onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 16: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 16 and 17; Evening, Psalm  22; 

Job 9:1 to15 and 32 to 35; Acts 10:34 to 48; and John 7:37 to 52:

“Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7: 39).

I have noticed, particularly in the Gospel of John, that the Holy Spirit comes after our Lord Jesus has been “glorified.”  It is understood that being glorified means being crucified. For me this is sad.  None the less, the Spirit only comes when the physical Jesus leaves us.  It is this Spirit of Christ that abides with us today.

This concern about where a holy presence comes from also takes on a human significance.  Some were worried about where Jesus came from.  This was a geographical concern rather than a spiritual concern.  “Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah  does not come from Galilee, does he?” (John 7:41).  It seems one has to have read at least the Gospel of Luke or Matthew in order to understand the geographical, earthly origins of Jesus.  I think it’s not that important.  We should be more concerned about the Spiritual origin rather than the geographical earthly origin. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).  We need believe nothing else.  My belief is, “I Trust in the Creating Word through the Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word, in whom we live and move and love and have our being, and to whom we must give an account.”  I have been to the Holy Land, in particular northern Israel, a picture of which, is at the beginning of each of my daily blogs.  I also remember that our Lord Jesus began his ministry in Cana and in Capernaum of Galilee, a place he chose of his own free will. Everywhere else that he went, he was taken in his early life.

I believe it is the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads Christians, both in our individual souls and in our Churches, no matter the denomination or where we are on this planet.  We are the Lord’s, and it is the Holy Spirit of the Lord that guides us if we would just listen and follow.

“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: (A Collect of Guidance, p.100 of the BCP)

“Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 16: Year 2

 Morning, Psalm 18; 1 to 20: Evening, Psalm 18; 21 to 50;

 Job 8:1 to 10 and 20 to 22; Acts 10:17 to 33; and  John 7:14 to 36:

“While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Look, three men are searching for you. Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.”  (Acts 10: 19 and 20)

This, for me is among the most amazing characteristics about how God works; God is on both sides of what God asked us to do.  God is with the Gentile centurion  as well as with Peter.

Our Resurrected Lord Jesus was with Saul (Paul) as he was blinded on the road to Damascus and also with Ananias who was sent to him,  (Acts 10: 9 to 12).  In fear and trembling Ananias obeyed the Lord.  He had heard of Saul’s hateful deeds but he trusted in the Lord and went anyway.

In the Hebrew Testament (Old Testament), Elijah was sent to a widow with a son for food.  Now as we read about this narrative we learn that perhaps the widow didn’t know that God sent Elijah.  She offered her reasons for not wanting to help him.  But Elijah prevailed, and what he promised about not running short of food, held true (1Kings 17: 8 to 16).  So while she might not have known cognitively, her soul knew well that the Lord wanted her to listen to, and obey, Elijah.

I raise these additional Biblical stories so that you and I can see how God works with us.  My beloved of the Lord, we are sent to people who need us. And people we need, are sent to us.  Sometimes we are afraid like Ananias.  Sometimes we might not be outwardly aware of what is going on like the widow with Elijah.  But like Peter, we must ponder and pray about what God is doing.  We need to always ask “where is God in this situation?”

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 Almighty and all loving God, as you are everywhere and on all sides, the sent, and the received, teach us we pray to be open to your working in us, for the betterment of us, because without your intervention in our daily lives there is no hope for us. In your most Holy Name we pray, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 16: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:1-24; Evening, Psalms  12, 13 and 14; 

Job 6:1 and 7:1 to 21; Acts 10:1 to 16; and John 7:1 to 13:

“One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, ‘Cornelius.’ He stared at him in terror and said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ He answered, ‘Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.’ When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.” (Acts 10: 3 to 8)

This could easily be called the Tale of Two Simons. This passage follows the continuing call on Simon Peter to do the Lord’s work that I talked about yesterday. Simon the Tanner opened his home in Joppa to Simon Peter and he stayed with him. Later, Peter falls into a trance and receives a vision.  In the vision he sees various animals lowered down on a sheet.  He is instructed to kill and eat.  Peter still being a reverent Jew refuses to eat food considered unclean, or profane. After all, Peter was in the food business as a fisherman.  He is told by a heavenly voice that nothing that God has made is profane. This metaphor about food serves to demonstrate the inclusiveness of God as it pertains to all people.  Peter, like Paul, has a call to invite Gentiles into the love of our One God.

Sadly, we still divide ourselves between Jew and Gentile.  We are still very discriminatory. God is not.  God still sees each one of us as the babies we were born to be without looking at what time and people and the toxic social, and cultural environment we live in, has done to us.  God does not care if we are American or Indonesian, black or white; rich or poor, gay or straight, male or female, old or young.  God loves all of us and wants to host all of us in eternity.

Like Peter, we too should meditate on the love of God to see what sort of trance God might gift us with.  Perhaps the Spirit has a message for you today that will cause you to travel to the assistance of another, another who God also loves, as God loves you. May God widen your appetite to include a love for all people.

Today we remember Augustine of Hippo; his information can be found at Augustine of Hippo (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:

O Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of all life, connect all human life in ways that defy the limitations of human languages and looks. Help us to help one another regardless of our differences; in your Name we ask this,  Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 16: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 5 and 6; Evening, Psalms 10 and 11;

Job 6:1 to 4,8 to 15 and 21; Acts 9:32 to 43; John 6:60 to 71:

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 68 and 69)

You are so correct Simon Peter; there is no one else to whom we can go. Our Lord Jesus does indeed have the words of eternal life. To me, eternal life means continuing to exist, hopefully in happiness.  I also like Peter’s identifying Jesus as “the Holy One of God.”  Simon Peter has come a long way since his days as a fisherman on Lake Galilee.

When Peter went to Lydda he saw Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bed ridden for eight years.  “Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!’ And immediately he got up.  And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 9: 34 and 35)

Peter became famous as a healer.  From Lydda two men came from Joppa seeking his healing for a disciple named Tabitha which in the Greek is Dorcus.  There was much mourning around her as she had just died. “Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.  He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.” (Acts 9: 40 and 41) 

Like Peter, all of us are new beings in Christ Jesus. We may not become healers but our communities are in need of so many different gifts.  We may be called away from our normal occupations to a vocation of counseling, or feeding, or educating, or errands, or even just being with those who are lonely. And like Simon Peter, you will be discovered and requested for holy help.  When this happens do not forget Peter’s words, “Jesus Christ heals you.”  Our Lord Jesus is truly the Holy One of God.

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 Holy One of God, you walk among us and within us in order that your healing and teaching may be made manifest in our everyday lives. Be in us dear Lord in our several callings so that we may counsel, feed, teach and help our neighbors as is pleasing in your sight, O Holy One of God, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 16: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 1, 2 and 3,  Evening, Psalms  4 and7; 

Job 4:1,5:1 to 11 and 17 to 21,26 to 27; Acts 9:19 to 31; John 6:52 to 59:

“The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’”  (John 6:52)

Again, the term, “the Jews,” simply means the temple authorities, for Jesus and all his followers were also Jews. Another point to bring out is that the use of this metaphor regarding the eating of his flesh is that Jesus was not suggesting cannibalism.  He was inviting his followers to partake of holy food and drink that was taken by our Lord Jesus, blessed by our Lord Jesus and then divided up and shared with them.  He took, blessed, broke and gave.

The last interesting part of this John passage is this: while the Synoptic Gospel accounts walk us through the Great Thanksgiving, or the Lord’s Supper, John’s Gospel story mentions being at the table only as an aside from the foot washing.  However, much of the language of the Gospel of John speaks of the “Bread of Life.”

The Bible, specifically the Gospels, must be studied in prayer with people educated in the language and culture of the day of our Lord Jesus. Also, it needs to be understood that as we read this Gospel account according to John, it is assumed that the Synoptic Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) were already read and understood.  Most scholars believe that John’s Gospel was the last written.  Therefore the Gospel according to John filled in other details. 

Jesus went on to say, “Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me” (John 6: 57).   This means for you to be filled with our Lord Jesus so that Jesus works in you, and through you. In Church, at the Holy Eucharist, we believe that the Holy Spirit of Christ has come together with the bread and wine.  You then, are not doing what you think you alone ought to do, but rather, you are the “host” of Jesus who is working in you and through you. That is, you are the host (wafer or bread), that you just consumed. When we receive Holy Communion, all we need to do is get out of the way and let our Lord Jesus do his work through us. As the Gospel according to John points out, He will be in us and we in Him.

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:

Come Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus and be in us as we receive your prescious body and blood each week and have us to think, pray, say, and do, only that that is pleasing in your sight, Amen.

A reading from The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (6:56 to 69) for Sunday of Proper 16: Year B

Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”  John (6:56 to 69)

The truth of the matter is, we don’t have choices.  God, our God, is Lord of all and it is our hope and trust that God, our one God, is loving and merciful to all of us. This love and mercy component about God has been handed down since humanity has recorded our relationship with God. This record is both Biblically recorded, and handed down word of mouth for generations. 

Our Trust is in the goodness of God as made manifest in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.  As Peter says, who else can we appeal to or seek out for help if not our Lord Jesus?  I think the real good news for us, and for all people, is that no matter what happens to us, God wins every time. Nothing can happen to us that God can’t undo.  Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray to God the Creator in a “child-to-parent” way, for our help and safety. Our help is in the Maker of heaven and earth.  The Incarnate One walked among us to guide us to Himself for our sakes.  There is no one else we can count on for eternal life. Simon Peter is so right. Thank You Lord Jesus.

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 as our Lord Jesus taught us to pray:

. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us and save us from the time of trial and deliver from evil,” Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 15: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 137 and Psalm 144,  Evening, Psalm 104; 

Job 3:1 to 26; Acts 9:10-19; John 6:41 to 51:

“They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?” (John 6: 42)

If we are to really be people of faith, faith in a God who can do all things, with anything or anybody, then we ought to be looking for such a God doing what God does in all aspects of life, and in any person, all the time.

The leaders of Jesus’ old community decided that because they knew Jesus and his earthly parents, there was no way he could be the bread, come down from heaven as he purports to be.  They never considered what God might be doing in their midst.  They never considered that God might be acting in human form, regardless of what they thought they knew about Jesus (or God).

This is also demonstrated in our Acts reading for today.  The Risen Lord reveals the plan for Saul or Paul to Ananias.   Ananias knew of Saul and wanted nothing to do with him.  But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15).  I believe this is another characteristic of God.  When God sends us to someone, God is with us, and with that someone we are sent to, in order that they might be open to receive the message.

Yes, our Lord Jesus was, and is, the primary host for God participating in our human life.  And while it is our life, it is God’s world.  And God is working God’s purposes out.  And God can, and will, do this work with, or without you; around you, or through you.

Anytime we say that because we know him or her (or ourselves), and in our opinion, God would not use him or her (or me); what we are really saying is that we know what God will do, or who God will use.  And that’s just not true.  Nobody, knows what God will do, or who God will use.  God uses who God chooses. And yes, this includes you. Let’s just be blessed and thankful.

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: (Taken from BCP 372)

“Lord God of our Fathers; God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to [Your] Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of [Your] Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in [Your] Name,” Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 15, Year 2

Morning, Psalms 140 and142; Evening, Psalms 141and 143:1 to 12); 

Job 2:1 to 13; Acts 9:1 to 9; John 6:27 to 40: 

“Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips; let not my heart incline to any evil thing.” (Psalm 141:3)

So many times in my life I have wished that I had a guard at the door of my lips.  Such an idea gives the term “lip lock,” normally indicating a long and passionate kiss, a new meaning. So many times I wish I had filtered what I was going to say before I hit the “send” button of my mouth. Too often a celebrity of some notoriety is fired because he or she used a homophobic or racial slur. Our mouths get us in trouble.  But it doesn’t start with our mouths.

The Psalmist also says, “let not my heart incline to any evil thing.”  Our heart and mind is where it all begins. And in most cases, we can’t fix our hearts by ourselves. We must seek help.  If we ask God to first fix our hearts, (and God will), the mouth and hands will fall in, and follow the heart as it always does. This is why I always refer to our Collect for Purity as found in our Book of Common Prayer, page 355. 

Prayer really nails it, but if one does not really want to be better, praying is a waste of time.  We have to first want to be better people.  After the desire to be better is realized, then we must seek help from God.  With God all things are possible.  If the ugliness is not in our hearts it cannot come through our mouths or hands.  We won’t even accidently say anything wrong or hurtful.  “Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips; let not my heart incline to any evil thing.” (Psalm 141:3)  Please ponder and pray on this.

“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, Russia, Israel, 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: (From BCP 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.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 15: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 131 and 132, Evening, Psalms 134 and 135; 

Job 1:1 to 22; Acts 8:26 to 40; John 6:16 to 27:

“Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.”  (Acts 8:29)

There are three significant entities in this reading; there is Philip, and there is the treasurer of Candice who happens to be a eunuch, and of course, the angel or spirit of God who directs Philip. The eunuch is returning from the Temple in Jerusalem where he was probably not welcomed due to his bodily defilement.  But he is a faithful student of scripture and maintains faithful practices. 

I wish we had the name of Candice’s treasurer; I don’t like referring to him as “the eunuch.”   We learn that, like most of us, he needs assistance in understanding what the scripture is really saying. I like the way Philip obeys the Spirit, and also, how he assists this treasurer. He doesn’t go back to Adam and Eve, or Abraham or even Moses.  No, he starts with Isaiah, he starts from where the person was, in his reading. Sometimes we try to give a person too much information.  The Spirit did not say go over to the chariot and rule it. The Spirit said, “Go over to this chariot and join it.”

Another part of our story that I really like is that after the explanation of the scriptures, which must have also talked about our Lord Jesus and the importance of Baptism, they come upon some water.  Then “the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.” As a priest I have used this model by Philip to baptize people who ask for it as soon as possible, normally at the next Sunday worship service if possible.

Beyond the lesson about how to coach or teach, and of baptism, there is the listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We today, should not think that the Holy Spirit of God does not speak to us today, it still happens.  At the end of this experience both men go their separate ways: the eunuch, back to Ethiopia rejoicing; and Philip, again following the Spirit and proclaiming the Good News!

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:

Come Holy Spirit, lead us and guide us as we journey our path. Equip us to be patient and kind and informative to all you put in our path, and above all, let us meet and greet them where they are and assist them in their spiritual growth as they too journey to you. In your most Holy Name, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 15: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:145-176; Evening, Psalms  128, 129 and 130;

Judges 18:16 to 31; Acts 8:14 to 25; John 6:1 to 15:

“Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.” (Acts 8:24)

This is Simon the magician who is trying to learn new tricks in order to make money.  He has money and therefore believes he can buy this new form of trickery.  But he finds out that God is not for sale.  “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”  (Acts 8: 18 and 19)

Simon thought it okay to buy this ability. “But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money!  You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God.  Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.”  (Acts 8: 20 to 23)

And repent he did.  “Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me” (Acts 8:24).  We don’t know much more about this Simon.  Perhaps the most important lesson is that once he realized that his heart was sailing in the wrong direction he requested a course change.  So should we, or at least ask our friends to pray for us.  God really likes intercessory prayer.

As I have said before, money is a necessary and smart way to obtain the provisions we need in life.  But it can also be used to deny people, or groups of people, their needed food, shelter, clothing, transportation and communications. If we are not careful, money will alter the course of our hearts and have us sailing in a non-loving direction.  Let us always remember that at any time, any of us could find ourselves down and out.  We must both, help others when we see their need and are able, and we must accept help when we are in need and help is offered.  This mutual aid is God’s plan.  We can’t buy a gift from God but by God we can be a gift.

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 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.