onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 3^rd Week of Advent Year 2

AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53] Zech. 3:1-10; Rev. 4:1-8; Matt. 24:45-51

“Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time?  Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.  Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.”  (Matthew 24: 45 – 47)

I think the first thing to do is to clarify the Greek word slave or in the Biblical Greek “δοῦλος.”   In English it is pronounced “Dulas” and it means servant as well as slave. Personally, I prefer the term servant.  

So now let’s go back and listen to what is being asked. “Who is the faithful and wise servant?” Hmm, makes me ponder.  Can we find wisdom and servitor in the same person?  Sometimes we “wise” our way right out of serving anybody?  Once when I was young (and not very bright at all), I saw a coworker filling an ice chest.  I had worked my way up to a less physical requirement at the hospital in Nashville, Tennessee and I informed that young man that,   “I wouldn’t do that for anybody.”  To which he quickly responded, “Would you do it for yourself?”  As you can see, I never forgot that important lesson. I don’t like sharing these details about myself but it helps me to see how far I have come.  I still have a long way to go.

In our Matthew passage we are reminded that the reward for hard work is more hard work.  When the faithful servant does all that is expected, that servant is given even greater responsibility.  But I think the wisdom lies in the training of one’s self to enjoy holding things together.  We too can learn to enjoy making sure that people receive their allowance of food, or education, or transportation, or medication, or anything they need at the proper time.  The good news is that while we are enjoying filling the ice chest, we will be blessed when our Lord Jesus arrives.

 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 the 3^rd Week in Advent Year 2

AM Psalm 45; PM Psalm 47, 48  Zech. 2:1-13; Rev. 3:14-22; Matt. 24:32-44

“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.  To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.  Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” (Revelation 3: 20 – 22)

This is a known idea in the Christian world, that of our Lord Jesus knocking on our door.  There are many paintings of it. It is a reminder that it is our Lord Jesus who is seeking us well before we even thought about trying to find him.  Many people will say after they think that they have turned their lives around for the better that they “found Jesus.”  It would be more correct to say that they let our Lord Jesus come into their lives.

No human salesperson knocks on your door, or calls you on the phone, or advertizes on your computer for your complete happiness.  They want your money.  They are in it for themselves.  Our Lord Jesus is truly looking for you for your benefit. He will never abandon you when life challenges you.  He may not make whatever is happening to you go away but he will stay with you through it.  And it may be that whatever hell you go through will end this life, our Lord Jesus will be with you on the other side.

This is what it means to conquer.  And “To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.  Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

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 the 3^rd Week of Advent Year 2

AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44 Zech. 1:7-17; Rev. 3:7-13; Matt. 24:15-31

“Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.  I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.  If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.  Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” (Revelation 3:10 – 13)

Let us remember that the Book of Revelation is a Revelation from the Risen Jesus Christ to his apostle John.  The revelation speaks of a patient endurance that will keep us from the hour of trial and that we will have new names and live in a New Jerusalem. 

I am reminded that in Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “And do not bring us to the time of trial.” (Luke 11:4)  I once got a ticket for running a stop sign but through many apologies, agreeing to attend a Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) safety course, and a friend in the court system, I was excused.  My friend told me that my name is no longer on the docket.  Full disclosure, I went on the appointed day anyway only to see that in fact my name was never called.  It is nice to have someone who can excuse you from judgment. 

Our apologies are our repentance, our churches are our DMV safety courses and Jesus is our friend who removes our names from the docket and “keeps us from the hour of trial.”  However, we must keep the word of patient endurance in order for this to happen. Patient endurance is something we can conquer and become pillars in the temple of God. This is just another way of saying joyful waiting.  Believe me, there is joy in knowing you have been “excused” from judgment.

Jesus also reveals to John that we will have new names, holy names. This is not new, Jesus often gives us new names as God did with Abram to Abraham and Jesus did with Simon to Peter.  Some names stick however as did Mary’s and others.  I guess the other big thing I will be looking for is that we will have a better Jerusalem, a New Jerusalem. Our current Jerusalem is built on an arid mountain.  I often wonder how water was provided in the old days.  Maybe a New Jerusalem in a valley would be better, a land flowing with milk and honey.  I’m just pondering here, joyfully pondering.

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 3^rd Sunday of Advent Year A

Isaiah 35:1-10   Psalm 146:4-9   James 5:7-10  Matthew 11:2-11

“When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”” (Matthew 11:2 -3)

Waiting is an art.  Today we should be so adapt at it. We wait for everything; we wait for our turn in various lines at checkout counters or bank teller windows; we wait in traffic, we wait for someone to finally make it to a meeting that was supposed to start 10 minutes ago.  Waiting is both active and challenging.   We can’t stop being because we have to wait.  We must live through it.  We can try to distract ourselves while waiting, like playing with our phones, but it still means we are not there yet.

Our Lord Jesus assures the disciples of John the Baptist that their wait and ours is over, at least for that initial coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. But it seems that John had such developed waiting skills that he was willing to keep waiting.  For him it was a way of life. On this third Sunday of Advent we may even learn of the joy of waiting as we light the pink or rose colored candle on the Advent Wreath.  I think there was some joy in it for John and I think it should be for us as well.  In Chapter 5 of the Reading for James we are asked wait as the farmer waits in anticipation for the rain.

“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (James 5:7 – 8)

Yes, Jesus’ first appearance was the early rains.  His second coming will be the late rains. We need to hone our waiting skills so that we too are comfortable, even joyfully waiting. We need to strengthen our hearts for the coming of the late rains.  I really have more to say, but let’s wait!

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 John of the Cross: Mystic and Monastic Reformer, 1591

Psalm 121 Song of Solomon 3:1-4 John 16:12-22

“When the Spirit of Truth comes He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13)

I studied John of the Cross while taking Spiritual Guidance courses at Shalem Institute. I am very moved by his writing, “Dark Night of the Soul.”  It really demonstrates the contemplative possibilities that can be achieved when we settle ourselves down.  The Spirit of Truth that Jesus speaks of in the Gospel of John is the Holy Spirit that came among us when Jesus had died and was raised again.  The Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word will accompany us in all that we ask. We truly will be guided into all truth.

“John of the Cross was unknown outside the Discalced Carmelites for nearly three hundred years after his death. More recently, scholars of Christian spirituality have found in him a hidden treasure. Once described by Thomas Merton as “the church’s safest mystical theologian,” John has been called the “the poet’s poet,” “spirit of flame,” “celestial and divine.”   John was born in 1542 at Fontiveros, near Avila, Spain.”  (Great Cloud of Witnesses for December 14)

So as I now practice the humility of invisibility I am amazed that John was so quiet (invisible) that he was not really discovered until nearly 300 years after his death. His sometimes forced solitude enabled him to fully devote himself the Spirit of Truth that Jesus spoke of.

“John became disillusioned with what he considered the laxity of the Carmelites and, in 1568, he opened a monastery of “Discalced” (strict observance) Carmelites, an act that met with sharp resistance from the General Chapter of the Calced Carmelites. John was seized, taken to Toledo, and imprisoned in the monastery. During nine months of great hardship, he comforted himself by writing poetry. It was while he was imprisoned that he composed the greater part of his luminous masterpiece, The Spiritual Canticle, as well as a number of shorter poems. Other major works are, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Living Flame of Love, and The Dark Night. It is this latter work, Noche obscura del alma, that gave the English language the phrase “dark night of the soul. After a severe illness, John died on December 14, 1591.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for December 14) 

His forced solitude made him creative.  How much more can you and I do if we just take the time to be alone and quiet.  Blaise Pascal wrote; “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”  I modified his words to read, “All of humanity’s problems stem from a person’s refusal to sit quietly in a room alone.” I believe we can, sadly, we just refuse.

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 the 2^nd Week of Advent Year 2

AM Psalm 31; PM Psalm 35 Haggai 1:1-15; Rev. 2:18-29; Matt. 23:27-39

“Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, saying, I am with you, says the Lord.  And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God.” ( Haggai 1:13 – 14)

Today it still takes the Spirit of God to work in people in order that they might honor their houses of worship.  All places of human religous assembly require due vigilance in order that they are properly maintained.  The church is the sure sign of how important God is in the lives of a community.

I have read stories where people in some neighborhoods will occasionally help out with various projects in and around a church even when they themselves do not attend it. Often it is because they recognize the need for the food pantries or social events that lift the self esteem of people and they want to be a part of it.   

This care for houses of worship is God’s doing.  And “unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain (Psalm 127:1).  We are moved then by the hand of God to support the efforts of those who want to respect and honor God.  This power of God is not concerned with denomination or a particular faith.  It is concerned with people admitting that God exist and that God is good.  (All the time)

In our Haggai lesson today, King Darius was not of the Hebrew people, he was a Persian King. But he went to great lengths to ensure that the house of God was properly rebuilt.  So too, in all of our neighborhoods, any of us can, and should, support godly works as we recognize them to be such. None of us can claim God for ourselves only.  God only is God and loves ALL people.  As long as a faith tradition is not hostile or preaching hate but rather doing good works in the community, we should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us in terms of what they might need. And then do it as we are able to do so. 

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 the second week of Advent: Year 2

AM Psalm 37:1-18; PM Psalm 37:19-42 Amos 9:1-10; Rev. 2:8-17; Matt. 23:13-26

‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.  You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup,so that the outside also may become clean.” (Matthew 23:25 – 26)

In this f session of warnings Jesus tells those of us, who will listen, that if we clean the inside of our selves the outside will become clean as well.

What makes itself manifest on the outside, particularly in behavior and actions, starts in the heart and mind of the person.  As I occasionally conduct pre-marital counseling, I have the engaged couple raise many questions about the other.  I don’t want to know the answers that they come up with.  I just want to know that they have addressed the issues. So I have them to have conversations around money and what it means; around education; around concerns of faith (particularly if they are of different faith backgrounds), around children (natural or adopted). I have them discuss concerns of sex and intimacy; and lately I ask about social media and each other’s friends in general.  Sometime I think I’m unconsciously trying to get them to rethink getting married at all.

The reality is, I am trying to get them to see what’s inside of each other. Is the other’s cup clean on the inside? This question goes further than just marriage proposals.  We need to ponder these questions with all whom we hold close. We need to take it home and ask ourselves these types of questions.  But there is hope.  Our Lord Jesus says that if we clean the inside of our cup the outside will be clean as well.

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 Week 2 of Advent Year 2

AM Psalm 38; PM Psalm 119:25-48 Amos 8:1-14; Rev. 1:17-2:7; Matt. 23:1-12

“All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)

After pondering on these words of Matthew for a while I get the sense that exaltation is the goal for both, it’s just two different routes to being exalted. While we are kind of led to the latter, that is, to humble ourselves now in order to be exalted later (in the next life), it seems to me that we are being humble for the reward of being exalted.  That doesn’t work for me. 

I think if I train myself to really get into and be comfortable with humility I will never want or desire exaltation.  I’ve always told my congregation that being humble can be a fleeting thing.  Once you boast about your humility, it’s gone. 

I have had lapses in humility.  I played guitar with another guitarist and when he was thanked for coming and playing and I was not I brought it to the attention of the host. Shame on me.  It was after that incident that I coined the phrase “the humility of invisibility.”  Unfortunately humility was not my comfort zone. But I want it to be.  So I have put into practice the words of C.S. Lewis who said, “Humility is not so much about thinking less of yourself, but rather, thinking of yourself less.”

So now I ponder all the times I was not seen or remembered, while at the same time was very present, at various events. I am learning to enjoy “the humility of invisibility,” and not so that I might be exalted later, but just for the inherent quiet and unassuming nature of 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+

Readings for Thomas Merton: MONK, POET, SPIRITUAL WRITER, 1968

Psalm 62 Isaiah 57:14-19 Colossians 2:2-10 John 12:27-36

“I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2 – 3)

This writing to the Church in Colossae encourages the Christians there, and us, to live fully into the mystery of God’s love, Such writing was not lost on Thomas Merton.

“Thomas Merton was among the most influential Catholic writers of the twentieth century. His writings cover a broad range of subject matter: spirituality and the contemplative life, prayer, and religious biography. He was also deeply interested in issues of social justice and Christian responsibility. He did not shy away from controversy and addressed race relations, economic injustice, war, violence, and the nuclear arms race.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for December 10)

The wonder of God and God’s creating love for all creation should be the number one concern of all creation but more especially people.  We are those of creation that the Creator walked with.  So I can see why Thomas Merton devoted his life to the Wonder of God. One of my favorite quotes is not from Merton but brings the same thought, “It is not the task of Christianity to provide easy answers to every question, but to make us progressively aware of a mystery.  God is not so much the object of our knowledge as the cause of our wonder.” (Kallistos Ware) We walk in mystery. 

“Merton was known in the community as Brother Louis; his gifts as a writer were encouraged by the abbot. In addition to his translations of Cistercian sources and his original works, Merton carried on a prolific correspondence with people around the world on a wide range of subjects. Some of his correspondence takes the form of spiritual direction, some shows his deep affections for friends outside the community, and much of it demonstrates Merton’s ability to be fully engaged in the world even though he lived a cloistered life. Merton died in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 10, 1968, by accidental electrocution, while attending a meeting of religious leaders during a pilgrimage to the Far East.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for December 10)

Merton engaged with the world in a time before computers.  How much more can you and I do good global works through this very source from which you are reading this blog?  Not just for the Colossians, but for us too, there are still treasures of wisdom and knowledge to be understood.

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 the Second Week of Advent Year 2

AM Psalm 25; PM Psalm 9, 15 Amos 7:1-9; Rev. 1:1-8; Matt. 22:23-33

“This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb-line.’ Then the Lord said, ‘See, I am setting a plumb-line in the midst of my people Israel;
I will never again pass them by.” (Amos 7:7 – 8)

This plumb-line that the lord is setting in the midst is us is the perfect upright angle with which we are to judge our own moral character.  A friend of mine once said to a congregation that it was hard for him to achieve something he has not seen.  But once he as seen someone do and be the better person, then, he too could aim for that knowing it was possible.

We don’t all have the same level of good judgment at the same time. But I believe the ability to make better and better decisions is an evolving skill.  I believe patience in understanding helps us to be better decision makers.  We must first want to do the right thing, The right thing has to be more important than “my” thing.  Getting even is not the right thing and against the Lord’s plumb-line it clearly shows us to be off kilter.  Also, we should not try to make ourselves look good by pointing out the faults of others.  It would be better to point out how you have challenges that you are aware of and are working on, than to point to the short comings of others.  

Our Lord Jesus is the perfect Plumb-line.  We can’t be Him but we can continue to work towards perfection. In trying to perfect our character we become that plumb-line for someone else to emulate. Remember however, we are not doing it to be copied (even though that would make the world a better place).  We are working towards that never ending road to perfection from which we will not regress or return. We will just keep comparing ourselves to that perfection, that plumb-line, that some may not know even exist.

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+