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

Morning, Psalm 101, 109:1-4 (5-19) 20-30; Evening, Psalm 119:121-144;

Isaiah 4:2-6; Ephesians 4:1-16; Matthew 8:28-34

“Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.”  (Matthew 8:34)

There are a few observations to take note of in this story.  The Gospel of Matthew has two demoniacs approach Jesus, Mark 4 and Luke 8 have only one demon possessed man approach Jesus in their similar episodes. In all the versions the demons leave the man and enter pigs.  I don’t know whether it is a blessing or a curse but I ask different questions than the commentators I have read.  Jesus does not move the evil spirits to the pigs, but rather he allows them to move themselves.  All versions have the pigs with demons drown to death.  My question however is, cannot the evil spirits simply move into the fish; the fish that are then caught by those who fish in waters of Galilee, namely, the very disciples of Jesus, and others? This evil cycle of possession would just continue, wouldn’t it?  Am I reading too much into it?  I do ponder.

What I want to glean from this story is the fact that this was Gentile territory and raising pigs was this family’s livelihood.  Jesus destroyed an income source, or at least, allowed it to happen.  The people of that place begged him to leave either because he had a scary amount of power, or that he caused poverty for a family, or for both.  My sources, did say that there is a cost associated with following Jesus.  And I would add, the cost itself can often be scary too.

My theological studies have caused changes in my life, good changes I think.  This blog is one example. My respect for Saturdays as Sabbath is another. My understanding of first good and then evil, is yet another. The cost of my evolving is made manifest in how I now divide my time. I have had to stop some activities in order to have time for my new way of living into the Spirit. I don’t consider this cost scary.  I am evolving into a more spiritual person and I like it.

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 we often seem to spin in never-ending cycles of stagnation, please help us to spiral upward as we spin in our circle of life, following the guidance of Your Holy Spirit in order that we may advance in decency and love for You and for one another.  In Your most holy Name we pray, Amen.  

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

Morning, Psalm 97 and 99; Evening, Psalm 94;

1^st  Samuel 16:1 to 13a; Ephesians 3:14 to 21; Matthew 8:18  to 27:

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1^st Samuel 16: 7)

For their first king, God allowed the people of Israel to have a say in the selection of their king.  But now, even though God does not like the idea of them having a king other than God’s self, God will select from among mortals for them. 

God is not looking at height, or intellect or race or gender from among the early Israelites or us today. God is only concerned with a potential leader’s heart, with his or her compassion for others. We should be the same way. When we select leaders we should be most concerned with the heart and compassion of a potential leader.

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:

O God, as you enable us to help ourselves through leaders of compassion, teach us we pray to be more concerned about the welfare of all people, cultures, and families in order that our view of potential leaders will be closer to the way you see us, You who live, love and rule forever and ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 7^th Sunday of Easter: Year 2

Morning; Psalm 89:1-18: Evening, Psalm 89:19-52;

Joshua 1:1 to 9; Ephesians 3:1 to 13; Matthew 8:5 to 17:

“When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.”  (Matthew 8: 5 – 8)

A believing Roman commander (centurion) approaches our Lord Jesus for help.  In as much as he is asking Jesus for healing for his servant (whom he must truly love), but was not present,  this is intercessory prayer.

 I know parents who took their sick child to Europe for healing, healing that was not offered in the U. S. My point here is that we tend to drop boundaries when it comes to the lives of those we love. This centurion is a hoping believer.  He has heard about the healing power of the man called Jesus. He is desperate.  He has nothing to lose.  Jesus senses the anxiety of the centurion and says ‘yes’ to his request and the servant is healed. The commander shows a deeper than average faith in the power of Jesus.  When Jesus offers to come to his house the centurion shows that he has an understanding of the kind of power that Jesus has. He didn’t have to see it being done to witness it.  He just needed Jesus to say ‘yes.’

The take-away for me (and maybe for you also) is that our Lord Jesus seems to be as moved by the anxiety of those asking for others, as he is moved for the person in trouble themselves, maybe even more.  Jesus says in John’s Gospel, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, Believe also in me.” (John 14:1)  I say often that God’s ears hears tears.  I am now seeing also that a troubled heart attracts our Lord Jesus. Maybe we can take a page from the centurion’s playbook and take our concerns to Jesus and know that we don’t have to physically see Jesus follow us.  We will see the healing in Jesus saying ‘yes.’ 

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 our Church remembers Frances Perkins, Public servant and prophet witness, “(April 10, 1880– May 14, 1965) was the U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, and the first woman appointed to the U.S. Cabinet.” More can be found at Frances Perkins (satucket.com)

Let us pray:

Dear Healing Lord Jesus, through whom all creation came into being and who knows every part of our bodies and minds, We beg you to hear us as we come to you on behalf of those we love. When our loved ones are in pain, we too are in pain. Please come to the aid of those we seek your help for as well as ourselves. We ask this of you, the Master Healer of all creation; Amen.

Eucharistic Gospel Readings for the Seventh Sunday after Easter: Year A

John 17:1-11:

“And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” (John 17:11 NRSV)

Perhaps the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), is not the best translation of this prayer between our Lord Jesus and his inmost self, God Almighty.  I always compare other translations as I prepare the words I intend to share with you.  The New International Version, (NIV) reads, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”

The difference between these two readings is, in the NRSV, Jesus indicates he has already left the world.  In the NIV, Jesus talks about a very near future departure. I am always skeptical about an ancient language that has been translated many, many times. What I glean from this passage, in any language, is that our Lord Jesus is standing in both dimensions, both heaven and earth at the time of His prayer.

Jesus further says that we are in Him and He is in us, and together, we are in the Creator. Wow!

As believers we should act and behave as we understand, and truly believe, that we are in our Lord and our Lord is in us. Right now we have one foot on earth and the other in life eternal in paradise.

 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:

Oh, most Holy and life-giving Lord God, as part of Your existence resides in each of us, as it is made known to us by Your Incarnate Word, our Savior Jesus Christ, teach us we pray through our ancient scriptures to yield to Your lead in our lives. Enable us more and more to come together as one in You as You are in us beneath our outward looks and diverse cultures and languages, where Your love in us prepares us for our journey to You, most Holy and life-giving Lord God. Amen.

Daily Office Readngs for Saturday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 87 and 90; Evening, Psalm 136;

Numbers 11:16 to 17 and 24 to 29; Ephesians 2:11 to 22; Matthew 7:28 to 8:4

“For through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (Ephesians 2:18)

For through our Lord Jesus, superficial race groupings like, blacks and whites, along with groups like gays and straights, rich and poor, nationals and foreigners, have access in one Spirit to the Creator of all life, and through the Creator, one another.

This access does not mean giving up “who” we are ( although it very well may mean giving up “what” we think we are). We have a uniting Spirit through our Lord Jesus. “For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us” (Ephesians 2:14).  So we are one Spirit group. We look different, we sound different, and we enjoy different foods and music and so on. None of what we enjoy should be based on our skin color or hair texture, or even if we have no hair.  We are free to seek our own joy.  We are all pulled together for living and loving each other, and enjoying our various cultures and lifestyles, through God.  For God is the One in whom we all live, love, move and have our being.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone, In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.” (Ephesians 2: 19 – 22)

We are meant to approach one another knowing that we are already united by means of God’s Spirit.  It makes no difference about our language, skin color, religion, or place of origin.  We are all God’s people, we are all spiritual cousins. We should be behaving that way.

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 living and loving Holy Jesus, you modeled for us how we should live, love and appreciate our differences as we approach life. We pray that you enable each of us to have access in one Spirit to the Creator, making our spiritual connections with each other more and more clear every day. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 85 and 86: Evening,  Psalms 91 and 92;

1^st Samuel 2:1 to 10; Ephesians 2:1 to 10; Matthew 7:22 to 27:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matthew 7: 24)

There are many people who can recite many good quotes and prayers but often fall short of living by them.  What’s important here is not only to hear these words of Jesus and to memorize them, but to act on them, and to live by them as well.  This is what our Lord Jesus meant by “hear these words of mine and act on them.”

Memorizing creeds, covenants, quotes and prayers and saying them everyday reshapes our personality.  Hopefully, we will become who we preach to be. I have created two five-pointed stars for myself to live by. The five points of the first (which I created in the 80’s) is, “ Praise God, Love All, Keep Word, Live Plain and Work Hard.  I was still in the Marines when my faith moved me to frame these five points as directions for my life.  Notice that Praise God and Love All are the first two, and are the two Commandments that our Lord Jesus gave us. The second star consists of five points that spell out the acronym DRIPP.  This represents Discipline (that I should maintain); Respect (for myself and others); Integrity (honesty in action); Prayer (always, especially Morning and Evening Prayer) and Patience (holy waiting and some quiet time alone for pondering.)

We must hear the words of our Lord Jesus and where necessary frame them in a way that makes sense for us without losing their meanings.  And then we must act or behave in the manner that our treasured words lead us.  Only when we build our lives with a solid foundation will we be “like a wise man who built his house on rock.”  What words or phrases or covenants do you live by?

“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:

Dear loving and eternal Lord Jesus, please walk with us as your spiritual partners reminding us to live out our remembered words of love for God and our neighbor. Help us to be steadfast and disciplined in our determination to actually do and be what we preach. Amen.

Eucharistic Readings or Ascension Day 2022: All Years

Acts 1:1-11;   Psalm 47;  or Psalm 93;  Ephesians 1:15-23;  Luke 24:44-53:

 “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:45)

This “opening of their minds” is the action of the Resurrected Jesus.  Jesus spent a lot of time with his followers before he was crucified, preaching and teaching about the scriptures and how the scriptures foretold of his destiny. You can see much of this in chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel where he says several times, “You have heard that it was said, …. But I tell you…..”  In this way our Lord Jesus re-interprets the historic Hebrew Law.

But now, Jesus goes beyond explanation to revelation. He “opens their minds.”  We have words written in the Bible that have been translated from Aramaic, to Greek, from Greek to Latin, and then for us, from Latin to English. Even this last translation is from old English to modern and then American English.  Has anything been lost or misrepresented in this human work? 

How wonderful it would be for us today for Jesus to “open our minds” so that we too can have a better understanding of the scriptures, or better yet, God’s actual intent – God’s will for us.  I think when we believe that our purpose is to love God and love one another to the best of our ability, we will indeed understand all the Law and the writings of the Bible.  And, what we come to understand may even be better than what our old recorders wrote.

I remember reading somewhere in a Jewish fable that someone asked an old teacher of the Torah to explain the Torah while standing on one foot.  The response was, “What is hateful to you, do not do to others.”  That is the whole Torah. It is another way of saying the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do onto you.”

The only other piece I would like to add about opening our minds is the opening of our hearts. Sometimes the words are interchangeable. Sometimes they are not.  The heart piece adds in the love component.  Psychologist within the last hundred years have found that the children of loving parents who hugged their children and spent time with them showed higher intellectual ability than the children of distancing parents.  Love matters. Bless those psychologists.  But then, bless our Lord Jesus who told us this over 2000 years ago.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

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 Risen and Ascended Lord Jesus, please continue to open our minds with more and more insight through your divine touch of revelation. Help us through our faith to love God and each other more deeply as we live out our mortal lives. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:97 to 120; Evening, Psalms 81 and 82;

Leviticus 26:27 to 42; Ephesians 1:1 to 10; Matthew 22:41 to 46:

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”  (Ephesians 1:7 – 10)

These are the opening words to the Church in Ephesus by Paul or someone writing for Paul. The writer, through revelation from God, shares with us that the forgiveness of our sins has been God’s plan from the beginning of our time, to be made manifest in the fullness of our time. This is free grace that is lavished on us from God through the blood (or life) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of whom we partake of at our Holy Communion.

As adopted children of God through our brother Jesus, we are called to continue in the work of gathering all things (all people) to God. I look at us Christians as the care takers of the world, both people and all creation. Hints from Genesis suggest that after the world was made the caretaker creatures were placed onboard to maintain this place. We are the caretakers.  “With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will.”

Our own human selves are not excluded from our own care. Just as charity begins in the home, so too does human self-care.  Among the human species, the Christian is like unto a flight attendant.  Flight attendants serve to make the passengers safe and comfortable while on their journey.  Flight attendants are not recruiting more flight attendants for a particular airline.  We Christians also are here to serve all people, Christian and non-Christian alike, while not trying to make all people Christian. “With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”  This is what I believe the Spirit of God told the writer of the letter to the Church in Ephesus, and this is what I believe the Spirit is still  saying to us today.

Today we remember Julian of Norwich: Contemplative (8 May 1417). Her bio can be found at Julian of Norwich (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:

Dear Lord God, creator and lover of all that is, please give us who follow our Lord Jesus more guidance as we strive to reconcile all people to you in whatever path they are on. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 78:1 to 39; Evening, Psalm 78:40 to 72;

Leviticus 26:1-20; 1^st Timothy 2:1 to 6; Matthew 13:18 to 23:

“This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1^st Timothy 2:3-4)

I know that I am not perfect. I have many flaws and imperfections.  I am so thankful that we have a loving and merciful God and Savior in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of everyone being saved, and everyone coming to the knowledge of truth. I think the key word here is “everyone.”

The word needs to get out to “everyone” that God desires all people to be saved. Contrary to our normal fear of scarcity, heaven does not run out of room. Perhaps the biggest problem we might have is sharing total freedom and glory with our neighbors, all neighbors. The only thing hindering us from that glory are the false narratives we follow. However, once we understand ourselves, and God’s love for us, knowledge and truth will assure our place in God’s divine plan.

The Word needs to get out that God desires everyone to come to the knowledge of truth. Like most of us I was raised with certain prejudices and biases that caused me to not see the inclusive love of God.  As a Christian, and with some good Christian education, I have come to, and am still coming to, the understanding that God, as seen in Christ Jesus, came among us to both know about us and experience what it means to be us first hand.

Being saved and coming to the knowledge of truth is the message our Lord Jesus gave to Paul for Timothy, and for us. This message is for all of us who hear it. But I think more especially for Christians as we have that calling to model, as our Lord Jesus did, love for all people regardless of who they are, or what they think they believe or don’t believe.  There is more than enough room and comfort for all in the next life. Therefore we should be holding dear to us in prayer everyone, from the president to the homeless; people of other countries (friend or foe); and people we have been taught not to trust.  All are invited by God to be with God.  We Christians are God’s helpers for all humanity.

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:

Oh God of limitless hospitality, who invites all people to come to your ultimate truth, be present with each of us on our journey to you that we might do what is pleasing in your sight. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;

Leviticus 25:35 to 55; Colossians 1:9 to 14; Matthew 13:1 to 16:

“He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.  The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.”  With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
“You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.”  (Matthew 13: 11 – 14

I think that the part that says, “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive,” is that sometimes we are so hard-hearted and set in our own fixations that we literally block out the truth. If we already think we know what the speaker is saying before he or she finishes what they are saying, our hearts are hardened and we don’t get it.  In such a case, “even what we do have will be taken away.” Listening is an underdeveloped art.

Only when we let go of any and all our preconceived ideas (including the idea of race), can we fully see what our Lord Jesus is doing.  Only when we truly and objectively listen to another person will we discern what is in their heart.  If there has to be a bias, make it of love. I once preached a homily wherein I challenged my listeners to draw a heart with ears.  A few did and the hearts with ears on either side looked pretty good.  I challenge you to do the same.  Regardless of your drawing skills, draw a simple heart and then draw a pair of simple human ears on each side of it.  This represents listing with your heart.

We should listen optimistically as well as lovingly. In this way, even if we don’t understand the message of a parable, we will continue to delve deeper until we get it. If we seek, we will find. To their credit the disciples of Jesus stuck with him and followed him and pressed him until they got the parables unraveled, albeit after the Resurrection.  Maybe their determination for the truth was what they all had in common. Are you determined to be a disciple of Jesus?  If so, listen with the ears of your heart and seek the Truth.

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 God, you came to us in Word before we were able to discern any sight of you. Increase in us the ability to hear you through the voice of others as well as even the soundless acts of love in any way that they might be made manifest. Enable us to hear you in word and deed. Amen.