onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 9: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 1, 2 and 3; Evening,  Psalms 4 and 7;
1^st Samuel 15:1 to 3 and 7 to 23; Acts 9:19b to 31; Luke 23:44 to56a:

“And Samuel said, ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the Lord?  Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.”  (1^st Samuel 15:22)

I think this is a very important lesson for Saul, and for us, but it needs to be understood in a way that is more meaningful for us today.

The point that Samuel is making is that to God, obedience is more important than sacrifice.  That is, adherence to what God tells us to do is more important than what we give to God in terms of the fruits of our labor as well as the time spent in worship and adoration.

Obedience is a matter of doing what God says.  This could be interpreted as following the Law, and in Saul’s case, as with Moses, following the Law to the letter.  I understand that there were 613 Laws that must be obeyed.  Not all of these are applicable for us today.

For us who follow the Jesus movement, we only have two commandments; we are to love the Lord our God with all of our being, and we are to love our neighbors with the understanding that all people are our neighbors. This first law might contain everything that is found in sacrifice to, and worship of, God. This public adoration of God is made manifest after our private adoration of God. According to Samuel’s lesson of obedience, while it is the second lesson, it seems to be the weightier of the two. We are to love our neighbors, and for Christians, as Jesus loves us, to the letter and to the cross.

There are words in the old song, “Walk On The Wild Side,” as sung by Brook Benton that say, “One day of praying and six of having fun, the odds against going to heaven; six to one.”   This translates to loving people along with praying, is a seven day a week necessity. We might assemble one day a week, but private prayer and worship along with living out the real love of people is an everyday affair and the only way that we obey God.

For me then, obedience to God is made manifest in living a daily loving life, and is far more important than public Church attendance and worship. However, if we do assemble in Jesus, we ought to also resemble Jesus.

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

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 9: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 146 and 147; Evening,  Psalms 111, 112 and 113:
1^st  Samuel 14:36 to 45; Romans 5:1 to 11; Matthew 22:1 to 14:

“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

These are the words that I read aloud each week at our Women’s Bible Study and can be found on page 105 of the Book of Common Prayer.  These words remind us that our hearts contain the very love of God. All we have to do is relax and conduct our affairs through the love of God that is already in us.

Part 2 of 2

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 9: Year B

2^nd  Corinthians 12:2 to 10 and Mark 6:1 to 13

“And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.” (Mark 6: 5 and 6)

This is further evidence that our Lord Jesus uses the faith that God has implanted in us to cure us, to save us. Many times in the Gospel accounts we read where our Lord Jesus says to someone made well to “go, your faith has made you well;” or “healed you.”  All we have to do is believe. The Risen Jesus of today will take it from there.

Faith is spiritual and works with spiritual matters that impact our biological wellness.  Believing a locked door is not locked will not unlock the door.  However, just believing in God, our Lord Jesus will take that faith and improve your spiritual health, and by extension, your physical health. Jesus makes faith work.

Questioning the credibility of a familiar source only raises doubt and weakens the presence of the faith. We must always focus on God, the Unknown, who shows up in whoever God chooses. Always ask, “Is God in this?,” “Is God working or speaking through this person?” We can’t rule out someone because we know them.  We don’t know God enough to say who God will use. And we can’t even say God won’t use you or me. If we are human, God can use us for the spiritual enhancement of another or the community in which we live.

Today, the 4^th of July, we, the people of the United States, remember and celebrate our Independence. We are “one Nation, Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

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 Saturday of Proper 8: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 137:1-6, and 144; Evening,  Psalm 104;
1^st  Samuel 14:16 to 30; Acts 9:10 to 19a; Luke 23:32 to 43:

“One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah?  Save yourself and us; (Luke 23:39).

Often as we read scripture we are led to think or believe in the way the writer wants us to.  I always ask those with me to be aware of the writer’s bias. The writer of Luke, whom I admire and from whom I learn so much, I still must hold accountable. 

As we have our Lord Jesus crucified but still alive, we have the words of the people; “And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” (Luke 23:35).   And in the next verse we hear from the Roman soldiers; “The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”  (Luke 23:36 and 37)  We have these words about saving himself from people walking around but not on a cross.

This is why I look carefully at the words of the crucified men.  We are told by Luke that the first crucified speaker “derided” Jesus saying “Are you not the Messiah?  Save yourself and us.”  I think it is the, “and us,” part that draws me to him.  As I too am a man that knows well that I am a sinner I want our Lord Jesus to not only save himself but to save me also.  I too am on my cross as I deserve to be and I want our Lord Jesus to save me as only he can. 

We must remember that Luke never met Jesus.  Luke received the stories of Jesus from Peter and Paul, (Paul, who also never met Jesus before he was crucified) and Luke passed these words on to us with the interpretation he was given when he received these words.

But this so-called deriding criminal was the only one that asked for his own salvation as well as Jesus saving himself.  Sometimes one has to be in a situation where death is near to really appreciate the need for being saved. And my beloved of the Lord, that’s where we all are today; we are crucified with our Lord Jesus.  We have sinned and strayed from the ways of God and are in need of our Lord Jesus saving himself and us.  And Jesus does exactly that.

We too look for the day we are in paradise with our Lord Jesus. When we learn to love we also learn not to rush to judgment.  The man on the cross may not have been mocking Jesus as we are led to believe, and as those who were walking around thinking they are not going to die (ever).  There is truth in his words about the need for salvation for us all. 

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 Friday of Week 8: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 140 and 142; Evening, Psalms 141, 143:1 to 12);
1^st  Samuel 13:19 to14:15; Acts 9:1 to 9; Luke 23:26 to 31:

“Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips; let not my heart incline to any evil thing.” (Psalm 141:3)

If only I could think before I hit the “send” button on my mouth.  My blogs are like this also. I really ponder over my words and even have them read aloud by a computer voice before I hit the “publish” button. And even then occasionally the wrong meaning is floated out there.

 As we interact with people, both, the people we like, and the people we don’t particularly like, we should be very careful about our choice of words. While it is sometimes difficult when done face to face, during our Covid lock-downs and the more widespread use of text messaging and emails, and without the use of facial expression and body language, the wrong message is sometimes sent.

In setting a watch before our mouths and a guard on the door of our lips we must go deeper inside our selves, and to our hearts.  It is in our hearts that our attitudes and feelings are first developed before they make their way to our mouths and lips.  Words and hands can help or hurt depending on the heart source from which they originate.  And how do we adjust the thoughts of our hearts?  We don’t, without God’s help.

God did not give us the ability to fix our selves or heal ourselves. God intends for us to first believe in God, and as a result of our belief, to ask God for the assistance needed.  Therefore, we pray, “Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.” (BCP 355)

I have heard it said that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  Therefore, before we speak, perhaps in prayer we should squeak.  We need our words to be true to what we feel.  But what we feel needs to be something we are proud of before God and our neighbors. It is only with God’s help that I; “Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips; let not my heart incline to any evil thing.”

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

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 Thursday of Proper 8: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 131, 132, [133]; Evening Psalms 134 and 135;
1^st  Samuel 13:5 to 18; Acts 8:26 to 40; Luke 23:13 to 25:

“Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.)” (Acts 8:26)

As I read this Acts lesson I am reminded of how geographical God is.  God finds the people with the faith and personality traits desired, and then moves them to where God needs them.  This is repeated throughout the Bible. God moves Abraham from his father’s house to a land that God will show him; God moves Ruth to Naomi’s people; God moves Moses back to Egypt to free the Israelites;  God moves David away from, and then back to Jerusalem; God Moves Joseph to Egypt, and then back again with the baby Jesus. And God moves Philip to the Eunuch in our Acts reading for today.  God is a mover and shaker.

But today’s Acts passage has several preaching points.  After God, through the angel, moves Philip to the path of the Eunuch, God has him to begin the explanation of the Christian life from where the Eunuch was, rather than the beginning of the Bible.  This is a lesson we could all learn. When we are asked to help someone understand, we should start with where they are, and go from there.

 Another preaching point is the unexpected opportunity to Baptize. Philip waste no time when the Eunuch points to the available water. While the Eunuch was perhaps not allowed in the Temple due to his physical disfigurement (which makes him a eunuch), he none the less is accepted into the household of God in Christ Jesus through Baptism.  Thank You Jesus.

Then God moves Philip to Azotus where he continues teaching and preaching the Good News. There are many lessons in this passage.

Today we remember two great Women: Pauli Murray, civil rights lawyer and Episcopal Priest; and  Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”  I invite you to research these women who also allowed God to move them as God saw fit.

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 8: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 119:145 to176; Evening, Psalm 128, 129 and 130;
1^st Samuel 12:1 to 6 and 16 to 25; Acts 8:14 to 25; Luke 23:1 to 12:

“That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies:” (Luke 23:12).

It is from earlier words in this Luke passage that we learn the geographical boundaries of authority for both Herod and Pontius Pilate.  I don’t think they were equal real rivals given that Pilate had the support of the Roman Empire. Nonetheless, to do an evil thing, they came together.  It is so sad when people do this kind of bonding. You can’t tell when you might be next to be plotted against.

From other studies I have learned that the phrase “Friend of Cesar,” was more a fraternity than just a casual reference.  Friend of Cesar could have a “rising star” kind of social status that meant quick promotion within the Roman hierarchy.  For Pontius Pilate, it meant keeping the peace on the Judean outpost of Rome.  Aftterall, Judea was not the most sought after place to be for an up and coming military officer, even if the officer was the governor of the region. If one could handle little skirmishes like that of this Jesus fellow and the local trouble he was causing, such a governing officer could get on with his career.

As Judeo- Christians this is not who we are.  This “Jesus fellow,” has changed all that for us.  Our Lord Jesus says the great ones among us are the ones who serve.  We do not strive for higher human horizons, especially at the cost of another.  We are friends of Christ Jesus, and we are pretty proud of it.  We do not drop our morals in order to be friends of the boss, the politician, the priest  the teacher, or even the parent. If such people are living moral lives as for as we can see, then we are friends focused on the love and equality of all people.

We Christians partner with others for the enhancement of our communities, for all in our communities.  We certainly don’t partner with anyone for the degradation of anyone else. It’s just not who Jesus wants us to be.  This is the kind of friendship that can be trusted and will only focus on you if you come into trouble.  And the response will be loving, not a plan for your demise.

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 8: Year 1

Morning, Psalms [120], 121, 122, 123; Evening,  Psalms 124, 125, 126, [127];

1^st  Samuel 11:1 to 15; Acts 8:1 to 13; Luke 22:63 to 71:

In our readings for today we have the action of two Sauls. The name Saul then must be a common name in the tribe of Benjamin of which both were members in their respective times.

The Saul of the Hebrew Testament rejoices after a victory and calls the people to renew his kingship.  After reading about this Saul, the next reading is about the New Testament Saul who consented to Stephen’s death by stoning.  The two Sauls will go different ways.  The Saul of the Hebrew Testament will lose favor with God while the Saul of the Christian Testament will gain favor with God. The death of people is involved in both.

The biggest difference between the Sauls is the “why” they did the things they did.  The Hebrew Testament Saul begins to praise his own kingship, the kingship of himself.  The New Testament Saul was always zealous for God but learns to honor the Kingship of Christ Jesus and lives out the remainder of his days as Paul only to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Perhaps many of us have names that are recycled through our families.  I am named after my uncle and my dad.  I don’t know that with my name I also received any of my uncle’s or dad’s personality traits.  No matter our name, in Christ Jesus we are a new creation, and maybe even have our names changed as did Saul to Paul and Simon to Peter.

Today we remember Saints Peter and Paul.

“Peter and Paul, the two greatest leaders of the early church, are commemorated separately, Peter on January 18, for his confession of Jesus as the Messiah, and Paul on January 25, for his conversion, but they are commemorated together on June 29 in observance of the tradition of the Church that they both died as martyrs in Rome during the persecution under Nero in 64. Paul, the well-educated and cosmopolitan Jew of the diaspora, and Peter, the uneducated fisherman from Galilee, had differences of opinion in the early years of the church concerning the mission to the Gentiles. More than once, Paul speaks of rebuking Peter for his continued insistence on Jewish exclusiveness; yet their common commitment to Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel proved stronger than their differences; and both eventually carried that mission to Rome, where they were martyred. According to tradition, Paul was granted the right of a Roman citizen to be beheaded by a sword, but Peter suffered the fate of his Lord, crucifixion, though with head downward.” (Lesser Feasts and Fasts for June 29)

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 Monday of Proper 8: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 106:1-18; Evening, Psalm 106:19-48;

1^st  Samuel 10:17 to 27; Acts 7:44 to 8:1; Luke 22:52 to 62:

“He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of the Matrites was taken by lot. Finally he brought the family of the Matrites near man by man, and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. So they inquired again of the Lord, ‘Did the man come here?’ and the Lord said, ‘See, he has hidden himself among the baggage.’ Then they ran and brought him from there. When he took his stand among the people, he was head and shoulders taller than any of them. Samuel said to all the people, ‘Do you see the one whom the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.’ And all the people shouted, ‘Long live the king!: (1^st Samuel 10: 21 to 24).

I would like to compare the two Sauls we have, one of the Hebrew Testament and one of the Christian Testament, who after Conversion was named Paul.  They are both of the Tribe of Benjamin. They are both named Saul, perhaps a Tribal name that continues to be made anew. The Hebrew Saul is chosen by lot because the people demanded a king over them.  The Christian Saul was selected by God in Christ Jesus resurrected for the propagation of the Gospel for people beyond Israel- you and me. A further difference is physical. The Saul of the Hebrew Testament was a tall, handsome man, head and shoulders taller than everybody else.  The Saul of the Christian Testament was a short, bald, bowlegged man, considered by most of his day as very unattractive. The first was chosen because God was giving in to what the people wanted, but did not know what they were asking.  The second was totally God’s decision for the real benefit of all human kind. 

Can any good come out of the Tribe of Benjamin?  I think it can and did. But it has to be God’s doing. God can bring good from any tribe, parish, family, or any place on earth. This includes you, no matter where you are on the planet, in Ecuador, or North Carolina, God can, and will use you, not as a king, but as one, like Paul of Tarsus, who lived out the Gospel of love in Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter how tall you are, or your looks, language, nationality, or gender. The only thing that really matters is your devotion to the Gospel and your effort to at least try to love all people. 

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

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 8: Year 1

Morning,  Psalm 118; Evening, Psalm 145;
1^st Samuel 10:1 to 16; Romans 4:13 to 25; Matthew 21:23 to 32:

“For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist:”  (Romans 4: 16 and 17)

This insight from Paul about God really says it all for me. God, through the faith of Abraham, makes us faithful and spiritual descendents of Abraham.  He is Father Abraham. God gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist; Wow! This is Who God Is. Death has no power over us. Death will have its time, sure; But God, who is beyond time, conquers death.

Part 2 of 2

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 8: Year B

 2^nd  Corinthians 8:7 to 15 and Mark 5:21 to 43:

“Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” “(Mark 5:30).

This is what is meant by “unexpected opportunities.”  Our Lord Jesus is on his way to a dying child.  While in route, a woman of strong faith does her self-talk and follows through with her plan for her healing. She touches the clothing of Jesus and the faith she holds – heals her.

We can have our minds focused on something – even something good, but God will sometimes put in our path a good act that needs to be done. When this happens, it is not the “interruption” that God is looking at, but us. God is looking at how we are going to respond to the help-request put before us. In moments like this God can tell when our love is genuine. A calculated plan that looks like a love effort may not be an accurate indicator of what you are made of.  However, a sudden event that requires of you whatever is available at the moment will reveal what you are made of.  Love must be genuine, not just something done to make us look loving.  Jesus shows that His love is genuine through and through. We too can become this loving through prayer.

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 Saturday of Proper 7: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 107:33-43 and 108:1to 6; Evening, Psalm 33;
1^st Samuel 9:15 to10:1; Acts 7:30 to 43; Luke 22:39 to 51

“He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.’ [[ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]]  When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial:” (Luke 22: 39 to 46).

Before I ponder about these Luke verses, I just want you to know that the bracketed verses above (43 and 44) are not found in some ancient manuscripts.  It doesn’t mean that angels weren’t there; it just means that some Luke accounts didn’t have it.

Having said that, my emphasis for these words is focused on Jesus’ regular round of prayer.  Jesus often found a quiet place to be alone and pray. We should copy this Jesus trait.  This was a Thursday evening.  Jesus has just celebrated what we call the Lord’s Supper, also known as our Holy Eucharist.  He is about to be arrested, beaten and then crucified.

If this situation was put before me, the option of running away would still be on the table. Perhaps prayer would still be there as well, but it would probably be prayer for a speedy escape.  But our Lord Jesus had you in mind.  He wanted you to be cleansed of all human sin.  The sin of jealousy, and of hatred, and of prejudice, as it was shown in Judas Iscariot and the Temple authorities, and the Romans. All human sin was packaged together and saddled on Jesus as he is taken to the cross.

His response on our behalf is prayer. He prays for the strength necessary to endure because he loves us, He literally loves us to death, even death on the Cross.  Maybe I wouldn’t run afterall. Afterall, dying to my mortal self is not the end of my life; Thanks be to our Lord Jesus.

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