onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 10, Year 1

 Morning, Psalm 37:1-18; Evening, Psalm 37:19-42;
1^st  Samuel 20:24 to 42; Acts 13:1 to 12; Mark 2:23 to 3:6:

“Then he [Jesus], said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath: (Mark 2:27).

Our Readings for today are very active with loads of stuff to ponder.  And while I an intrigued with the saga of David and Jonathan; and the name changes in the Acts of the Apostles, that is, Simon to Niger; Bar-Jesus to Elymas; and of course, Saul to Paul, I am comforted by our Lord Jesus’ words about the priority of humankind over the Sabbath in our Gospel Reading for today.  We were first. Then as a gift to us, God gave us the Sabbath as a day of rest and reconciliation.

Rest is important. We need to know when to be quiet.  David did. He could not be reconciled with Saul, so he followed the advice of Jonathan who loved him and he left only to return at a later time.  Jacob did this in Genesis when he could not be reconciled with his twin brother Esau.  Moses did this when he could not be reconciled with the Egyptians after the killing of an Egyptian. At some point we will find the wherewithal to return to what drove us off.  We will reconcile with what was thought to be irreconcilable.  This reconciliation includes the time interval God has given to us for being quiet.

I know a young man who is running away from troubles in his state of residence to live here in North Carolina.  The problem is that until he squares himself with the authorities in his home state, North Carolina will not assist him with a driver’s license, voter registration, or even substantial employment. The stories of reconciliation are the old stories of the Bible. The greatest reconciliation we can engage in is our reconciliation with God.  And God has given us the Sabbath as the divine opportunity to do just that.

Our Lord Jesus explains that because God wants to have a pathway whereby we can “come back,” to God, we have been given the Sabbath. It is a contemplative time, not so much for gathering and chatter, but rather for solitude and simplicity.  It is a time for finding a quiet place in order that we might focus on God and ourselves.  This is why it is perfectly okay to do good works on the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not a restriction on our life but rather the freeing of it.

Our Sabbath begins tomorrow evening.  Our Lord Jesus never separated us from the traditional Sabbath, which he himself set aside and kept. Let us be at peace and be reconciled back to God.

Let us live to love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 10: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening, Psalm 119:25 to 48;
1^st Samuel 20:1 to 23; Acts 12:18 to 25; Mark 2:13 to 22:

“As for the matter about which you and I have spoken, the Lord is witness between you and me for ever:” (1^st Samuel 20:23).

Obviously there was a strong relationship between Jonathan and David.  The nature of their relationship can be argued. What I want to focus on is how we latch on to people outside of our biological family and make strong, life commitments with them.

These strong lifelong commitments happen in many ways. There is marriage, there is career choice, there are fraternities and sororities, there are healing clinics such as AA and others where strangers establish bonds of trust that could never happen in some family relationships.  

There are also our Church relationships.  Church relationships happen when we decide that we want the Lord to be witness to the bond we make with another. Such a covenant needs to be equally important to both parties. It doesn’t work if one of the two is an atheist or of a different faith tradition.  Oh, they can be friends, even business partners, but they will not be bound in an unconditional, agape love as were Jonathan and David. Again, Jonathan tells David, “As for the matter about which you and I have spoken, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.”

Perhaps the best biblical examples of two people committing themselves to each other can be found in the words of Ruth to Naomi, and Tobias to Sarah in the Apocrypha of the Bible.

Ruth says to Naomi her mother-in-law, in whom she saw God working, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” (Ruth 1: 16 and 17) 

In the Apocrypha of the Bible we find the only actual marriage vows in scripture, Tobias prays with Sarah; “Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors, and blessed is your name in all generations forever. Let the heavens and the whole creation bless you forever. You made Adam, and for him you made his wife Eve as a helper and support. From the two of them the human race has sprung. You said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.’I now am taking this kinswoman of mine, not because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together.” And they both said, “Amen, Amen.” Then they went to sleep;” (Tobit 8: 5 to 9) 

And to this I too say, Amen, Amen.                                                                          

Let us live to love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 10: Year 1

 Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening,  Psalms 36 and 39;
1^st Samuel 19:1 to 18; Acts 12:1 to 17; Mark 2:1 to 12:

“And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.”  (Mark 2:4)

I am amazed at what we can actually do through love and faith.  The friends of the paralytic man were determined to get their paralyzed friend to our Lord Jesus.  The crowd would not stop them. Jesus was amazed at their faith.  He was so amazed that he used their faith to wash away the paralytic’s crippling psychological hold on him.  He forgave the man of his sins.

When questioned about whether or not Jesus has the power to forgive sins, our Lord Jesus explains that while there are some visible things we humans can do, like bringing a friend to Jesus against all odds. There are some invisible things we simply cannot do, or, can we?

 Jesus goes on to explain that while we can see the physical things that he can do, we ought to know that there are some invisible things he can do as well. We need to know that our Lord Jesus is very God of very God; Jesus is Lord over the seen, and the unseen. Given that the walking, talking, teaching, healing and forgiving Jesus was in fact God Incarnate, then of course Jesus can do all these signs and wonders – seen and unseen.

But here is the thing, we, you and I, can do many more signs and wonders than we are doing now.  There are some medical marvels that we still can’t do.  For example, people who suffer from some spinal injuries must still live the rest of their lives as paralyzed. Some midlife blindness is permanent.  Some psychological disorders are also irreversible.  While our Lord Jesus could bring about changes to these physical impairments, he also did what we all can do if we allow ourselves; he forgave sins.

To say, as the scribes did that, “Only God can forgive sins,” is a copout. With compassion, we too can relieve truly penitent people of their pain, such as this man in our Mark reading today.  It’s understandable if we don’t want to forgive someone who denies their wrongdoing, or tries to minimize it. But for someone who has given up on life because they are so hurt by what they have done, surely we should find some mercy within our hearts to forgive them.  No, we do not have to be God to forgive. Forgiveness is a part of us that makes us created in God’s Image. I pray that one day our God-given medical skills will enable us to cure disabilities. But God has advanced our capacity to forgive a fallen brother or sister who is truly remorseful. We just need to use it now. 

Let us live to love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper10: Year 1                                 

Morning, Psalm 25; Evening, Psalms 9 and 15;
1^st  Samuel 18:5 to 16 and 27 to 30; Acts 11:19 to 30; Mark 1:29 to 45:

“In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you:” (Mark 1:35 to 37).

Jesus has just healed the mother in law of Simon Peter.  This is evidence that at least he, Simon, was married.  That’s the only way one gets a “mother-in-law.”  I ponder how many of the other followers were married. What does it mean to be in a committed relationship and then commit one’s self to following our Lord Jesus? Which commitment should come first? Ponder, ponder.

Simon tells Jesus, “Everyone is searching for you.”  Oh Simon, if only that were true.  Maybe people are looking for our Healer and Redeemer but do not know his name.  In our Acts reading for today we learn that the disciples, and therefore students of Jesus, who is the Christ or Anointed One, were first named “Christians” in Antioch. The name stuck.  I think it is important to remember that as Christians, we too are disciples, or students of our Lord Jesus. Are we learning what our Teacher is teaching us?  I think it is important to remember one very important lesson from our Lord Jesus. And that is, that our Lord Jesus goes to be alone to pray.  Private prayers are healing prayers. We don’t need words. All we need is to be open to God and whatever God has for us.

If we really need words to get us into a receptive state of being perhaps Psalm 25, selected for today, will help.  “Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long:” (Psalm 25: 3 and 4).  These are just two verses from Psalm 25. But I think praying the whole Psalm will assist in getting us into a good and private place wherein, like our Lord Jesus, we can connect with the God of our salvation.

When we practice praying privately it becomes easier to pray publicly.  Although it has been my experience that most people want to hear words.  Even when a speaker asks for, “a moment of silence,” in memory of the loss of a person, count the seconds. Rarely is it 60 seconds.  People don’t like silence. To make it real, I have gone to using a singing bowl with a mallet and watching my watch.  I really don’t care if I go over the minute.  After all, I am praying too.  We shouldn’t focus on the time, unless we are cheated out of it. Jesus got up and went to a “quiet” place to pray and Simon and the noise followed him. Let us have some holy silence at least once a day.

Let us live to love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 10: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 148, 149 and 150; Evening, Psalms 114 and 115;
1^st  Samuel 17:50 to 18:4; Romans 10:4 to 17; Matthew 23:29 to 39:

“And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15)

These words from Paul to the Church in Rome are almost a direct quote from Isaiah 52:7. We have our God-given faith that we trust in and share by walking to others. We use our feet to bipedal our way into the hearing distance of others. We are not giving them faith. God has done that already.  No, we are awakening their faith. We do this by telling others about our own stories about how Christ has walked with us.  Paul continues, “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ:” (Romans 10:17).

Part 2 of 2

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 10: Year B

Ephesians 1:3-14 and Mark 6:14-29

“The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb:” (Mark 6: 26 to 29).

The king really liked listening to John. He was impressed if not inspired by his words.  This king would not listen to the beginning of love that was developing for John.

So what influenced his decision to have John killed?  Was it too much booze combined with an immoral lust for his stepdaughter? Then, did he put himself in a bind by publically promising something foolish, (giving her up to half of his kingdom)?  She could have taken half his kingdom and waged war with him. So did he keep his word so as to maintain some kind of respect in front of his guest? Was keeping his word a political move? Was his oath well thought out before he hit the “send” button of his lips? I’m just pondering here folks.  This was a sad birthday for Herod. Maybe keeping oaths for the sake of keeping oaths does not really make good sense. What do you think?   What do you ponder?

Let us live to love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 9: Year 1:

Morning, Psalms 20 and 21:1 to 7); Evening,  Psalms 110:1 to 5, 116 and  117;
1^st  Samuel 17:31 to 49; Acts 11:1 to 18; Mark 1:14-28:

“Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God.  So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believerscriticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” (Acts 11:1 to 3).

You readers of this passage perhaps do not need a translation of this passage.  But indulge me if you will.  Here I go: “Now the apostles and the disciples who were in Judea, but down the hill from Jerusalem, heard that the non-Jew Greeks have also believed and accepted the word of God in Christ Jesus.  Peter (also a Jew), climbed the mountain to Jerusalem and found himself in the presence of Jews who heard about him and who believed in God but perhaps not in Jesus. They believed in God, whom they also believed brought all life into being and who made all human kind in the image of God, yet they found fault in Peter for trying to reconcile the stranger to the belief in God.

Peter will go on to share his story about inclusivity in his food example wherein nothing that God has made is profane, including the uncircumcised, or Greek non-Jews.

Maybe it would be a good idea to review our Church stance on this matter.  In our Book of Common Prayer,  on page 855 of the Catechism, we are asked the question; “What is the mission of the Church?” The answer: “The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.”

Any time we frame a question wherein it is an “us – them” scenario we have missed the holy mark. In God’s eyes we are all the same. However, some of us have been set apart to example the humble life. Some of us have been called and set aside to serve others regardless of what they believe or don’t believe. Some of us have been called and set apart to make charitable contributions that will assist those in need regardless of who the needy are.  Those of us who are called in this way and set aside are called Christians. Christianity is not for the faint of heart. It is a high calling for a low walk. We are called to love the unlovable. We are called to pray for those who curse us; we are called to withstand some abuse and continue to march as Christian soldiers.  We are fortified with the Love of God for the desire of God that all humanity will be reconciled back to God. We do this work with love. And if this is God’s desire, as Peter says, who are we to hinder God?      

Let us live to love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 9: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 16 and 17; Evening, Psalm 22;
1^st  Samuel 17:17-30; Acts 10:34 to 48; Mark 1:1 to 13:

“Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:” (Acts 10; 34 to 37).

Peter proclaims that anyone, in any nation, who acknowledges, and respects God Almighty, and lives in accordance with what is acceptable to God, is acceptable by God.

Peter also reminds us of the message of peace preached by our Lord Jesus Christ.  He points out that this message of peace began in Galilee and then went to Judea and the rest of the earth.

As one who has visited Israel, and in particular, Galilee, I have a real appreciation of God’s decision to begin the Jesus path in Galilee.  God could have started it in Bethlehem where David and Jesus were born. But chose instead, the region of Galilee, the region of the Gentiles, to show God is the God of all people: Jews and Gentiles alike. As Peter says, “God shows no partiality.

As we step back away from planet earth we will notice something very special about the region of Galilee.  First of all, the world’s lowest level body of fresh water (Lake Galilee, also known as the Sea of Galilee or Tiberius), is located there. It drains back into the Jordan River from whence the lake is filled, and where John baptized our Lord Jesus.  I too was blessed to have been baptized (again) while visiting there in 2018. 

The picture that I use for the head of this blog everyday is the one I took while there.  I was very moved by seeing the same terrain and horizon that our Lord Jesus must have looked at as he was with the fisherman on that same lake some 2000 plus years ago.

Love is the final resolve for all of us. But, if we can’t find ourselves able to show love, let us at least make peace with one another. God almighty sent to the people of Israel, and to us all over the world, our Lord Jesus, showing no partiality regarding race, faith, politics, gender, language or nationality, by preaching peace through this same Jesus Christ; walking in Galilee, or Risen and with us everywhere.  He is Lord of all.

For this evening and tomorrow day my friends; Shabbat Shalom.

Let us live to love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 9: Year 1

Morning,  Psalm 18:1 to 20; Evening,  Psalm 18:21 to 50;
1^st  Samuel 16:14 to 17:11; Acts 10:17 to 33; Luke 24:36 to 53:

“Now the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.  And Saul’s servants said to him, ‘See now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.  Let our lord now command the servants who attend you to look for someone who is skilful in playing the lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will feel better: (1^st Samuel 16: 14 to 16).

Three times the words “evil spirit from God” is written or said.  I don’t accept it. Nothing about God is evil. God is love. God is the pure Spirit of Love. This language about and evil spirit from God is used in other places in the Bible.  But as praying believers we have every right to object to such language, written or spoken, that we know is not our God. I believe evil is a human construct that happens when we reject the will of God.

I do however, like the insight given to look for a musician to sooth the suffering soul. As one who practices several musical instruments I agree with the soothing effect of melodious contemplation. Soft music can thwart sad thoughts or even evil inclinations that occur should we turn way from the will of God. Whether I play such music on piano, guitar or horn, or it comes from an electronic device, there is nothing more soothing for me than Native American flute music. It just puts me at peace and inclines my soul towards the Holy.

Also, that a musician becomes head of state, or a spiritual advisor, is probably not a bad idea. David is referred to in our reading for today where in addition to being one who plays music, he will slay Goliath. As an aside, David is also given credit for most of the Psalms of Scripture.  

It was Saint Augustine of Hippo who said “singing is praying twice.”  When I look at the numerous times we hear about singing in the Bible (songs sung after crossing the Red Sea in Exodus, to the Song of Mary in Luke), and especially in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John where many times the elders folded themselves to the ground singing to the One on the Throne; it becomes obvious to me that singing and/or music is important to God; and should be to us as well.

Chanting is music as well. When monks chant they slow down the words and let them be carried throughout the halls and corridors of their monastery where all can benefit from the pleasing, peaceful sounds that perhaps drive off evil thoughts and intentions.  And maybe, just maybe, the love of God will fill the void. There is nothing evil about God but calming music will cast out man’s self-generated evil. Sing one of your favorite hymns today and see.

Let us live in order that we might love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 9: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 119:1 to 24; Evening,  Psalms 12, 13 and 14:
1^st  Samuel 16:1 to 13; Acts 10:1 to 16; Luke 24:12 to 35:

“In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, ‘Cornelius.’ He stared at him in terror and said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ He answered, ‘Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God:” (Acts 10:1 to 4).

God is bringing Peter and Cornelius together to do the will of God, the Jew fisherman and the Roman centurion. Whenever God sends you to someone, God prepares that person to receive you.  That person may be unaware that God is involved, but nonetheless, God is orchestrating the whole thing. 

While not a person of Israeli heritage, Cornelius is a man of constant prayer and giving to the poor. His heart sourced faith and devotion has been seen by God.  Cornelius is instructed in a vision to invite Peter to come and be with him. It is very odd that a Roman citizen, much less a centurion, would do such a thing. But Cornelius’ vision is tied to the vision of Peter through God. For Cornelius it is a matter of following God’s word.  For Peter, it is a matter of being inclusive as shown by the inclusion of various foods, foods provided by God for the health and nourishment of the faithful. The live animals that Peter is instructed to “kill and eat” are outside of what Peter, who is of Israeli heritage, has been taught to eat.  While God is stretching Peter to move beyond his tradition, God is also showing him and us that nothing, or no one of whom God has brought into existence, is profane.

What the two men have in common is faith in One God who calls people through visions, to prayer and charitable acts. Within these visions we too are stretched beyond our “normal” traditions. We are called to be with people different than ourselves. We are given insight that we could not have “figured out.”  I call these insights “glimmers of grace.”

Within glimmers of grace, some of us are called to move.  Some of us are called to be still.  If we all move we will never connect. We would miss each other. Some of us are called to be messengers who plant the seeds of prayer and fellowship, God has planted faith in all already.  Some of us are called to bloom where we are planted.  The world needs both kinds of us. The call we get from God may even change over time.  Together, we fulfill the dream of God. Together, we make the world a more inclusive and loving place – a place where God’s will, will be done.

Let us live in order that we might love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 9: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 5 and 6; Evening, Psalms 10 and 11;
1^st  Samuel 15:24 to 35; Acts 9:32 to 43; Luke 23:56b to 24:1:

“As Samuel turned to go away, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. And Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this very day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.” (1^st Samuel 15: 27 and 28)

There are three things for me to ponder in this 1^st Samuel reading for today. The first two are in the verses above. 

Is this where the tearing of clothing began?  Saul grabbed the garment of Samuel as Samuel had turned to leave and Samuel used this action as an explanation of how God is tearing Saul from being king over Israel. This tearing of clothing will appear elsewhere in scripture whenever someone is upset or angry about something that has happened or was said. It’s just something to ponder.

The second thing to ponder is that sometimes people better qualified to do what I like doing will be chosen to do the work.  Samuel tells Saul that, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this very day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.”  I don’t believe anyone is really “better” than me but they might be better at certain deeds than me, and the need of the community is what is most important. First comes the “what” that needs to be done, and then comes the “who” that is best gifted to do what needs doing. As part of my community I too benefit from the best possible person in the right position.

Lastly, I think Samuel is incorrect when he says that God will not have a change of mind. When Saul requests prayers in an effort to see if God will have a change of mind regarding his kingship, Samuel tells Saul, “Moreover, the Glory of Israel will not recant or change his mind; for he is not a mortal, that he should change his mind;” (1^st Samuel 15:29).  However, when Moses engaged with God about God’s plan to destroy the Israelites because of their worship of an idol that they made with their own hands, he got God to have a change of mind.  ^“And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.” (Exodus 32:14 NRSV). There are other places as well where God has a change of mind about what was planned.  If God can have a change of mind and we are created in God’s Image, can we not also have a change of mind?  I think we should ponder this.  We should especially consider having a change of mind if such a change results in a more loving response.

Let us live in order that we might love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John