onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Maundy Thursday of Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalms 142 and 143;

Lamentation 2:10 to 18; 1^st Corinthians 10:14 to 17 and 11:27 to 32; Mark 14:12 to 25:

“While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.  He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.  Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14: 22 – 25)

This is the central sacrament of our Christian faith.  This act means so much more than sermons or readings.  This is what our Lord Jesus left for us to do and to remember him by. Today is what our Church has named “Maundy Thursday.”  This is the night our Lord Jesus was arrested and taken into the custody of the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the Temple.  He knew this was coming but insisted on this sacramental meal anyway. 

I ask each Christian family to also have a prayerful meal this evening as did Moses at the first Passover Meal. This is the faithful tradition that our Lord Jesus was maintaining, and asking us to do the same. And we must remember His words regarding the wine, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” It fortifies us for the sake of many.

St Paul also asks us to continue this tradition in our 1^st Corinthian’s reading for today. He says, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?  Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread;” (1^st Corinthians 10: 16 – 17).  The four-fold parts of Holy Communion are “Take,” “Bless,” Brake,” and “Give.” We are our Church regardless of where we are. It is not the building that makes us the Church; it is being the body of Christ that makes us the Church; broken apart but blessed nevertheless for the benefit of many.

And let us not get a big head about being Church. Being Church means being in service to those who do not belong to it. It was  William Temple (1881–1944), who said, “The Church exists primarily for the sake of those who are still outside it.”  God loves humanity – all humanity. As Church, sustained by the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are Baptized into the welfare of all people regardless of what they believe or do not believe.

The people of Ukraine are outside the Anglican Church and should be targets of all that we can do for them. I am proud to say that I belong to, and lead, our Women’s Bible Study at St. Paul’s in the Pines, Fayetteville, N.C. ( I am the only male member of the group).  We just sent money to the Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) program for the relief of Ukraine. We are truly Church.

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 Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalm 74;

Lamentation. 2:1-9; 2^nd Corinthians 1:23 to 2:11; Mark 12:1 to 11:

Psalm 74: 8 to 11:

8. There are no signs for us to see; there is no prophet left; there is not one among us who knows how long.

9. How long, O God, will the adversary scoff? Will the enemy blaspheme your Name forever?

10. Why do you draw back your hand? Why is your right hand hidden in your bosom?

11. Yet God is my King from ancient times, victorious in the midst of the earth.

These central words from Psalm 74 seem appropriate for today for Ukraine as they wait for God to intervene in the midst of their troubles.  I guess verse 11 brings some glimmer of hope. 

I spoke with a dear friend who reminded me of the old story about the preacher who was sent two boats and a helicopter as a flood was devastating his town. The preacher refused to let the boats or helicopter save him not realizing that this was indeed God’s way of saving him.  God uses us, for us. God is using us, who are outside of Ukraine, to aid and assist Ukraine. And Ukraine is both receptive and thankful, to God, through us.

I used this Psalm and the same verses two years ago to talk about our fight against Covid.  Now I use it to lift up the Ukrainian people in their distress. Perhaps some of you are tired of my continued worrying over Ukraine. I am spiritually connected to the Ukrainian people. 

They can’t afford to not think of their situation or get rid of it although I am sure they would like to.  I will stay with them in prayer and lamentation until their situation improves, just as they must do also. In this country, we have sound-bites of the war in Ukraine, and then the next news item might be about some celebrity show, or some pending American court case. The Ukrainian people don’t have choices about what they will think about or watch next.  Every day, every minute, is about “who died,” or, when and where will the next bomb hit?  It is a living hell for them. I am trying to keep us aware of their choice-less horror.

I too pray for the God of ancient times to act today, in the midst of 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 Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 6 and 12; Evening, Psalm 94;

Lamentation 1:17 to 22; 2^nd Corinthians 1:8 to 22; Mark 11:27 to 33:

“So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”  (Mark 11:33)

When our Lord Jesus says, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things,’ it suggests that the chief priests and the scribes did in fact know that John’s Baptisms were from heaven. But they would rather play the “ignorant” card than admit that John was more holy than they were.

The truth is an amazing thing.  The truth is not always pretty, but admitting it, is always noble. When our personal truth is not pretty or noble we want to conceal it. We forget that God knows the truth that is in us just as God knew about Cane killing Able. While the actions of our personal truths may not be noble, being accountable for them is very noble.   

Let us look at the George Washington/Cherry Tree incident. “The Cherry tree myth is one of the most well-known and longest enduring legend tale about George Washington. In the original story, when Washington was six years old he received a hatchet as a gift and damaged his father’s cherry tree.  When his father discovered what he had done, he became angry and confronted him.  Young George bravely said, “I cannot tell a lie… I did cut it with my hatchet.” Washington’s father embraced him and rejoiced that his son’s honesty was worth more than a thousand trees.” (https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/cherry-tree-myth/)

So, while the act of cutting the tree was shameful, his being accountable for it brought nobility to him.  Perhaps it is this kind of character that enabled him to become our first President of these United States. 

Instead of concealing their thoughts about John the Baptist, the chief priests and scribes should have just told our Lord Jesus that they truly believed his Baptisms were from heaven. God did ask Cane where his brother Able was. God was giving him a chance to be truthful. God will also ask you about what you have done.  What Cherry tree have you chopped at lately? Want to be President one day?

How do you truly feel about the pain and suffering taking place in Ukraine? The noble thing to do is to own your truth. Give voice to the love welling up inside you for their pain and suffering. Hold on to your truth and live it out. “The truth will set you free;” (John 8:32).

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 Holy Week: Year 2

Morning; Psalm 51:1-18(19-20); Evening; Psalm 69:1-23;

Lamentations 1:1-2, and 6-12; 2nd Corinthians 1:1 to 7; Mark 11:12 to 25:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.” (2 Corinthians 1: 3 and 4)

When I read these biblical passages I always try to seek out the timeless messages, those passages that are still relevant for us today.  Paul identifies God as “Father of mercies and the God of all consolation.” He goes on to say that as God consoles us, so that we then are able to console others. This consolation that God blesses us with is truly a blessing.  And just like God told Abram, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you:” (Genesis 12:2 and 3).  So I see this divine consolation as God’s blessing that comes upon us and then we are to console others.

Consoling, that is, the listening to, and blessing of, the other, is so important today.  We need to be spiritually present with our neighbors.  Perhaps being spiritually present is another way we can be with people during this time of physical separation. A phone call, a text message, an email, any form of spiritual consolation we can do means a lot to someone suffering from loss of work, fearing sickness, stuck in their home and are at their wits end.  Our neighbors need us and we need them, now more than ever.

God has blessed you with the blessing of consolation.  Some of it is for you, be blessed and wear it like a new suit. But some of what God has given you is for you to give to someone else. See who God puts in your path or on your mind today and give them that consolation that God gave you for them.

I pray that God has given us, way over here in the U.S., the consolation needed for the Ukrainians. I won’t pretend to know how we are to respond to their conciliatory needs now other than sending money to organizations supporting them, and our own prayers to God. I know that language can be a barrier but full disclosure, I have set with people in the hospital whose language I did not understand and it was very much appreciated by the patient.  I think the Holy Spirit bridges the language barrier.  God has given us consolation to comfort us, and to share with others in order to comfort them, no matter who, or where they are, or what language they speak. We need to reach out to the people of 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

Eucharistic Readings for Palm Sunday: Year C

Isaiah 50:4 to 9a: Psalm 31:9 to 16; Philippians 2:5 to 11; Luke 22:14 to 23:56:

 “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31- 32)

This reading begins with joy!  It begins with the ride into Jerusalem with waving palms and palms laid before even the donkey that carries Jesus. But during the week, the celebration goes south quickly and some of the same people singing “Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord,” are within a few days, yelling, “Crucify him.”

There is so much to ponder in this Passion Reading.  I think in all the readings for any of the Gospel Passion readings, Peter is the significant representative of us all.  He wants to be faithful, but fails. We want to be faithful but we too so often fail.  Jesus never gives up on Simon Peter and Jesus never gives up on us.

Satan, or at least sin, is at work against Simon Peter and us as well to reduce us down to manageable fragments in an effort to pull us away from following the love of Jesus. But we have the prayers of Jesus himself, keeping the faith within us, to keep us strong. Jesus says in our Passion passage, “but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail.” Jesus has proclaimed throughout the Gospel that it is the faith within us that enables us to overcome the sinful obstacles in life.

Luke’s Gospel account of the Passion is the only one that has Jesus to make eye contact with Peter as the rooster crows – as Jesus is being taken away. This is a painful reminder that Jesus told him it would be so. It is also a painful reminder when we too make eye contact with Jesus and are found falling short of what we should be.  However, Jesus also lets Peter know that he will, at some point, turn back, and that we too, will at some point, turn back, and when we do, we, like Peter, are to strengthen our brothers and sisters in their faith.

I sometimes wonder as we look into the eyes of President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, as his country is bombarded with devastating bombs, whether we might feel ashamed for not doing more to help the Ukrainian people. But I believe that we also, will turn at some point, come to his aid as it is right so to do.  And when we turn, we too, will strengthen the countries in the region in their resolve to have, and maintain freedom.

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 the 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 137:1 to 6 and Psalm 144; Evening,  Psalm 42 and 43;

Exodus 10:21 to 11:8; 2^nd Corinthians 4:13 to 18; Mark 10:46 to 52:

“So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” (Mark 10:50)

This is the healing story of blind Bartimaeus son of Timaeus who asks for his sight “again.”  This means he once had sight, could see clearly. What is often kind of glossed over is Bartimaeus throwing off his cloak.  Think about it, if you are blind you become well aware of keeping up with things so that you can put your hands on them again. I have my sight and still, I lose things all the time, my keys, my phone, my glasses, many things.

Bartimaeus, knowing he has the opportunity to stand (or kneel) before our Lord Jesus, throws off his cloak – his security blanket.  He lets go of his “security blanket” knowing that being before Jesus will make all things new. He knew that having the attention of Jesus changes what he values. He wants to see again.  Which means, he was once able to see but lost his sight.

The same is true for us today. The only way we can put our whole trust in our Lord Jesus is to let go of false security. Our Lord Jesus asks us today, What is it that we want Him to do for us?

Personally, I have been praying and asking for peace in Ukraine. I believe most Russian soldiers to be of the Russian Orthodox Christian faith.  What will it take for Russian soldiers to see the error of their ways?  Where is their moral sight now and how did they lose it? How is it that they place their security in the cloak of  immoral leadership?  I pray they fling it to the side and come to Jesus. I pray that they ask our Lord Jesus for their sight back. This is what I want Jesus to do for me. I want it for the people of Ukraine and the souls of the persecuting Russian soldiers. Do you think this is something our Lord Jesus can do – will do? I do.

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 after the 5^th Sunday of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 22; Evening,  Psalms 141 and 143:1-11(12)

Exodus 9:13 to 35; 2^nd Corinthians 4:1 to 12; Mark 10:32 to 45:

“They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.” (Mark 10:32)

Here we have our Lord Jesus leading the pack to his own torture and death.  He is very much aware of his imminent pain and suffering and yet he leads the way. He sets the example for future Christians.  The brothers James and John are going to request places of honor in the kingdom of Jesus.  Jesus informs them that those places are determined by God Almighty.  The rest of his group becomes angry when they find out what James and John were up to.  Jesus gives them the lesson about the upside down world of honor in the kingdom of heaven.  He explains that it is those who serve others that are the most honored in the kingdom.  Our Lord Jesus tells them (and us) that the worldly demand of harsh leadership, which demands for itself to be pleased no matter the costs, is not who we are.  We are to lead in loving ways.  We are to lead by caring for those whom we lead.  We then, are to be emulators of the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus himself.

If we all really treated others with respect and dignity two wonderful things might happen.  First, more people would get the help and service they need. Second, by helping others we teach the lesson of loving others as (if not more than) we love ourselves. Such service is the work of love; it is the loving work of the Holy Spirit.

Our Lord Jesus was leading the way to a harsh destination. And he is out front ahead of the pack, setting the example.  As Christians, and as his followers, we too need to lead the way in ending the sufferings when and where it befalls us, and all the while helping those in need if we can. 

Today, here, and in most parts of the world, Christians are not persecuted (although in some places we still are). Our Christian call informs us that we are to emulate our Lord Jesus and lead the way to defend those in dire straits such as the people of Ukraine.  We are all of one group or another. If any one group of people is persecuted or assaulted, any different group may be next. Bullying must not be tolerated, in our schools, or on our global stage. It is up to those of us who witness such behavior to stand up for those being harmed.  Such is the way of God who created us as caregivers.

“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 the 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 131, 132; Evening, Psalm 140, 142

Exodus 7:25 to 8:19; 2^nd Corinthians 3:7 to 18; Mark 10:17 to 31:

“The magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, but they could not. There were gnats on both humans and animals.” (Exodus 8:18)

The magicians of Pharaoh were able to replicate the “staff – to- snake” action even though Moses’ snake destroyed those of  Pharaoh’s magicians; and they could also produce the frogs as God did.  But when God raised up the finer creatures of creation, the gnats, the magicians were lacking. All of creation comes from God. No exception. The gnats remind me of the small and insignificant status of human beings in the great expanse of the universe except that God in Christ Jesus elevated our status by being one of us.

To my knowledge, no other creature on earth has been reasoned with by God, only human beings.  Through Moses, God has tried to reason with Pharaoh several times to release human beings, but he would not. So God showed Pharaoh that the God of Moses is indeed the God of all beings, human and non-human alike. And all humanity, regardless of where we live, are connected to God our Creator through Christ Jesus our Savior.

While we are geographically disconnected from one another, we are prayerfully connected with one another and God. Moses spoke with God for the relief of his people even though it was not something he wanted to do from the beginning. I ponder that it may not have been just Pharaoh whom Moses feared; he may have feared having a continued close relationship with God whom he just met and who was pushing him way out of his comfort zone. We know deep down in our hearts that a continued prayerful relationship with God will push us past our comfort zone. Unlike our Lord Jesus, we have never been physically connected with God although God intercedes on our physical behalf as is often requested by us in our prayers for ourselves and others. And, this kind of praying we should be doing now for the relief and peace of Ukraine. God loves all people. 

Our God is not a God of convenience.  God is not “use now and forget.”  We are in this prayer relationship with God forever and we should show God our thanks for even being alive. My preaching is not so much a job.  It is a calling from my own spiritual burning bush. What I am called to say is not always pleasant to ponder but none the less, needs to be said. The Spirit of God is eternal and moves among us always. This is the Spirit we should listen to and heed its Divine direction. Please advocate for Ukraine in prayer to God showing that Gods’ power is greater than that of those who torment and harm them, as Moses did in the presence of Pharaoh.

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 the 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:145 to 176; Evening,  Psalm 128, 129, 130;

Exodus 7:8-24; 2^nd Corinthians 2:14 to 3:6; Mark 10:1 to 16:

Psalm 130: 4 and 5

“I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him;
in his word is my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.”

These verses capture our state of being right now.  We are waiting.  We are finally witnessing the beginning of the end of the devastation of Covid 19. And while it might stay with us in one form or another, we are now better able to protect ourselves from serious hospitalization or death. God has worked with us in our prayers to help us make vaccines against it.  Our hope and faith and trust continues to be in the Lord.  And we pray that God Almighty continues to  intervene with healing and health for all. “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope.”

God’s Word is that God loves us, that we are created in God’s  Image. Our very souls wait for the Lord’s action.  Our souls already know the Lord our God and our souls speak to us (if we would but listen) informing us to put all our hope in the Lord.

In the old days the watchmen were those who stayed vigilant while everyone slept. They served as alarms if danger came near but also they watched for the first signs of the new day. They watched for the sun. Our souls too still watch for the Lord.  But the Psalmist informs us that our souls watch even more intently.  Our souls today watch for the coming again of the Son of God.  

Just as we are dealing with the infection of Covid, so too we should deal with dictating governments who “infect” the world with bullying and terror. Those of us outside of Ukraine are the watchmen of our day. Danger has come near to our family in Ukraine. We should be sounding the alarm and looking forward to a new day, the coming of the Son of God, the Prince of Peace. We need this war, this carnage, to cease now.  But still, “My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.”Amen

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 the 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 121, 122, 123; Evening, Psalms 124, 125, 126;

Exodus 5:1 to 6:1; 1^st Corinthians 14:20 to 33 and 39 to 40; Mark 9:42 to 50:

 “Then Moses turned again to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, why have you mistreated this people? Why did you ever send me?”  (Exodus 5:22)

Moses is caught between the rock and the hard place.  His demanding of Pharaoh to release the people of Israel in order that they may go and worship God has caused Pharaoh to be even more severe with the Israelites. Now he will not provide for them the material for making the bricks but also holding the same expectation of quantity of bricks as before. Moses feels trapped.

God has not changed.  Today God will engage us in activities that will inconvenience us and cost us time, and often money.  But like with Moses, God will not abandon us.  People who don’t know or can’t sense God in their lives will only hold you responsible for what is happening (or not happening).  They don’t want to hear our “God-talk.”  They want us to get out of their way.  But we must endure no matter the costs.

I often tell people this is how we know a path is from God.  First, it is inconvenient. Second, it takes us out of our comfort zone.  Third, there is the issue of time and or money (often both). And fourth, the act is for the benefit of someone else, not you. Hey, God has not changed. Just ask Moses.  God is unchangeable. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. But know this, God will not abandon you.

And God is not abandoning Ukraine. However, God is commanding us who are outside of Ukraine to help them just as God asked Moses to go to the oppressed Israelites. Helping the Ukrainian people is inconvenient; out of our comfort zone; will probably cost us time and money; and it’s not about us, it’s for them, the people of Ukraine. Yep, it is definitely what God is asking of us.

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