onewhoponders

Readings for Benedict of Nursia 540

Psalm 119:129-136Proverbs 2:1-9Philippians 2:12-16Luke 14:27-33

Philippians

 “Do all things without murmuring and arguing” (Philippians 2:14)

My Pondering

Today we remember Benedict of Nursia, considered to be the Father of Western Monasticism. Benedict’s day seems to have moved.  I remember it being in July. Having said that I can remember our studies in Seminary.  It was late one night as we were all getting ready of bed and we were thinking about theRules at Virginia Episcopal Seminary.  Some of the “thinking” was made manifest in complaining.  As we had been studying a booklet on Benedict’s Rule that morning, one of us reminded the rest of us that “there shall be no murmuring.”  We all laughed and went on to our respective rooms quietly.  The quote from Philippians above reminded me of that night.

Benedict was born at Nursia (Norcia) in Umbria, Italy, around 480 AD. He was sent to Rome for his studies, but was repelled by the dissolute life of most of the populace, and withdrew to a solitary life at Subiaco. He withdrew to a cave where, according to some reports where there was at least one other man already there, where he studied and (I might add) pondered.  He soon attracted other men to follow in his path of solitude and prayer.  This led to the order he created with vows and most famously, The Rule, that assisted in maintaining the order.

A Benedictine monk takes vows of “obedience, stability, and amendment of life.”  The Benedictine monk promises to obey the abbot, to remain in the order and to the amendment of life to that of piety, prayer and work. An average day includes about four hours to be spent in liturgical prayer, five hours in spiritual reading and study, six hours of labor, one hour for eating, and about eight hours for sleep. The Book of Psalms is to be recited in its entirety every week as a part of the Office.

I think what I really like (the take-away) is the idea that we are not to murmur, or complain about life in the vocations we have chosen.  Too many of us today fuss about every little inconvenience.  We have to learn to accept and deal with inconvenience from time to time.  I have learned that come inconvenience turns out to be unexpected opportunity.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Readings for Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Bishop and Missionary  (20 Mar 687)

Psalm 104: 32-35 Isaiah 55:6-12 Romans 12:6-13 John 10:25b-30

Psalm 104

“May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.” (Psalm 104:34)

My Pondering

I meditate.  As a spiritual companion I encourage meditation to all who sit in consultation with me.  I also encourage journaling.  Many of my spiritual companions express an aversion to journaling.  I’m still working on them.  Today we remember Cuthbert of Lindisfarne.  What I know of him comes from James Kiefer as reported www.satucket.com/lectionary/Cuthbert.htm. 

It seems Cuthbert, like many monastic religious, really preferred the life of prayer and solitude with meditation.  But it was not to be for Cuthbert.  And I must say, almost every religious person that I have studied reached a point where they had to engage the community in which they lived for the spiritual and physical health of that same community.  “Although his real preference was for the solitary life of a hermit, he recognized a duty to minister to the needs of the people about him.” (Kiefer)

Cuthbert had somewhat a gift for negotiations. And although he had grown up in a system that was being phased out he assisted in the transitioning of his worship culture into the tradition of Rome.   “Although Cuthbert had been brought up in the Celtic customs, he accepted the decrees of the Synod of Whitby in 663, which committed the English Church to following instead the Roman customs that had been introduced into Canterbury by Augustine, and so he helped to minimize contention over the decision.”  (Kiefer)

Another request I ask my spiritual companions to do regularly is to pray.  And as they come to see me I inquire of the prayer life.  I don’t want to know the content of their time with God just that they did and how was it for them.  Soon they realize that the line between prayer and meditation diminishes.  Finally they realize that some prayer is made manifest in meditation and it is to the glory of God that they are thankful for and to whom they give glory to like the Psalmist says, “May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.”

Cuthbert served the people faithfully as best he could often traveling great distances to do the will of God.  It did not go unnoticed. “Theodore, the Archbishop of Canterbury, made Cuthbert Bishop of Hexham, but he was a solitary by nature, and promptly exchanged bishoprics with Eata so as to remain at Lindisfarne. After two years, he retired to the neighboring island of Farne as a hermit, and died there the following year.”  (Kiefer)

None of us knows where we will end up as we do the work God has given us to do.  The only thing we can do is to do such work to the best of our abilities with a prayer in our hearts and on our lips thanking God for the opportunity to do it.  Cuthbert demonstrated the gift of walking people into new ways of worshiping and serving God and making them feel welcome in that new way to worship and serve. The truth is, we are all evolving spiritually.  In two minutes, two hours, two days, two weeks, two months or two years, you could be a whole new spiritual person.  Ask Paul.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr. mat1

Readings for Joseph, Earthly father of Jesus

Daily Office:  AM: Psalm 132; Isaiah 63:7-16; PM: Psalm 34; 2 Chronicles 6:12-17; Ephesians 3:14-21;  Matthew 1:18-25 

Matthew

 “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)

My Pondering

Let us see Joseph through Matthew’s eyes.  Matthew is trying to make a connection between Jesus and the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures.  He shows that in the linage of Joseph there are repeating names of father and son like names of our ancient parents. “And Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.” (Matthew 1:16)  So Jacob, of Genesis, was later called Israel who had a son named Joseph (of the coat of many colors), who was sold into slavery and later became in charge of Egypt’s resources and made homes for Israel to move down to Egypt.  So this repeating of the holy names is special.

Matthew speaks of our New Testament Joseph as one who ponders (I like that word).  He pondered how he might let go of Mary after seeing that she was already pregnant.   “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)   We have no words from Joseph only obedience.  He does as he is told.  It is important to note here that he is told the child will save us from our sins!  That’s a big deal in and of itself, perhaps for another Ponder blog.

When Herod (the so-called Great) was on a baby killing spree, Joseph was told to take the baby and go to Egypt.  “So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt” (Matthew 2:14).  Again, he showed unquestioning obedience for the welfare of his family.

Later, After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” (Matthew 2:19-20)  More faithful fatherhood is modeled.

As a father myself, I have some idea of what it means to care for children, whether they are biological or not.  Fatherhood is so special.  Our human existence depends on the “big brother” approach of men caring for young children.  It is not so much about being a disciplinarian but rather an example setter and coach. It is about being supportive of the mother especially when she is the one doing most or all of the leadership.  It is not about being the boss, but rather sharing in the tensions and troubles that come to the family from time to time.

There is a non-spoken presence of Joseph in Luke worthy of note.  Jesus is lost as far as Mary and Joseph are concerned.  However we only hear from his mother, “and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’”  (Luke 2:48)  Joseph again says nothing and yet, in his silent strength, he is the epitome of fatherhood.  I can see him standing in agreement with Mary yet not being overbearing.  Come on dads, let’s be like Joseph.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Cyril of Jerusalem Bishop and Theologian (18 March 836)

Readings for Cyril:

Psalm 122 Ecclesiasticus 47:8-10 Hebrews 13:14-21 Luke 24:44-48

Luke

“Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:44-48)

My Pondering

Today we remember Cyril of Jerusalem of the fourth century.  Cyril had an on again, off again, bishopric in Jersalem where he was born early in the same century.  The issue was his decision to stand by our creed as developed in Nicea, known today as our Nicene Creed.  It was the affirmation that Jesus was/is of one substance with God. I often ponder that if we love Jesus and realize there is an undisputable connection between Jesus and God, why are we getting so wrapped around the axle about that when we should be out doing the work that Jesus as set for us to do.  We should just live with the mystery.

It is a shame that we have closed our minds to doing the work of feeding the hungry that are right next to us because we are concerned about what other people think about the mystical make-up of Jesus.  As the verse says in Luke, we really need Jesus to open our minds to understand the scriptures. Jesus also told them that the people around us need consolation and peace.  We are focused on the degree of who Jesus is rather than following his instruction and caring for the lost all around us.  These are the ones we should be concerned about.  The next verse in Luke has Jesus saying, “and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah^* is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:46 – 48)

I am thankful to Cyril of Jerusalem for his steadfast insistence on our Nicene Creed.  It keeps us Trinitarian.  That’s looking up to God.  God on the other hand, asks us to look to our right and left at those less fortunate than ourselves and to be responsive to their needs. Open our minds again Lord.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Liturgical Readings for the Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 15:1-12,17-18Psalm 27Philippians 3:17-4:1Luke 13:31-35

Luke

Some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” (Luke 13:31)

My Pondering

With assistance of Fred B. Craddock writing for Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching; Luke; Craddock also shows that not all Pharisees should be grouped into a Hate-Jesus group. Craddock writes, “In fact, according  to Luke, Paul himself acknowledged near the close of his ministry, not “I was a Pharisee” but “I am a Pharisee” (Acts 23:6).  (Craddock; Interpretation 1990; Luke; p. 173) Craddock goes on to say that some of the members of the early church were indeed Pharisees.

This is the idea I quickly came to as I read the opening of this passage. These Pharisee were not trying to trick Jesus.  They were trying to warn him.  Herod Antipas of Galilee had already beheaded John the Baptist and there was talk that Jesus was a reconstituted John.  Herod now wanted to be done with this once and for all.  But Jesus knew that in spite of Herod’s yearning, prophets are killed in Jerusalem and nowhere else.   Jesus even taunts him sending the message that he will be in his territory for three more days and then on to Jerusalem. So there, Herod.

This lesson about the Pharisees is like the one about “The Jews” as written especially in the Gospel of John where the term is used as if to say that all Jews were instrumental in the death of Jesus.  The term “The Jews” is pointing to the Temple authorities only.  And, perhaps not even all of them.  This leads to the focus of this pondering.  We need to own the deep level of understanding God has given us to look deep into people and the groups to which they belong.

Today we tend to be as divisive as we can be. Sometimes this happens only for the sake of being against the other group or team. We do this most effectively with labels. We label the others progressive, conservative, liberal, literal, fundamentalist, democrat, and republican, Baptist, Episcopalian, Catholic, Muslim and back to Jews again. On these labeling platforms we initiate polarization, and too often, tribal hate for those not on “our team.” 

We need to be open to being loving friends with those who belong to groups that we don’t feel comfortable being a part of. Jesus went to dinners with the Pharisees. But he never became a Pharisee.  If we look, and we can, there is some good in all groups that attract loving community.  This is true because some aspect of God is present in that loving community too. And this too is true because God is love. We can’t, and shouldn’t, just be done with them once and for all.  So there, Herod.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Daily Office Readings for Year One: Saturday of week one of Lent.

AM Psalm 55; PM Psalm 138, 139:1-17(18-23) Deut. 11:18-28; Heb. 5:1-10; John 4:1-26

From the Gospel of John

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

My Pondering

This again reminds me of when I was in undergraduate school at East Carolina University and taking chemistry with a lab and Intro to philosophy.  At the time I was an enlisted Marine working on my college degree with not much thought of divine things.  However, I was a church going person and did ponder about God every now and again.

So, as I studied the elemental chart and saw that the simplest of atomic structures was that of the hydrogen atom (a proton and a electron). I asked myself, was it a random act that the combining and restructuring of atoms and proteins caused life and eventually us?  Or, was there a master thought actually thinking these things (and us) into being from the very beginning? Philosophically, I read René Descartes and his pondering of “I think therefore I am.” And even without being any kind of a churchy person I reasoned that life was not random.  It was a loving plan from the start, from one who is Spirit.  This is One who I like to call the Principle Ponderer.
So it is the Unseen Spirit that brings the seen into visibility, into being, into discernment, not the other way around.

We are connected to the Almighty in Spirit and in Truth. And as Jesus tells the woman at the well, we are to worship God in Spirit and in truth.  We cannot get away from the presence of God as is proclaimed by the Psalmist, “Where can I go then from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.” (Psalm 139:6 – 7)

We are brought into life as spiritual beings learning  and struggling to be the created creatures God has equipped us to be.  We should not be so fascinated with the diversity of our physical make-up that we forget that we are all one Spirit in God.  And as Christians, we make that spiritual connection through Jesus who is the Christ, our Emanuel, God with us.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

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Readings for St Vincent de Paul: Helper of the poor (27 September 1660)

Psalm 37:19-42 1 Samuel 2:2–10Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.”  (Matthew 25:31)

My Pondering

In Matthew’s Gospel this chapter and verse starts the beginning of the separation of the sheep from the goats.  The sheep are placed on the right hand side and the goats on the left.  The sheep are remembered for seeing Jesus in the poor and down trodden and responding with loving care.  The goats are remembered for not seeing Jesus in the same and being oblivious to their situation. The lesson of course, is that we should strive to see Jesus in the down trodden and respond to their needs as best we can.

St Vincent is remembered for being a caring sheep as depicted in this chapter.  He dedicated himself to helping the poor and needy. “Out of his Confraternity of Charity there arose an order of nuns called the Daughters (or Sisters) of Charity, devoted to nursing those who were sick and poor. He said of them, “Their convent is the sick-room, their chapel the parish church, their cloister the streets of the city.” “(Taken from an article by James Kiefer)

In my formative years, first through fourth grades, I attended St Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Nashville, Tennessee.  I would not learn of its significance in my life until years later.  The sisters there instructed us in manners, how to eat, that is, to drink only after finishing our meals, about reading, writing and arithmetic, and about God.  I am now convinced that they baptized me.  I did not know it at the time.  It was when I sent for my transcript for college that I read the transcript from St Vincent where it answered the question, “How is child identified?” The answer: “Baptismal Certificate.”  So I pondered that these good sisters made it their responsibility to see to it that these poor children got into heaven.  God Bless them for that.

Not everything was good at St Vincent.  There was a secular lay teacher there that was mean to me.  I remember that.  She is probably among the goats now.  But my take-away is very good.  That school, which is no longer in operation, shaped my spiritual life for the rest of my life.

I was given a choice in life, to be a sheep or a goat.  I’m spending my life looking for Jesus in every person I meet.  I don’t care what the person believes or even if they believe.  My calling is to be good to people.  Jesus is easy to spot.  You can see him in men or women, black or white and all shades in between, gay or straight, rich or poor, free or incarcerated, democrat or republican. You get the idea, everybody.  Come sheep with me.  Let’s go on a Jesus hunt.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

The Lessons Appointed for Use on Thursday in the First Week of Lent

Esther (Apocrypha) 14:1–6,12–14Psalm 138Matthew 7:7–12

Matthew:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.   For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”   (Matt. 7:7 – 8)

My Ponderings

Jesus is still teaching in Galilee to a large crowd that began in chapter 3 of Matthew.  As it becomes apparent to them that they have much to learn he begins to show them how to obtain greater understanding.   He now tells them that to have a deeper relationship with God and one another they must ask, seek and knock. He goes on to give the example that if we know how to care for our loved ones, how much more does God know how to care for us, but we must ask. We must seek.  We must knock.  Jesus ends with the golden rule of “do to others what you would want them to do to you.” ( Matt. 7:12)

Asking for anything really comes hard for some people.  This is especially true if they have to ask a friend or a neighbor for help.  But necessity happens.  We must remember that God exist in our neighbors also.  And in most cases God has already prepared our neighbors to help us and sometimes they are completely unawares.  But we must humble ourselves and ask for help. We are not afforded the life wherein we can say “I never have to ask for anything.”  Sometimes we must. Asking is God’s plan. It is the social network God wants us to enjoy.

Curiosity too brings about innovation in our work and in our everyday lives.  It is the old “what if” question.  If we search for answers we will find them. Even finding out what does not work is an answer.  This is what Jesus says. Seek and we shall find.   For me it is all about “Pondering.”  I just let my mind ponder around whatever primary idea comes to me. But to do this, I need you. Help me please.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Readings for James Theodore Holly Bishop of Haiti and Dominican Republic (13 March 1911)

Psalm 86:11-17 Deuteronomy 6:20-25  Acts 8:26-39 John 4:31-38

Acts of the Apostles:

Some manuscripts include here Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The Eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:37)

Acts 8:37 may not be found in many English translations. I have taken up the position of baptizing at the drop of a hat based on this Acts reading about Philip and the Eunuch for a long time.  I have especially liked the part where the Eunuch sees water and asked what is to prevent him from being baptized?

I also like the fact that Philip picked up where the Eunuch was rather than starting from the beginning of Genesis and giving the Eunuch more than he either asked for or could handle.  This was brotherly love truly demonstrated wherein Philip had compassion for one who was probably refused entrance into the Temple he traveled so far to because of his mutilated condition.

Verse 37 of Acts 8 with its requirement to believe that Jesus is the Son of God is so important to being a Christian.  If one does not there is no point in being baptized.  In just the same way men wanting to be a Free Mason must proclaim a belief in God (even if not Christian) or there is no point in taking an obligation to be a Mason.  Masonry is not a religion, but a man must believe in God, in some way, to be accepted into the fraternity.

James Theodore Holly was the First African American Bishop in the Episcopal Church and Bishop of Haiti. “As an experienced Masonic leader and scholar, Holly visited the Masonic temples and made friends among their members. He was also willing to perform Masonic burial services.” ( adapted from St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church, Buffalo, NY (reprinted with permission))

No matter what we do in life or what fraternity or sorority we join, if we are professed Christians we must believe in God as made manifest in Christ Jesus and this must be first in our lives. It was the teachings of Jesus that guided Philip to the pastoral care of the Eunuch.  The teachings of Jesus will also guide us today to the pastoral care of all who Jesus puts in our path. We are to go up to their chariot and explain the story of Jesus only as much as they can bear.  One does not baptize one’s self, it takes community.

Fraternity, sorority or parish, find a community of faithful believers and be “taken” by the Holy Spirit to do good works.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Liturgical Readings for Tuesday in the First Week of Lent

Isaiah 55:6–11 Psalm 34:15–22 Matthew 6:7–15

Isaiah:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.”   (Isaiah 55:8)

My Pondering

What would it be like to have thoughts like God’s thoughts?  It seems from this verse that God’s thoughts lead to God’s ways and therefore, since our thoughts are not like God’s thoughts our ways are not like God’s ways.

I am reminded of our old “Think and Do” books in private school when I was in first or second grade.  I can’t remember the content so much but I have never forgotten the title, “Think and Do.”  Think and Do parallels thoughts and ways.  So if I want my ways to be more godly then my godly thoughts must come first.  While we will never be able to achieve the mind of God I think at least trying to move in that direction is a good first step to a more godly path and way.

There may not be a big difference between thought and love for God. For that matter, for God, think and love may, in some way, be the same thing.  If God thinks in love, how do I copy that?  I too must think in terms of love.  This means that whenever something bad happens I should immediately go into recovery mode, into make-whole-again mode. There is always a scene in an adventure movie where a loved one has been hurt by a villain and the villain runs off.  The hero then has to decide whether to give chase or take care of the victim.  In almost all cases, the hero attends first to the victim.  This is the right and loving way. The same is true for whatever attacks someone we love.  The most import thing, the most godly thing to do is provide comfort to our loved ones.  The attacker could be another person or persons, a disease, a job loss, or an accident that caused harm.  The first step is always to stop the bleeding!  This love-action (thought-way) Godly Way is what we want to be and do.

Revenge or retaliation is never a godly way. It is certainly not a loving way.  We must learn to turn our hurt and hate into help and healing – searching for another way. If we let ourselves become obsessed with negative relationship we are no longer able to love-act, thought-way, think and do. With retaliation and/or revenge we could get ourselves into a place that would prevent us from being able to help our loved ones in the future.

We can, and should try to get a little closer to God’s Way of thinking and the Way God loves us.  Then our thoughts will be at least closer to God’s thoughts, and our ways closer to God’s Ways.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to God’s people and “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.