onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 20: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 78:1 to 39; Evening, Psalm 78:40 to 72;
2^nd Kings 5:19 to 27; 1 Corinthians 5:1 to 8; Matthew 5:27 to 37:

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, ‘My master has let that Aramean Naaman off too lightly by not accepting from him what he offered. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something out of him.” (2^nd Kings 5:20)

I mentioned in Part 1 of Sunday last that there would be more to follow regarding Gehazi. Because there was something wrong in the soul of Gehazi, he could not help the dying child as instructed by Elisha when he was told to take his staff and lay it upon the face of the child.  Indeed, there was something corrupt in the soul of Gehazi, it seems to have something to do with his feelings toward “that Aramean Naaman.”

Instead of leaving the decision of Elisha as it was regarding payment by Naaman, Gehazi goes after more. He is greedy and he wants to see Naaman pay more dearly. This is sad.  And, he doesn’t get away with it.  Elisha informs him upon his return, “Did I not go with you in spirit when someone left his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to accept money and to accept clothing, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves? (2^nd Kings 5:26).  And therefore Elisha put the leprosy on Gehazi. What a shame

Gehazi followed a short line of Prophets beginning with Elijah.  The spirit was passed on to Elisha.  Perhaps with prayer, God would have endowed Gehazi in the same way. But Gehazi was selfish, revengeful and not given to the real care of community.

When we follow worthy mentors, we must examine their conduct very carefully. We should not second guess them if found to be good people.  If we don’t agree with their way of life, then perhaps it would be better to move to another mentor. The power of the prophet is not destroyed, it is passed on. But the recipient must be worthy; that is, loving, understanding, selfless and obedient, given to prayer and real concern for the care of his or her community.  These traits are what will enable the protégé to become a mentor one day.  That is, they will discipline themselves to listen, love, learn, live and finally, to lead as others have, who have gone on before, have also done.

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 20: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;
2^nd Kings 5:1 to 19; 1st Corinthians 4:8 to 21; Matthew 5:21 to 26:

“But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, ‘I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy:” (2^nd Kings 5:11).

I will deal with Naaman in a moment. But for now let us go back and see the unnamed girl who informed Naaman’s wife and therefore Naaman about the existence of Elisha the Prophet of God. She is another unnamed prophet of the Bible. There are many such women who get no recognition.

Now for Naaman. How often do we also ask God to “fix” something only in the way we want it done?  Naaman already had in his mind what to expect from Elisha, even though he didn’t even know Elisha existed until he was told by his slave girl.  So too we also often pray for specific outcomes from God. We want God to cure ourselves or a relative rather than just say “God’s will be done,”  and ask for divine intervention in whatever way God sees fit.  I can recall our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, saying, the best we can pray is to just say to God, “Help.”  And then let God take it from there. 

There is often a requirement for us to participate in the response from God just as Naaman was told to go and wash seven times. Sometimes we are asked to spend time with the response we are seeking while not knowing what that response will look like.  It also serves us well to see that God will use those among us to inform us about how we should interpret what is happening to us. In our story today, one in the company of Naaman makes him realize that had it been something difficult he would not have hesitated to do it, yet he questioned washing seven times. We ask because we don’t know. If we don’t know then we should be prepared to accept the divine response when, and how, and from whom, it comes.

God loves us and the Holy Spirit of God will often speak through sometimes unnamed, or even very close persons, to help us. All we have to do is listen, not second guess, and respond as told to do. God will take it from there.

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

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 20: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 93 and  96; Evening, Psalm 34:
2^nd Kings 4:8 to 37; Acts 9:10 to 31; Luke 3:7 to 18:

“He said to Gehazi, ‘Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child;” (2^nd Kings 4:29).

While there is a lot to ponder in the reading, I want to bring to light only two points. First, the Shunammite woman makes provision for Elisha. “She said to her husband, ‘Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God. Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us:” (2^nd Kings 4: 9 and 10). This is the basic set-up for monastic life to this day.  Also, Elisha orders Gehazi to “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child:” (2^nd Kings 4:29). This is the same instruction our Lord Jesus gave to the seventy two as he sent them off to heal and cast out demons; (Luke 10:4). Gehazi failed at the task. Could there be something wrong with Gehazi? There will be more to follow.

Part 2 of 2

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Proper 20: Year B

James 3:13 to 4:3 and 7 to 8a; and Mark 9:30 to 37:

“He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9: 36 and 37)

The last person to board a cross country bus is the Bus Driver.  After separating us from our luggage, he or she takes his or her seat at the controls and takes us to our destination.

The bus driver is our servant. Without the driver we can’t get there. However, none of us remember his or her name. Yet, they get us where we need to be. Such is the call of the Christian; we are to work hard, perhaps only to have our names forgotten. Our call is to bring people to God. Occasionally, we help them loose the bad luggage that holds them back while keeping the good.

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 19: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 75 and 76; Evening,  Psalms 23 and  27;
2^nd  Kings 2:1 to 18; 1^st Corinthians 4:1 to 7; Matthew 5:17 to 20:

“Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.  Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you:” (2^nd Kings 2:1 and 2).

The need for every person to latch on to a good mentor cannot be overstated. We follow people in trades to learn how to earn a living. We follow people in professions to learn how to be doctors and lawyers and such. It is the natural course of humanity to find and follow someone who has the skills or knowledge that we want, and to stick with them no matter what.

We stick with them until we are self-sufficient in the area of concern wherein we too should welcome the company of an apprentice.  Whether its mentor – protégé or master – apprentice; the point is that we need to work with those who are right-minded and decent in their relations with others. Elisha found in Elijah the power of the Spirit of God and would not leave him.

We too, as followers of our Lord Jesus, must look for the Jesus quality in those we admire. Personally, I am not going to dedicate myself to the service of someone who has the musical skills that I want if the gifted person is rude, unloving, and self-serving.  I don’t want the skills that bad. Trying to work with someone whose antisocial behavior is less than what it should be, with the idea that we will just copy the good parts of the person, doesn’t work.  We will begin to copy the undesirable parts as well, also, we mislead the mentor in thinking he or she is ok. No, it would be better to just not get involved in any capacity.

There are plenty of good believing people in every endeavor we want to pursue.  Also, today, we can start in one field of study with one good mentor, and also follow another good mentor in a totally different field of study or skill. The key, at least for me, is to make sure my leaders, my mentors, my masters are good, loving and faithful people.  This is the kind of person I strive to be every day.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light:” (Matthew 11:28-30).  Our Lord Jesus was, and is, the perfect mentor master, leader and teacher. He did, and continues to do, all his teaching through love for us. Let us do the same and for the same reasons.

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 19: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 69:1 to 23(24 to 30)31 to 38; Evening, Psalm 73;
2^nd  Kings 1:2 to 17; 1^st Corinthians 3:16 to 23; Matthew 5:11 to 16:

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14 to 16)

Light is a tricky thing. It can be tainted. It can project a darkness in spite of being light. In our proposed morning Psalm for today, Psalm 69, we have the option of not saying verses 24 through 30 in the Book of Common Prayer.  These verses carry with it a desire for God to wreak havoc on those we deem evil or mean.  I say God knows the whole story therefore let God do what God will do.

Our Lord Jesus says we who follow Him are the light, or lights, of the world.  Douglas R. A. Hare, writing for Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Matthew; argues that the “Your” is plural and that we, collectively as Church, must be such a light. There may be something to that but I believe our individual light must start within our individual selves. And, it is when our individual light is joined with other, inclusive, all-loving lights that we, the Church, bring the world into the Light of Christ. There can be no shades, bushel baskets or “recommended omissions” in it.

I am reminded of the Negro Spiritual, “This Little Light of Mine,” as arranged by Horace Boyer and published in the Hymnal “Lift Every Voice and Sing II,” (1993).

“This Little light of mine, I’m gonna let if shine.”  Yes it starts with our individual selves.  Prayerfully, as young ones, parents, teachers, preachers and such, will plant in us a loving response to the world. The next verse says, “Every where I go, I’m gonna let it shine.”  This applies from going next door, going to school or Church, or work or store, or around the world. We must let our little lights shine.  The last verse says, “Jesus gave it to me, I’m gonna let it shine.”  I say, Thank You Lord 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. 

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

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 19: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 71; Evening,  Psalm 74;
1^st Kings 22:29 to 45; 1^st Corinthians 2:14 to 3:15; Matthew 5:1 to 10:

“Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are discerned spiritually. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.” (1^st Corinthians 2:14 and 15)

I continue today in the spiritual sphere.  I have heard it said that we are spiritual beings learning to be human, not human beings learning to be spiritual.  I can’t remember who said it, but it sounds right.

Paul says that he built on a foundation begun in Christ that others also must build on. Personally, I don’t believe he is the only one.  We have other foundation builders who have built on it as well. There is Peter, James, Mary Magdalene and of course Christ himself.  The second part of Paul’s verse bears this out, “Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ:” (1^st Corinthians 3:10 and 11).

My beloved of the Lord, let us not be afraid to let go and let God. You don’t have to have answers, just wonder and adoration. “It is not the task of Christianity to provide easy answers to every question, but to make us progressively aware of a mystery.  God is not so much the object of our knowledge as the cause of our wonder.” (Kallistos Ware)  

Being spiritual is not foolishness. It is a discerning gift from God for all who wish to have it.  It is like mysticism.  The great mystic Evelyn Underhill speaks of the availability of mysticism. “Evelyn Underhill’s most valuable contribution to spiritual literature must surely be her conviction that the mystical life is not only open to a saintly few, but to anyone who cares to nurture it and weave it into everyday experience,” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for June 15)

God is Spirit according to the Gospel of John (4:24).  And all who want to worship God must do so in spirit and truth.  You, reading this blog, are a spiritual child of God. Live spiritually and discern all things, and be subject to no one’s scrutiny. For me, this is pondering. Thank You Lord Jesus.

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 19: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 72; Evening, Psalm 119:73 to 96;
1^st Kings 22:1 to 28; 1^st  Corinthians 2:1 to 13; Matthew 4:18 to 25:

“My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God:” (1^st Corinthians 2, 4 and 5).

This is so true.  Our faith must not be based on what limited scientific or geological things we can prove. God’s presence in our lives is so much more than human understanding. There is a different kind of wisdom in what God is doing within us.  Paul continues, “Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory:” (1^st Corinthians 2: 6 and 7).

This kind of secret knowledge is what the Gnostics of old preached in their faith tradition – that is that only a few who God chose had this secret knowledge. This theology is not accepted by most mainline Christian traditions. However, anyone, and everyone, who chooses to listen to the Holy Spirit of God will receive this hidden and secret spiritual knowledge. This hidden and secret spiritual knowledge is what Paul calls “These things.”

Paul says that “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God:” (1^st Corinthians 2:10).  I think every now and then, Paul speaks the absolute truth, and it is directly from God. I am not a big Paul fan. But my ear has been trained to know the divine truth when I hear it.

Paul ends this passage with the idea that spirituality seeks out spirituality. He says, “And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual:” (1^st Corinthians 2: 13).  After the coming of the Holy Spirit on what the Church calls the Day of Pentecost, every human being may open him or herself to the Holy Spirit. We can, and should, listen to what the Spirit is saying to 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

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 19: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 68;
1^st  Kings 21:17 to 29; 1^st Corinthians 1:20 to 31; Matthew 4:12 to 17:

“Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth:” (1^st Corinthians 1:26).

Wow! Paul has nailed me. I am all three. I am not wise by human standards. I am certainly not powerful. And, as an African American, a descendent of American slaves, I am not of noble birth. I am the trifecta, or maybe the humble Trinitarian characteristic of those who are truly called.

I failed second and fourth grade by a teacher who I found out later did not like my mother. In the meantime I was left with a huge inferiority complex that I had to overcome. I considered myself a failure. Yet, here I am, doing the Lord’s work.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

I truly do feel called to my ministry. So many things happened to me just prior to my retirement from the Marine Corps.  I was less than two years on station in Yuma, Arizona when I was ordered to Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina.  And, even then, with less than two years left before reaching thirty years active duty and mandatory retirement, I was allowed to continue my service and retire. Yet, as I was back in my new home town of Havelock, I was able to again attend my home parish of St Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Havelock, North Carolina.  The Rector at that time asked me to consider if God has a calling on my life. God did. And here I am. Again, Thank You Lord Jesus.

You too must not look at your intellect, or birth race or ethnicity, or anything of high, or low, “human” value. God doesn’t care about any of that. We can’t “figure out” God.  If you have truly emptied yourself of all human standards of achievement, which may tend to give you an inferiority complex, then your empty cup or bowl is prepared to be filled by God. One more time, Thank You Lord Jesus.

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 19: Year 1

Morning,  Psalms 56 and 57; Evening,  Psalms 64 and 65:
1^st Kings 21:1to 16; 1 Corinthians 1:1 to 19; Matthew 4:1 to 11:

“It Is Written,” (Matthew 4:1 to 11)

While I must have read this Gospel text no less than a hundred times, I noticed something new this time.  Jesus uses the term, “It is written,” as human actions three times.  Now the devil in this writing tries to use Jesus’ anchor against him.  But he uses it in a way that talks about what God will do, that is, to have angels save him.  But Jesus uses the, “It is written” statement, written by humans, for humans, as a human response to show, we feed on the word of God; we are not to test God; and that we are to worship God, and God only.

These three statements of what is written is the anchor not only for our Lord Jesus, but for us also. The Word of God is food for our souls. The word of God sustains us, not only in this world, but for all eternity. In no way should we attempt to test God based on some twist of scripture; being mindful that some interpreters will try to lead us astray.  When this misleading attempt occurs it is usually for some partisan, exclusive and/or divisive policy. Beware. And lastly, we must remember that God is love. We are to worship God and God only. We are brought into being through the love of God specifically to love each other and to give some love back to God in gratitude.

So here we go: feed on God’s words of love and inclusion; trust in God, don’t test God; and pray to, and worship God, both alone and when gathered. Let these written words be your anchor in life. It worked for our Lord Jesus.

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

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 19: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 24 and 29; Evening,  Psalms 8 and 84;
1^st Kings 19:8 to 21; Acts 5:34 to 42; John 11:45 to 57:

“But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all!  You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed:” (John 11:49 and 50).

So ironically true. Our Lord Jesus gave himself for us in order to show total love for us.  It is in the Gospel of John where we read that Jesus says, “I give you a new Commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (In the synoptic Gospel writings it says, “love you neighbor as you love yourself.”)  There is a big difference. Some people don’t love themselves. Jesus loved us to death.

 Part 2 of 2

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 19: Year B

James 3:1 to 12 and Mark 8:27 to 38:

“He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”

Peter answers, “The Messiah.” This means “the Anointed One.” This means “the Christ.” But no matter which title we use, it means that of all creation, and particularly all humanity, this Person that they, and we, perceive to be from the city of Nazareth of Galilee, is the very presence of God on earth. And without consideration for time, this Jesus is the God of all the humanity that came before him and of all of us who came after.  God created time along with everything else in creation.  In this way we, and all creation, have a beginning and an end. The one exception that God interjected into our timeline is our gift of the Sabbath, or Seventh Day, each week.

Our Lord Jesus asks us the same thing. Who do you say Jesus is?  As late followers of Jesus we say who we believe Jesus is by how we live out our lives and how we treat others. Do we make time in our limited amount of time in this existence to remember God and show respect to and for our Creator? We have already been told that loving God and loving others is the godly life.

If we live godly lives, God will bring us away from this entrapment of time and keep us in that heavenly realm, forever! Who is Jesus? Jesus is our Savior. 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