or Covid. We will live on, eternally!

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.

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 1^st Week of Epiphany: Year1

Morning, Psalm 119:1 to 24; Evening, Psalms 12, 13 and 14; 
Isaiah 41:1 to 16; Ephesians 2:1 to 10; Mark 1:29 to 45 

“In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

There are so many deeds that Jesus can do that you and I cannot.  Except for medical doctors, most of us cannot heal others.  It seems also to be very hard for some of us to forgive (or love) some people.  Some of us have been blessed with the gift of teaching but not with the authority that our Lord Jesus wielded, Thank you Lord Jesus. Few of us, if any of us, can cast out demons. But here is what we can do; we can all find a place to pray.

Jesus’ getting up and going off to a place to pray is definitely something we can all do, and, I think, we all should do. Copying Jesus’ habit of praying, or even Sabbath praying, may even lead to more Jesus-like abilities. Praying doesn’t have to be beautifully articulated words of perfection.

I recall the story of the little shepherd boy who prayed as he watched the sheep. In his little prayers he prayed whatever came to his mind.  As I recall, he prayed thus: “Dear Jesus, If you were cold I would give you my coat. If you were hungry I would share my food with you, if you were real hungry you could have all my food.”  As the old story goes, a priest was passing by and heard the boy praying. The priest interrupted the boy and schooled him on the “proper” way to pray. After the priest’s lecture the little shepherd boy felt so bad, he quit praying all together.  Missing the boy’s regular prayers, God sent an angel to see what happened. The boy explained how he was told that he wasn’t doing it right and the angel asked, “Who told you that?”  I don’t know how the angel handled the priest but the angel assured the boy that God loved, and missed, his prayers and wanted him to continue.  The boy resumed his prayer life.

This is a nice little story from a long time ago.  The point is, like our Lord Jesus and the little shepherd boy, prayer is not done from training, but rather, prayer is our being trained by doing.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.

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 Tuesday of Week 1 of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 5and 6; Evening, Psalm 10 and 11:
Isaiah 40:25-31; Ephesians 1:15-23; Mark 1:14-28:

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people:” (Mark 1:17)

Jesus invites the first of two brothers to move their search for fish to a search for people.  I have found that most of our community vocations can be modified in a way that will be useful in our church. Accountants, carpenters, cooks, janitors, doctors and lawyers all have skills that will enhance our houses of worship.  We just need to hear the invitation of our Lord Jesus to “follow Him.”

What gifts or talents do you have that your church needs? Where your skills and the community needs meet, there is our Lord Jesus asking you to follow Him.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.

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 January 9: Epiphany: Year 1

Morning,  Psalms 1, 2 and 3; Evening, Psalm 4 and 7:   
Isaiah 40:12-23; Ephesians 1:1-14; Mark 1:1-13: 

“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 5:6)

When we have been lying in our crippled or depressed, or emotionally damaged state for many years, the question of, “If we want to be made well?” is a good question.  However, being made well might mean not having others give us special attention anymore. It could mean no more mood altering narcotics. It could mean we have to go to work again. Wanting to be made well is truly something to ponder.

Perhaps the crippled man in our John Gospel considered all this and used excuses like “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me,” (John 5:7).  Poor thing.  So Jesus becomes the “living waters, “Jesus said to him, ‘Stand up, take your mat and walk.’ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.” (John 5:8 and 9)

His excuses were gone.  With our Lord Jesus, our excuses are gone.  Let us not become complacent or lazy, or dependant while validating our perceived wretched state with shallow excuses. Our Lord Jesus is, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Get up, take up your mat and walk as best you can. And if that fails, crawl.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.

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

Eucharistic Readings for the First Sunday after the Epiphany: Year A

Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17:

“But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.” (Matthew 3: 15)

So Jesus comes to John to be baptized and John has second thoughts. But Baptism is in many ways like crucifixion, you must be handed over into the hands of others for it to be done to you. One does not baptise one’s self.  It is in this way we are communal.  We need and must have others in whom we place ourselves. This then, according to our Lord Jesus, fulfills all righteousness.

“And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. (Matthew 3: 16)  This coming up out of the water has been interpreted in many ways.  It could mean that as he was pushed beneath the surface of the water (full emersion) and that his face being brought back above the surface on the way up; or , it could mean as he was stepping back up on the bank, out of the water where he knelt while John took water in his hands and lifted it over Jesus’ head. Either way, baptism is baptism.  My most memorable baptism was also in the Jordan where almost 50 Christian clergy were on tour to the Holy Land.  That water was really cold!

 In Matthew’s Gospel we hear the voice of God speaking to us, “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased”” (Matthew 3: 17).  The voice doesn’t say “You” as if speaking to Jesus directly.  The voice informs us that this is our Lord Jesus, and that God is so pleased with him. Baptism is one of two Holy Sacraments for Christians, the other being Holy Communion.  In accordance with the Canons of our Church one must be baptized before receiving Communion.  This makes One Baptism for the forgiveness of sins the preeminent sacrament. I personally believe that even after the water stops moving over us, the Holy Spirit continues moving over us always.

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 January 7, Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 103; Evening, Psalms 114 and 115: 
Isaiah 52:3 to 6; Revelation 2:1 to 7; John 2:1 to 11:

“Now therefore, what am I doing here, says the Lord, seeing that my people are taken away without cause? Their rulers howl, says the Lord, and continually, all day long, my name is despised.”  (Isaiah 52: 5)

Two years ago yesterday, was an awful day in our national capital.  There was rioting and someone was killed. Our leaders howled continually but God’s name was despised.

We pledge that we, these United States of America, are one nation “under God.”  But there was nothing godly about how people behaved in the insurrection that took place on the Day of Epiphany in our Nation’s Capital. The moral light of our Lord was all but extinguished.  But God wins, every time. We, these United States of America, have prevailed.

We can’t just give lip service to our belief in, and obedience to, God.  We must live our faith with real discipline and respect for national values.  We must maintain integrity and with prayer and patience, do the hard work of working through consensus. This is who we are. This is DRIPP.  It is Discipline, Respect, Integrity, Prayer and Patience. The DRIPP concept works for the individual as well as our country.  This is what the prophet Isaiah pondered.  It is what the saints who have gone before us have said. It is what we must heed. Let us DRIPP on.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.

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

Eucharistic Readings for Epiphany: All Years

Isaiah 60:1-6;  Psalm 72:1-7,10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12;  Matthew 2:1-12:

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” (Matthew 2: 1 and 2)

We are all born into some kind of human culture.  Most cultures are primarily predominated by something we have come to recognize as “race.” Too often too many of us develop a shameful pride with regard to whatever race we claim to be.  This is sad. Race is a human construct, not a Godly one.

The Wise Men (or Magi) were primarily astronomers who gazed up at the stars.  They noticed any irregularities occurring in the heavens and maybe even conferred amongst themselves the meaning of any strange happenings.  How they knew a star, or particular shining light, was the signal of a  Jewish infant-king, we will perhaps never know.  What we do know is that these men (most probably men, we don’t know how many and we shouldn’t let the three gifts limit the number of men), sought out this king regardless of whatever his ethnicity or race might be. Perhaps this is what made them “wise.”

They saw a divine light that must have been distinguished from regular stars and planets. It was so precise that it could specifically indicate the place where the child was living.  No star up in the heavens, no matter how bright could stop, and then be low enough to the earth to point to a specific dwelling place. This divine light pointed to the Moral Light of the world.

During this season of Epiphany let us not worry about who we are ethnically, but rather, seek out our Lord Jesus wherever, and whoever he might be.  We are still called to follow that light, that moral light, that leads us to that moral high-ground where we treat each other, all others with dignity and respect regardless of their socio-economic status, national origin, language, sexual orientation, gender, religion, lack of religion, or race.  The other only needs to be human and therefore made in God’s Image.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.

 “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 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

Today is Day 12 of Christmas ;the Last Day of Christmas.

Eve of Epiphany: Year 1
Psalms 29 and 98;
Isaiah 66:18 to 23; and Romans 15:7 to 13

“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’; and again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’; and again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him’; and again Isaiah says, The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15: 7 to 13)

In these few words from Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome, the word Gentiles appears 6 times.  This word means “the nations” “other than us.” and it shows the inclusive nature of God, and God’s call for us to reconcile all people to God.  This is our hope as Christians and as a people of faith.

 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Merry Christmas: Day 12, and our last Day of Christmas.

Angels still top our experiences today: Merry Christmas: Day 11

You too are gifted with an invitation to follow our Lord Jesus. Merry Christmas: Day 10

As a Christmas gift you are blessed, and you are called by God to be a blessing to all whom you come in contact with.  Merry Christmas: Day 9

Be you male or female, you were made as a gift to our community before you were born and so named at your own Christening. Merry Christmas: Day 8

God was born among us to teach us how to depend on God together for help all the time, but most especially in time of human need. Merry Christmas: Day 7

Forgive someone this Christmas and accept being forgiven. Merry Christmas: Day 6

Let us believe with patience, and have patience in believing. Merry Christmas: Day 5

We are never to hurt or harm children, only help them, teach them, save and love them. This is what Christmas is all about. Merry Christmas: Day 4

The testimony of John the apostle about our Lord Jesus is true; Believe.  Merry Christmas: Day 3

Let us not take our hate or ill will for another with us to our mortal death.  Merry Christmas: Day 2

Our being saved has as much to do with the birth of Jesus as it does his Resurrection from the dead.  Merry Christmas: Day 1

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Iran and China.

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