onewhoponders

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

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 24: Year 2

Morning,  Psalm 37; 1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 37: 19 to 42;

Ecclesiasticus 10:1-18; Revelation 9:1to12; Luke 10:25-37

“But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?”  (Luke 10:29) 

Today, we too, want to justify ourselves.  More than that, we want to justify ourselves by having others to side with us. It no longer matters if we are right as long as we are in the majority.

The lawyer in our Luke reading for today wanted to vindicate himself. He wanted to know the definition of neighbor. Perhaps he thought that by defining neighbor, he might eliminate a lot of people he wouldn’t have to be concerned about.  In this way he would be off the hook, so to speak.

Of course this parable goes into the story about the person whom we call the Good Samaritan. In this parable we notice that a priest, and then an ordinary Levite, pass by the injured man. Some say that if the man was dead and they touched him, they would then be defiled and could not enter the temple.  To this I would ask, what good is a faith tradition if it prevents you from being helpful to others?

So are we off the hook, if the person in need is not on our team, our political party, or have our same skin tone, or speak our language? None of these differences disqualify him or her as a neighbor. But the truth is, that the neighbor was identified not by any of these outward characteristics or even by his faith tradition, but by the Samaritan having pity on the injured, yet unknown man, and responding to him from compassion.  Your neighbor is determined by what’s in you, not who the other person is.

We have our faith traditions in order that such traditions might help us be better neighbors. We do not have neighbors only if they share our tradition, culture or party. Every human being is our neighbor. We need to ask God to let us see all persons on this planet as our neighbor.  We all live on this “earth-hood” and that makes the earth our neighbor-hood.

Please, let’s keep up our thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine our neighbor, as Russia is also.

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 24: Year 2

Morning,  Psalm 38; Evening,  Psalm 119:25to 48;

Ecclesiasticus 7:4-14; Revelation 8:1-13; Luke 10:17to24

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

As I read this good news for the 70 “others” who just returned, I ponder who they were.  Jesus has previously sent out the twelve apostles on a similar mission among whom was Judas Iscariot who would betray Jesus later.  So who among these seventy others were also not so honorable?  Was Jesus prematurely handing out passage into heaven?

As a priest I see my ministry as one who coaches people into heaven.  I want them to be the best people they can possibly be.  I also need people to know and understand that should they make a mistake later in life, our God is a merciful God.  This comes with a caution however.

As we enter the company of saints in heaven we can’t be upset about Judas and others we know who may be present there.  We are not to judge, only love.  This love, not judge idea, must start now, in this life. Jealousy, vengeance, retaliation and all such feelings are toxic to our hearts and could work against our own entry into heaven.

The experience the seventy received was life changing.  The same is true for us today.  Have you realized any miracles in your life?  I will tell you that I have, several times. They have occurred in your life as well, but you may not have “realized” it.  I can never see where God is, but I can easily see where God was in my life.  And I am thankful. 

Rejoice when you realize that God has acted in your life. I do.  But be even happier that because God is present with you now, you will be present with God for all eternity, even with some folk you didn’t care so much for in this life. We can’t say who will not be in heaven.  That’s God’s job. We just need to work on ourselves, and our less than loving feelings toward some people we have come to know. The seventy were thirty-five pairs of people on a mission for our Lord Jesus.  Maybe even among these pairs of people there was some resentment. Perhaps what they saw as they went out to do the work of the Lord was more about themselves.  Some people in high human positions miss this opportunity.  Jesus said to the seventy, “For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it”  (Luke 10:24).  Let go of ill wills. Just let go and let God. God is tricky.  Sometimes God will send you out to find your own inner self.

The war against Ukraine seems to go back and forth. Please keep Ukraine in your prayers.

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 24: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening,  Psalms 36 and 39;

Ecclesiasticus 6:5to17; Revelation 7:9to17; Luke 10:1to16

“After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go” (Luke 10:1)

So our Lord Jesus sent his followers out to places where he himself intended to go.  It is important to note here that Jesus sent them out in pairs.  There are many faith traditions today that follow this example of evangelism. I think there is something about the integrity of two. Also, the two usually consist of a leader and an apprentice.

This idea of pairing appears in the Hebrew Testament as well.  Some examples are Abraham and Sarah, or Abraham and Lot; Ruth and Naomi; Moses and Aaron; David and Jonathan, Elijah and Elisha.  There are others as well.  Partnering, either with one’s spouse or significant other; or a vocational missioner; partnering, is how God designed us to be, and the way God wants us to go about our lives. This is why God, in Christ Jesus, sends us out in twos.

When pairing with a partner for Bible Study or building a shed, one of the two needs to be well informed about whatever the undertaking is, the other needs to agree to follow his or her lead. The other piece about partnering is that often such relationships aren’t permanent and are not intended to be applied to other vocations.  Using the example above, one of the two teaching Bible study should have some kind of biblical education.  For building a shed, one of the two should have experience in carpentry.

Partner relationships evolve.  As we learn and grow we often gravitate to other partners.  In this way we develop greater skills and move on to new and different areas of interests or missions.  Whether we are pondering about our personal spirituality or wanting to learn a new language, there is always someone we can seek out whom we can emulate.  Someone once told me that if you see who you want to be in another person, you can copy him or her. But first, you have to see it. This is the master and protégé or apprentice concept. It still works today.  God made us to copy one another. However, we must choose wisely.  Therefore, you must seek out those who are themselves walking humbly before our Lord and traveling to all the places where Jesus himself intends to go.  Partner with such people and listen to them, learn from them, love, live and then finally, you yourself, will also lead a protégé or apprentice.

 Please remember to keep Ukraine in your prayers, our prayers are making a real difference.

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 24: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 25; Evening, Psalms 9 and 15;

Ecclesiasticus. 4:20-5:7; Revelation. 7:1to8; Luke 9:51to 62

“Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9:62)

Let’s go deeper using this agricultural metaphor.  If we are plowing a field, we can’t look back and tell where we are going, only where we have been. Once we set out to churn up the soil we must stay focused on where we are going and how the tiller is working.

Just so, as we carry the message of love into the world we must stay focused on the challenges that lie in front of us.  We can’t keep looking back at the places where we succumbed to selfishness, jealousy or hate. We must keep our eyes fixed on the new path ahead.  And like the rows of earth being created by the tiller, the road we are on is often being created by us as we walk it.  Jesus is often sending out ahead of himself to prepare the Way as he did with John the Baptist.

The path we try to build is not always successful. As we read, “he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them,”(Luke 9: 52 to 55}. Apparently, John and James had some power and wanted to use it. But revenge and retaliation is not the Jesus Way.

For me, this means that we do what we can do, where we can do it, in the Name of the love of our Lord Jesus.  Where we can’t, we move on. We don’t stay and bring down a fire and brimstone argument about rejection.  We must keep our eyes on the potentially fertile field ahead. Once we set out to churn up the soil we must stay focused on where we are going and how the tiller is working.  Go forth then my beloved of the Lord, stay focused and do good work.

Please remember to keep Ukraine in your prayers, your prayers are making a real difference.

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 24: Year C

2^nd Timothy 3:14-4:5 and  Luke 18:1-8

“And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?  I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”” (Luke 18: 7 – 8)

This parable is so much like the parable about the man who received guest but with nothing to feed them.  He went to his neighbor’s door at midnight and knocked and asked for something to feed his guests. At first the neighbor refused and said that he and his children had gone to bed.  But Jesus says that because the man in need is persistent he will get up and give him whatever he needs (Luke 11: 5 – 8).  We humans are hard wired to give in to requests. It is perhaps in this way that we are created in God’s Image.

We humans are also hardwired to transmit to God any distress we might be experiencing, particularly when we are moved to crying.  God’s ears hears tears. Crying is praying regardless of what the person who is crying thinks in terms of what he or she believes. Our souls believe.

I think intentional  prayer is a state of being. Inwardly we all ask ourselves what is my life all about.  What does God want of me?  We have fancy words for this kind of seeking.  We call it discernment or a calling.  We ask what our “call” is in this life. But we also ask for our needs to be filled.  All of us stand in the need of prayer. And all of us stand in the need to pray continually.

We may not want to admit it, but we are born to beg. Like the parable about the unjust judge and the woman seeking justice in our Luke passage for today, God wants to hear our requests. If we are begging God for something, it means that we at least believe in God. If we persist in our faith-wrestle with God, God gives in just as God did with Jacob and renamed him Israel (Genesis 32:22 to 30).

So when the Son of Man comes, will he come as a result of prayer,  prayer brought on by faith?  Because you see, the genesis of intentional prayer is faith.  Therefore, where there is prayer there already has to be faith; even if we are unaware of it.

We can have faith and yet not pray.  But if we pray it is evident that we believe, and therefore have faith.  And it is through that very faith that we pray.  Jesus wants to know if we will have faith when he comes- when he comes to answer our prayers. You are people of faith. Therefore, pray, and pray always.

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 23: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 20, 21:1-7(8-14); Evening,  Psalms 110:1-5(6-7), 116, 117;

 Ecclesiasticus. 3:17to31; Acts 28:17to31; Luke 9:37to50

 “My child, perform your tasks with humility; then you will be loved by those whom God accepts. The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord. For great is the might of the Lord; but by the humble he is glorified.”  (Ecclesiasticus 3:17 to 20)

If you look this passage up you will see that there is not a verse 19.  My notes say that verse 19 should read “Many are lofty and renowned, but to the humble he reveals his secrets.”  So 18 and 20, even without the missing verse 19, are still about humility. 

In my own practice of humility, which I still fail from time to time, it is about the humility of invisibility.  The humility of invisibility is about not insisting on my own presence in the group.  We live in a world now where everybody wants to be heard.  Fine. But given air time alone does not make one right. Being heard does not mean being believed. The humble way is to wait to be asked to speak.

When the writer says “The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself,” perhaps it works the other way also; that is, “the more you humble yourself, the greater you are.” What do you think?  Must we insist on being heard?  And if heard, we must realize that what we say may not be valued?

We must perform our tasks with humility. Many of the Mystics that I have learned from were unknown in their own day; Saint John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, to mention two.  It is through reading their writings that we are able to go to the deep end of the spiritual pool.

Remember, it is in our humility that God is glorified. “For great is the might of the Lord; but by the humble he is glorified.”  And as pointed out, by the missing verse, the humble are blessed with secret wisdom.  I don’t know about you, but being gifted with God’s secret knowledge makes being quiet even harder, it makes being humble even harder. I think having such secret knowledge would make me want run out and share it right away. However, we must listen to the counsel of the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus and learn how to be still and be silent and not to unnecessarily share our thoughts which is the rule of DUST, which is, “Don’t Unnecessarily Share Thoughts.”

Please remember to keep Ukraine in your prayers, your prayers are making a real difference.

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 Proper23: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 16 and 17; Evening, Psalm 22;

Ecclesiasticus 1:1to10 and18to 27; Acts 28:1to16; Luke 9:28to 36

“For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline, fidelity and humility are his delight.” (Ecclesiasticus 1:27)

This book from the Apocrypha is the Ecclesiasticus, or Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach; not to be confused with Jesus, Son of God.  This is a Wisdom writing.  It did not make the canon, which are the traditionally accepted books of the Bible, but is none the less an important teaching tool for the Church.  In this book, there is a close association between wisdom and seeking the will of God.

Perhaps a better word for the word “fear” in this sense is the word respect or belief in the Lord.  For it is in believing in God and trusting in God that we are enlightened.  God reveals to those who believe in God.  Many people refuse to believe because they cannot prove God exists.  But, on the other hand, they cannot prove that God does not exist.  Art is proof of the Artist. Creation is proof of the Creator.  Nothing is happenstance.

For many of us today, frustrations abound.  But “Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment, and then cheerfulness comes back to them” (Ecclesiasticus 1:23).  Patience is key here.  We have to prayerfully wait things out. We have to ponder all things as a people of prayer.  The writer of Ecclesiasticus says of such a people, “They hold back their words until the right moment; then the lips of many tell of their good sense (Ecclesiasticus 1:24).  I like to use the term DUST or “Don’t Unnecessarily Share Thoughts.”  Too quickly sharing of thoughts, even if not meant, or fully developed yet by the speaker, have gotten people fired from their jobs.  All they had to do was keep it to themselves for just a little bit longer.  Again, those who are patient stay calm until the right moment.

In our practice of discipline, fidelity and humility we should try to DUST ourselves. Holding back our hostile thoughts will give us time to ponder about what truly bothers us. It will lead us to better outcomes and we will have fewer regrets. We need to calm ourselves and seek the Creator.

Please remember to keep Ukraine in your prayers, your prayers are making a real difference.

“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