onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Thursday in the Week of the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 70], 71; Psalm 74 Gen. 23:1-20; Heb. 11:32-12:2; John 6:60-71

“It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63)

We have the Spirit of God in us. And our Lord Jesus says it is this God-given spirit that gives us life.  We are more than blood-pumping hearts and lungs that exchange air.  As the saying goes, we are so much more than the sum of our parts. I know, and have had experience with, medical doctors who place their faith well ahead of their practice.

The Spirit speaks to us. The spirit in us serves as a communicator that connects us with the will of God. To realize what God is saying all we have to do is be still and be quiet.  Sure, our minds will wonder.  But as we practice contemplative exercises by keeping times of sitting quietly we will get better at receiving God’s guidance. As we learn from the lost son in Chapter 15 verse 7 of Luke’s Gospel, we will get better at coming to our senses, or to ourselves (depending on which translation you read). Times of meditation will reorient us into being who God intends for us to be.

From Blaise Pascal we learn that “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”  Down time, specifically quiet time, is the medicine of the soul.  It is during such quiet times that God visits us.  This lesson runs throughout the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Hagar, Elijah, Mary, Joseph and our Lord Jesus who was setting the example for us to follow.  Therefore….

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

Readings for The Martyrs of Japan 1597

Psalm 16:5-11 Lamentations 3:46-48, 52-59 Galatians 2:19-20 Mark 8:34-38 

“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel,will save it.” (Mark 8: 35)

This Mark verse clearly reminds us of the glorious life after death and the reward of maintaining our faith as our faith is shown in the Gospel.  This is a life of dedication.  And as Dr Martin Luther King Jr. said “If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”

I’m conflicted about the exact date for remembering the Martyrs of Japan, the 5^th or the 6^th of February.  In any case since I am going to preach on them this Wednesday night I thought I would reflect on the permanency of Christianity.  But first let’s get the back-story from James Kiefer.

by James Kiefer

“The Christian faith was first introduced into Japan in the sixteenth century by Jesuit and later by Franciscan missionaries. By the end of that century, there were probably about 300,000 baptized believers in Japan.
     Unfortunately, this promising beginning met reverses, brought about by rivalries between different groups of missionaries and political intrigues by the Spanish and Portuguese governments, along with power politics factions in the Japanese government itself. The result was a suppression of Christians.” (http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Japan_martyrs.htm)

These rivalries between different groups of missionaries and political intrigues by the Spanish and Portuguese governments are the kinds of things that happen when we forget about our Lord Jesus.  We must always remember that there is one Christ.  There are many ways but all should be respected. No one way is perfect.  Real Christianity maintains itself.

“By 1630, what was left of Christianity in Japan was driven underground. Yet it is remarkable that two hundred and fifty years later there were found many men and women, without priests, who had preserved through the generations a vestige of Christian faith.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for February 6)  This is a WOW! moment for me.  It seems the Christian Church prospers best in secret, like the persecuted Church prior to Constantine. But even deeper than the Church, please know this in your own personal faith-life, real Christianity maintains itself no matter what contemporary label we put on it.

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 in the Week of the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 61, 62; Psalm 68:1-20(21-23)24-36 Gen. 21:1-21; Heb. 11:13-22; John 6:41-51

 “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day.” (John 6: 44)

Maybe not everybody is called to follow our Lord Jesus Christ or even to be a Christian.  Jesus says that “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me.”  God sends certain people to our Lord Jesus.  This was evident in the star that led the wise men in Mathew’s Gospel; it was true for Simeon who was called to the Temple when Jesus was taken there at his Presentation; it was true when people like Andrew and  Philip and others brought their relatives or friends to Jesus.  In my own life a Marine friend brought me to Jesus at St Anne’s Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee more than forty years ago.

Now having said all that, I don’t believe only Christians are saved.  I think God uses us Christians to assist in the saving.  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Ruth, and David and Elijah and Elisha and others were saved and none of them were Christians. This saving includes some non-Christian  New Testament folk as well because the term Christian was not put into use until the teachings about our Lord Jesus was taught in Antioch. We read, “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:25 – 26)

We Christians are the volunteer flight crews making passengers comfortable and safe on the flight.  And one thing I have noticed about flight crews as we prepare to board the plane, they get a pass to go right on board.  So too, we have a pass to be raised up on the last day. God loves all people and we are here to help them on the journey. God’s kingdom is not about us or them; it is about us and them, together.  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 in the Week of the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 56, 57, [58]; Psalm 64, 65 Gen. 19:1-17(18-23)24-29; Heb. 11:1-12; John 6:27-40

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”  (Hebrews 11:6)

When we believe that there is a God, a loving God who created, and is still creating, all life, we have choices to make.  We can just sit back and enjoy the good works that God is doing, or through some antisocial twist of mind work against the works of God,  or we can be a part of what God is doing by participating in the beauty and health of God’s works.

God wants to co-create with us.  And God will meet us if we take steps toward God. From our Hebrew reading we learn that there is a reward for us as we seek God.  That reward is more than we can ever ask or imagine. But more than that, I believe there is reward in the approach to God.  Because we believe that God exists and that God is good, the sweat equity we apply in our beliefs simultaneously rewards us.  This then is not looking forward to some specific award of reward, that once accomplished, tends to encourage us to stop and bask in our accomplishments.  No, I believe that as we approach the will of God, we are pleased more and more by each step that we take. 

I saw a cartoon in the paper the other  day where the child in the Charlie Brown Peanuts series who plays the piano was asked by the little girl, who I believe has a crush on him that,  “What if he practiced for twenty years and never became rich or famous?”  To which he replied “The joy is in the playing.” And she responded somewhat upset, “Really?”  This really captures how I feel about our approach to God.  The joy is in the approach. The joy is in the journey, really.

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

Eucharistic Readings for the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus

Malachi 3:1-4  Psalm 84  or Psalm 24:7-10  Hebrews 2:14-18  Luke 2:22-40

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.” (Luke 2:25 – 26)

Here we have an independent story of the Lord’s favor on a person not directly called to a ministry other than contributing to us by sharing his story of revelation, the revelation of grace. This Simeon is only one of a few that the Holy Spirit rested on.  His specific identity is not revealed except that he was a righteous and devout man. That’s probably good enough.

Simeon seemed to be a quiet man and Anna who lived in the Temple (unusual for a woman) at prayer continually were both led out to see Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus at the same time. This presence and leadership of the Holy Spirit was at work then and is at work today.  But like Simeon and Anna, we have to have our own quiet time in order to receive the message.

“Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”” (Luke 2:27 – 32)

These words resonate with me because they are almost the same as the words found at close of Compline at the top of page 135 of the Book of Common Prayer.

“Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.” (BCP 135)

 Simeon only wanted to know that God was in fact at work in restoring the world as had been promised.  God was doing this through Mary, and through Israel and to the world. And still is. I believe this and this is why I always end my page with the invitation to listen for the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  God is always doing something new. Do you believe this?  If so then: 

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 in the Week of the Third Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 55; Psalm 138, 139:1-17(18-23) Gen. 18:1-16; Heb. 10:26-39; John 6:16-27

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it. Where can I go then from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”  (Psalm 139:5 – 6)

I don’t agree with all of Psalm 139, at least not the “hate” parts.  But the all-knowing acceptance about who God is, I totally do agree with.   From my previous ponderings I have come to understand that God is “Being”, is “Existence”, is “Thinking”, and therefore, is living “Pondering”. This is the AM of “I AM” of God.  It is not God was, or God will be.  No. this is God Is.  So there are two points to note here.  First, God is fulfilled in God is Love.  All creation, including you and me, are made manifest in love, God’s love.

Second, from the Psalmist, God is everywhere.  Wow!  There is no place we can go that God is not there and this includes to the rest room or in a coma. And, no matter where you go or in what condition you find yourself, God has always been there and will always be there.  God is in our history, in our present and in our future.  God is in our decisions and our emotions.  God does not always like our decisions or the outcomes of what we decide to do, but God, the God of love, is still very present.

We cannot attain to the level of God’s intellect.  We can try, and should try, but we cannot.  Being made aware of this does not mean we shouldn’t try.  I am a life-long learner and life-long lover. So I have modified the Vulcan greeting of “Live long and prosper.”  My version is: “Live long, learn and love.” You “Trekies” out there will understand this. So for all of us, let’s live long, learn and love always and to the last of our mortal days. There is no escaping God. We can’t hide from God nor can we deny the good of God that is made manifest in our lives. And for that, 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

Readings for Sam Shoemaker (1893-1963)

Psalm 130 Isaiah 51:17–52:1a 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 Luke 4:40-44

“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. Demons also came out of many, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.” (Luke 4: 40 – 41)

Just as our Lord Jesus insisted on anonymity with regard to the source of His power, so too did Sam Shoemaker, whom we remember today.  As I have many who are very close to me making use of the twelve step program I feel Sam Shoemaker should be brought to our attention. All of the below was taken from on line at http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/sam_shoemaker.htm

Sam Shoemaker, DD, STD (1893-1963), was an Episcopal priest who was instrumental in the Oxford Group and founding principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. Dr. Samuel Moor Shoemaker was the rector of the Calvary Church in New York City, which was the United States headquarters of the Oxford Group. Bill Wilson attended Oxford Group meetings at the Calvary Church and Sam was instrumental in assisting Bill Wilson with the writing of the book Alcoholics Anonymous (nickname: The Big Book). Bill acknowledged this linkage when he wrote in the book, A.A. Comes of Age (page 39):

In 1917, Sam Shoemaker had been sent to China to start a branch of the YMCA and to teach at the Princeton-in-China Program. There, in 1918, feeling discouraged, he first met Frank Buchman who told him of the four absolutes, honesty, purity and unselfishness and love. Later, Shoemaker would speak of the meeting as a major influence for the start of his ministry, that being the time when he decided to let go of self and let God guide his life

Bill Wilson, in 1955, would later give credit to Sam Shoemaker whom he referred to as a co-founder of AA.  ” It was from Sam Shoemaker, that we absorbed most of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, steps that express the heart of AA’s way of life. Dr. Silkworth gave us the needed knowledge of our illness, but Sam Shoemaker had given us the concrete knowledge of what we could do about it, he passed on the spiritual keys by which we were liberated. The early AA got its ideas of self-examination, acknowledgement of character defects, restitution for harm done, and working with others straight from the Oxford Group and directly from Sam Shoemaker, their former leader in America, and from nowhere else.”

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 in the Week of the Third Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 50; PM Psalm [59, 60] or 8, 84 Gen. 16:15-17:14; Heb. 10:1-10; John 5:30-47

“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram,but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations.” (Genesis 17: 4 – 5)

This is our spiritual heritage.  We, yes even we Christians, are spiritual descendents of Abraham. The importance of who we are is not what our biology or ethnicity is.  None of that transcends this earthly life.  Only our spiritual selves ascend to greater glory. 

Given this information how does that impact how we should live while still in our physical selves?  For me it means a life of trying to establish and maintain a connection with the spiritual world while still in this one. It means often pondering about God and relatives and loved ones who have gone on but are perhaps, in some way, still aware of us as they are with God in that heavenly realm. It is the spirit and faith of Abraham that God treasures. And we are descendants of that same spirit – we are truly kindred spirits to Abraham.  We have a prayer in our Book of Common Prayer in the Easter Vigil that really speaks to this.

“Let us pray. 

O God, whose wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day, you once delivered by the power of your mighty arm your chosen people from slavery under Pharaoh, to be a sign for us of the salvation of all nations by the water of Baptism: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham, and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (BCP 289)

We Christians are among the offspring of Abraham, and the inheritance of Israel through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 Wednesday in the Week of the Third Sunday after the Epiphany: Year 2

Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53] Gen. 16:1-14; Heb. 9:15-28; John 5:19-29

“Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5: 21 – 24)

This lesson from our Lord Jesus kind of says that God has “delegated” all next life invitations to our Lord Jesus.  One way to receive such an invitation past judgment is to believe this.

As a priest I often officiate at funerals.  The biggest message that people want to hear is the one about our being raised from the dead.  Sometimes it’s hard to connect the life of the deceased to his or her life of faith.  We preachers preach faith, that doesn’t mean we know the faith of others.  Only God knows the faith of a person regardless of the faith path they live.

And God has left all decisions about eternal life to God Incarnate, our Lord Jesus. After closely studying the words from our John passage this morning I get the sense that believers already have eternal life.  Believers may not live what some of us consider the so called perfect “Christian” life but still believe that Jesus is Lord. Having faith is not necessarily about being in church all the time.  It is about one’s prayer life.  Prayer is not necessarily about audible words. It is about where your heart is.  It is about how much you cry.  Crying is praying. God’s ears hears tears.

For those among us who have not accepted our Lord Jesus, such people come under judgment.  I believe the language clearly says all people must pass again through our Lord Jesus to eternal life. Such non-believers come under judgment. The believer does not. I don’t believe a loving God lays waste a life lived in love for fellow human beings but leaves that judgment up to our Lord Jesus, who is also our loving God. God loves all people.  Some do not believe because of bad teaching and preaching.  Some don’t believe because they have never heard about our Lord Jesus and His loving and inclusive way.  God in Christ Jesus will not let the lack of being informed separate us from eternal life.  This includes infants and so-called atheists. God is love. 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

Readings for St Thomas Aquinas: 28 January

Psalm 119:97-104   Wisdom 7:7-14  Matthew 13:47-52

“Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.”  (Wisdom of Solomon 7:7 – 8)               

Today we remember St Thomas Aquinas who, perhaps like Solomon, preferred understanding beyond anything else.

“Thomas asserted that reason and revelation are in basic harmony. “Grace” (revelation), he said, “is not the denial of nature” (reason), “but the perfection of it.” This synthesis Thomas accomplished in his greatest works, the Summa Theologica and the Summa Contra Gentiles, which even today continue to exercise profound influence on Christian thought and philosophy. He was considered a bold thinker, even a “radical,” and certain aspects of his thought were condemned by the ecclesiastical authorities. His canonization on July 18, 1323, vindicated him.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for January 28)

I glean from this that Grace is to mean revelation, and nature is to mean reason.  For me this means that we accept what God blesses us with, (Grace) and let it undergird what we can learn (reason).

“Thomas understood God’s disclosure of his Name, in Exodus 3:14, “I Am Who I Am,” to mean that God is Being, the Ultimate Reality from which everything else derives its being. The difference between God and the world is that God’s essence is to exist, whereas all other beings derive their being from him by the act of creation.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for January 28)

While in seminary and listening to a lecture on St Thomas Aquinas, I drew close to our professor after the lecture to hear what a few other students were going to ask.  I didn’t figure I was the brightest bulb in the cluster but I was at least smart enough to know that if I got close enough to hear what they were asking, that I might learn something.  I heard our professor say that although Thomas wrote volumes of books and was very smart, one little glimmer of Grace (Revelation) from God (I Am) will be more enlightening than all of Thomas Aquinas’ works.  I have not worried about how smart I am since then.  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