onewhoponders

Pondering for Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 11: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 45; Evening, Psalms 47 and 48;
1^st Samuel 25:1 to 22; Acts 14:1 to 18; Mark 4:21 to 34:

“And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to maltreat them and to stone them, the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they continued proclaiming the good news:” (Acts 14:5 to 7).

Normally I am not one to be scared off when the going gets rough. But maybe, this is God’s way of getting the Word of God to more, and different people and places. Sometimes we just have to move on. Perhaps it’s a way of “shaking the dust off your shoes as a testimony against them.”

There are several places in the Bible where God believing people have had to flee only to continue in the faith. Moses, David, Elijah, Paul and others have had to relocate in order to perpetuate the word.

In more near modern times, The Amish of Europe were all but exterminated. But they fled to America and even then had to settle in Pennsylvania in order to continue in their faith. Sometimes we have to choose to run away in order to live and teach another day,

So it’s not a matter of being scared off. It is more a matter of recognizing that the current people around you are not ready to receive the Good News. But God knows that there are people very near you who long for sustaining words. We just have to keep moving. We are not to give up, or give in. We are to move on.

Such moving on is not always a physical location. In our time of “E” relationships, moving on could just be a matter of deselecting one group and selecting another. In this blog I have reached people all over the globe who have selected me. My words do not always fall on ears of welcome. But again, I’m not scared off, I just knock the dust off and keep sharing. Somewhere, someone is moved by the words that God is speaking through me.

I receive God’s words as words of love and inclusion. I also know when God holds me in silence because the words that come to me are not God’s but mine. It is perhaps more important today in our “E” community to discern what is from God and what is not, before one hits the send, or publish button. I strive to be one of the communicating saints of God and I invite all the selfless saints to be filled with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and join me in spreading the Word to all who are longing for it. It is so much easier today to just move on if there is no love found in a few folks for what God is trying to do through you.

Today we remember Mary Magdalene, First Witness of the Resurrection (July 22 NT) and her information may be found at: Mary Magdalene.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Help us dear God, the Creator and Lover of heaven and earth, to live and teach Your instruction wherever we are, and then use us as it pleases You to relocate if that is Your will in order that we may be of even greater service where needed, in Your Holy Spirit we pray, Amen.

Pondering for Monday, July 21, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 11: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 41 and 52; Evening, Psalm 44;
1^st Samuel 24:1 to 22; Acts 13:44 to 52; Mark 4:1 to 20:

“Again he began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land:” (Mark 4: 1)

These teachable moments in the Bible are staying with me a little longer. I am starting to look at stories that are acts of teaching that I really didn’t see before. David teaches Saul in our 1^st Samuel lesson today.

David says to Saul, “This very day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you into my hand in the cave; and some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, “I will not raise my hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed:” (1^st Samuel 24). David is showing Saul how important he, (Saul) is, because beside his faults, he was anointed by the Lord. The lesson here is to respect what the Lord has done even if you find it troubling in your life. There is also some responsibility for us who want to learn.

Saul reasons that David is the better person and a wise teacher. And he concedes, “When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, ‘Is that your voice, my son David?’ Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, ‘You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. Today you have explained how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. For who has ever found an enemy, and sent the enemy safely away? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day:” (1^st Samuel 24:16 to 19). Of course, the lesson here for all who are serious about their faith is not to return evil for evil. We are taught by a just God and we are better than that.

So my lens now is looking at my faith tradition, and scripture in particular, as it tries to teach us valuable lessons about how we are to live today. These teachings are timeless. They apply to us today. Our Lord Jesus taught from a boat to people more starved for Godly guidance than for bread. We have people around us today who are also starved for Godly guidance. You are their teachers. The lesson that Jesus teaches the teacher, from the lake, is to place yourself in such a way so as to reach as many as possible. And then teach with compassion. The people listening are like sheep without a shepherd. You, my beloved in the Lord, are their teaching shepherd. Love them, teach them.

Today we remember Maria Skobtsova, Monastic and Martyr (1945); and Albert John Luthuli, Prophetic Witness in South Africa (1967) and their information may be found at: Maria Skobtsova; and Albert Luthuli, respectively.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (For schools and colleges; BCP p. 824)

O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Sunday July 20, 2025

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 11: Year C

Luke 10:38-42

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing, Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41- 42)

This is a story about hospitality. It is also a story about priority. The hospitality part shows how important listening to our guests is over the efforts of making them comfortable. This Gospel lesson is paired up in track 2 with the Genesis story of the three visitors to Abraham as he sat by the oaks of Mamre at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. (Genesis 18: 1-10) Abraham makes provision for them and then stands by them as they refresh themselves. He listens to his guests. He is present with them as Mary is present with Jesus in our Gospel lesson from Luke today.

I have learned through my EfM (Education for Ministry) classes, that hospitality is more than just offering a meal and refreshments. It is about presence. It is about listening. If someone goes to a home gathering and grabs food and sits alone without conversing with anyone else and then just leaves after consuming the food, no relationship or real hospitality was accomplished. The better part is to have dialogue, conversation. It doesn’t necessarily mean agreement, just sharing and listening. This is the better part of hospitality. We must be attentive to the better parts and then thank God that it will not be taken away from us, which brings us to the priority part.

The priority part causes us to be mindful of the presence of Christ over all else and the; “this will not be taken away from her” part, shows its eternal nature. Food and work comes and goes. Being in the presence of God is eternal. I have been, and still become, both Martha and Mary. Martha is a good tool to use when we don’t want to face what’s really going on.

Inevitably the reality of the eternal sets in. We must choose the better part. Within the context of hospitality there is a priority that should be established. This is true whether your guests are family, old or new friends, or neighborhood children. Our house rules should require us to listen, learn and love.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray (BCP p. 231)

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pondering for Saturday, July 19, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 10: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 30 and 32; evening, Psalms 42 and 43.

1^st Samuel 22:1 to 23; Acts 13:26 to 43; Mark 3:19b to 35:

“The king said to the guard who stood around him, ‘Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David; they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me.’ But the servants of the king would not raise their hand to attack the priests of the Lord” (1^st Samuel 22:17).

I was an active duty U. S. Marine for thirty years. I must admit that while I was often told to do something that I did not want to do, I was never ordered to do something immoral or against my faith as I understood my faith. I now also belong to a fraternity which makes it very clear that before I swear to an obligation, that obligation will not conflict with my duty to God, my country, my neighbor or myself. I can live with this understanding.

I have the utmost respect for the guards who refused to obey Saul and kill Ahimelech, priest of the Lord. At some point in each life we must listen to our conscience. Our conscience resides in our souls. This is where God speaks to us. Any government or ruler who requires us to go against our conscience, our soul, our God, must not be obeyed. Who knows? There may be others around you who are on the fence about what to do, but witnessing your steadfastness about what is right to do, helps them to do the right thing also. When confused about what is right to do, try to err on the side of love, compassion and mercy.

Today we remember Macrina the Younger, Monastic and Teacher (July 19, 379) and her information may be found at: Macrina the Younger

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (The Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Friday, July 18, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 10: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 31; Evening, Psalm 35;
1^st Samuel 21:1 to 15, Acts 13:13 to 25; Mark 3:7 to19a

“When he had removed [Saul], he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, “I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.” Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised;” (Acts 13:22 and 23).

In Acts, Paul sums up all that we have been reading, and continue to read in 1^st Samuel. The Hebrew people demanded to be like the other nations even after God warned them not to be like them. But God was patient with them and allowed Saul to be their king. This worked until Saul became self-absorbed and God then moved the kingship to David, son of Jesse.

From the house of David God brought forth from Mary a Son, whose name is Jesus, the Savior of our souls from the temporal world. It is this Jew named Jesus who I believe was God Incarnate then, and maintains His Spiritual presence for the continual enhancement of human life on earth now, and more importantly, for all eternity.

The Israelites were called to spread the word that there is only one God. We, humanity, are to love God with all our being and also to love our fellow human beings as God loves each one of us. This was the message of God to all humanity that was to be carried out into the world by the descendants of Abraham. This was the message of love and inclusion that was supposed to be passed on to us by the Israelites to all nations, but the effort failed, until God gave us our Lord Jesus.

It is by the teachings and love of our Lord Jesus, that we still live and move and have our being. There is but one faith regardless of how it is understood. There is an almighty God. God is good. God is love. God desires peace to prevail among us. Let us not let the effort to get the word out about God’s desire for us to love one another fail again. God’s introduction, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus and the coming among us of the Holy Spirit is God’s final plan for us and our deliverance. We must not only receive this word, but pass it along as well.

Today we remember Benedict, Founder of Western Monasticism (July 11, 540) and his information may be found at: Benedict of Nursia.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Lord God almighty, keep us ever mindful of our call to love You and to love one another and to teach others that there is only You, One God, who brought us into being and then set the example for us to live by through Your presence in Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.

Pondering for Thursday, July 17, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 10, Year 1

Morning, Psalm 37:1-18; Evening, Psalm 37:19-42;
1^st Samuel 20:24 to 42; Acts 13:1 to 12; Mark 2:23 to 3:6:

“Then he [Jesus], said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath: (Mark 2:27).

Our Readings for today are very active with loads of stuff to ponder. And while I am intrigued with the saga of David and Jonathan; and the name changes in the Acts of the Apostles, that is, Simon to Niger; Bar-Jesus to Elymas; and of course, Saul to Paul, I am comforted by our Lord Jesus’ words about the priority of humankind over the Sabbath in our Gospel Reading for today. We were first. Then, as a gift to us, God gave us the Sabbath as a day of rest and reconciliation.

Rest is important. We need to know when to be quiet. David did. He could not be reconciled with Saul, so he followed the advice of Jonathan who loved him and he left only to return at a later time. Jacob did this in Genesis when he could not be reconciled with his twin brother Esau. Moses did this when he could not be reconciled with the Egyptians after the killing of an Egyptian. At some point we will find the wherewithal to return to what drove us off. We will reconcile with what was thought to be irreconcilable. This reconciliation includes the time interval God has given to us for being quiet.

I know a young man who is running away from troubles in his state of residence to live here in North Carolina. The problem is that until he squares himself with the authorities in his home state, North Carolina will not assist him with a driver’s license, voter registration, or even substantial employment. The stories of reconciliation are the old stories of the Bible. The greatest reconciliation we can engage in is our reconciliation with God. And God has given us the Sabbath as the divine opportunity to do just that.

Our Lord Jesus explains that because God wants to have a pathway whereby we can “come back,” to God, we have been given the Sabbath. It is a contemplative time, not so much for gathering and chatter, but rather for solitude and simplicity. It is a time for finding a quiet place in order that we might focus on God and ourselves. This is why it is perfectly okay to do good works on the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not a restriction on our life but rather the freeing of it.

Our Sabbath begins tomorrow evening. Our Lord Jesus never separated us from the traditional Sabbath, which he himself set aside and kept. Let us be at peace and be reconciled back to God.

Today we remember William White, Bishop of Pennsylvania and the first Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (1836) and his information may be found at: William White.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: For Quiet Confidence (BCP p. 832)

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 10: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening, Psalm 119:25 to 48;
1^st Samuel 20:1 to 23; Acts 12:18 to 25; Mark 2:13 to 22:

“As for the matter about which you and I have spoken, the Lord is witness between you and me for ever:” (1^st Samuel 20:23).

Obviously there was a strong relationship between Jonathan and David. The nature of their relationship can be argued. What I want to focus on is how we may latch on to people outside of our biological family and make strong, life commitments with them.

These strong lifelong commitments happen in many ways. There is marriage, there is career choice, there are fraternities and sororities, there are healing clinics such as AA and others where strangers establish bonds of trust that could never happen in some biological family relationships.

There are also our Church relationships. Church relationships happen when we decide that we want the Lord to witness the bond we make with another. Such a covenant needs to be equally important to both parties. It doesn’t work if one of the two is an atheist or of a different faith tradition. Oh, they can be friends, even business partners, but they will not be bound in an unconditional, agape love as were Jonathan and David. Again, Jonathan tells David, “As for the matter about which you and I have spoken, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.”

Perhaps the best biblical examples of two people committing themselves to each other can be found in the words of Ruth to Naomi, and Tobias to Sarah in the Apocrypha of the Bible.

Ruth says to Naomi her mother-in-law, in whom she saw God working, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” (Ruth 1: 16 and 17)

In the Apocrypha of the Bible we find the only actual marriage vows in scripture, Tobias prays with Sarah; “Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors, and blessed is your name in all generations forever. Let the heavens and the whole creation bless you forever. You made Adam, and for him you made his wife Eve as a helper and support. From the two of them the human race has sprung. You said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.’ I now am taking this kinswoman of mine, not because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together.” And they both said, “Amen, Amen.” Then they went to sleep;” (Tobit 8: 5 to 9) And to this I too say, Amen, Amen.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (For those we love, BCP p. 831)

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 10: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening, Psalms 36 and 39;
1^st Samuel 19:1 to 18; Acts 12:1 to 17; Mark 2:1 to 12:

“And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.” (Mark 2:4)

I am amazed at what we can actually do through love and faith. The friends of the paralytic man were determined to get their paralyzed friend to our Lord Jesus. The huge crowd would not prevent them. Jesus was amazed at their faith. He was so amazed that he used their faith to wash away the paralytic’s crippling psychological hold on him. He forgave the man of his sins.

When questioned about whether or not Jesus has the power to forgive sins, our Lord Jesus explains that while there are some visible things we humans can do, like bringing a friend to Jesus against all odds. There are in some invisible things we simply cannot do, or, can we?

Jesus goes on to explain that while we can see the physical things that he can do, we ought to know that there are some invisible things he can do as well. We need to know that our Lord Jesus is very God of very God; Jesus is Lord over the seen, and the unseen. Given that the walking, talking, teaching, healing and forgiving Jesus was in fact God Incarnate, then of course Jesus can do all these signs and wonders – seen and unseen.

But here is the thing, we, you and I, can do more signs and wonders than we are doing now. There are some medical marvels that we still can’t do, for example, people who suffer from some spinal injuries must still live the rest of their lives paralyzed. Some midlife blindness is permanent. Some psychological disorders are also irreversible. While our Lord Jesus could bring about changes to these physical impairments, he also did what we all can do if we allow ourselves; he forgave sins.

To say, as the scribes did that, “Only God can forgive sins,” is a copout. With compassion, we too can relieve truly penitent people of their pain, such as this man in our Mark reading today. It’s understandable if we don’t want to forgive someone who denies their wrongdoing, or tries to minimize it. But for someone who has given up on life because they are so hurt by what they have done, surely we should find some mercy within our hearts to forgive them. No, we do not have to be God to forgive. Forgiveness is a part of us that makes us created in God’s Image. I pray that one day our God-given medical skills will enable us to cure disabilities. But God has advanced our capacity to forgive a fallen brother or sister who is truly remorseful. We just need to use it now.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen.

Pondering for Monday, July 14, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 10: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 25; Evening, Psalm 9 and 15;
1^st Samuel 18:5 to 16 and 27 to 30; Acts 11:19 to 30; Mark 1:29 to 45:

“In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you:” (Mark 1:35 to 37).

Jesus has just healed the mother in law of Simon Peter. This is evidence that at least he, Simon, was married. That’s the only way one gets a “mother-in-law.” I ponder how many of the other followers were married. What does it mean to be in a committed relationship and then commit one’s self to following our Lord Jesus? Which commitment should come first? Ponder, ponder.

Simon tells Jesus, “Everyone is searching for you.” Oh Simon, if only that were true. Maybe people are looking for our Healer and Redeemer but do not know his name. In our Acts reading for today we learn that the disciples, and therefore students of Jesus, who is the Christ or Anointed One, were first named “Christians” in Antioch. The name stuck. I think it is important to remember that as Christians, we too are disciples, or students of our Lord Jesus. Are we learning what our Teacher is teaching us? I think it is important to remember one very important lesson from our Lord Jesus. And that is, that our Lord Jesus goes to be alone to pray. Private prayers are healing prayers. We don’t need words. All we need is to be open to God and whatever God has for us.

If we really need words to get us into a receptive state of being, perhaps Psalm 25, selected for today, will help. “Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long:” (Psalm 25: 3 and 4). These are just two verses from Psalm 25. But I think praying the whole Psalm will assist in getting us into a good and private place wherein, like our Lord Jesus, we can connect with the God of our salvation.

When we practice praying privately it becomes easier to pray publicly. Although it has been my experience that most people want to hear words. Even when a speaker asks for, “a moment of silence,” in memory of the loss of a person, count the seconds. Rarely is it 60 seconds. People don’t like silence. To make it real, I have gone to using a singing bowl with a mallet and watching my watch. I really don’t care if I go over the minute. After all, I am praying too. We shouldn’t focus on the time, unless we are cheated out of it. Jesus got up and went to a “quiet” place to pray and Simon and the noise followed him. Let us have some holy silence at least once a day.

Today we remember Argula von Grumbach, Scholar and Church Reformer (c.1554): and, Samson Occum, Witness to the Faith in New England (1792): and their information may be found at: Argula von Grumbach, and Samson Occum, respectively.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Help us, dear Lord, in our quiet moments alone, to find You. And then, to follow where You lead the Way as You are also the Truth and the Life: Amen.

Pondering for Sunday, July 13, 2025

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 10: Year C

Luke 10:25-37

“Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10: 36 and 37)

This is the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is a well known, but too rarely followed, example of expected Christian behavior.

Jesus explains that not just regular Israelites passed by the injured man, but indeed a Levite (the tribe from whom priest come; and also a priests himself passes without even getting close to the injured man. Then a Samaritan, those who the Israelites disowned, puts forth both medical aid and financial support.

There is no hint about the Samaritan’s faith or belief in words, only deeds. What he believes is expressed in his behavior. Rather than getting into theological debates with people about different beliefs we, who call ourselves Christians, should just follow our Lord Jesus’ instruction to “Go and do likewise.”

From the Gospel reading for today Jesus tells of the Samaritan who finds a wounded man left for dead on the side of the road. The Samaritan is not necessarily a doctor but he cared about human life. He tended to the man and made provisions for his continued care. The very people entrusted with the spiritual care of the people (the Priest and the Levite) pondered the negative consequences to themselves and avoided contact with the wounded man. They thought that if the man was dead, and they touched him, they would then be defiled and not fit to enter the temple.

Any faith that hinders our compassion to help others, any others, or at least investigate their situation, should be more closely examined. This includes some Christian walks in life as well. We never know when fate will alter our situation in life. It could be disease, or an accident, or fires, or storms, or even evil people as in this case of robbers who left this man for dead. When we notice someone in bad shape we should remember that they are our neighbors. All people on this planet are our neighbors. This is the point that Jesus is making.

We are called by God to have compassion for all people who are in any kind of distress. And where there is doubt, check it out. Your investigation may make a real difference in the lives of the distressed, it may even save a life. But know this; as you notice the unfortunate situations of others, God is noticing you. Be the neighbor to those who are in need. Show mercy, go and do likewise.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (BCP p. 231)

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.