onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 7^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 105:1 to 22; Evening, Psalm 105:23 to 45; 
Ezekiel 18:1 to 4 and 19 to 32; Hebrews 7:18 to 28; Luke 10:25 to 37:

“Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.”  (Luke 10: 31 and 32)

This is the story of the Good Samaritan. It is in response to a lawyer who asks, “Who is my neighbor?” and answered by our Lord Jesus.  Jesus begins by showing the un-neighborly acts by persons thought to have compassion, but did not.

Passing by on the other side seems to be the ancient way of avoiding difficult situations. We still pass by difficult situations today.  We don’t want to have the difficult conversations about the sins of racism, or mental illness, or reconciliation with those who have been wrongly incarcerated, or even those who have differing opinions than ourselves.  Too many of us would rather have no contact or communication than to do the hard work of unraveling a tangled set of Christmas lights. We do this knowing that once done, the results will be beautiful.

Human language is a beautiful thing. We have ways of reasoning through the spoken and written word that other forms of life do not have.  However, we fail to use dialogue in the best ways, ways that will bring us together in more loving relationships.  But the truth is, we must want the virtue of compassion for ourselves first. We must want to be able to live in harmony with others. There should be nothing, no subject, that we cannot talk about. Such conversation requires discipline. We must have in place rules of respect and tolerance.  But like the Good Samaritan, we must start with compassion. We have been passing by on the other side for far too long.

Let us live to love, more than 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 7^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Psalms 101 and 109:1 to 4 and 20 to 30; Evening Psalm 119:121 to 144; 
Ezekiel 11:14 to 25; Hebrews 7:1 to 17; Luke 10:17 to 24:

“At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”  (Luke 10:22)

There are several phrases within our readings for today that jump out at me as I observe human nature and compare us today with our ancient writings.  I notice that our Lectionary excludes verses 5 through 19 of Psalm 109. These verses wrap any kind of justice up in revenge, for example; “When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his appeal be in vain:” (Psalm 109:6).  Today, when I hear people call for justice I hear revenge in their voice and in their heart. This is sadness for me.  I’m glad we have the opportunity to skip such verses.

The Hebrew Testament offers some relief where Ezekiel reports, “I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God:” (Ezekiel 11:19 and 20). Perhaps it is with a heart of stone that we have lost all compassion. We need the heart of flesh – the heart of compassion so that we shall be God’s people and God will truly be our God. Such as this is better than sadness.

In the Gospel reading for today and after the seventy returned from doing the Lord’s work, “At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit:” This is from our Gospel reading for today as printed above. It is not often that we can contemplate a happy Jesus, and even less is it talked about. This is a move away from sadness. I believe we were made to be a happy people.

If we pay close attention to this Luke verse we will notice that our Lord Jesus is actually praying in his rejoicing.  He prays, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”  He is not praying from a state of sadness. How often do we seriously pray in our rejoicing?  I know that personally, I like to give out a big “Thank You Jesus,” whenever something good happens in my life.  It just feels good to say it out loud.  I also like looking at these words on the sign posted in my front yard. A happy Jesus makes me happy too. We are happiest when we pardon or forgive one another and not carry the burden of hate, jealousy, racism, and revenge under the veil of so called justice. Give it a try; be happy!

Let us live to love, more than 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 7^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 97 and 99;  Evening, Psalm 94;
Ezekiel 7:10 to 15 and 23 to 27; Hebrews 6:13 to 20; Luke 10:1 to 17:

“After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”  But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.”  (Luke 10:1 to 11)

I bit off a huge portion of this Bible text from the Gospel according to Luke. But it’s important. It is about mission and it is about message.

In one of my Episcopal Zoom sessions last week one of our participants reminded us of a non Episcopal Church in Fayetteville that started about 15 years ago in a barn.  They were very small. Over the years they did the Lord’s work of feeding the hungry of Fayetteville and other such charitable acts outside of their barn. They were sent. They didn’t necessarily try to get people into their Church; they got their people out of the Church and into the streets fulfilling the needs of the people and bringing the Good News of the Salvation of Christ.  Now they appear on the evening news from time to time as they help with Covid vaccinations, testing, and other needs of the community. Now they have satellite Churches in several locations around Fayetteville.  Now, like the seventy in our reading for today, they are filled with joy because they are doing wonderful things in the Name of the Lord.

The lesson that I am learning from their experience is that the Lord’s work is done where the need is, rather than where we are gathered.  Yes, we should come together to worship. It is good and right so to do. But the fruit of our gathering should be made manifest in the help and enhancement of the lives of our neighbors.  And we should not do it in order to grow, but rather, grow as a result of doing it. 

Life is hard everywhere today. We have racial tensions mounting, a pandemic, and now a gas shortage. It really does feel like we are sent out like lambs into the midst of wolves. But a Church among us has set the example. We would be wise to follow.  And even if our efforts don’t help or aren’t appreciated, we are still to let the know that the Kingdom of God has come near.

Let us live to love, more than 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 7^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 89:1 to 18; Evening,  Psalm 89:19 to 52; 
Ezekiel  4:1 to 17; Hebrews 6:1 to 12; Luke 9:51 to 62:

“Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

I think the point that our Lord Jesus is making is that once we have set our minds, our sights, on where we are going, we need to stay focused.

I joined the United States Marines at the end of May, 1972.  Basic Training (Boot Camp), was a big step for me. It was my first ever flight on an airplane. It was the first time away from home without my Dad with whom I had always been with as we worked for United Van Lines, movers.

It is an old story that still happens today. I arrive finally on a bus with other recruits on Parris Island, South Carolina somewhere around midnight. We were “greeted,” if that’s what you want to call it, by a man wearing a Smoky-the-Bear hat and he appeared to be very angry – angry at us.  I think he was mad because we were there and made him have to work. This new chapter in my life required me to stay focused on whatever was about to happen next.  I had no time to think about, “those at my home,” back in Nashville, Tennessee.  I needed to be attentive to what was happening next. I did not want to fail. After much training, successes, some failures and accomplishments, I graduated Honor Man for my platoon on August 28, 1972. I made it!  But it required me to not look back and second guess my decision to join the Marines in the first place. I retired after 30 years. The same is true about the decision to follow Jesus. There is no looking back.  It must be face-forward always. With hand to plow and no looking back, we make straight rows.

Today we remember Thurgood Marshall.  (Lawyer and Jurist, 1993)

“At the age of 32, Marshall successfully argued his first case before the United States Supreme Court and went on to win 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the court. As a lawyer, his crowning achievement was arguing successfully for the plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, in 1954.” During his years in Washington, Marshall and his family were members of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, where he was affectionately known as “the Judge.” He is remembered as “a wise and godly man who knew his place and role in history and obeyed God’s call to follow justice wherever it led.” Thurgood Marshall died on January 24, 1993: (Great Cloud of Witnesses for May 17). Marshall never looked back; he focused on the equality of all citizens.  With hand to plow and no looking back, we too make straight rows.

Let us live to love, more than 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

Morning, Psalms 66 and  67; Evening,  Psalms 19 and 46; 
Ezekiel 3:16 to 27; Ephesians 2:1 to 10; Matthews 10:24 to 33 and 40-42:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works,” (Ephesians 2:8 and 9),

We do not work our way into heaven. We live out our lives loving and helping others as best we can. Helping others is not works that saves us.  The faith that saves us results in good works. It takes a scrutinizing eye to see the difference. This is hard for us to see but so easy for God to see.

Part 2 of 2

Eucharistic Readings for the 7^th Sunday in Easter: Year B

Acts 1:15-17 and 21-26;  Psalm 1;  1 John 5:9-13 ; John 17:6-19:

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God; so that you may know that you have eternal life.”  (1^st John 5:13).

As we stand here between the Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we hear our Lord Jesus say in our Gospel reading for today that he “is no longer in the world and is coming back to the Father.” Yet, here he is still with us as he prays to God in the presence of the apostles. One of the apostles is John who records Jesus’ words. At the point of saying these words, he has not been crucified yet, but is already saying that he is on his way home.

Time seems to be irrelevant.  You and I are on our way home today.  We are living in the dash. There is the day we are born, then the dash, then the day we pass away.  But these are only earthly terms.  Our Lord Jesus once again sets us an example of how to live out the dash time in our life while here on earth. We pray.

As John writes in his 1^st letter for today, we must first believe – believe that God is.  Then believe that God is good.  Then believe that God came to us in the person of our Lord Jesus to set us an example of how to live and love one another and prepare for our life after our earthly death.

Does knowing that you will live beyond this life change the way you live your life now?  Are there corrections that you need to make before you wake up in the presence of the saints of God?  In the day that you rise to eternal life, the time in this life will seem to be irrelevant. But the acts of this life will be with you forever.  We have time now while time is relevant to fix whatever troubles us.

Let us live to love, more than 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 6^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 87 and  90; Evening,  Psalm 136;
Ezekiel 3:4 to 17; Hebrews 5:7 to 14; Luke 9:37 to 50:

“John answered, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:49 and 50)

I understand these words from Jesus as a lesson in ecumenicalism, specifically, dialogue and action between different Christian denominations resulting in good works for a community.

What makes Christians Christian is the belief in, and use of, the Name of Jesus to bring about good. John, in our Luke reading for today, is upset that a Jesus believer is someone whom he does not know. But he is making good use of the Name of Jesus. Jesus tells him to let him be.  Ironically, the Gospel of this same John records Jesus saying, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd:” (John 10:16).

I think different gatherings of today’s Christian Church focuses on different agenda. Some are concerned with the forgiveness of sins; some on equality of life; some are about the afterlife; some are about our historic church; some are about who Jesus is and what he wants of us. some are about inclusivity and love for all. None of the Christian Churches, that I can see, have a perfect program. Perhaps the ecumenical approach is best. But in no way am I saying the “Non-Denominational Church is the perfect answer, or for that matter, my own faith choice, the Episcopal Church.  While we all are trying to follow the Jesus path, we all have stumbling blocks.

I pray that as we all mature spiritually, that we evolve in a way that looks like “devolving.” That is, we begin to look and act more and more alike.  It seems to me that we got where we are today by “splintering” over divisive issues.  We must learn to have dialogue rather than debate; consensus rather than election where voting makes winners and losers.  For the most part we all have something good to do in the Name of our Lord Jesus. And we are all called by him into one fold, under One Shepherd.

Let us live to love, more than 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 6^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 85 and 86; Evening,  Psalms 91 and  92;
Ezekiel 1:28 to 3:3; Hebrews 4:14 to 5:6; Luke 9:28 to 36:

“Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:35)

Jesus went up to a separate place to pray and took Peter, James and John only, from all who were following him.  We are informed that Jesus, Peter, James and John were then joined by Moses and Elijah from their own place in eternal life. And while there seems to be a separate conversation happening with Jesus, Moses and Elijah, all this brightness happens within the light of prayer, which is why Jesus went to this location in the first place. Let us not omit that there is a presence beyond the five, The very voice of God speaks to Peter, James and John saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen.”

This is the second time the voice of God proclaims our Lord Jesus as the pride of God. The voice of God says it the first time when Jesus comes up out of the water after being baptized by John in the river Jordan.  There is a little bit of a difference this time however. In this Transfiguration reading, the words, “Listen to him,” has been added.

We must understand that, “Listen to him,” means to heed his commands and to do what he tells us. There is a barrier broken on this mountain top experience. Our Lord Jesus has taken them to another dimension of time and space. This moved Peter so much that he recalls the experience in his own written letters in our Bible where he says, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”  We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.” (2^nd Peter 1: 16 to 18)

My beloved in the Lord, we can only pray, as we read these words, asking God to bend these dimensions once again within us, so that we too might receive deeper understanding about the realities of the kingdom of God.  We too must find a quiet place to be alone with our Lord Jesus and witness His radiance.  Let us ponder this in our Sabbath time tomorrow.

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

Let us live to love, more than 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 Thursday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 8 and  47; Evening,  Psalm 24 and  96;
Ezekiel 1:1 to 14 and 24 to 28b; Hebrews 2:5 to 18; Matthew 28:16 to 20;

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16 to 20)

Matthew gets us back to Galilee for the Great Commission and Ascension. This commission comes from the Resurrected Jesus as He is ascending [back] into His Glory, the glory from whence he came before he was born.

Part 2 of 2

Eucharistic Readings for Ascension Day: All Years

Acts 1:1 to 11; Psalm 47; or Psalm 93;  Ephesians 1:15 to 23;   Luke 24:44 to 53:

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

It is important that this is a 2 part Pondering.  We need the Gospel according to both Matthew and Luke to really understand what’s going on here.

The Bible, and in particular, the Gospel should be studied within prayer and faithful, unassuming believers.  I have learned from my time in Women’s Bible Study, Sunday Christian Formation, Confirmation Classes, Group Spiritual Direction, Education for Ministry, the Brotherhood of St Andrew and Virginia Theological Seminary, that real learning is accomplished when we open with prayer, be honest about what we don’t know, and be willing to surrender to what the Spirit is saying to God’s people and the Churches. This is how our minds are still opened today.

I have learned very little, if anything from preaching or reading in solitude, except for meditational pondering of our Daily Office.  I have gained some spiritual insight from listening to others preach. Thank You Jesus.  But for the most part, it is when I am in the company of believers that my “mind is opened to more fully understand the scriptures.”  

When he [Jesus], had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven,” (Acts 1: 9 to 11).  With this, I am reminded; Christ was born, Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ has ascended, and Christ will come again.

Let us live to love, more than 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 6^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning,  Psalm 119:97 to 120;
Baruch 3:24 to 37; James 5:13 to 18; Luke 12:22 to 31:

Eve of Ascension: Evening, Psalm 68:1 to 20;
2^nd  Kings 2:1 to 15; Revelation 5:1 to 14:

“He is our God, the God of our salvation; God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.” (Psalm 68:20)

As we prepare to remember and celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus into Heaven tomorrow, we reflect today on God’s Presence with us in the person of the Resurrected Jesus.

The Resurrection itself, Easter, is the significant Christian event.  Our Lord Jesus came back to life after being put to death.  In his Resurrection many came to believe in him, this includes members of his family who formerly were not numbered among his disciples, his brother James to mention one.

The Resurrected Jesus visited with the apostles behind locked doors, and on paths to different towns, and even on the shore as they were fishing. Scripture informs us that there were many more times that he was present with different people that were not written in the scriptures. His Resurrected presence lasted for forty days, a little longer than a month. This living defeat of death sealed the faith of Christianity forever and eternity.

But the time came when our Lord Jesus would let us know that he will depart back to his eternal glory where he is preparing a place for all who both believe, and live out that belief, in the way they live their lives.  For more than a month Jesus has shown us that there is life after death. You and I will not be able to return to this world as he did but we will be among the family of the faithful who continue to walk in the love of God, and of one another, forever. We will do this because we have an awesome God. “He is our God, the God of our salvation; God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.” (Psalm 68:20)

Let us live to love, more than 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 6^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 78:1 to 39; Evening, Psalm 78:40 to 72;
Deuteronomy 8:11 to 20; James 1:16 to 27; Luke 11:1 to 13:

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world,” (James 1:27).

It seems that in any pure and undefiled religion there is the humanitarian requirement to care for others, especially those who are stressed such as orphans and widows. Jews, Christians, and Muslims, all have the requirement to care for the needy. And, all can be pure religions.

We who call ourselves Christians have our Lord Jesus as the divine example of pure religion. Jesus was very attentive to the needs of the sick, the demon possessed, the blind, and all who were stressed in His world and ours. And, our Lord Jesus responds to the needs of the people in ways that improve their lives. And he still does today.

Now, let us not ignore the words, “to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  I don’t think this applies to the planet when James says “the world.” I think he means the people of the world. I have been round the planet six times while serving in the Marines. I have met good and bad people from all walks of life.  With many people that I have met, I could not speak their language and was unfamiliar with their traditions and customs. But through it all, there were good people trying to be as hospitable as they could; and, there were those, for whatever reason, only wanted to take advantage of me and others, and to be self-serving, hostile and unfriendly. I don’t know why.

I think if we attach our words from James for today with the words from the prophet Micah where he says, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”  (Micah 6:8). This coupled with the words from James, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world,” (James 1:27).  These words will guide any of us, of any religious stripe, to be the best persons we can be no matter where on the planet we live, or language we speak, or faith we profess. These words help us to stay unstained by the unfriendly and inhospitable people of the world. God made us all with the unlimited capacity to love one another. We just have to choose to do so.

Let us live to love, more than 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