onewhoponders

Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of the 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year C

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1^st Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21

“When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read:” (Luke 4:17).

Our Lord Jesus had a custom of attending the synagogue on the Sabbath. His Sabbath was intended by God to be a day of rest, and yet, the language of the Bible clearly says he, “stood up and unrolled” the reading that was handed to him. I have read where some devout rabbis won’t even turn on a light switch to see where they are going in order to do no “work” on the Sabbath. But they have no problem having a non-Jew do it. There are two issues here for me. One, as Jesus will also point out, some necessary work is okay to do even on the Sabbath. Second, there is a difference between work and worship. I still think that the gathering of people on the (Saturday or Sunday) Sabbath is an attempt by some clerics to enforce a no-work policy on that day which requires them to actually work.

Can we not learn while attending our Christian Sunday School worship, (work included), that we are to be left alone to just keep the Sabbath (Saturday) with rest and meditation?  And then as Christians, attend our Sunday services as it should also be our custom where we learn such things?  I say these things even as my own parish is closed today, Sunday, due to inclimate weather and hazardous road conditions. Jesus went to the synagogues to teach, even on the Sabbath, it was necessary work.  However I don’t think clergy, Christian or otherwise, need to micromanage our private time in prayer with God. Whenever we can, families and loved ones should have some Sabbath time together with Holy readings and prayers. While I fully realize that we all can’t always meet this way on a Saturday because some of us are first responders, medical care providers, police persons, and such. But we should come together on a true Sabbath whenever we can. The Holy Spirit of God wants to be with us on such a day. And then, on Sunday, take what we have gleaned from the Spirit to Church. We all could use some unsupervised time together in thoughts, dialogue and prayer.

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 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 30 and 32; Evening, Psalm 42 and 43;
Genesis 12:9 to 13:1; Hebrews 7:18 to 28; John 4:27 to 42:

“They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world; (John 4:42).

This is the last of the experience with the unnamed woman at the well for a while. Was it necessary for the people, (I’ll bet mostly men), to tell the woman that it was not because of her that they believe? Because, it truly was her doing.

She has just done the work of John the Baptist and every Christian denomination we have today; she has brought people to Christ.

You and I can still meet Christ at the well today. And such an encounter can make us also forget our bucket and why we were there in the first place. Private time with Jesus is overwhelming. It will make you go to those, even those with whom you have issues with, and proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah!  And here is the thing folks, once you know, you can’t un-know. Once the Spirit of God enlightens you, you too will be reminded of everything you have ever done as well as the good in you that lies ahead. Maybe someone you tend to avoid will bring you word of Jesus being present and you would rather ignore them.  However, I would suggest that you remember such a person and re-member them back into the fold, for they got out of God’s way and let God work through them for your faith’s sake.

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 the 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 31; Evening, Psalm 35;
Genesis 11:27 to 12:8; Hebrews 7:1 to 17; John 4:16 to 26:

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth;” (John 4: 24).

:Jesus continues to converse with the Samaritan woman at the well.  She suspects he is a prophet because he knows about her failed married life.  She tries to understand his ways by suggesting the Samaritans should also worship in Jerusalem as do the Jews. Jesus informs her that “the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem:” (John 4: 21).  Jesus dispels any notion of any people having a claim on God. We are all God’s own.  We should  pray where we are, and we should pray when we feel it is what we need to do. No place or time is outside of the presence of God.

More than that, our Lord Jesus informs her, and us, that God is Spirit; (John 4:24).  God is beyond anything humanly identifiable, except for loving us.  He also goes on to say, according to the Aramaic reporters of His words, “I AM he, the one who is speaking to you.” The human form of Jesus is the only humanity that the Holy Spirit of God used to be with us since creation began, and the Holy Spirit of God remains with us to this very day, everywhere and all the time.  

“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 the Second Week of Epiphany: Year 2

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

Genesis 11:1 to 9; Hebrews 6:13 to 20; John 4:1 to 15:

“A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)” (John 4:7 – 9)

Many of Jesus’ teachings, as well as his miracle stories, take place with people outside of the Israelite people.  In this particular case the woman at the well is not only a Samaritan, she is also a woman who may not be liked in her own community. She has had many husbands; she goes out at noon, in the heat of the day alone, when no one else is at the well. All of this speaks of her isolation. She is not only estranged from Jesus, she is estranged from her own community.

It seems Jesus had to be free of his cohorts in order to have this exchange.  They might have interfered.  We’ve seen where the apostles wanted to send hungry people home rather than feed them; keep children away from Jesus, stop a blind man that needed our Lord Jesus and other such instances where the apostles tried to “protect” Jesus.  Jesus, nor we, need protection from people just because they are different from us.  That is, when they are not the same sex, orientation, nationality, language, so called race, religious affiliation or political stripe. But like Jesus, we might have to get away from our regular crowd of influencers in order to be honest with those who differ from us, and with ourselves.

When we hear a stranger ask us how it is that we will be with them given that we are so different, we will know then that we’ve made it.  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 the 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

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

Genesis 9:18 to 29; Hebrews 6:1 to 12; John 3:22 to 36:

“They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him”” (John 3:26)

We should all learn from John.  John the Baptist did the best job he could with no illusions about keeping his position as a baptizing servant of God as a permanent position.  He told the people plainly that “He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

I have held positions of some responsibility in my life. I find the greatest reward for such work are not ribbons or medals but to meet my replacement and wish him or her God speed. All life is temporary.  And within our temporary lives are even more temporary assignments or callings. I don’t think it is healthy or prudent for the position holder, or the people under his or her charge, to hold such a responsibility for too long. At some point we have to move on.

So we should take a page from John’s play-book and announce in advance that the time is surely coming when leadership will evolve.  Stepping out and away from the limelight can be its own reward. It also gives us time to discern what the Spirit is calling us to next if it be God’s will.

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 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

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

Genesis 9:1 to 17; Hebrews 5:7 to14; John 3:16 to 21:

“As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.”  (Genesis 9: 9 – 10)

I have learned that some of the other faith traditions also have a flood story. That this Bible story is historically accurate is not so much my concern.  But the lesson here is that we (humans) are the caretakers of the earth and all of its diverse creatures, and this is what I believe God wants us to know.

This message of caretaker is one that shows up frequently in the Bible as well as in my blog. While we are not God, we have a lot of power in terms of regulating our habitats and protecting various species of life, both plant and animal. 

Our spirituality should go beyond how we relate to each other.  It must be seen by God how we relate to this beautiful planet.  This goes beyond the negligent damage we cause with pollution and reckless harvesting of resources.  Yes we need to clean up our act, but more than that, we need to monitor habitats and the eco-systems around the planet to ensure both people and wildlife are in balance in order to promote a safe and healthy planet.

Here is the truth that goes beyond the flood story: God is establishing a covenant with us and our descendants after us, and with every living creature that is with us, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with us.  God wants humanity to be more responsible in caring for this planet.

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 the 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

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

Genesis 8:6 to 22; Hebrews 4:14 to 5:6; John 2:23  to 3:15:

“He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” (John 3:2)

This is the way we all approach our Lord Jesus, in the darkness of ignorance.  Nicodemus was somewhat condescending in his talk with Jesus knowing that a person cannot re-enter the womb to be born again.  Jesus was explaining a rebirth using metaphor.  This only further explains the dark cloud of ignorance in which Nicodemus found himself.

One does not know how much they don’t know.  I am thankful for a seminary education. It is not that this religious education made me smart.  Rather, it informed me of just how much I had no clue about.  I think knowing how much you don’t know is the beginning of being smart. This is a good time to recall a quote from Kallistos Ware: “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)

If Nicodemus believed that our Lord Jesus was a teacher who has come from God because no one can do what our Lord Jesus does apart from the presence of God, then, I say, behave that way Nicodemus!  Instead of challenging Jesus, follow him.  And that goes for us too.

Today is the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. advocate for civil rights for all people.

Dr King was passionate about his call for justice for all people.  It is reported that he once said that “If a man can’t find something he is willing to die for, he is not fit to live.”  Indeed he did die while raising the awareness of underpaid sanitation workers in Memphis, This fairness was something he believed in and was willing to die for, and indeed he did die for.

How about us?  What are we willing to die for?  So often the “what” is changed to “who.”  Many of us will proclaim who we are willing to die for, a spouse, a child, a parent or a friend.   But what about an idea; – a concept of freedom, equality and justice for all people?  As Episcopalians we proclaim in our Baptismal Covenant that we “Will strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being;” (BCP 305).  I think Dr King (not an Episcopalian), lived into what we profess. He did more than just lip service to an old, regularly recited covenant. He was fit to live because of his determination for freedom, liberty and justice for all people as valid reasons to die for. And that should go for us as well.

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 Sunday of the 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year C

Isaiah 62:1 to 5; Psalm 36:5 to 10; 1^st Corinthians 12:1 to 11; John 2:1 to 11:

“His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)

Mary has lived with her son, our Lord Jesus, for most of his earthly thirty years.  She has seen him replenish their food supply over and over again; and maybe even change some of their water into wine.  She has probably seen him do more with nothing than is ever written in the Bible.

So it is quite natural for Mary to go to her son when there is a shortage of anything.  Notice that Mary does not respond to Jesus’ mumbling about whether or not his time has come.  She turns to the servants that will obey Jesus – she turns to us.  She looks through the pages of John’s Gospel directly into our eyes and says, “Do whatever he tells you.”

This is perhaps the first sermon ever about how we Christians should respond to Jesus. John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of Jesus and that Jesus would baptize us with fire and the Holy Spirit.  Later even Paul tells us about how Christ Jesus is our Salvation.  But Mary tells us we must do as Jesus tells us.  She puts into action everything that Jesus will say to us in commands and parables, from the golden rule (Do onto others as you would have them do onto you), to the Good Samaritan and to give to Cesar that that is Cesar’s and to God that that is God’s.  If we are really serious about following Jesus when Jesus says “follow me,” then we first must listen to Mary who says to us “Do whatever he tells you.”

So for me, it is not so much about “What would Jesus do?” Our Lord Jesus can do many things that I will never be able to do. No, it is about what is my Lord Jesus telling me to do?  What is our Lord Jesus telling us, his followers, to do? Be Well.

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 1^st Week of Epiphany: year 2

Morning, Psalms 20 and 21:1to 7; Evening, Psalms110:1to 5, and 116 and 117;
Genesis 6:9 to 22; Hebrews 4:1 to 13; John 2:13 to 22;

“So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God;’ (Hebrews 4:9).

Today, Saturday is our assigned Sabbath Rest, a gift from God. We should attend to it in a contemplative manner.

When I served in the Marines in Saudi Arabia, during the liberation of Kuwait, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, those of us who were Christian counted the weeks there by our Sundays. Two Sunday traditions took place where we were. First, the chaplain came to our maintenance compound to conduct a Church Service.  I remember that I led the Lord’s Prayer helping those who wanted to participate but didn’t know the words. Second, our mess hall (dining facility), prepared pancakes for breakfast!  This was a big deal.  During this non-liturgical breaking of the “pancake” bread we got to see others with whom we came over with but do not work with on a daily basis. We celebrated each week as time passed until we boarded planes for home.

I have matured theologically since that time, or at least I think I have. Now, after careful study of scripture, I believe the God-given day for all of us is Saturday, the seventh day of the week.  I still worship on Sundays but I think there is a difference between worship and rest. This rest we enter is not ours alone. It is God’s rest. And we are invited to be at rest with God. That day is today.

I will close this blog page for today with the closing words of our Hebrews writer for today for you to ponder: “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.   Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.”  (Hebrews 4: 8 to 13)

We should celebrate each Sabbath until we are taken to our eternal home.

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 Week 1 of Epiphany: Year 2

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

Genesis 6:1 to 8; Hebrews 3:12 to 19; John 2:1 to 12:

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.”  (Genesis 6:5)

Full disclosure, I am not a Bible literalist. But I do believe that within most of our Bible stories, and within some of the fake facts, are real truths. One such truth is that left unschooled by good parents and teachers of love, our moral compasses will point south. We must be vigilant about being good and teaching what is good, Nephilim notwithstanding.

This is a repeated Biblical lesson. From our Hebrews reading for today we get the same instruction: “Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.  But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:12 and 13)

While the preacher to the Hebrews reminds us of Moses and our Genesis reading shows signs of hope with the coming of Noah, the Mother of our Lord Jesus preaches the perfect, albeit brief, sermon. She tells us, the servants of the Lord, to “do whatever he tells you,” (John 2:5). Our Lord Jesus is God’s final act of salvation, even beyond Noah and Moses. I believe God still loves creation and want to save it, and us with it.

“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