onewhoponders

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 22: Year 2:

 Psalm 118;and Psalm 145;  Hosea 13:4 to 14; 1 Cor. 2:6 to 16; Matthew. 14:1 to12

“None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”  (1 Corinthians 2:8)

Paul, in his first letter to the Church in Corinth, suggests that given certain knowledge before hand, they would not have crucified our Lord Jesus.  There are theologians who say that the Crucifixion of Jesus was destined from before time.  I am not on board with that.  I do believe that God Incarnate, in Christ Jesus, would live as a human being and eventually die as a human being.  This was God’s way of experiencing what it means to be human and to model for us how to live in harmony with one another.  Yes, if we understood, (maybe),we would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Part 2 of 2

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 22: Year A

Philippians 3:4b-14 Matthew 21:33-46

“Jesus said, “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.””  (Matthew 21:33)

We are the tenants of this earth today.  The Creator has done everything for us already.  All we have to do is monitor it and keep it in ecological and spiritual balance with the rest of nature on earth.  Jesus told this parable against the chief priests and the Pharisees by saying that the Hebrew people tried to hijack what is rightfully God’s.  These religious leaders began to put themselves in the place of God and putting their own needs and desires ahead of God’s will for the believers.

God has built a vineyard of faith whereby we may grow the fruits of love for God and for one another.  It is so important for us to understand that we are tenants here on this earth and in this earthly life.  The Owner of this vineyard is coming to see what we have grown. Will our children have faith?  Faith is the real fruit that God will be looking for.  If we live our lives fully believing that we are not the owner of anything, including our own lives, we will begin to see the value of living for the health and welfare of the other; like St Francis of Assisi, who we remember this day. Francis devoted his life to “Lady Poverty.”  Not many of us are this devoted to not owning stuff.  But Francis is a good example to follow as he himself followed the Gospel of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 21: Year 2

 Psalms 107:33 to 43, 108:1to 6(7-13); and  33; Hosea 11:1 to 9; Acts 22:17 to 29; Luke 6:27 to 38

“And while they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and tossing dust into the air, the tribune directed that he was to be brought into the barracks, and ordered him to be examined by flogging, to find out the reason for this outcry against him.” (Acts 21: 23 and 24)

The momentum of the crowd began to control the tribune and his centurions.  They were having a tantrum, just as a child would do in a supermarket when he or she does not get their way. The shouting and throwing off their cloaks does not say much for me, but tossing dust into the air is weird.  Did they not know that what goes up, must come down?  But more than that, I have crafted an acronym from the word dust.  It is, “Don’t unnecessarily share thoughts” or DUST.  I have witnessed people that I liked get fired because reporters asked them what they thought and as a result, they were fired.  This was sad.  Paul also gets in trouble for what he both thinks and believes.  I think we all have a right to think or believe what we want.  We are all evolving.  What we think today, maybe totally different next month or next year. The same is true for what we believe.  

We ponder about things and we evolve.  Yes, we have fits about things that we don’t like and it indeed may cause us to shout and throw clothing.  But, for the most part, we get over it or, we do something positive about it.  I would be careful about what we throw into the air however.  It’s going to come back down.  But also, we must be careful and “DUST” even when asked sometimes.  Because sometimes, it’s a trap.  They tried to trap Jesus, and now they are trying to trap Paul.

The other problematic piece in this reading is the examination by flogging?  Sounds like the witch hunts, you can’t win.  You just keep getting beat until you say what the oppressor wants to hear, truth or not.  Paul was a natural born citizen of Rome.  Not even the Tribune was a natural citizen, he paid for his citizenship.  They had to back off when finding out that he was a Roman citizen.  Apparently there were harsh consequences for harming a Roman citizen.    

Our flogging today is more metaphorical.  We are challenged with day to day fear of the pandemic.  At this writing I am informed that our President, Donald J. Trump, has contracted COVID 19. Racial troubles still persist throughout a few major cities of this country.  Overwhelming fires are still happening on our West Coast.  Yes, we are being examined by flogging; and it hurts.  But Paul has set us a good example; we must persevere no matter what.  Be steadfast in faith.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 21: Year 2

Psalms 102; and 107:1-32; Hosea 10:1to15; Acts 21:37 to 22:16; Luke 6:12 to 26

“Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, ‘May I say something to you?’ The tribune replied, ‘Do you know Greek?  Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?’  Paul replied, ‘I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.’  When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence; and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:” (Acts 21:27 to 40)

This passage gives us insight into the education of Paul.  He is fluent in both Hebrew and Greek and yet thought to be Egyptian by the Roman tribune who arrested him.  When permitted to speak Paul tells the people who he is and he tells how the Risen Lord met him while on his way to Damascus. This Damascus conversion of Saul to Paul will be reported at least three times in Acts. It is in Acts 9: 3, here in Acts 22:6 and again in Acts 26:12.

We know that God does not call the qualified but rather, qualifies the Called.  Even so, at least in Paul’s case, God, in Christ Jesus, reaches into the life of some well educated people who have strong faith and redirects them. This was Paul’s Conversion which is celebrated on January 25 each year.  St Paul’s in the Pines Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina normally celebrates the Conversion of St. Paul on the last Sunday of January each year as a way to celebrate the birthday of the parish which was received into the Diocese of East Carolina in January of 1964.

Paul, like some of us today, was blessed to have been afforded an education.  Too often however education can squeeze God out. Ironically people can get too smart for God, or so they think.  On the faith side, I can say that I have met, and am still in the inner circle of many very well educated people in a wide range of disciplines, (doctors, philosophers, and scientist), who are people of strong faith. Paul was such an educated man but he was misguided. The one thing he had going for him was his faith in God. Everything in the scripture supports Saul or Paul as a Pharisee, zealous for God as he understood God to that point. 

Learning, like faith, should never stop.  Just when Paul thought he knew everything, our Lord Jesus stopped him in his tracks.  He had a “wake-up” call. God in Christ Jesus uses our faith as the path to our hearts.  If we first believe in God, God will come to us in revealing ways.  We will have our own conversion story.  And, like Paul, we should tell it as often as we can.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 21; Year 2

Psalm 105;  Hosea 5:8 to 6:6; Acts 21:27 to 36; Luke 6:1 to 11

“Fellow-Israelites, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place; more than that, he has actually brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (Acts 21:28)

The Jewish people from Asia stirred up the people by exaggerating stories about Paul.  They assumed he brought a Greek man into the Temple which in their view would defile the Temple.  The truth is that Paul was only seen with a Greek man, (only 1), and there is no evidence that he brought him into the Temple.  But what if he did?

I am glad to belong to a community of believers who try to make all welcome.  Someone hearing the people from Asia complain should have said, “So what?”  I know that we still fall short of radical hospitality today in our Church.  We are a work in progress.  This earth is holy.  Therefore everything on this round, blue altar, is holy. This includes each and every one of us.

During this COVID 19 isolation period is a good time to reevaluate our relationship with our buildings. I like the stained glass windows, the Altar as the central focus, candles, Books of Common Prayer, and flowers in season.  But none of this is too good for the stranger to also come in and enjoy.  God made every man, woman and child you will ever meet.  That makes them as Holy as everybody else.  They may not always act like it, but they are.  Don’t let them acting like they are not holy, make you act like you are not holy either.  Respect the dignity of every human being. When we go back in, let us bring the stranger with us.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John    

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 21: Year 2

Psalms 101, 109,  119:121-144; Hosea 4:11 to 19; Acts 21:15 to 26; Luke 5:27 to 39

“After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.” (Acts 21: 19)

Sometimes, in the English language, we lose who we are talking about. The, “his ministry,” could very well mean God’s ministry.  Paul will claim it as his, (Paul’s),  ministry in the eyes of most scholars but I believe all ministry is God’s ministry through Christ Jesus.  When Paul was first commissioned in Chapter 9, the Risen Lord Jesus said, “But the Lord said to (Ananias), ‘Go, for Saul; (later Paul) is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9: 15).

The people to whom Paul is speaking also recognize that there is more to what Paul is doing and saying than Paul himself.  For, “When they heard it, they praised God. Then they said to him, ‘You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law” (Acts 21:20).  We like to be proud of what we are doing in God’s Name, but we must remember that it is God’s Holy Name that empowers us to do what we do.

I have recently had a lay person preach for the first time at his church.  We talked that night after he had time to reflect.  He tried to give me accolades for what he thought I did for him through four years of Education for Ministry.  I had to remind him that what he did in his wonderful sermon was in him all along.  He only needed to learn how to be open to God. 

God just wants to work through us, for us.  We all have a piece of God within us.  I think clergy today, even like Paul in his day, do the work of God and cause the people of the world to open themselves up to the wonders of God in order that we too might “do the things done among the Gentiles, that is, all people, through [God’s] ministry.”  Therefore  I say to you reading this blog, (clergy or not), settle down, feel God working through you, and then, by word and deed, do the ministry of God.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John    

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 21: Year 2

 Psalms 97, 99, [100];  94, and [95]; Hosea 4:1 to10; Acts 21:1 to 14; Luke 5:12 to 26

“Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” (Luke 5: 12)

Therein lies our biggest dilemma.  What does our Lord Jesus choose to do?  Many of us want to be made well.  For many of us, our emotional troubles are as obvious as the physical sores of leprosy.  When we pray, do we even think of the possibility that our Lord Jesus might not choose?

The man with leprosy expressed his humility by first bowing down to the ground.  This is an outward and visible sign of his totally giving up of himself to Jesus. He said to Jesus, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” The man held nothing back, knowing full well that it was totally up to Jesus. Jesus was so moved by the man’s surrender that he actually reached out and touched the man.  Perhaps, in more ways than one, he probably touched his heart also.  And when Jesus saw the man’s complete handing over his life to God he had compassion for him and said, “I do choose. Be made clean.’ Immediately the leprosy left him.” (Luke 5: 13)

Today we don’t have to lie down prone, prostrating ourselves in such a physical way, although I know of at least one monastic order that does this as a part of taking their vows. But we are still required to give up ourselves totally to God.  And we must understand that God may not choose to cleanse us in this mortal life.  But let us not be so concerned about a mortal cleansing.  Instead, let us be more concerned about eternal salvation, that is, the immortality that is to come through faith.

Eternal salvation means being in Paradise with our Lord and savior Jesus Christ for timelessness.  This is what we really want, and it is what we really want our Lord Jesus to choose.  How welcome will be the words from our Lord Jesus when he says, “I do choose.” Thank You Lord Jesus.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 21: Year 2

Psalm 89: Hosea 2:14 to 23; Acts 20:17 to 38; Luke 5:1 to 11

“You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions.”  (Acts 20:34)

I think Paul sets the example for all people in any ministry in these words, that is, to work a regular job and still study and educate people in the way of the Lord and in the teachings of the Gospel.  This message is not just for officially ordained persons, it is for those of us who feed the homeless; for those of us who weave prayer shawls; for those of us who have a ministry of driving people to pick up their meds; for those of us who teach Sunday School, and yes, for those of us who are also ordained clergy.

I am aware that in a large main line Christian denomination, parishioners as well as the clergy themselves, insist on being single minded in their vocation as pastor.  When I told my spiritual advisor, while in seminary, that I desired to be a “working priest,” he honestly told me that if he was on a search committee he would not even consider me for a clergy position.  That was 2004.

Today, as the Episcopal Church is reinventing itself, the idea of the working priest, or “bi-vocational” priest, is definitely on the table for consideration, especially for our smaller parishes.  There are more benefits to this idea than one might think.  How nice it is to stand before people on Sunday morning conducting the service and your congregants are well aware that you too have worked the whole week just as they have.  And, that working priest then demonstrates pledging and giving to the poor as well.  Paul also says in our reading for today, “In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:36)

I think that people who work in needed secular occupations have an opportunity to compliment their own lives by also participating in various Christian ministries.  It should not be one in place of the other.  This should be both/and, not, either/or.  Perhaps the only exception should be a bishop who is the chief pastor of a diocese, which by is size and nature, becomes his or her primary vocation.  But even to this occupation they might be inclined to teach a Christian Education class as a side contribution.

We all should work in community for the maintenance of that community.  A smart person once told me that “everybody can’t be in the cart, somebody is going to have to get out and help push.” Paul says, “You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions.”  I think these two messages are the same.  Proclaiming the Word should be in addition to work, not instead of work.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Part 1 of 2

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 21: Year 2

 Psalms 66, 67; and 19, 46 Hosea 2:2 to14; James 3:1 to13; Matthew. 13:44 to 52

“But no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.”  (James 3:8 to 10

As wild as the tongue is, it rarely says anything that was not first born in the heart or mind. The tongue, like the hands, can only follow the management of the heart and mind.  What is key here, is, what do we want? Do we want to be fair and loving or not?  We, without God, are not able to change our hearts no matter how much we want to do or say the right things.  This saying and doing will be examined further in part 2 of today’s Ponder.  For now I remember our Sunday opening Collect where we read, “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)

Part 2 of 2

Eucharistic New Testament Readings for Sunday of Proper 21: Year A

Philippians 2:1-13 and Matthew 21:23-32

“Which of the two did the will of the father? (Matthew 21:31).

As I ponder these two sons I try to be as objective as I can, even in spite of the heavy influence by the evangelist.  Matthew says the first son, changed his mind and did the work he said he would not do.  For the second son the evangelist implies that he just lied about his intentions and never intended to do the work in the first place.  So I give the benefit of doubt to both.  Perhaps the second son changed his mind also.  Maybe he truly intended to do the work but later he too, changed his mind. 

The bottom line here, no matter which way we look at it, is, “Which of the two actually did the will of the father?”  The key word here is “did” the will of the father, not just said they would or would not do it.  I have a quote from Mark Twain where he says “Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.”  I really do believe we speak more accurately with our actions.  But is such accuracy a good thing?  Ponder this please and ask our Lord Jesus for help.  He is waiting.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 20, 2020:Year 2

Psalms 87, 90; and 136; Hosea 1:1-2:1; Acts 20:1-16; Luke 4:38-44

“After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia.  When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece” (Acts 20:1 and 2).

To encourage a person is to build their self esteem.  It is to make them confident in their vocation, occupation, faith, and civic duty. In this reading Paul encourages his disciples and others as he travels. First, he encourages his disciples, and then he encourages the people of Macedonia.  He is full of the “lifting up” language.

We have so many people around us everywhere today that need encouragement.  This encouragement does not mean only saying nice things to people who agree with you.  It means giving hopeless people hope.  I am again reminded of a poor woman who came to our parish while I was leading a meeting.  I excused myself to let the woman know that I couldn’t see her at the moment but shortly I would be able to attend to her.  In her urgency, she asked “has this church ever “hoped” anyone.”  I was confused at first.  I then realized that she was using an improper past tense of the word “help.”  She wanted to know if we had ever helped anyone before. Apparently she didn’t want to wait for me if we didn’t tend to help, particularly financially.  As it turned out she did not stay.  But her word did stay with me.

We Christians are to “hope” the hopeless.  Hope is not a verb, at least in its normal use.  But I would like to change that.  Can we not hope people?  By this I mean encourage people; give people hope.  Remember, we should not look for like-minded people.  Let’s restrict our encouragement to only those who are human and created in the universal and internationally diverse Image of God. Let’s lift them up, encourage them, and give them hope. Amen.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 20: Year 2

Psalms 88,  91, and 92:  Esther 8:1 to  8, and 15 to 17; or Judith 13:1 to 20; Acts 19:21to 41; and  Luke 4:31 to 37

“If therefore Demetrius and the artisans with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges there against one another. If there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly. For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.’ When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.”  (Acts 19: 38 to 41)

The unnamed “town clerk” calls for order and rational conduct in accordance with established protocols. Perhaps he is concerned for property and people on both sides of the argument. 

Currently, in the United States of America, we are struggling with a Covid 19 pandemic, our West Coast that is on fire,  our Gulf Coast hit with the most hurricanes in recorded history; a very divisive political polarization,  and on top of all this, we are struggling with issues of racial disparities between police and people of color.  Where is our “town clerk?”

The better question should be, where are our clergy?  Ouw!, that’s me.  Like the town clerk, clergy are called to be outside of the political fray and seek order and peaceful resolutions. Clergy must also remember, and be an advocate for all sides of human oppression or discrimination.  Sure, let us be there for minorities and women, but we must also advocate for white men and police persons too.  Too often in our zeal for corrective action we allow the pendulum to swing too far to the other side. 

Maybe more attention should also be given scientific evidence regarding climate change.  This subject should not be considered a political agenda, but rather, and earth agenda. The town clerk in our Acts reading is one of their own but takes a stand in order to calm things down.  Today, in America, people are protesting which too often morphs into rioting that destroys family businesses.  The town clerk tells his own people that “we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.”  Maybe I should be doing more of this kind of work.  Town clerk or town clergy, more of us need to step up and take a stand against rioting and vandalism. As I write these words I will ponder more deeply what the Holy Spirit of God is saying to me about these matters. I invite you to do the same.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John