onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 50; Evening, Psalm 118;

Isaiah 49:13-23; Galatians 3:1-14; Mark 6:30-46:

“After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.” (Mark 6: 46)

Jesus has just fed the five thousand and sent his disciples off in a boat.  It has been a hard day’s work and now he goes to the Father in prayer.  This whole episode started with prayer as he gave thanks for the few loaves and fish before passing it out to the multitude.

This is what I call a miracle or “task” sandwich prayer. Jesus prays to start the activity and then closes it with prayer at the end. So often we pray and pray for God to do something for us.  When God resolves the situation for us (as may be best for us) we take it and go. We are not making a pizza where something is just laid on top of a single piece of bread. We are making a sandwich where we put food on bread and then top it with another piece of bread. 

With only the bottom piece of bread, God doesn’t hear from us again until the next crisis. But in this case in our Gospel reading for today, with the feeding of the multitude, Jesus was praying for the work he has just done, not for any new favors or life improvements or the next big thing, but for the welfare of others that they might be truly fed with the Spirit as well as the material food. 

This too is a misunderstanding we sometimes make.  When we receive unexpected opportunities like the chance to help somebody, we should do it in a prayer sandwich.  Pray, asking for God’s help at the start.  Experience the task, and then give God thanks for the opportunity just received. Prayer then, becomes the bread of the Spirit that encloses the miracle, or holy work, or task. This is a perfect task sandwich.  Yum  Yum!

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

Let us pray:

Most Holy Lord God, help us to slow down in reverent patience as we go about our days. Receive our prayers, spoken or pondered, before and after, whatever our concerns are. We pray that your love for us may be made manifest between our prayers as they were with our Lord Jesus. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 119:49-72; Evening, Psalm 49;
Isaiah 49:1-12; Galatians 2:11-21; Mark 6:13-29:

 “For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.” (Mark6:20)

The relationship of Herod with John the Baptist was one of fear, respect, mystery and admiration.  And yet Herod would allow himself to be persuaded into killing John.

With the possible exception of fear, I have mentors of whom I respect and who are mysterious and have my admiration.  They just happen to all be Freemasons or Priests save a few.  They are mostly people of integrity who always have some silent quality about them that manifest a contemplative quality. I can’t imagine doing anything that would cause them harm.  For that matter, I don’t want to do anything that would harm our relationships. Herod lost a great mentor when he allowed too much to drink take away the bright light in his life.

I believe all of us should have some person or persons in our lives that are those who console us. Elisha had Elijah and Ruth had Naomi.  Who do you have?  Regular visits to be with such a person makes you a better person too. We all need someone who could advise us, console us, someone we like to listen to.  Such a person should be honest and a good listener who wants to console and not control. Your mentor should be someone you like to listen to. And someone with a trait that you want to emulate. I believe that by maintaining this mentor-protégé relationship we grow into being part of that person leading us, and we keep them with us long after they have gone on. Keep the good ones alive forever.

Today we remember LIli’Uokalani of Hawaii, Queen and Hymnographer (November 11, 1917); and Andrei Rublev, Monk and Iconographer, (1430); and their information may be found at: Lili’uokalani of Hawaii and Andrei Rublev, respectively.

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

Let us pray:

O God, Giver of all good gifts and graces, keep us ever mindful of seeking out good, God-loving people to be our companions on our journey in this life. Help us to see Your goodness in them and to copy their love of You so that we too may grow in love and respect for You, Your Creation and all people, through the love of Christ Jesus, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 45; Evening, Psalms 47 and 48:

Isaiah 48:12-21; Galatians 1:18-2:10; Mark 6:1-13:

 “Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, ‘The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.” (Galatians 1: 18 – 23)

Paul’s time was a time before pictures and emails.  No one knew what anybody looked like. So when people met Paul they had to ponder about who he used to be and who he is now.  We all change over time, hopefully for the better. The same thing is happening in our Mark Reading for today, the people of Nazareth were wondering how Jesus whom they thought they knew, got all his wisdom and power. Unlike Paul however, Jesus never changed, we just had to change to see who He really is.

I know that I am not the person I used to be.  And I am so thankful to God for it.  However, anytime I travel back to Nashville, Tennessee, those closest to my age assume that I have the same value system that I left with. I do not.  Life is more meaningful now and it’s not just because I’m older.  My study of Jesus and the Gospel has had a profound effect on the way I interpret experiences. 

We are taught by love to be tolerant of others. I think we should be especially intentional about tolerance when we don’t agree with them.  The world has many people that I do not agree with.  But that’s ok.  There is a code of ethics built into our Baptismal Covenant that says that with God’s help we will respect the dignity of every person.  What I must remind myself of constantly is that this applies even if they don’t respect themselves.  I have been there, in a dark place, where I did not respect myself.  I think the first person we have to start respecting is ourselves.  Our values change.  As we age, our thoughts go through some changes. The good news is, like Paul, our beliefs change also. Now change can go either way, good or bad.  But with concepts like tolerance and love we are able to be civil and loving with people, even those who differ from us.  When this happens people will marvel that you, like Paul, are no longer the person you used to be. Thanks be to God. 

Today we remember Thomas Aquinas; Priest, Friar, and Theologian (January 28, 1274) and his information may be found at: Thomas Aquinas

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

Let us pray:

O God of all power and might, help us to see both in ourselves and others what You are doing in our midst. Be it our parents, pastors, professions, or presidents, let us see the changes in ourselves and others, or what was always there, but overlooked. For You are always guiding us toward love for one another, You who live and love forever and ever, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 41 and 52; Evening, Psalm 44:
Isaiah 48:1-11; Galatians 1:1-17; Mark 5:21-43:

 “He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:34)

This is the story of Jesus on his way to Jairus’ home to attend to Jairus’ daughter.  And while this story begins and ends with the little girl, on the way a sick woman gives Jesus an unexpected opportunity.

She has been bleeding for 12 years.  She has tried everything and every doctor for help to no avail. Now she puts her hopes and faith in Jesus.  She self talks to herself and says that if she could just touch his clothes she would be made well. And she was.  When Jesus approaches her about what she did, she confesses. And Jesus says to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.

So once again, God in Christ Jesus is using the faith already in us, to fix us. It is amazing that God puts this faith in us from the beginning and then waits patiently until we ask for help.  Then God reaches in and activates our medicine in us to fix us. I often refer to our faith as our Faith First Aid Kit.

In the Marine Corps each Marine wore a first aid kid on the belt. This kit was for the person it was belted to, not for anyone found hurt. Therefore, we wanted to make sure the first-aid kit contained all that was necessary if someone found us injured. In which case they could take what we had on our belt and treat us. Our faith is like a Faith-kit.

We keep our faith kits up-to-date by regular prayer, study and worship. God, then uses our faith to heal us. As Jesus says, “Your faith has made you well.” Faith not used is faith lost. 

Today we remember John Chrysostom: Bishop of Antioch and of Constantinople, Preacher, Theologian and Liturgist, and his information may be found at: John Chrysostom

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

Let us pray:                                                            

O Lord God, please keep us ever mindful of the importance of maintaining our God-given faith with regular prayer, study and worship so that in our time of need You may make us well. Amen.

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of the 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year C

Luke 4: 14 to 21

 ^“When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom.”  (Luke 4:16)

And I guess we should say “back” to Nazareth, given that he was raised there.  I like to catch the little seemingly unimportant phrases like “as was his custom.”  That’s a big deal!  It’s a custom that Jesus modeled that many professing Christians (followers of Jesus) fail to follow.

I love telling the story of when I was in  Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield/Desert Storm and went to our little Church service every Sunday in the sand.  Some of my junior Marines asked me, “Gunny, why do you go to Church?” Of which I answered, “Because it’s Sunday.”  That’s it – straight forward, simple.  Even now I don’t give long theological pontifications about The Resurrection and Church History.  I understand that when I accept Jesus, and Sunday comes, I go to Church as was Jesus’ custom.  Let’s follow Jesus to Church.

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

Let us pray: A Collect for Sundays (BCP p. 98)

O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eucharistic Readings for the Conversion of St. Paul.

Acts 26:9-21 Psalm 67; Galatians 1:11-24; Matthew 10:16-22

“I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11 and 12)

Today we remember the Conversion of St. Paul.  Some Church friends and I went to see “Paul the Apostle.”  It was a really good movie. The best part for me was the ending, wherein we saw Paul’s reward.  I’m not going to go any further.  I would like for you to see it for yourself.  The movie reminds me that we live our Christian lives for the reward, that is, to be saved. I think too many of us forget that.

Paul was gifted with zeal before he was born but went about his early life in ways not pleasing to God.  But God, in Christ Jesus, met him on the road to Damascus and changed his life. Our lives can change also if we show God that we are tireless in our efforts to do what we think God wants. God will show us the Way.

 We get so wrapped up in this life we begin to feel this is it, and that this life is all there is.  We must remember that this mortal life is not eternal.  For those of us that lead hard or painful lives, this is good news. But even for us that don’t have it so bad there is still a better life to come if we persevere, if we endure to the end. We must remember that it is not what people think about us, rather it is what God knows about us.  But thanks be to God, God is loving and merciful. A decision that costs us time and money here in this life, for the benefit of someone else, that they might be taken care of, is pleasing in Gods sight. Some of the blessings we have here is for us to pass on. It was never ours to keep. Like Abraham, we are blessed, and we bless others.

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

Let us pray: (Conversion of Saint Paul January 25: BCP p. 238)

 O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 31; Evening, Psalm 35;
Isaiah 45:18-25; Ephesians 6:1-9; Mark 4:35-41:

Today we remember Florence Li Tim-Oi First Woman Priest in the Anglican Communion (January 24, 1944) and her information may be found at: Ordination of Florence Li Tim-Oi.

Florence Li Tim-Oi was ordained a deacon and later ordained a priest so as to ensure the Holy Eucharist continued to have a presence in China.  She was ordained a priest by Bishop Ronald Hall of Hong Kong in 1944, primarily because of difficulties occasioned by the Japanese occupation of China. A storm of protest after the war by disapproving bishops forced her to refrain from exercising her role as a priest.

Florence said at one point that she is pleased to serve God at whatever level was told her. Bishop Hall stood his ground and said “she is a priest.” Tim.-Oi is my hero because of her selfless attitude. She was just happy doing God’s work.  However those of us who can see what’s going on with the bigotry of the Church have a responsibility to go in and work to correct this mindset. I am very pleased to have pictures of Florence Li Tim-Oi and Bishop Barbara Harris (First woman Bishop in the Episcopal Church) talking with one another outside of the Washington National Cathedral.

Towards the end of her life, Florence Li Tim-Oi emigrated to Canada where she was able to resume her priestly duties. She died in 1992. Like so many, she was are rare gift from God that we undervalued. I pray we are getting better.

A special note here: Some Bishops are truly called by God to stand in the gap and follow the Holy Spirit of God. William White of Pennsylvania (who ordained Absalom Jones, the first African American to the priesthood),  and Ronald Hall of Hong Kong above, are two such Bishops. Not all Bishops are of this caliber and would bend to the popular Church trends of their day. I pray God’s Will, will be done.

 “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 serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (For the unity of the Church BCP p.818)

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 37:1-18; Evening, Psalm 37:19-42;
Isaiah 45:5-17; Ephesians 5:15-33; Mark 4:21-34

“He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?” (Mark 4:21)

Jesus is explaining to his listeners that the purpose of light is to unveil the truth. To have light and not make good use of it can lead to trouble. I often find myself having to move through a space when it’s dark.  I use the light of my phone for just such occasions.  It makes all the difference when I can use it to help me see objects that I might otherwise trip over.

Now there are all kinds of light but I think what Jesus is teaching us is the light of morality.  We move through a world fraught with decisions of good or bad consequences for ourselves and others. We want to do the right thing. The light of morality allows us to see all the dangers that could cause us emotional pain. Our lesson from the teaching of Jesus serves as a light to the nations. We use this light of morality as instructions about loving God and loving our neighbors.  Without this light of morality we are walking blind without eyes to see or ears to hear and are bound to trip over relational dangers causing emotional injury and heartache. Have Light in your life and use it always.

Today we remember Philips Brooks, Bishop and Preacher (January 23, 1893) and his information may be found at: Phillips Brooks

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

Let us pray:

Thank You O God for the Light of Christ. May we walk in the Light of Christ and avoid the pitfalls which often lay before us, and in so doing, find the entrance into Your heavenly dwelling where there is Light eternal. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 2^nd Week of Epiphany: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening, Psalm 119:25-48
Isaiah 44:24-45:7; Ephesians 5:1-14; Mark 4:1-20

“And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that “they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.” (Mark 4:11 – 12)

This is a clue that in order to hear what the Spirit is saying to us through Biblical readings, that we must look deep beneath the surface of the literal text.  Truth was veiled in parable because truth required the work necessary to get the reward.  Those who just scrape the surface attain nothing of real value and could even be misleading or short circuited.  We can’t just grab and go. Sometimes we must soak in the soup for a while to collect all the rich flavors of what’s there.

So, before we go deeper we must believe that there is something hidden beneath the perceived obvious. We also must believe that the treasure is worth the work of going deeper.  I once was in a cabinet making class led by a craftsman in his 80’s.  He had been making cabinets for more than 50 years.  This class moved slowly.  There are many small steps that require patience to learn them. Getting in a hurry will cause mistakes and a waste of wood and possibly personal injury.  The fruit of the study and patience is a well made and beautiful cabinet.  Living the Christian life is the same way. To us has been given the secret of the kingdom of God.  We only have to follow the Master Craftsman, Jesus, and we will perceive, understand, and turn and be forgiven.   Be well.

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

Let us pray                                                                                                    

O Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts and graces, help each of us to be patient in our learning and understanding in order that we might truly turn and live in more holy ways that are pleasing in Your sight, You who live and love eternally. Amen.

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening, Psalms 36, and 39;
Isaiah 44:9-20; Ephesians 4:17-32; Mark 3:19b-35:

 “My heart was hot within me; while I pondered, the fire burst into flame; I spoke out with my tongue”  (Psalm 39:4)

I have been in this place; a place of hurt.  My heart too has been hot within me and when it happens, my mouth shoots forth words that hurts the hearts of others. I don’t know how to fix this.  I don’t think it’s mine to fix.  Sometimes we break things that are beyond our ability to repair.  Wounded hearts are the healing of God.  This is why we pray, “cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the power of your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love you….”  (Book of Common Prayer p. 355)

I am forced to remember that God is beyond all limitations.  Situations that wreck my mind, God solves effortlessly.  Meditation then, on the Holy of holies is perhaps the only way to settle us down and realign our attitudes in order that we might be better enabled continue our earthly pilgrimage in a way that sustains us and is pleasing to God. So, when heavy hearts burn, and they will, we must quiet ourselves and be still with God while asking for the relief that only God can give. Be well.

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

Let us pray: (BCP p. 355)

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.