onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 2: Year 2:

Morning, Psalms 20 and 21:1-7(8-14); Evening, Psalm 110:1-5(6-7), 116, 117;
Proverbs 8:22-36; 3^rd John 1 ton15; Matthew 12:15 to 21:

 “I believed, even when I said, “I have been brought very low.”  (Psalm 116: 9) or, I kept my faith, even when I said, ‘I am greatly afflicted’; (Psalm 116: 10).

This idea of maintaining faith, especially in hard times, seems to take a page out of Job’s playbook. It is easy to be thankful in good times. It’s a whole different thing when things aren’t going well. Sometimes I think of these times as times of testing. That may not be the best way to look at my troubles.  But I make myself remember that at the last, I want to be with God for all eternity. The troubles I face here will go away, one way or another. And I comfort myself in believing that there are no troubles in the company of God. Halleluiah!

Today we Episcopalians remember Bede, the Venerable: priest, monk and scholar (735). His information can be found at: Bede the Venerable (satucket.com)

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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 and life sustaining Lord God, help us to remember that all of our problems are within the realm of your control. Please keep us mindful that our ultimate joy is to be with you for all eternity, you who gives life eternal to all who seek you. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 2; Year 2

Morning, Psalms 16 and, 17; Evening, Psalm 22
Proverbs 8:1 to 21; 2^nd John 1 to 13; Matthew 12:1 to 14:

“He said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out?”  (Matthew 12:11).

While Jesus follows the rules for honoring the Sabbath, he cautions us to remember that the Sabbath was instituted by God as a gift to us, and not us to the Sabbath. The Sabbath was then, and is now, the seventh day of the week, Saturday,(tomorrow).

Yes, we Christians worship on the First day of the week, and that’s fine. But the Lord of the Sabbath never moved it from the seventh to the first day of the week. The Sabbath is for rest and reflection, within reason.  Worship, on the other hand, requires work. Let us ponder how we might respect our Sabbath time beginning this evening.

As Jesus points out, there are times in which some of us must be steadfast in our vocations and responsibilities because of personal or community needs. Medical personal, the police, prison staff, the military and first responders are examples of such needs. But when able, such persons should get back into honoring the Sabbath. It is a gift from God.

“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 including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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:

We give thanks to you dear Lord God for gifting us with time for rest and reflection. Help us we pray to observe our Sabbath time in order to contemplate your presence in our lives every day of the week. And as we are able, to return to honoring the Sabbath as life permits, as you are the Lord of the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 2: Year 2:

Morning, Psalm 18:1-20; Evening, Psalm 18:21-50;
Proverbs 7:1 to 27; 1^st John 5:13 to 21; Matthew 11:25 to 30:

“ I called upon the Lord in my distress and cried out to my God for help.  He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; my cry of anguish came to his ears;” (Psalm 18: 6 and 7).

“God’s ears hears tears,” is my mantra about prayer. God is all about the human face. Just as I believe God “evolved” us mechanically so that only when our mouth is closed, do our ears open; so too does God get a signal when we cry. Crying is praying for all people, while not all praying is crying: both connect with God, but more especially crying because is a distress and God wants to know about it.

Only yesterday at our Bible Study did we read 2^nd Samuel, Chapter 22, which is pretty much Psalm 18. Funny how today from our Daily Office, Psalm 18 is the selected reading. And in it are the words. “He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; my cry of anguish came to his ears;” I tell you God’s ears hears tears. In this way, all people pray, even the so-called card-carrying atheist, if they cry, they pray. God is, and God loves, all people.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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:

Dear Holy and attentive Lord God, you love us so much that you connected us to you through our fears and tears. Make us, we pray, even without tears, more and more aware of your presence in our daily lives such that we will make ourselves vulnerable to your reaching out to us as we welcome your intervention in the situations of our lives. This we ask in your most sacred and holy Name. Amen.

Daily Office Reading for Wednesday of Proper 2: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:1 to 24; Evening,  Psalm 12, 13 and 14;
Proverbs 6:1 to 19; 1^st John 5:1 to 12; Matthew 11:16 to 24:

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds;” (Matthew 11:18 and 19).

Our Lord Jesus defends the deeds of John and himself by vindicating the deeds, not their personal way of life. I think the key, and repeated phrase here is “they say.”  Many a false tale about someone often begins with, “they say.” Too often the “they say” is derogatory or hurtful and intended to cast a negative cloud over a person, or group of people. Who are “they” anyway?

We say who we are more about ourselves by what we do than by what we say, even about ourselves. The old saying, “action speaks louder than words’ I think is very true. Sometimes however we need help and motivation to do the right thing. Believing in God and asking God to assist us in doing and saying that that is loving, is the best way get the divine assistance needed to do what is right and pleasing to God. The food and drink we abstain from does not make us demon possessed. Likewise, being in fellowship with those that some say are hopeless does not make us hopeless as well.  We must be kind, try to love all people, and when we find it difficult, ask for help from God and never mind what “they say.”

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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:

Dear Lord Jesus, who consoles us through the ever-present Holy Spirit of God, help us to not be troubled by the misguided words of negative minded people, but rather, help us instead to always be mindful of our actions, our deeds, that the things we do are loving and pleasing in your sight, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 2, Year 2

Morning, Psalm 5 and 6; Evening, Psalm 10 and 11;
Proverbs 4:1 to27; 1^st John 4:7 to 21; Matthew 11:7 to 15:

“No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.” (1^st John 4:12)

This 1^St John lesson is all about the love of God.  Our Lord Jesus modeled for us a life of unconditional love, an “Agape” love.  Most of us, including me, are not there yet, although some of us might be there. Bless them. The writer says that “if we love one another, God lives in us.” Wow!

To be the representation of God is perhaps more than anyone can imagine. The very presence of God Almighty being in us is powerful. And according to 1^st John, loving others is the invitation to God to “come on in.” I know it is difficult to love some people, people who are different than ourselves, or have different religions, or no religion at all. We are not asked to make them us, we are only asked to love them, love them anyway.  Join me in at least trying, okay?

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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 Blessed Holy Spirit, Creator and lover of all souls, please continue with us and teach us as we live out our human lives in order that we might learn to love all humanity and be vessels of your presence in our time whereby your will, will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 2: Year 2

Morning,  Psalm 1, 2 and 3; Evening, Psalm 4 and 7;
Proverbs 3:11 to 20; 1^st John 3:18 to 4:6; Matthew 11:1 to 6:

“Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” (1^st John 18)

Both our Proverbs and 1^st John Readings address their readers as “child” or “little children, in the NRSV translation.”  And quickly after the word child or children, we are told what not to do. “My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments:” from Proverbs. And, “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action,” from 1^st John.

I think keeping commandments by loving in action are the same message. I also believe that the only way to keep any behavior is to make such behavior a daily habit. We must practice doing over saying. We remember good lessons by regularly hearing them , even if the sound comes from our own voice.  Therefore, we pray ourselves into keeping God’s Commandments and loving in action.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Today, we Episcopalians , recall our first Book of Common Prayer. This rich (and controversial) history can be found at: Book of Common Prayer (satucket.com). This could prove interesting as we journey into the “Propers”  after the Sunday of Pentecost.

Let us pray:

Dear Holy Spirit of God, we ask you to let your Spirit dwell in us and give us a deep desire to keep your commandments of love in action, as we also strive to pray more deeply in order to do that behavior that is most pleasing in your sight. Amen.

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Pentecost Sunday: Year B

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning;” (John 15:26-27).

Today our Church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit! This story amazes me. It reminds me of the relationship of Superman with Lois Lane. Clark Kent changes from suit, tie and glasses to blue tights, and red cape and she, nor anybody else can recognize him.  

Our Lord Jesus announces that he is going back to the place where he was before he came to us. But he acknowledges that he and the Holy Spirit can’t be with us at the same time. This is a hint that Clark Kent never declared. So, waking up from the Lois Lane in us, let us realize that the Holy Spirit whom we are thankful for this day is none other than the Holy Spirit of Jesus himself; the Same Holy Spirit who met Saul on his way to Damascus later.

We learn from our Acts lesson that this Holy Spirit can use us in ways we know not, for example, speaking in foreign tongues about abilities beyond our normal capacities.  All we have to do is receive the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus and follow where he leads, and do and say what he tells us to do and say. Jesus says further in our Gospel reading for today, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

As Peter recalls from Joel, and, as an old man now, I do in fact dream dreams of how things should be. What a great world we would have if we didn’t need police or the military. This may be some of the things Jesus wanted to tell us but we still can’t bear them.  We are still not there yet. Let us continue to strive to follow the lead of God’s Holy Spirit through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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:

Dear Lord Jesus, as you have come to us in your holy and invisible presence, lead us and guide us in all truth. Help us to open ourselves to your guidance, even when that guidance is to just be still and quiet and know that you are God. We thank you so much for the presence and leadership of your Holy Spirit in our lives; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 7^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 107:33-43, 108; Eve of Pentecost Psalm 33;

Ezekiel 36:22 to 27; Ephesians 6:10 to 24; Matthew 9:18 to 26:

“ Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.”  (Ephesians 6: 18)

Paul says to “pray in the Spirit.”  How do I do that?  Do I sit quietly and meditate on what I want God to do?  Do I ask the Spirit to pray through me?  That has been said by Paul, that it is not we who pray but the Spirit who prays through us. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groaning too deep for words. And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God;” (Romans 8: 26 and 27).  I think both of these concepts are correct.

It is at least an American tradition to incorporate prayer into events. We have become accustomed to asking someone to pray at meals, or, for the opening or closing of meetings or ceremonies.  And we have framed prayer as religious words heard at key points of events.  I am normally chosen to perform these prayer duties when I am present, or asked to be present.  I think the writings that were read by our early Christian parents encouraged our parents to pray quietly. In fact, we may not have been able to tell when they were praying and when they were not.  Prayer is not restricted to Church. Church depends on prayer prayed outside itself. Prayer, sitting with our Creator and being open to divine instruction, is the most important experience we can have on any day, but more especially on a Sabbath Day like today.  

Occasionally however, people need to hear words of adoration to assist them in their spiritual focus.  When it’s needed, it should be provided. When audible prayer is needed it should be remembered that what is heard comes from the silent, loving heart of a faithful person.  Just as St. Francis said “go out and preach the Gospel and when necessary use words,” I say, pray always, and when necessary use words, words that others may need to hear.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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:                                 

Dear Holy and Merciful Spiritual Presence of God, who assist us in our worship of you, be present with us in our quiet times in order that when we speak, we may speak of your abiding presence in our lives, and when we so speak, we use words that assist our neighbors in their own worship of you. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 7^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1-32;
Jeremiah 31:27 to 34; Ephesians 5:1 to 20; Matthew 9:9 to 17:

 “No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31: 34)

At St. Paul’s in the Pines Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, I used to keep our chapel Bible open to Jeremiah 31: 31 to 34, open for all who come into the chapel to see this important reading. I believe it is one of many prophesies foretelling the coming of our Lord Jesus found in the Hebrew Testament.

In this passage Jeremiah speaks for God and says, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 34:33).  I interpret this to mean that with the coming of Jesus all of us will realize our connection with God.  The love-law of God is written on our hearts and minds.  We may not use it, but it is in us.

I tell my listeners that I am not their connection to God.  My job has always been to let them know that they have a “First-hand” connection to God themselves. My job is, and has always been, to let them know about this Jeremiah revealed connection. Also, I inform them that God desires an audience with them.  As a result of this preaching, one of my beloved parishioners brought a plaque to church that reads, “We need to talk, God.”  I immediately posted it where it could be seen by all.

This Jeremiah reading, and my time in Spiritual Guidance, has taught me that every human being has the capacity to connect with God.  We only have to access it. In one of her writings the great mystic Evelyn Underhill said “mysticism is not only reserved for a saintly few, but is available to all who seek to explore it.” As Jeremiah says, “for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord.” So now I tell you who read this, God wishes to talk with you.

 “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 including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

Today we remember Thurgood Marshal, Lawyer, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and devoted Episcopalian (1993). His information can be found at: Thurgood Marshall (satucket.com).

Let us pray:

Most holy Lord God, as you have planted in each of us our loving connection to you, draw us to use this holy connection always in order that we might be more loving in our daily lives, and in our response to your call on our lives each day. In your holy Name we pray, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 7^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 105:1 to 22; Evening, Psalm 105:23 to 45;

Zechariah 4:1 to 14; Ephesians 4:17 to 32; Matthew 9:1 to 8:

“They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.” (Ephesians 4:18)

When Paul says “they” he refers to the people he calls the Gentiles, or the Nations. These are people outside of his believing community. These are the same people he feels called to bring the message of Good News of God in Christ.

Today we could use the language of “alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart,” to describe even our fellow Americans who, in many cases, say they are Christian.  But they show ignorance and hardness of heart with political divisiveness and polarizing personalities. We suffer from a, “whose team are you?,” mentality.  It is not the way we Christians are suppose to live.  It is not speaking truth to our neighbors, but instead speaking handed down rhetoric parroted from misguided leadership. It is not who we are supposed to be, it is falsehood.

St. Paul says, “So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger;” (Ephesians 4: 25 – 26).  We can be angry without acting on such anger. I, at one time, worked with Clinical Social Workers while in the Marines as we dealt with domestic violence issues.  It took a lot of time to show the young men (I only dealt with men) that there was a specific point in which they decided to move from being angry to striking out. Separating the two can be done.  In the military we couldn’t talk about Jesus. That may be why I’m doing this work now, it is Jesus based. Paul goes on and says, “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you;” (Ephesians 4: 31 – 32). Folks, if we give in to the darkened teachings of a polarized culture, we are turning our backs on who God wants us to be, and the real love God has planted in us through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been equipped to forgive one another, but too often we choose not to. Too often we would rather be hard-hearted than tender-hearted.  We are not the Gentiles or the Nations. We are Christians.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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:

Dear Lord Jesus, please continue to lead and guide us as we often can’t get out of our own way. Help us to restrain our impulse to react or retaliate when we are faced with differences of opinion. Enable us dear Lord to restrain our emotions and carefully choose loving responses to every situation we find ourselves in. Amen.