onewhoponders

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of  Proper 12: Year C

Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19) and  Luke 11:1-13:

“And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’  I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.” (Luke 11: 5 – 8)

God has hard-wired us to seek and to assist. It is our human nature to solve mysteries, be it the rotation of the universe or the cure for cancer. We look for answers.  We have inquiring minds and we want to know stuff. Today Google is flooded with people finding information about myriads upon myriads of all kinds of things.  We are born to ask, both for what we need and for what we want. 

Within the tradition of humanity is also the concept of hospitality.  From time to time we all find ourselves in need.  When thus found, we need the help of others. It is nothing to be ashamed of. It is our human condition.  Every person that hears the request of another has to deal with how they will respond to each situation.  I have a very dear friend who carries in his upper left pocket 2 or 3 small envelopes which contain a dollar and a Bible verse in each.  When a person approaches him for money he hands the person an envelope and bids them peace. I myself will adopt this response. A dollar or two is not much but it is a response. It helps satisfy that human need to respond. Even if the timing is bad, we will help if we listen to our hearts. We have this drive to respond to the need of others (friend or stranger). I believe there are more Good Samaritans among us today than there used to be.  We are born to help.

So we ask for help, and when we can, we render help to others.  This is God’s desire for us to be a loving community.  Yes, we still have way too many bad apples.  But we don’t give up because of them.  We endure. We pursue what is good and upright.  When we need help we ask for it.  It is not a matter of pride that we should suffer loss.  We ask someone to help us and we also may help another down the road.  All resources come from God.  We’re just borrowing from God anyway.  And we should keep our eyes open for our brothers and sisters who may not ask yet be in need.

Being born to ask, and born to help, means that we are born to live in harmony with each other.  I know people who are too proud to ask for the help they need.  And perhaps if they are criticized about it, they ought to feel reluctant to ask.  So those of us who can help must be vigilant in making sure that we are “grateful” to know when an unexpected opportunity has come to us. And never, never shame, or in any way speak down or look down on anyone who needs our help.  One day it could be us.  If we can Google about the universe, we surely can ask about, and respond to, our needs, and the needs of others in our midst.  We want to take comfort in knowing that we live in a community that takes care of God’s own. We are all God’s own.

Ukraine too is God’s own.  Let us help them where and when we can .

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 11: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalms 138 and 139:1-17; 

Joshua 23:1-16; Romans15:25-33; Matthew 27:11-23

“While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.’” (Matthew 27:19)

We don’t have the name of the wife of Pontius Pilate but she was definitely spiritually connected with God.  Many people, prophets and leaders of Israel were contacted by God via a divine dream.  Jacob, Daniel, and even Joseph, the earthly father of our Lord Jesus, are just three examples.  Pilate’s wife is in good company but she is not listened to.

I ponder about dreams.  Scripture has shown that dreams are often used as conduits of communication by God for the purpose of doing God’s work. Dreams can be places of revelation.  Pilate did not listen to his wife, perhaps it was destined to be that way, who knows?  For this Matthew Gospel account it may be surprising that we even get to hear her voice.  But we do and so I pray that all of us should look deeper into our dreams of revelation.

At a Christian Education session I have personally witnessed one person share a dream and another person at the table interpret what the dream could have meant. It made so much sense.  For the most part I believe God’s message for us will move us closer to the will of God in good ways.  Dreams are very slippery however.  If we wait too long we forget the details of our dreams.  It could be an important message lost. I believe the Spirit of God connects with us in some of our dreams (not all), because we stay too busy with worldly things to hear God during our waking hours. Pleasant dreams everyone.

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 11: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 40 and 54, Evening, Psalm 51;

Joshua 9:22-10:15; Romans 15:14-24; Matthew 27:1-10

“He said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself’”  (Matthew 27: 4)

Judas has betrayed our Lord Jesus.  He is sorry he did this.  He goes to the religious and spiritual leaders of his community for repentance.  There is no compassion to be found, no consolation.  He goes off and hangs himself.  Poor Judas.

What’s going on here?  First of all, the chief priests and the elders were, sadly, co-conspirators in the plan to arrest and kill Jesus. They were co-conspirators with Judas.  I ponder about what made him think he could then go back to them for any kind of understanding.  However, what really stuns me is their response to Judas.  “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”  See WHAT to yourself?  They are in a hard place.  If they acknowledge that Judas was a bad actor, they must own blame themselves. But what they have done is to forsake one of their own people by not helping him find a way to repent.  Too bad that John the Baptist is already dead, Judas could have used him. 

Christian clergy today must remember, as someone once told me, “it takes sheep to make a shepherd, otherwise, you are just a person with a funny looking stick.”  The sheep are the most important part of ministry, no sheep; no ministry.  And you don’t have to be officially ordained to be a shepherd. Somebody is watching and learning from you.  Lead on.

Addition for today:

We remember Mary Magdalene today.  My heart always goes out to Mary Magdalene.  From the Gospel according to John: “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to lookinto the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her’ (John 20: 11 – 18). This is the first Resurrection sermon ever preached. Enough said.  Praise Jesus!

“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 11: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 50; Evening, Psalms 66 and 67;

Joshua 9:3-21; Romans 15:1-13; Matthew 26:69-75

“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15: 5 – 6)

These words of Paul about who God is, is worth some deep pondering.  Paul says the God of “steadfastness and encouragement.”  Steadfastness, to me, means discipline.  It means to keep on keeping on.  This is the discipline of my blogging, every day.  However, we must look at content.  The discipline of steadfastness is negative if the content of what we are being steadfast about is negative.  The content of steadfastness must be both good and uplifting for our family, friends and humanity.  This then is the encouragement part.

We all should lift up the good traits and habits we see in others.  Such lifting up is encouragement and it promotes harmony.  Even the most introverted person likes to hear words of encouragement. Such words really do bring about harmony in the community. This is how the God of love is revealed in the community.  I think this is why Paul says that God is the God of steadfastness and encouragement.  God is made manifest in how we embrace one another in steadfastness and encouragement. In this way, when people see you coming, they will say to themselves, “here comes “Good News!”

This blog is an example of my steadfast discipline and encouragement to all who read this blog so that readers may, with one voice, glorify the God and Parent of our Lord Jesus Christ.  And I pray our Creator and Sustainer act through us for the safety and welfare 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 Wednesday of Proper 11: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:49-72; Evening, 49;

Joshua 8:30-35; Romans14:13-23; Matthew 26:57-68

“The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God.” (Romans 14:22)

I am a mentor of Education for Ministry (EfM) administered from The School of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.  As such, I have learned through many sessions to develop my own theology and I have  framed it with a personal creed; a creed to live by; a faith that I have, that I have as my own conviction before God.  I have put together words that I believe really capture my belief. Here it is: “I Trust in the Creating Word through the Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word, in whom we live and move and love and have our being, and to whom, we must give an account.”

I think it is the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus that was promised to us when He went back to where He was before he came to us more than 2000 years ago.  We read in the Gospel of St. John, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (John:14:26).  Jesus prayed to Creator God that those of us who continue to believe (long after His initial visit) that those of us who follow, will also believe their words. “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20 – 21).  This handed down lesson is my conviction before God.  I am very aware of the “account” part of my creed.  I will do the best that I can to be a good person and to love all people.  This too is my conviction before God.

I invite all who read this blog to take pen and paper in hand, (or laptop), and for a moment, put aside the Church doctrinal creed. Save it for when you are assembled in Church.  Craft what you personally believe about your relationship with God and faith. Remember, you can come back later and edit it as you grow in the Spirit. “The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God.”

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 11, Year 2

Morning,  Psalm 45; Evening, Psalms 47, and 48:

Joshua 8:1-22; Romans14:1-12; Matthew. 26:47-56

“Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.”  (Romans 14: 5)

Paul is teaching Jews and Gentiles alike that all should accept the way the other understands and worships God in their own way.  This is still a valuable lesson for us today.  This applies not only in the wide world of religions, but also within our Christian religion itself.  Whether we are Baptist or Episcopalian, or Roman Catholic, or Presbyterian, or Lutheran, or United Methodist, or Non Denominational, or Amish, we all worship our Lord Jesus in our own way. There is one Jesus but more than one way of having a loving interpretation of, and relationship with, him.

I have dear relatives and close friends who are not Christians.  Some are Jews, some are Muslims and some are of faith-walks I don’t fully understand.  But they believe in a Higher Power in some way. I also know a few so-called, self proclaimed atheist.  I fully believe the latter will come to believe on the other side of this life.  While our walk in faith helps us to navigate this current life, our faith is our preparation for eternal life, at least that’s my Christian understanding.

Paul will go on to say that, “We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.  If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s,”  (Romans 14: 7 – 8). These words are part of the opening words used at funerals in the Episcopal Church. Pretty much all funeral services are for the assembled living. The deceased have already moved on. So it is while we are living to the Lord, that is, living in the “dash,” that we should not shape our faith, but rather, let our faith shape us.  Being convinced in our own minds does not mean never changing our minds. Rather, it means being open minded to the other’s way as well as the possibilities for our own way. 

Also, let us remember to keep the people of Ukraine in our 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 Monday of Proper 11: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 41 and 52;Evening, Psalm 44;

Joshua 7:1-13; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 26:36-40

“And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.’ Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?” (Matthew 26: 39 – 40)

I often write about how regularly Jesus prays.  In this case he prays for one hour.  The selected three, Peter, John and James, whom he handpicked could not hang on, they fell asleep. Peter John and James were picked on other occasions also to accompany Jesus as well, like the Transfiguration and in a home to heal a twelve year old sick girl.  So they were special.  They were fishermen.  They were followers, believers, disciples, and in their end, they were martyrs, except for maybe John. But they were also mortals.

We too are mortals like Peter, John and James.  We fall short.  We often don’t have the endurance required to stay awake while Jesus prays.  I have been on weekend retreats where some of us are supposed to be praying for a colleague while that colleague is giving a talk.  Sometimes, when we returned to the praying person and open the door to the chapel we hear him or her say, “Amen.”  I heard one bishop explain using doubtful language, indicating he thought the person who was supposed to be praying was really asleep.

It happens. We are frail creatures. Praying, like any other intentional habit, is a discipline. It requires regular intentionality. Even when we don’t “feel” like it, we must keep the regular discipline of prayer.  God gets used to our patterns. And, Jesus expects to hear us with daily regularity to at least attempt to pray at the times we’ve selected, even if we fall asleep.  Our Lord Jesus still kept his three amigos as appointed Saints of the Church even though they fell asleep.  The same goes for you and me.  This prayer cup responsibility does not pass from us.  God’s will, not ours, be done.

In our prayers, let us keep Ukraine in our hearts and on our lips.

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, Proper 11: Year C

Colossians 1:15-28 and Luke 10:38-42

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing, Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41- 42)

This is a story about hospitality. It is also a story about priority.  The hospitality part shows how important listening to our guests is over efforts of making them comfortable. This Gospel lesson is paired up in track 2 with the Genesis story of the three visitors to Abraham as he sat by the oaks of Mamre at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day (Genesis 18: 1-10). Abraham makes provision for them and then stands by them as they refresh themselves.  He listens to his guests.  He is present with them as Mary is present with Jesus in our Gospel lesson from Luke today.

I have learned through my EfM (Education for Ministry) classes, that hospitality is more than just offering a meal and refreshments.  It is about presence. It is about listening.  If someone goes to a home gathering and grabs food and sits alone without conversing with anyone else then just leaves after consuming the food, no relationship or real hospitality was accomplished. The better part is to have dialogue, conversation.  It doesn’t necessarily mean agreement, just sharing and listening. This is the better part of hospitality. We must be attentive to the better parts and then thank God that it will not be taken away from us, which brings us to the priority part.

The priority part causes us to be mindful of the presence of Christ over all else and the; “this will not be taken away from her” part, shows its eternal nature. Food and work comes and goes.  Being in the presence of God is eternal. I have been, and still become, both Martha and Mary.  Martha is a good tool to use when we don’t want to face what’s really going on. Inevitably the reality of the eternal sets in.  We must choose the better part. Within the context of hospitality there is a priority that should be established.  This is true whether your guests are old friends or new neighborhood children. Our house rules should require us to listen, learn and love.

I would ask that if you are able to receive Ukrainian refugees into your home, please do so. Show them hospitality with the priority of presence. And pray with them for their native land.

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 10: Year 2

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

Joshua 6:1-14; Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 26:26-35:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13: 1 – 2)

Poor Paul, while I am in agreement with Paul on many of his insights that I believe are truly from God, this part of the letter to the Church in Rome stops me in my tracks.  This exception is especially true as I look at the history of our Southern States and our Washington D.C. government. In our past, our Government has condoned slavery until a civil war ensued.  And after the war, the re-united government still allowed some citizens to be unjustly treated having to ride in the back of public transportation, no voting rights; little to no education and the list goes on even to include unprosecuted community genocides . We imprisoned innocent Japanese Americans out of fear of their possible connection to Japan in the nineteen forties.  No Paul, resisting such a government is not resisting God, but resisting a ungodly government. Resistance then is Good Trouble as termed by the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis.

Perhaps the best way to make a government the ideal that God wants it to be is not to abandon it, but to participate in the corrective action that will make the government more godly.  As a Christian of contemporary America I can’t ignore the racial unrest being made manifest today. 

There are actions that people are doing that I don’t approve of.  I don’t approve of rioting and the vandalizing done to businesses.  Peaceful protesting is ok but evil is wrong, be it the government or lawless  mobs.  I don’t like kneeling for our National Anthem. I am a thirty year U.S. Marine and proud of it. And, I am a so-called black man, (I really don’t believe in race), who really enjoys having a beer while watching John Wayne westerns.  I pondered about this a lot before sharing it but I need to get this off my chest.  I pray there is a godly message in this and that we all strive  to make our government the government Paul speaks of – the government of God’s people.

Let us remember and honor the struggling government of Ukraine. They have come together for their own common good even against a mighty world power.  But they have God and they have us. Let us keep them in prayer for as long as it takes.

And let us pray for ourselves as we deal with the post Roe v. Wade reversal.

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 10: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 31; Evening, Psalm 35;

Joshua 4:19-5:1,10-15; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 26:17-25:

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12: 21)

So why does evil exist?  Many say evil is the work of the devil; perhaps. Personally, I think it is more the product of psychosis focused on hurtful, and often hateful outcomes that lack any sense of love. It is a byproduct of free will.  I might even suggest that evil happens in the absence of love.  But love doesn’t just happen, it is taught.  It is taught, or should be taught in the family, from birth.

Children who are loved, love others.  Children who are resented, resent others. Maybe the psychosis of evil will show some chemical imbalance in the brain as a probable cause. Whatever the cause, evil is among us.  Our response to it when we see it is to not let it cause a toxic relationship between us, but rather, use the abundance of love that we have been taught to overcome it.

In my studies I have come to believe that God is pure Goodness and Love.  Evil cannot exist by itself.  Evil cannot exist without a first Good to contrast with. From the beginning in Genesis we see first good, and then evil “happens.”  We must study the words of God to Cain in the Genesis story when God said, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it,” (Genesis 4:7).  Therefore, sin, or evil, is lurking, it has from the beginning, when life was brought into being. Creation was formed to be good. Be good  therefore, for goodness sake. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Let us keep the goodness of Ukraine in our prayers as they struggle against evil.

“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