onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 17:Year 2

Psalms 26, 28, 36, and 39; Job 12:1 and13; 3 to17 and 21-27; Acts 12:1 to 17; and John 8:33 to 47

“While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.” (Acts 12:5)

This Church was assembled in the home of Mary, mother of John and James, who has been killed with a sword by order of Herod.   What I don’t get is at the end of this reading, where it is said, “And he added, ‘Tell this to James and to the believers.’”(I thought James had been killed.  Can one of you reading this blog help me understand this?)

What I really want to get to is the Church praying for a miracle and getting it!  It was so surprising that the maid left Peter knocking and “When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.  On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.” (Acts 12: 13 and 14)

Interesting that Rhoda “recognized” his voice!  Recognizing his voice is one it the pieces of evidence that identified Peter when Jesus was arrested.  “After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.”  (Matthew 26:73)  Apparently Peter’s voice is very distinct, like a Morgan Freeman or a James Earl Jones.

But it was the voices of the Church that got him freed. They asked for a miracle and then couldn’t believe it when it happened.  The same is true for us today.  We are in the midst of a pandemic and we, the Church, are praying for relief.  We will get it.

Between Peter standing at the gate here, and having the keys to the church, many Christians assume that it will be St. Peter whom we will meet in the Resurrection standing at the pearly gates.  Who knows?  I just hope to get to the gates of heaven.  Maybe I will find out which James is which.  In the mean time, we, the Church, need to be about praying for pandemic relief.  Prayer works.

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 17: Year 2

Psalms 25,  9, 15;  Job 12:1to 6, and 13 to 25; Acts 11:19 to 30; and John 8:21 to 32

“Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.” (Acts 11: 25 and 26)

Like everybody else in the world, Christians did not name themselves thus; they were called Christians by non-Christians, and it stuck.

So who are we really?  We Christians are still disciples.  We are students.  We are learners.  Barnabas was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and he rejoiced when he saw how people had been changed for the better.  Ironically, this was a time of the persecution of Christians and was right after the time of the stoning of Stephen.  Christians were afraid for their lives.  The Church was scattered, and for the most part, a secret society.  It seems that it is under such conditions that the Church thrives.  Christians grow their faith, first and foremost, in their homes with prayer and supplication, and with study and service.  We are not so much recruiters as we are seekers of greater love and understanding and compassion and empathy.  We strive to learn the Way of Jesus Christ.  This is who we really are.

While many joined the Christian movement in Antioch it was something they sought after, not something they were corralled into.  It is when we individually stop and ponder about the meaning of life that we evolve in good ways. Blaise Pascal said, “All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.” Sitting quietly in a room alone can be scary.  Our Lord Jesus might actually speak to us!  Before one can really be prepared to be called a Christian, a student or disciple; he or she must first be prepared in their hearts.  For where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.  I invite you to start this practice.  Find some time to sit quietly alone and ponder.

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 17: Year 2

Psalms 148, 149, 150, 114, and 115;  Job 11:1-9,13-20; Rev. 5:1to14; Matthew 5:1to12

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” 

Our Lord Jesus said these words in his sermon on the mount –Mount Tabor that is.  Of all his “Blessed” sayings, the peacemaker is the one I like the best.  I am a nine on the Enneagram Institute test; which means, I am a dot-connector.  I like bringing people together.  But this test results may be more than just about me.  It may be that all Christians are called to be children of God as they are also called to bring people together.

When I have talked about this Beatitude before, I have mentioned that I like the Spanish translation better.  In essence it says, “those who work for peace shall be called children of God.”  I like this version better because to be a child of God, one is not measured by actually bringing about the peace, but rather, working towards such a peace.  No one knows if the desired peace will come but that shouldn’t stop us from trying, – that is, working towards peace.

Part 2 of 2

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 17: Year A

Romans 12:9 to 21   and Matthew 16:21 to 28

“But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”  (Matthew 16:23)

Who of us can really set aside our own yearnings, even to do the will of God, if we even knew the will of God?  Divine things are about the welfare and benefit of the human community.  Our Lord Jesus came among us to be a moral light;  to model for us the way we can live harmoniously with one another. We first must rid ourselves of all sordid self-centeredness and look for the good of all of us.  Looking out for the good of all of us is the Divine thing to do.  Anything short of community enhancement should be considered a stumbling block to us. At the end of the day, we need to each ask ourselves; “how have I made the world a better place?”

I sometimes stop and marvel at an ant colony.  The individual ant, is never concerned about the individual self, – only the life and wellbeing of the whole colony.  As fellow citizens and neighbors of the whole planet, we too should be concerned about the livelihood of the whole human population.

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 16: Year 2

Psalms 20, 21:1-7(8-14),  110:1-5(6-7), 116, 117; Job 9:1,10:1-9,16-22; Acts 11:1to18; and John 8:12to20

“Do you have eyes of flesh?  Do you see as humans see?”   (Job 10: 4)

There is something that I pondered on in each of our Biblical readings for today. There is Peter’s pondering on “The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us” (Acts 11:12).  This again is about the inclusiveness of God.  And then there is Jesus telling the Pharisees in the Gospel of John “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).  This light that our Lord Jesus speaks of is not the simple illumination as through the sun, but rather, through the light of the Son. It is a moral light of righteousness.

But what I want to share with you today are the words from the fable of Job where Job ponders, “Do you have eyes of flesh?  Do you see as humans see?”   (Job 10: 4)

This brought me back to a time when I visited the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Cape Fear Medical Center in Fayetteville , North Carolina, some years ago.  There was the baby of a parishioner whose name is Chloe.  She, at the time, was a premature infant.  I visited with this infant at least twice a week.  And I would pray, “Lord God, please see this baby through my eyes and behold her innocence and beauty.  I pray you strengthen the health of this baby that she will live and be healthy. Please God.”

When I prayed these words I could look in the incubator and see Chloe shiver and jerk as I prayed for her.  Later, when mom brought her to church she might have been a little unsettled at first but when I preached, she calmed down.  I think my voice was something that resonated with her.   I love it when mom brings her to church.

So this line form Job brings back for me the prayer I prayed for infant Chloe.  I wanted our distant and universal God to focus on this tiny, premature, infant by seeing her through my eyes as I gazed upon her while standing next to her incubator.  God heard my compassionate prayer and Chloe is doing fine.  Perhaps this is just another reason why God came to us in Christ Jesus.  In our Lord Jesus, God Almighty can, and does, see us through human eyes.  So now we can answer Job’s question.  Yes, God can see as humans see.  Moreover, I believe when any of us look upon another with love and compassion, God is looking also through our eyes of flesh.

So, I ask you to pray for someone you love while looking at them.  And in your prayer, ask God to see them through your eyes.

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 16: Year 2

Psalms 16, 17 and  22;  Job 9:1-15,32-35; Acts 10:34 to 48; and John 7:37 to 52

“Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7: 39).

I have noticed, particularly in the Gospel of John, that the Holy Spirit comes after our Lord Jesus has been “glorified.”  It is understood that being glorified means being crucified. For me this is sad.  None the less, the Spirit only comes when the physical Jesus leaves us.  It is this Spirit of Christ that abides with us today.

This concern about where a holy presence comes from also takes on a human concern.  Some were worried about where Jesus came from.  This was a geographical concern rather than a spiritual concern.  “Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah  does not come from Galilee, does he?” (John 7:41)  It seems one has to have read at least the Gospel of Luke or Matthew in order to understand the geographical, earthly origins of Jesus.  I think it’s neither here nor there.  We should be more concerned about the Spiritual origin rather than the geographical origin. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).  We need believe nothing else.  My belief is, “I Trust in the Creating Word through the Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word, in whom we live and move and love and have our being, and to whom we must give an account.”  I have been to the Holy Land, in particular northern Israel, a picture of which, is at the beginning of each daily blog.  I also remember that our Lord Jesus began his ministry in Cana and in Capernaum of Galilee, a place he chose of his own free will. Everywhere else that he went, he was taken in his early life.

I believe it is the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads Christians both in our individual souls and in our churches, no matter the denomination or where we are on the planet.  We are the Lord’s and it is the Holy Spirit of the Lord that guides us if we would just listen and follow.

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 16: Year 2

 Psalm 18; Job 8:1-10, 20-22; Acts 10:17-33; and  John 7:14-36

“While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Look, three men are searching for you. Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.”  (Acts 10: 19 and 20)

This, for me, is among the most amazing characteristics about how God works; God is on both sides of what we are asked to do.  God is with the Gentile centurion  as well as with Peter.

Our Resurrected Lord Jesus was with Saul (Paul) as he was blinded on the road to Damascus and also with Ananias who was sent to him (Acts 10: 9 to 12). In fear and trembling Ananias obeyed the Lord.  He had heard of Saul’s hateful deeds but he trusted in the Lord and went anyway.

In our Hebrew Testament, Elijah was sent to a widow with a son for food.  Now as we read about this narrative we learn that perhaps the widow didn’t know that God sent Elijah.  She offered her reasons for not wanting to help him.  But Elijah prevailed and what he promised about not running short of food held true (1Kings 17: 8 to 16).  So while she might not have known cognitively, her soul knew well that the Lord wanted her to listen to Elijah.

I raise these additional Biblical stories so that you and I can see how God works with us.  My beloved of the Lord, we are sent to people who need us. And people we need, are sent to us.  Sometimes we are afraid like Ananias.  Sometimes we might not be outwardly aware of what is going on like the widow with Elijah.  But like Peter, we must ponder and pray about what God is doing.  We need to always ask “where is God in this situation?”

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 16: Year 2

 Psalms 119:1-24, 12, 13, 14;  Job 6:1,7:1-21; Acts 10:1-16; and John 7:1-13

“One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, ‘Cornelius.’ He stared at him in terror and said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ He answered, ‘Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.’ When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.” (Acts 10: 3 to 8)

This could easily be called the Tale of Two Simons. This passage follows the continuing call on Simon Peter to do the Lord’s work that I talked about yesterday. Simon the Tanner opened his home in Joppa to Simon Peter and he stay with him. Later, Peter falls into a trance and receives a vision.  In the vision he sees various animals lowered down on a sheet.  He is instructed to kill and eat.  Peter still being a reverent Jew refuses to eat food considered unclean, or profane. After all, Peter was in the food business as a fisherman.  He is told by a heavenly voice that nothing that God has made is profane. This metaphor about food serves to demonstrate the inclusiveness of God as it pertains to all people.  Peter, like Paul, has a call to invite Gentiles into the love of our One God.

Sadly, we still divide ourselves between Jew and Gentile.  We are still very discriminatory.  God is not.  God still sees each one of us as the babies were born to be without looking at what time and people and the toxic social, and cultural environment we live in, have done to us.  God does not care if we are American or Indonesian, black or white; rich or poor, gay or straight, male or female, old or young.  God loves all of us and wants to host all of us in eternity.

Like Peter, we too should meditate on the love of God to see what sort of trance God might gift us with.  Perhaps the Spirit has a message for you today that will cause you to travel to the assistance of another, another who God also loves, as God loves you.

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 16: Year 2

 Psalms 5, 6, 10, 11; Job 6:1-4,8-15,21; Acts 9:32-43; John 6:60-71

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 68 and 69)

You are so correct Simon Peter; there is no one to whom we can go. Our Lord Jesus does indeed have the words of eternal life. To me, eternal life means continuing to exist, hopefully in happiness.  I also like Peter’s identifying Jesus as “the Holy One of God.”  Simon Peter has come a long way since his days as a fisherman on Lake Galilee.

When Peter went to Lydda he saw Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bed ridden for eight years.  “Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!’ And immediately he got up.  And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 9: 34 and 35)

Peter became famous as a healer.  From Lydda two men came from Joppa seeking his healing for a disciple named Tabitha which in the Greek is Dorcus.  There was much mourning around her as she had just died. “Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.  He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.” (Acts 9: 40 and 41) 

Like Peter, all of us are new beings in Christ Jesus. We may not become healers but our communities are in need of so many different gifts.  We may be called away from our normal occupations to a vocation of counseling, or feeding or educating or errands or even just being with those who are lonely. And like Simon Peter, you will be discovered and requested for help.   When this happens do not forget Peter’s words, “Jesus Christ heals you.”  Our Lord Jesus is truly the Holy One 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 Monday of Proper 16: Year 2

Psalms 1, 2, 3,  4, 7;  Job 4:1,5:1-11,17-21,26-27; Acts 9:19b-31; John 6:52-59

“The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’”  (John 6:52)

Again, the term, “the Jews,” simply means the leading authorities, for Jesus and all his followers were also Jews. Another point to bring out is that the use of this metaphor regarding the eating of his flesh is that Jesus was not suggesting cannibalism.  He was inviting his followers to partake of holy food and drink that was taken by our Lord Jesus, blessed by our Lord Jesus and then divided up and shared with them.  He took, blessed, broke and gave.

This is the last interesting part of this John passage.  The Synoptic Gospels specifically walk us through the Great Thanksgiving or the Lord’s Supper. And while John’s Gospel mentions being at the table, it is an aside from the foot washing.  However, much of the language of the Gospel of John speaks of the “Bread of Life.”

The Bible, specifically the Gospels, must be studied in prayer with people educated in the language and culture of the day of our Lord Jesus.  Also, it needs to be known that as we read the Gospel like this one according to John, it was assumed that the Synoptic Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) were already read and understood.  Most scholars believe that John’s Gospel was the last written.  Therefore the Gospel according to John filled in other details. 

Jesus went on to say, “Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me” (John 6: 57).   This means for you to be filled with our Lord Jesus so that Jesus works in you, and through you.  You then, are not doing what you think you alone ought to do, but rather, you are the “host” of Jesus who is working through you. That is, you are the host (wafer or bread), you just consumed. When we receive Holy Communion all we need to do is get out of the way and let our Lord Jesus do his work through 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

Part 1

Daily Office Readings for Sunday of Proper 16: Year 2

 Psalms 146, 147,  111, 112, 113; Job 4:1-6,12-21; Rev. 4:1-11; Mark 6:1-6a

“On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him.” (Mark 6: 2 and 3) 

I just talked about this yesterday from the Gospel of Matthew, about “Who God will use. And so I will just repeat my closing from yesterday’s blog:  

Yes, our Lord Jesus was, and is, the primary host for God participating in our human life.  And while it is our life, it is God’s world.  And God is working his purposes out.  And God can, and will, do this work with, or without you; around you, or through you.

Anytime we say that because we know him or her (or ourselves), and in our opinion, God would not use him or her (or me), what we are really saying is that we know what God will do, or who God will use.  And that’s just not true.  We, nobody, knows what God will do, or who God will use.  God uses who God chooses. And yes, this includes you. Let’s just be blessed and thankful.

Part 2

Eucahristic Gospel for Sunday of Proper 16: Year A  Matthew 16:13-20

“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?””  (Matthew 16:15)

As Christians, we should be saying who Jesus is by the way in which we conduct ourselves.  We should be emulating what we know of our Lord Jesus.  We are not to return evil for evil. We should do all we can to heal the sick and feed the hungry; and every now and then, finding a quiet place to pray.

Any non Christian historian can write and publish about who he or she thinks Jesus was.  But we, as Christians, must answer the all important question of who we say Jesus is, (not was), by our belief in Jesus, not just what we have studied about him, but also benefiting from revelation of the Holy Spirit.  We say what we believe and understand by living out the two Commandments he gave us: to love God and to love our neighbor; understanding that all people are our neighbors.

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