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New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 26: Year C

2^nd Thessalonians 1:1 to 4 and 11 to 12; Luke 19:1 to10:

“Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” (Luke 19: 9 – 10)

I always see Danny De Vito as Zacchaeus; a short man in statue but very tall in his openness to change. Funny how a man (Zacchaeus) climbs a tree to see a man (Jesus) who will end his life on a tree.  This is something to ponder. 

Something else to ponder is that Zacchaeus is called a “chief” tax collector.  This shows how he is considered even further removed from the House of Israel and from the Temple. He is perhaps the most repugnant among the excluded of the Hebrew people. But Jesus hears his change of heart and proclaims him also “a son of Abraham.”  Jesus bypasses all the Temple bureaucracy and puts Zacchaeus back into the Promise of God.

Jesus came for people like you and me.  But like Zacchaeus, we too must get ourselves into a place where we can see who Jesus is, and then allow him to come and visit with us.  We  must make right the wrongs we’ve done and promise to do all we can to fix or mend what we’ve broken.  we too want to be placed back into the fold of Abraham.

Being lost is no problem because our Lord Jesus proclaims that he has come to seek out and save the lost. I am glad that our Lord Jesus is looking for me and you, how about you?  Climbed any sycamore trees lately?  He is coming!  We need to get to a place where we can at least be seen by Him and then accept him into our homes and hearts.

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

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 25: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalms 138 and 139:
Ecclesiasticus 35:1to17; Revelation 13:11to18; Luke 12:32to48

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Luke 12: 34)

I really had to look at this passage closely.  I have heard that if you really want to know what a person’s priorities are just look at their checkbook, or perhaps today, their receipts, as fewer people are writing actual checks today. The point is the same, what we really care about is where we put our money.

This means our money follows our heart’s desire rather than our hearts following our money. Money, all by itself, has no desire at all. Some of us may not have the money that will allow us to follow our heart’s desire.  That doesn’t mean we don’t have desires.  Of course we do.

I think the most important lesson here is that we can learn to love and desire what God wants us to desire, and that is, to do God’s will. Over the years I have outgrown some selfish desires in life.  I don’t care about fancy cars, or clothes anymore. Unfortunately I had to experience some of these things to realize they aren’t that important. Blessed is the person who has never had these material things and never wanted them.

Real happiness for me now is seeing to it that others have the simple things in life, food, health care, housing, education, and a way to get around as they need to. My happiness in part, is based on the happiness of my neighbor. I believe this is the desire that God wants me to have.  So where is my treasure?

I give to my church and to charitable organizations. I join clubs and organizations whose purpose is to care for the poor and disenfranchised. I know my little treasure won’t bring an end to their plight but it makes me feel better and brings some joy to my heart, knowing that I provided some relief for them.

Money is not meant to be worshiped but it will reveal the nature of our worship. We are to love God and love our neighbor.  As far as I know, God does not need any money.  Some of our neighbors do.  These are the neighbors we are asked by God to love. Loving our neighbor should be our heart’s desire.

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

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 25: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 40 and 54; Evening, Psalm 51;
Ecclesiasticus 34:1to 8 and 18to22; Revelation 13:1to10; Luke 12:13-31:

“Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”  (Luke 12: 18 and 19)

This Gospel of Luke is not written against the rich.  Often the rich in this Gospel contribute to the poor.  But Luke’s Gospel does get to the heart and soul of where those with wealth do their works.

In this reading for today the rich landowner never considers those less fortunate than himself; that he might follow the biblical mandate to not glean your field completely, thus leaving something for the needy.  He just figures out a way to keep more for himself.  He even talks to his soul, his direct connection to God.  His soul, nor ours, needs wealth.  Our souls just want us to gravitate towards the kingdom of God.

Jesus gives several examples of how fruitless it is to not be rich towards God. Jesus warns that life in nature is fed better, and dressed better, than humans who try to do this for themselves at the neglect of those who have next to nothing. The man’s own soul would not be in agreement with his intentions to hoard his blessings.  And in fact, his soul will be taken back by God that day.

Jesus tells him (and us), “Do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying.  For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well, (Luke 12: 29 to 31).  This reminds me of the hymn, “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.” It is a beautiful hymn from our “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Hymnal.

Jesus informs us that our Heavenly Father knows we need food and provisions in order to live healthy lives.  While we need these things they should not become idols that replace God in our lives.  As citizens of heaven, temporarily visiting earth, we should never forget whose we are.

“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, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 25: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 50; Evening, Psalm 33;
Ecclesiasticus 31:12to18 and 25to32:2; Revelation 12:7to17; Luke 11:53to12:12

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.  But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:4 to 7)

I ponder several points from this Gospel passage.  First, our bodies will yield its soul back to the Lord, sooner or later.  No one knows how much time on this earth they have.  But “on this earth” is not the end.  At out death, life is changed, not ended.

I used to misinterpret this passage.  I used to think the writer was talking about a human taking the life of another human.  But I have come to understand this as fearing God, who after calling us back to the Creator then decides where we go from that point. God is the One to be feared, or at least respected in reverence.

We humans are a part of creation like the sparrows.  I do believe God prizes us as the flagship of creation and holds us up as special, given that God came to dwell with us, as one of us.

Lastly, the language of God counting the hairs of our head is the best explanation that could be given to let the people of that day know that there is nothing about us that the Creator doesn’t know.  Today we would say God made every molecule of us and put together our DNA.  This language would not have made sense two thousand years ago.  It is God whom we must go to concerning our health. It is God who is the ultimate doctor as expressed through the healings of Jesus. But more importantly, it is God whom we must go to for our spiritual health.  It is in the spiritual domain that we will have eternal life. God is the ultimate Spiritualist as revealed in the Gospel of John 4: 24.

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

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 25: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:49-72; Evening, Psalm 49;
Ecclesiasticus 28:14to26; Revelation 12:1-6; Luke 11:37to52

“As you fence in your property with thorns, so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.  As you lock up your silver and gold, so make balances and scales for your words. Take care not to err with your tongue, and fall victim to one lying in wait.”  (Ecclesiasticus 28:24to 26)

This reading from Ecclesiasticus for today begins with the destruction that slander can cause.  Slander is a weapon of the tongue.  And as we can see this passage ends back with the warning of the tongue, that is, the mouth and the hurtful words our mouths can produce.

There are other places in the Bible that caution us about the harm that the tongue can cause.  Most notable for Christians is the letter of James where he writes,  “For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.”  (James 3:7 to 9)                                                                 

How often we might say something we really don’t mean, or, say something in a heated moment from which we have moved on, and feel differently later.  Sometimes it doesn’t have to be heated. It is just what we think or believe at the time. I tell my students all the time that what they think or feel today, if we are opened to evolve, we could change as we learn more.  Therefore we must respect where others are on their journey and also realize we too could change as we learn.  We should guard against what we say, always.  I use a personal mantra to help me remember not to speak too freely.  I call it dust, and it stands for, “Don’t unnecessarily share thoughts.”  If I remember to use this management tool it helps me, and prevents me from saying something I may regret later. Feel free to use it for yourself.

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

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 25: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 45; Evening, Psalms 47 and 48;
Ecclesiasticus 24:1to12; Revelation 11:14to19; Luke 11:27to36

“While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!” (Luke 11: 27 and 28)

This verse above sounds like content for praying the Rosary. “Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.”  Also, in her words she advocates for the mother’s role in God’s salvation plan. However, as far as blessings go, Jesus points to those of us who hear, and more importantly, obey the will of God.

Jesus was teaching and preaching to the crowds. And, “When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.  For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation,” (Luke 11: 29 and 30).  Could Jesus be using this old Hebrew story as an analogy about his salvation purpose for our life?  Could our Lord Jesus be saying that just being able to quote a Bible chapter and verse is nothing if we don’t learn from it and live our lives according to its lesson?  I think so.

Jesus will go on to tell them (and us) that, “The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!” (Luke 11: 32)

Jesus walked among us as an example of how to live a loving life in harmony with one another. As I have noticed our Lord Jesus in his travels, other than teaching and preaching, he was healing and feeding.  God, in Christ Jesus, in his human form, was a nurturer. Nurturing is not just a role for mothers.  It is not only okay for non-mothers to be considerate and compassionate, it is who God in Christ Jesus made us all to be, men and women, just like the example he himself set for us.

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

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 25: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 41and 52; Evening, Psalm 44
Ecclesiasticus 19:4to17; Revelation 11:1to14; Luke 11:14to26

“But some of them said, ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” (Luke 11:15)

Jesus was casting out demons and putting people back in their right minds.  And instead of being thankful, some in the crowds wanted to be critical of the source of Jesus’ ability. It can be disheartening when we struggle to do something good and then are accused of doing the good work for self-serving or self-glorification purposes. 

We are again at the height of national politicking in this country.  We are a few days now from elections at every level except the presidency. I have seen good works from people in both of our major parties. From the presidential office down to the local state and county representatives. If we really look, we can find the good works that they all do. We can find good works from both the incumbents as well as those desiring to replace them. 

In our faith history, the scriptures, in particular Ezra, is recorded good works done by two kings of Persia who were not Hebrews but by the power of God, Cyrus and Darius, assisted the Hebrew people in the re-establishment of Jerusalem (Ezra, chapters 1 through 6). These kings gained nothing from these godly acts.  But both believed that God Almighty wanted them to do this good work. They did it not for themselves, but because it pleased God.

Our Lord Jesus also informs the critics to understand that God works in mysterious ways. He said to them about his casting out the demon, “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you” (Luke 11:20).

God is all about good and holy works.  You and I don’t do good works. God does good works through our faith.  Let us not be confused about the real source of the good works that we do.  The finger of God is still at work in this world because the kingdom of God has come to us.

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

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 25: Year C

2^nd Timothy 4:6 to 8 and16 to18;  Luke 18:9 to 14:

“The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.”  (Luke 18: 11)

I think we all ought to thank God all the time.  I believe in saying “Thank You Jesus” as often as I realize something good has just happened to me.  I Thank Jesus that I have only two Commandments rather than the 613 from the Hebrew Testament, or even 10, as in the Ten Commandments.  Two is much easier.

Jesus’ two Commandments however require me to love God with all that I am and to love my neighbor as myself.  One does not love neighbor as self, and then be thankful that he is not his neighbor. I ponder further that it is not so much that one is not his neighbor, but that he has, and continues to exercise, a pious discipline in his life, that his neighbor has so far, not learned (but can be taught).

This story, like the one about Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38 – 42), makes us realize that we are both /and; and not either/or.  So, let’s look at each man and see the good in each.

The Tax collector of antiquity is a victim.  He, in many cases, is a man of low standing in the community even before he’s made a tax collector. Often he is fatherless and handed over to the local Roman authorities for the purpose of collecting the tax.  While it is not his choice, he is hated by his native Israelite brethren as a participant and collaborator with Rome against his own people.

The Pharisee, afforded opportunity beyond his own doing, lives a religious life, keeping the tithe, fasting, praying, and yes, paying the tax.  We need people like the Pharisee still.  We need people who pray, who set aside money to take care of the needy either in charitable giving to the Church, or other charitable organizations as well as paying taxes.  We should not look down on the discipline of the Pharisee.  But we must be cautioned about his holier- than- thou attitude regarding his neighbor.

Both of these men teach two very important lessons. First, we should be thankful for what we are able to do in worship to God without looking down on those who either cannot, or have as yet, not been able to reach our level of discipline. And second, we all need to recognize our own short-comings and ask God for mercy and forgiveness.  And this mercy is necessary somewhere in all of us. We are both of these two men; not either/or.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 24: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 30 and 32; Evening,  Psalms 42 and 43;

Ecclesiasticus 15:9 to 20; Revelation 10:1to11; Luke 11:1to13

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”  (Luke 11: 9 and 10) 

I think having a curious mind is a human characteristic.  Perhaps other creatures as well, for example, some birds, cats and apes, but most definitely, human beings. We search for answers for all sorts of things.

Asking a question is the beginning of learning.  We can often get an idea about the intellectual depth of a person by the questions they ask.  But asking in our Gospel reading has to do with asking for help.  A man wants to borrow some bread from a neighbor in order that he might have food for his guests.  Jesus’ point is that if he is persistent in asking, he will get what he needs and he will have joy.

Searching for something missing is often challenging.  We have to have some idea of what we are looking for and believe it is findable.  Sometimes what we are looking for is hidden in plain sight. And sometimes, what we are “in-search-of,” we really don’t know.  But we believe we will know it when we see it.

Knocking on a door is human specific.  We want in.  It could be a place of employment, or a club, or a school, or a church.  We need to be careful however, about knocking on doors.  Sometimes we get in and it’s not as alluring as we thought.  In such a case we might look for the door again in order to get out.

Asking, searching and knocking are all desires to develop ourselves further. The direction of developing is very important.  Developing more wealth or power is idolatrous. Developing a closer spiritual relationship with God should be the goal of every true believer.  Asking, searching and knocking are pursuits.  We are asking for; or in search of; or trying to gain entrance into; something that we believe will make us more whole and bring us into the realm of the Holy. Believing starts the process, asking and knocking is the resultant action that brings us eternal joy.

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

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 24: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 31; Evening, Psalm 35;

Ecclesiasticus 11:2-20; Revelation 9:13to21; Luke 10:38to42

“Into your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.”  (Psalm 31:5)

This reading of Psalm 31, and in particular, this verse, stands out for me.  I have conducted many “Last Rite” services in my priesthood.  Every time I close, or shortly thereafter, the dying person will at some point, open their eyes and gaze at a presence in the room with joy and acceptance. I am absolutely convinced that at that point, whether in a hospital room or in a private home, we are all standing on Holy Ground. God sends for us with the saints and the angels of heaven.

This was an experience that occurred with the mother of a parishioner while at Chapel Hill University Hospital, North Carolina, two years ago when I was not in the room at the time. I had been a regular minister and counselor for her for over a year and had grown to know and love her very much.  While she was not a regular visitor to our Church at Saint Paul’s in the Pines, I got regular reports from her daughter who remains a dedicated and faithful member. Her sick mother was not a citizen of the United States but is a full citizen of the family of saints of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

When I was told by her daughter that she, (her mother), opened her eyes as if to focus on something in the hospital room, I cried with joy!  I knew then that Our Lord Jesus had received her into his heavenly realm.  Her body might have been still keeping its heartbeat and labored breathing rhythms, but her soul had already been placed into the hands of our Savior.  I thanked God that I knew this and I pass this on to all who read this blog. So also, Christel Smith says, “Into your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.” Thank You Lord Jesus. And thank you for Christel in our lives. Amen.

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

 “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, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John