onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 4^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 41 and 52; Evening, Psalm 44;
Wisdom 1:16 to 2:11 and 21 to 24; Colossians 1:1 to 14; Luke 6:1 to 11:

“This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit.” For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:7 to 10)

Some people, even in high political status, say that prayer is not enough.  I vehemently disagree.  In our world of racism where people with dark skin are killed at a higher rate by authorities than people with lighter complexions, some say that we need to do more than pray. I say No!  Prayer works. Prayer is the beginning of what ever action is seen as the solution. Prayer brings about changes that some say are a results of action outside of prayer.  Nothing is outside of prayer.  Prayer brings about the physical action that makes the change we need.  Prayer is where we start.

For this reason we Christians pray without ceasing for the action of change.  This is why the writer of  the letter to the Colossians says, “we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.”  My beloved in the Lord, we pray not only for change, we pray for people who pray for change.

Have you ever prayed for people who said that they would pray for something?  As a priest I often let people know that I will be praying for them. Ever now and then, some will reply saying that they will also pray for me. I am moved by this. They are praying for the “pray-er.”  I will do that also. When someone says that they are going to pray for someone, or something, or situation, I will pray for them, that God will listen and that God knows that the person praying is supported by at least one other.  Prayer works.  We must never devalue prayer.

Remember, prayer does not have to be audible words carefully composed, or words from the Book of Common Prayer. Some of the most touching prayers are the silent opening of your heart to the pure love of God, even with tears. God’s ears, hears tears.

Let us live to love, more than we just love 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 the 4^th Sunday of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 63:1 to 8, and 98; Evening, Psalm 103;
Wisdom 1:1 to 15; 1^st  Peter 5:1 to 11; Matthew 7:15 to 29:

“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” (1^st Peter 5:7)

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday!  The Eucharistic Gospel today is from John 10. It is about the characteristics of what constitutes the Good Shepherd.  The sheep of the fold have comfort in knowing the Good Shepherd is Present. They, and we, may have fears about what is going on, but we can place those fears on the Good Shepherd and then feel at peace.  So Peter is correct, we can, and should cast all our anxiety on Christ Jesus.  And then, my beloved of the Lord, go on about your life in peace knowing that your fears and anxieties are not for you to worry about any more.

Part 2 of 2:

Eucharistic Readings for the 4^th Sunday of Easter: Year B

Acts 4:5 to 12;  Psalm 23;  1^st John 3:16 to 24;  John 10:11 to 18:

“Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10: 11)

 Although a shepherd is a human being, he becomes one of the sheep, and is accepted as one of them amongst them. Although the shepherd walks bi-pedal, and looks and smells different, the sheep accept him as one of them.

As far as a shepherd is removed from the sheep, even further is our Lord removed from us. Yet, he is our Good Shepherd.  And, as removed as he is from us in all his glory, he lays down that glory for our salvation.  While he is God in human form, he does not count equality with God, but gives it all up for our sake. He truly loves us and teaches us to love one another in the same way.

It is the “I AM,” part of the statement where He says, “I am the Good Shepherd,” that we should focus on.  This, “I AM,” language, is the clear identifier of the God-self that Jesus is. God so loved us that God came among us as one of us, to save all who believed, in order that we might have eternal life. Let us all love, and co-shepherd one another as best we can.

Let us live to love, more than we just love 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 the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms  30 and 32; Evening,  Psalms 42 and 43;
Daniel 6:16 to 28; 3rd John 1 to 15; Luke 5:27 to 39:

“When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, ‘O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Daniel then said to the king, ‘O king, live for ever!  My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.” (Daniel 6:20 to 22)

King Darius was forced to by his own words to place Daniel in the lion’s den, but his heart was not in it. The “Darius – Daniel” situation reminds me of the “Pilate – Jesus” situation.  This is a reminder to me to be careful about what commitments I make. John the Baptist lost his head because Herod made a foolish promise to a young dancer.  Our tongues cause us much grief if we are not careful. The Letter of James in the Christian Testament also teaches this important lesson.

God intervened in Daniel’s case with an angel again, (remember the angel with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire?).  God will save who God will save. We are never without the Presence of God.  But it is God’s will that we live, and die by.

Darius will go on to support the Hebrew people in rebuilding Jerusalem.  God tends to intervene for the good and well being of the community of faith.  Darius, a Persian, comes to respect the God of Daniel and is grateful that Daniel is alive. 

God has gotten me out of dreadful situations that I got myself into from time to time.  I always say that while I can’t see where God is in my life right now, I can always look back and see where God was in my life. I can recall times that I was in a downward spiral and God would “cause” something, or someone, to redirect the trajectory of my movement. Like king Darius, I am grateful. Now I just try to slow down and ask God to lead me and guide me. And I will try to be more attentive to God’s hand in my life and the life of my community.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

Let us live to love, more than we just love 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 the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning,  Psalm 105:1 to 22; Evening,  Psalm 105:23 to 45; 
Daniel 6:1 to 15; 2^nd  John 1 to 13; Luke 5:12 to 26

“The men said, ‘We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:5)

Throughout the Bible, and in our life today, we try to justify our evil intentions by finding fault in the traditions and pious practices of others. These subjects of King Darius now conspire to destroy Daniel out of their jealousy and contempt for him.

This jealousy and contempt happens when we behold others around God rather than through God.  People who perhaps didn’t pray in their tradition at all, go and point their finger at one who is trying to hold to his practice of regular prayer.  “Then they responded to the king, ‘Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day.” (Daniel 6:13)  Of course this accusation will condemn Daniel even though the king does not want to do this. 

Regardless of the faith path we are on we must view one another through the eyes of our Creator as we understand that that Creator does not make worthless people or people brought into the world only to be hated.  We are all worthy of God’s love and therefore should be worthy of the love of each other.  We should question any interdict, rule, custom, policy, law, or legislation that hinders or harms another human being who is trying to honor God in his or her own way.

If we admire the good of a person who worships different than ourselves we should lift that up to be appreciated if not copied. I have heard that Muslims pray five times a day. I think that’s wonderful. Our own Book of Common Prayer offers opportunities for us to pray at least four times a day: we have Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayers, Evening Prayer and Compline for the close of the day. It is from our Daily Office that this blog is based. Unfortunately, some of our none praying Episcopalians will be critical of the practice of Muslims and other traditions, to include some Christian traditions. Such criticism comes from gazing at others around God, rather than through God. It leads only to condescension and an arrogance that is not born from the love of God, as was our Lord Jesus, who loves everybody, as we should also.

For this evening and tomorrow day my friends; Shabbat Shalom

Let us live to love, more than we just love 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 the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 37:1 to 18; Evening,  Psalm 37:19 to 42: 
Daniel 5:13 to 30; 1^st  John 5:13 to 20(21); Luke 5:1 to 11:

“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’  For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken;  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’  When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5: 8 to 11)

So we all will react the same way in the presence of the might of God almighty. Peter obeyed Jesus and it paid off in huge dividends for God.  The miracle of Jesus paid off so much in fact that it shamed Peter and he gave himself up in full confession as a sinner to the presence of God in Christ Jesus.

So too it is with us today.  As we pray for God to reorient our lives to the Gospel, The Gospel holds a special place in the liturgy of the Episcopal Church.  It is the last biblical reading in our opening Eucharist, normally after a hymn, and is walked out into the midst of the congregation and is supposed to be read in the language of the majority of the people listening, and read by an ordained person, most appropriately by a deacon.  The whole congregation turns to face the Gospel book and reader – they reorient themselves towards the Gospel. This simple turning towards the Gospel signifies our lives and direction being changed and redirected towards the Jesus path of love.  It can cause us to fall on our spiritual knees.

Like the experience that Peter had, our own reorientation towards the Gospel will bring with us those close to us, our partners, as well as many in our communities. It will amaze us. Our Lord Jesus says, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’  This is God’s plan for our salvation. There is no plan A, B, or C; there is only plan J: Jesus.

Jesus the carpenter taught fishermen to fish. Jesus the carpenter taught the Pharisees to be “Born again of the Spirit. Jesus the Carpenter healed far more people than all their doctors combined. Perhaps this Jesus was more than a carpenter.  We can’t judge people by “what” we see on the surface.  People are not “What’s;” people are “Who’s.”  Our life of love is not about what we are; carpenter, welder, doctor, truck driver, police person, store clerk, black, white, rich, poor, gay or straight.  Following our Lord Jesus is not “what” we are; it is “who” we are and “whose” we are. We are catchers of people, reoriented towards the Gospel of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us live to love, more than we just love 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 the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening, Psalm 119:25 to 48; 
Daniel 5:1 to 12; 1^st John 5:1 to 12; Luke 4:38 to 44:

“As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them.”  (Luke 4:40)

Just before the above passage, Jesus cured the mother-in-law of Peter. This healing is probably what prompted others to bring their sick to Jesus. Our Lord Jesus was a prolific healer, still is.  Maybe we should call him “Doctor J.” I’m just kidding with my ponderings.

Healing our bodies was a secondary duty that Jesus performed.  He proclaims that his primary responsibility is to spread the word about the Good News. We read, “But he said to them, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” (Luke 4:43) 

Jesus was both sent, and he sends. All who profess themselves to be Christians are sent by our Lord Jesus to spread the word about the kingdom of God. I don’t believe that spreading the word about the kingdom of God means indoctrinating others to be Christians also. But rather, it means spreading the word about this temporal existence and informing people about the eternal life possible through a life dedicated to God by loving God and loving all others. After hearing about the Good News people must decide for themselves the path that best fits them.

While Doctor J. was a healer, He is even more a Prophet in the sense that he is a seer. Perhaps it was easier for Jesus to speak of the kingdom of God given that he was in the kingdom of God before he came to be among us. It is always easier to talk about what we know than what we believe.  But, believing is where we must start.

I know medical doctors who are also very faithful Christians.  They pray, and they heal, in that order.  Luke, the author of the Gospel account from which we are reading today was also a physician. Maybe Luke’s vocation made him more aware of Jesus as a physician also.  Either way, Luke puts bodily healing in its proper place behind faith healing. We must hear about the Good News regarding the kingdom of God and strive to get there regardless of our bodily condition.

 Like Peter’s mother, once we are healed we should serve. The Christian call is a call to serve, (Luke 4:39).  Serving others is the evidence of our love for others. Today we remember Anselm, monk, archbishop and theologian (April 21, 1109).  He considered himself a servant of the servants of God.  He was a great example for us to emulate.

Let us live to love, more than we just love 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 the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening, Psalms 36 and 39;
Daniel 4:28 to 37; 1^st John 4:7 to 21; Luke 4:31 to 37:

“Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.”  (1^st John 4:11 to 13)

Notice that the writer doesn’t say that since God loved us so much we ought to love God. But rather, he says that since God loves us so much, that we ought to love each other as well.  The writer is saying that God sees value in each of us even if we can’t see it in each other. He says that if we love one another that God lives in us. Wow! This moves me to at least see in every human being a place reserved for God, whether the other person realizes it or not.

A couple of years ago, before the pandemic, our parish hosted a Vacation Bible School.  We were blessed to have about 15 children attend. One little boy stands out for me.  He was very talkative and had an extraordinary vocabulary.  In one of the stories we told them there was a search for God. Finally, the teacher announced that she found God. They all wanted to see God.  The teacher handed them little mirrors.  Upon seeing himself in the mirror, the little boy said, “This is impossible!”   We truly are vessels of love. “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us.”  We have the potential for being small portions of God’s love.  In this way we make heaven right here on earth.  Thank You Lord Jesus for your example of love.

Also, according to the writer of 1^st John, there is a place in God where we are present.  I hope our presence in God does not corrupt God.  We, all humanity, need a continuously loving God.  We mortals are not always loving; to one another, or to God.  It would be sad to poison the pure love of God. Truthfully however, I don’t think we can.  God would not give us that kind of power.  But if we are loving, God will take us in and let us dwell within God, forever. Therefore, our work here on earth, and in this life, is to learn to be as loving as we can possibly be.

 Let us live to love, more than we just love 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 the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 25; Evening, Psalms 9 and 15: 
Daniel 4:19 to 27; 1^st John 3:19 to 4:6; Luke 4:14 to 30

“There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’  When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.” (Luke 4:27 and 28)

Our Lord Jesus recalls how those who were supposed to believe doubted and those who were thought to be excluded, but believed, were saved.  Upon hearing this truth, they were filled with rage.”

Often when we hear the painful truth about ourselves, we are filled with rage.  Perhaps it is because we are in denial or fearful that this prophet Jesus, will expose us for who we really are and who he really is.  In any case, our Lord Jesus is who he is. We, on the other hand, can change.

The people of his hometown in Nazareth in Galilee decided to get rid of him.  Unfortunately, leaving Jesus out of their lives is the path some want-to-be Christians today choose to take when the Christian life becomes too difficult.

If we don’t like who we are, we should change. Change is possible through our Lord Jesus. It happens a little bit at a time.  It happens through Christian writings, through Church attendance, and through social engagements with persons who are also struggling to live the tough Christian life.

In our Luke reading for today, they wanted to destroy our Lord Jesus. “But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way,” (Luke 4:30). Just as Jesus will leave us be if we so choose, he will gladly re-enter our lives should we invite him.

I believe wanting to be a better people is the first step. After desire, comes determination. And even before the readings, the Church, and the company we keep, comes our prayers. Our Episcopal Collect for Purity is what I have found to fit best.  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)

Let us live to love, more than we just love 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 the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 148, 149, 150; Evening, Psalms 114 and 115: 
Daniel 4:1 to 18; 1^st Peter 4:7 to 11; John 21:15 to 25 

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1^st Peter 4:10)

God gifts each of us with what we all need. We are to share for the good of all. This is communal living and it is God’s design for our lives together. We believe our God lives in a Communal Trinitarian Relationship. God is Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. As we are created in God’s Image, we too must live in communal relationship. We need and must have, and should love, one another. This togetherness has been the message of the Bible from time immemorial.  We can’t be at peace in total isolation. We need as much to share our gifts as we need to receive from others.

Part 2 of 2

Eucharistic Readings for the 3^rd Sunday of Easter: Year B

Acts 3:12-19  Psalm 4  1 John 3:1-7   Luke 24:36b-48

“Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:45) 

It is the Resurrected Jesus who opens our minds to understand the scriptures. This is the Jesus whom we have with us today.  Jesus came to them as they were assembled, spreading His peace among them and communing with them. This happens today as we come to Church and are assembled.

Such Divine Presence happens whenever 2 or 3 are gathered in His Name.  However, there are some protocols that must be remembered.  When we come together, we must offer our gathering to God and invite the Lord to be among us. In the gatherings that I am currently a part of; that is Education for Ministry, the Brotherhood of St Andrew, Women’s Bible Study, and even the Lodge practices that I frequent, all open with prayer. We are all aware of the need to have God be among us.

It is when God is with us, Emanuel, that our minds are opened. Such an invitation should not be limited to formal assemblies only.  Families too, should establish and maintain the invitation to God to be present, not just at meals, but even in family talks. In this way, our minds are opened.

Let us live to love, more than we just love 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 the 2^nd Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning,  Psalms 20 and 21:1 to 7; Evening, Psalm 110:1 to 5, and 116 to 117;
Daniel 3:19 to 30; 1^st John 3:11 to 18; Luke 4:1 to 13: 

“All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.” (1^st John 3:15)

I do believe that hate is bad and one should learn to not let one’s self be reduced to hate.  It was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, after a racial encounter with a Southern U. S. policeman, that he has seen firsthand what hate can do to a person. And he vowed to never let hate do this to him. I personally don’t believe that because we have hate in us that we are murderers, particularly if we haven’t acted on such hate. We can overcome hate and we do it with love.

In 1^st John 3:15, there is also the idea that eternal life is already abiding in at least some of us. For me, this is something wonderful to ponder.  This means that some of us have learned to live the code of eternal life while still walking around in this mortal body.  I want that.  Having eternal life abiding in me now will make the transition to that next life so much more doable.

Also, having eternal life abiding in us now, more fully brings us to God’s will, being done “on earth as in heaven.”  Eternal life abiding in us now is a way to narrow the separation between heaven and earth. It is the coming of the Lord back to us in ways we didn’t expect. It is the gradual, but steady move of humanity to more fully embrace the concept of love for all people. It sounds impossible. And, for people it probably is. But remember, for God, nothing is impossible.

God may infuse the abiding love of eternal life in us a few people at a time until we have “herd immunity” against hate.  For us we think in terms of how much time this will take. God doesn’t seem to be concerned with time as God has no beginning and no end. But God has made provision for those of us who already have eternal life abiding in us.  Are you one of those who have decided to not let hate rule you?  Are you one of those who have decided to let love rule?  Are you one of those who has eternal life abiding in you.  If so, you are ahead of your time.

Let us live to love, more than we just love 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