onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 19: Year 2

 Morning, Psalm 71,  Evening, Psalm  74;  

Job 28:1 to 28; Acts 16:25 to 40; and John 12:27 to 36a

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25) 

Imagine, singing uplifting church hymns while being bound after just being whipped.  I have heard that this coping mechanism worked for prisoners of war also. It got them through the most difficult time in their lives, although some were murdered.

Then there was a divine earthquake that released the prisoners.  “When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.  Then he brought them outside and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They answered, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’  They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.  At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay.  He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.”  (Acts 16: 27 to 34.)

The jailer was well acquainted with the merciless system in which he lived and worked.  There would be no excuse for prisoners escaping. He moves from beating Paul and Silas with rods to using his own sword on himself.  Death would be better than the wrath he would face, not to mention the demise of his family and home. But Paul, freed from fetters, still feeling the sting of the rod while singing hymns, calls out to save the jailer from himself.  How powerful is this kind of love?  Who today would prevent our tormentor from harming himself given the chance?  Folks, this is Christian love, this is Agape love.  There is nothing else like it in all creation, and it’s ours for the asking.

Today we give thanks for Theodore of Tarsus; Archbishop of Canterbury (19 September 690) and can be found at http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Theodore_Tarsus.htm .

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine and our schools. And, 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, Creator and Sustainer of all humanity, be with us in Psalms and hymns in our troubled times in order that we might overcome such times. Bring us to peace especially with those who seem to hate us and enable us to show them the Way, the Truth and the Life, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 19: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 72; Evening, Psalm 119:73-96; 

Job 42:1to17; Acts 16:16 to 24; John 12:20 to 26:

“One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling.”  (Acts 16: 16)

There is so much in this Acts reading. First of all, did the slave girl recognize Paul and his partners as fellow slaves, even though she says they were slaves of the Lord almighty? (Perfect Freedom)

Second, I’m guessing Luke is the silent partner as he records the Acts and says, “While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, ‘These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation;” (Acts 16: 17).  She gave insight to those who did not know salvation, that is, a Way to eternal life, and a path to achieve it. This is “next life” stuff.

Third, “She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour;” (Acts 16: 18).  So we are to understand that Paul, through the Name of Jesus, took away the slave girl’s “gift.”  She was devalued in the eyes of her master.  But she was freed in terms of her own autonomy.

Fourth, “But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place before the authorities (Acts 16: 19).  So it turns out that it’s all about the money.  Perhaps not much has changed, even for us today.

It is awful the way we use money to misuse others.  It is equally awful the way we retaliate against those who hold us accountable for the dignity of others. “When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, ‘These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.’ The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods;” (Acts 16: 20 to 22).  This was clearly an anti-Semitic attack on this group of Jewish believers in Jesus, and was only brought about because of the loss of money. 

The lesson for me in all of this is to remember to be decent to others always. We must not look for ways to bring hurt on those who hold us accountable.  We should not have needed it, but if we do, better to be held accountable in this life rather than the “next life.”  Paul removes the spirit that was at work in the girl but does not attempt to use his divine gift to resist or retaliate against his oppressors.  Decency towards others and discernment of the spirit are key here.  We all can do this.

Today we remember Edward Bouverie Pusey,Priest, renewwer of the Church (18 September 1882) Edward Bouverie Pusey (satucket.com)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, 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 Peace (BCP p.99)

 O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 19: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 61and 62, Evening, Psalm 68; 

Job 40:1 and41:1to 11; Acts 16:6 to 15; John 12:9 to 19:

 “They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.  When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” (Acts 16: 6 and 7)

I often ask my blog followers to be attentive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  The idea is that the Spirit is moving us to go here or there, or to do this or that.  I ponder, from this passage in Acts, that sometimes the Spirit is telling us not to go here or there, or, not to do this or that.

Maybe such guidance is more important than the doing, or saying, or going, or anything that requires action or moving ahead. Maybe there is something to be said for being quiet and being still.  This message is about hearing the Holy Spirit say “stop.”  Do not move another step.  Do not say another word. 

Even sin comes packaged in commission and omission.  We ask for forgiveness for things done, and left undone.  So too, we must hear the Spirit say “this is what you should do, and, this is what you should not do.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit forbids us from certain courses of action. And, sometimes the Spirit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will not allow us to do certain things. My brothers and sisters in Christ, even the Ten Commandments are constructed with do’s and not do’s.  The first of them say what we shall do, the rest of them say what we shall not do. The point in all of this is that there are real occasions when we are guided by the Holy Spirit to not do a certain thing; to not go to a certain place, and to not say certain words. This is often expressed as a “gut” feeling, or a bad feeling. We must always heed the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Today we remember Hildegard of Bingen; Hildegard of Bingen (satucket.com)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, 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 Jesus, You did not leave us abandoned but sent your Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us. Be in our prayers Lord Christ so that we really feel your presence in our doings and in our not doings. Give us today a real sense of your presence in our travels, and in our staying home, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper19: Year 2

 Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening, Psalms 64 and 65;

Job 40:1 to 24; Acts15:36 to 16:5; John 11:55 to 12:8:

“Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)”  (John 12: 3 to 6)

This is what happens when we look at each other around Jesus instead of “through” Jesus.  Judas, who the evangelist informs us, is less than honorable, gazes upon Mary with contempt. This looking around Jesus is also reported in the Gospel of Luke. I think it was at the same time, with the same people, in the same room, but seeing from a different point of view.  “Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.”  (Luke 10: 38 to 41)

My point in both of these situations is that Judas, in the first reading, and Martha in the second, move their eyes off of our Lord Jesus to look directly at Mary.  When we look around Jesus, instead of through Jesus, we see others through our human lens rather than through how God sees them.  If we take the time to see family, or the stranger through the eyes of our Lord, we would see them with love. If we look around Jesus instead of through him, we tend to see people with contempt, disdain, disrespect, and sometimes, if they are different than us, with hate. Let’s not see people in this way. Try to always look upon another through the eyes of our loving Lord.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, 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 our God, you taught us through Jesus what it means to love unconditionally, and we struggle. Stay with us Most Holy Spirit and enable us to see one another through your divine and loving lens in order that we might see each other as the infants we were when we were born, and the people we were born to be, Amen.

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 19: Year B

 Mark 8:27 to 38:

“He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:29)

This means “the Anointed One.” This means “the Christ.” But no matter which title we use, it means that of all creation, and particularly all humanity, this Person that they, and we, perceive to be from the city of Nazareth of Galilee, is the very presence of God on earth. And without consideration for time, this Jesus, is the God of all the humanity that came before him and of all of us who came after. 

God created time along with everything else in creation.  In this way we, and all creation, have a beginning and an end. The one exception that God interjected into our timeline is our gift of the Sabbath, or Seventh Day, each week.

Our Lord Jesus asks us the same thing. Who do you say Jesus is?  As late followers of Jesus we say who we believe Jesus is by how we live out our lives and how we treat others. Do we make time in our limited amount of time in this existence to remember God and show respect to and for our Creator?

Now there are just two steps to take in saying who Jesus is. First, we put all self-glory behind us. “Get behind me Satan!” Second, we watch the people of this world and not follow in wicked ways. From the beginning in Genesis we read, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5); to the letter of James who said “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:27). Now, Who do you say that Jesus is?

We have already been told that loving God and loving others is the godly life. If we live godly lives God will bring us away from this entrapment of time, and keep us in that heavenly realm, forever! Who is Jesus? Jesus is our Savior. Amen.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, 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.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 18: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalms 138 and 139:1to 17;

Job 38:1to17; Acts 15:22 to 35; and John 11:45 to 54

“We have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.” (Acts 15: 25 to 27)

So four disciples (Barnabas, Paul, Silas and Judas (also called Barsabbas) went to Antioch to give “word of mouth” testimony about how the believers should behave.  I am as much concerned about method as I am content of the message.

There is something very meaningful about hearing the word directly from human lips that we can see as well as hear.  While I know that many hearing challenged people rely on reading lips, I think we all do a little of the same as a way of affirming what we think we hear.  It is word of mouth. It is the ancient way of spreading the Gospel.  Remember that, in the beginning was the Word, not the book or the print.

Many times in the Bible we are directed to “Hear O Israel.”  Most notably these words appear in Deuteronomy 6:4. This directive entails the receiving and retelling of our dedication to God and it is done by word of mouth.  This instruction to hear is found throughout the Bible and is meant to be read aloud in the hearing of the people.  Letters, read out loud was the way our forbearers received the Gospel and the letters of Peter, Paul, John, James and the preacher to the Hebrews.  We are a word-of-mouth people.  This word of mouth is spoken through us, the saints of God. So when the opportunity presents itself, and it will,  be a speaker of the Good News of the Gospel, that “We are all loved by God and there is always hope, no matter what.” First, listen to yourself say these words, and then deliver them to someone else by word of mouth.

Today, in our Church tradition, is Holy Cross Day. Personally, I don’t care much for making a big deal of an ancient Roman death tool. Jesus asked us to use the bread and wine to remember him by.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, 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: (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.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 18: Year 2

 Morning, Psalms 40 and 54; Evening, Psalm 51;

Job 29:1, 31:24 to 40; Acts 15:12 to 21; John 11:30 to 44

“Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”  (John 11: 40)

Jesus does not respond to Martha and Mary in the same way.  As he approaches their home, but not quite there yet, each sister of Lazarus greets him separately and both say the exact same thing; “If you had been her my brother would not have died.”  While Jesus has a long conversation about the Resurrection with Martha, he only asks Mary where Lazarus was laid.

This difference in how the sisters were responded to may have to do with Jesus’ knowledge of what their faith reveals. “[Martha] said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world’” (John 11:27).  But maybe Martha didn’t really believe after all. She only said what she thought Jesus wanted to hear.

Jesus says to her, and to us, that if we only believe, we will see the glory of God. Two people can witness the same event and one will sense only a reasonable outcome, (the smell of death) while the other will see the hand of God at work, (Lazarus alive). 

We must make room in our hearts and minds for God to do things outside of what we are expecting.  The waters will still part, we can still feed the multitude with “not enough.”  However, if we don’t believe we can, or that God can, then it can’t be done.  The point here is that we must first believe.  Or as sung in Amazing Grace: “’Twas grace that taught My heart to fear; And grace my Fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.” This is not just a hymn; it is our Christian code of life.  We must truly believe, not just say what we think Jesus wants to hear. When we truly believe, God’s presence is made manifest.

Today our Church remembers Cyprian of Carthage; Bishop and Martyr (13 September 258) and his information can be found at http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Cyprian.htm .

“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

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine and our schools. And, 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 Jesus, God Incarnate, you meet us all where we are in our limited understanding of your grace. Continually lead us to that place of deeper understanding where what we say, is truly what we believe; that place where we encounter Your presence forever and ever; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 18: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 50; Evening, Psalms 93 and 96; 

Job 29:1 and 31:1to 23; Acts 15:1 to 11; John 11:17 to 29

“After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us’” (Acts 15: 7 and 8).

I often converse with others who study the scriptures who argue that Paul is the designated carrier of the Gospel to the Gentiles, that is, to the non-Jewish nations.  However, there is much evidence to show that Peter is also, perhaps the first, to do the same. So both are sent.  It’s okay. Peter knew, and walked with the living Jesus.  Peter was invited to “come and follow Jesus.” Peter was a married man but left family to do the will of God. My point here is that Peter, while often over bearing and outspoken, was an original follower of our Lord Jesus who showed us how to carry the Gospel to those who have yet to know about it. He did this work in both word and deed.

We are not required to be educated theologians to carry the Gospel to others.  All who believe are theologians at some level. Paul was a professional theologian.  He was a Pharisee, although misguided, before the risen Lord changed his path while on his way to Damascus.  Peter was a fisherman.  The message here is that God does not call the qualified, God qualifies the called.

While both Paul and Peter appear to be down playing the requirement to be circumcised, it was Peter who stood up and reminded his listeners, and us, about God knowing the human heart no matter who we are. And this is the most important message; God knows our hearts and minds.  No matter what our walk in life is, educated, gifted, or basic laborer, the only important quality about us is whether or not we have love for God and others.

Let me say also that if we feel we don’t have this kind of love, the next thing to ponder is, “do we even want this kind of love?”  Sadly, if we don’t want to love others, we won’t.  If we do want to have love for others but feel we can’t, we need to ask God for help. Nothing is impossible for God.

Today our Church remembers John Henry Hobart, Bishop of New York (12 September 1830); his information can be found at: John Henry Hobart (satucket.com)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, 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 355)

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

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 18: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:49 to 72, Evening, Psalm  49:

Job 29:1 and30:1 to 2 and16 to 31; Acts 14:19 to 28; John 11:1 to 16

“Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16)

I am so glad that I get to bring you this passage for its own use.  I often have to make it an aside when talking about Thomas not being a doubter. Thomas is willing to give his life to follow Jesus.  Jesus requires no less from us today.

The good news for us (in addition to the Good News of the Gospel itself), is that we don’t follow Jesus to a real and painful cross.  We dedicate our lives to our Lord Jesus by dedicating our lives to prayer, study and charity while living a life of love.

When we are baptized, we are baptized into the death of Christ.  This always needs an explanation when baptizing an infant.  Death maybe the last thing on the mind of parents and family of the baby.  But death is the unavoidable path of all life in creation. However, being baptized into the Death of Jesus we are raised into the Resurrection of Christ as well (Romans 6:3 and 4).  The one brings about the other.

We cannot ransom our lives.  We all are destined for death. But in death life is not ended, life is changed. “For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.” (BCP 382)

There are many martyrs in our Church history.  These were people who gave their lives for the sake of the Gospel of God in the Name of Jesus Christ.  Thomas was willing to give his life by following Jesus, even to the cross.  How about you and me?  Let’s start by dedicating our lives to prayer, study and charity while living a life of love.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, 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, You are the source of all courage and strength; strengthen us and give us the courage of St. Thomas to follow our Savior wherever he leads us in the knowledge and assurance that our mortal deaths are not the end, but that our lives continue with you for all eternity. We pray this to You O God our Creator and Sustainer, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 18: Year 2

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

Job 29:1 to 20; Acts 14:1 to18; John 10:31 to 42

“When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.”  (Acts 14: 14 and 15)

In today’s John Reading, as well as this Acts passage above, people witnessing God’s work are misreading what they see.  In the Gospel of John people are upset because they say that since Jesus is only a human being, how can he say that he is God (John 10:33).  The truth is, Jesus is not only human. Jesus is both human and God.  In the Acts passage, people see what Paul and Barnabas are doing and want to worship them as gods. However, they both truly are human only.  In both cases the people who see what God is doing want to focus on the instrument of God rather than God.  They forget that it is God who is at work.

The same is true today.  God works through us to do the will of God. But God mostly works through people of faith to do this work. Miracles still happen!  People are miraculously healed.  People miss having accidents through no foresight of their own.  Such events are not coincidental. They are the will of God. I have seen where God also works through people of little or no faith for the benefit of a community. In such cases the people used by God are unaware of God using them.

Our experiences are all about what God is doing.  If we don’t like what God is doing, or think the person who God is working through is undeserving, as in the John passage, we should calm down and ponder the greater benefit to our community.  If we really like what we see God doing in someone, a doctor or teacher or pastor, or anyone, we need to realize that in most cases, such a person has allowed themselves to be used by God through faith. Or, God has decided that our need can’t wait for faith and the benefit needs to happen regardless.  If we want to honor a person for some good deed, we should honor their obedience to God’s call on his or her life and their willingness to obey.

God is good, all the time.  And God is at work, all the time.  The only thing that God wants in order to help us is our faith.  If we believe in God and submit to the will of God, God’s will, will be done.  God uses us, to fix us.  All we have to do is be faithful, user friendly, and thankful.

Today we remember Alexander Crummell, Priest, Missionary, Educator (1898)  and can be found at Alexander Crummell (satucket.com)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, 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 merciful Lord God, as you still perform deeds among us that defy our understanding of how you do it, I pray you broaden our minds to feel your gracious hand at work in the midst of us and dear Lord God, please continue working in those of us with faith to do your will on earth as you do in heaven. Amen.