onewhoponders

Gospel Reading for the 6^th Sunday of Easter: Year B

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.”  (John  15:9)

Our Lord Jesus came to us and walked among us for the sole purpose of sharing the unconditional love of God our Creator in order that we will share this godly love among ourselves. We are told to “abide” in his love. Abide means to take it in and live with it. It may not be comfortable at first but Jesus promises that it will bring us joy. Jesus says “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”  So firsts we tolerate and then we receive joy, everlasting joy.

This is how we get this ultimate joy; we follow the Commandment of Jesus. And what is this commandment? Jesus says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)  I like this edict from our Lord Jesus much better than the Commandment from the Synoptic Gospels which says to love your neighbor as yourself.  The assumption is that we love ourselves. I have met people who hate themselves. I have met people who abuse themselves with cutting, drugs, alcohol, greed, gluttony, and other self abusive disorders. If we then set out to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, we may feel free to abuse others in the same way we abuse ourselves.

In John’s Gospel we don’t get off that easy. Our Lord Jesus commands us to love one another, our neighbors, as He loves us.  And we know that Jesus loved us to death, even death on a cross. It is a very difficult command. But we must strive to do just that; to love others as He, our Lord Jesus, loves us. No excuses, no treating others as we treat ourselves if that treatment is harmful.

Another point to ponder about is Jesus saying, “You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another; (John 15: 16 and 17).  I have found that in most cases, the people we choose in life are more dear to us than those we were born into life with. Chosen or born into, the love God gifts us with is not a limited love. If we abide in the love of God we are able to love all people as family.

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 has taught us the real meaning of self-giving love, strengthen our God-given ability to stretch out our love for all people regardless of their beliefs, nationality, language, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. Help us to abide in the love of God so that our joy may truly be complete. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 75 and 76; Evening, Psalms 23 and 27;

Leviticus 23:23 to 44; 2^nd Thessalonians 3:1 to 18; Matthew 7:13 to 21:

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easythat leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.  For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  (Matthew 7:13- 14)

I often remind my congregation that Christianity is not for the faint of heart.  It’s hard work, a narrow gate, if you will.  If you have ever been in line to get through a narrow door, or even in heavy traffic where one lane is closed and drivers must merge or “zipper” into a single lane, you have some idea about the need for patience.  Also, the road is difficult.  Christians must undergo some uncomfortable experiences and often stand with those who are overwhelmed.

Our Congregation as been downsized due to COVID 19.  Many Christians of “Mega” churches have also been downsized and don’t like it.  However in the beginning of the Jesus Movement, we assembled in the homes of believers (in secret).  We were small groups around a table. We may be back to that now.  Those who brought the Word, themselves worked jobs only to show that they were not trying to profit from the Gospel, rather, they were prophets of the Gospel.

In our 2^nd Thessalonians reading for today we read, “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,  and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate.  For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.”  (2 Thessalonians 3: 7 – 10)

I am one of those clergy who believes that I should have a regular job as I study and prepare to preach the Gospel.  Not a lot of Clergy agree with me, and that’s fine.  In my way of understanding the clergy role. it should be the bishop whose sole focus should be his or her diocese. The argument will be raised, “Who wants to go to three years of seminary only to work as a part-time priest?”  Our  Gospel reading says, “For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” As I look back now I regret not having worked a secular vocation when I was a rector.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord God, You guide us through rough times and narrow gates but you never abandon us. Fortify us with Your Spirit in order that we are better enabled to overcome human expected, and accepted norms, and do what is sometimes difficult but pleasing in your sight. Amen.

Today we remember Monica, mother of Augustine of Hippo (May 4,387) who was his inspiration. Her bio can be found at Monnica (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

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 106:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 106:19 to 48;

Leviticus 23:1 to 22;  2^nd Thessalonians 2:1 to 17; Matthew 7:1 to 12:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Matthew 7:7)

I believe the most significant lessons of our lives come as a result of the questions we ask. We live in a wonderful time.   With our phones we literally have world libraries in our pockets.  We can ask anything in the world.  This does not come without a caution however.  The old saying is true, “garbage in; garbage out.”  Readers beware.  And again, advice from a friend of mine, “ask a question and, if necessary, question the answer.”

When it comes to Godly concerns, we can read the Bible but I don’t recommend it to be done in isolation.  There are also Bible Study classes that can be taken to help you. And with this I recommend such classes to open and close in prayer.  It is also necessary when asking such questions to go beyond the Bible, to the saints of old and the saints new.

Many of the saints who have gone before us have answers to our questions. But let’s place this passage where it belongs; our Lord Jesus is talking about judgment, specifically, not judging others. He uses examples of the speck in our neighbor’s eye and the log in ours.  And then he goes into how we treat our children whom we love as God loves us.  The point here is that we want what is best for those we love remembering that God loves us all.  Sometimes we really don’t know what is best given that we bring our own baggage (or log in our eye) into the situation.  So we must ask God for what is best, knowing that God’s response may be uncomfortable at times.  From one of our saints who has gone before us we have a prayer in our Book of Common Prayer that I think addresses what we should ask for;

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis as printed in our 1979 Book of Common Prayer:

Let us pray:

“Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.” (BCP 833)

“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

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 71; Evening, Psalm 74;

Leviticus 19: 26 to 37;  2^nd Thessalonians 1:1 to 12; Matthew 6:25 to 34:

“And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” (Matthew 6:27)

I am a champion worrier.  And I realize that the worrying itself (in most cases), does more harm to my wellbeing than the issue I am worrying about. I think worrying is somehow related to fear. They must be cousins if not parent and child, fear then, giving birth to worry, or the other way around.  I heard in a movie once that basically fear is a deep concern about some event that has not happened yet, and may not happen at all. And yet here we are, ready to give up or worse yet, do something regrettable because of it.

Our Lord Jesus makes the point that worrying really can’t help us, only hurt us.  Our Lord Jesus tells us regarding things we worry about that, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But strive first for the kingdom of Godand hisrighteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6: 32 – 33)

I also ponder about the next verse and how God’s time might apply here.  Our Lord Jesus says, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34)  So tomorrow!  Is that this life or the next?  I fear that I worry still.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, you know what we need before we do and well before we began to worry about what bad could happen. Create and sustain a path in us to your calmness whereby we might settle ourselves down and be more at peace when we get anxious. Please God, in your most holy Name. Amen.

Today we remember Athanasius, Bishop of Egypt (2 May 373). His bio can be found at http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Athanasius.htm.

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

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 2

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

Leviticus 19:1 to18; 1^st Thessalonians 5:12 to 28; Matthew 6:19 to 24:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Matthew 6:21)

I think of this verse, in reverse. I think that I first consider what my heart desires and then realize that my heart’s desire is my treasure. Treasure is often thought of as money. We can’t eat money. Money is our community currency that has a long shelf life – longer than wheat, or live stock, or anything we could use to trade with. Money, therefore, is a tool for trade and commerce, nothing more.

Knowing myself the way I do I think my heart’s desire is peace. I always cringe at the onset of any kind of hostility. I loathe domestic violence, bullying, and all hate initiated behavior.  Therefore peace is my treasure.

I think for me, strongly connected with peace is eternal life, which I believe is ultimate peace. I hope, pray and trust that joining Christ in paradise will be the eternal place of peace where there will be no more crying, forever. This then is my ultimate treasure. And it is my heart’s desire.

Let us pray:                                                                       

Dear Lord God, Creator of love and harmony, create in each of us loving desires as our treasures that in seeking such treasures, we will think, say, and do those things pleasing in your sight. Make each of us instruments of your peace, now and forever. Amen.

Today we remember Saints Philip and James, apostles of our Lord Jesus; Philip and James, Apostles (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

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 2

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

 Leviticus 16:20-34; 1^st Thessalonians 5:1 to 11; Matthew 6:7 to 15:

 “For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.  For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1st Thessalonians 5:7 – 9)

I like thinking of myself mostly as a day creature.  I rise before the sun comes up and go to bed shortly after it sets.  However, as I take a distant look of our solar system through space cameras or art, I realize that during the day the earth is facing inward toward the sun. But at night, our view is toward the universe, that vast expanse of interstellar space.  Hey, I’m “pondering” here ok.  Our night time view is one of taking in the stars and planets, the universe that God created. I have become familiar with the “Big Dipper” and “Orion’s Belt,” the occasional visitation of Venus and Mars and other planets and constellations as they make their journeys in their God-given paths

So for me, night is more than just a time for sleep, it is also a time of wonder. As a Christian, I agree with Bishop Kallistos Ware who says, “It is not the task of Christianity to provide easy answers to every question, but to make us progressively aware of a mystery. God is not so much the object of our knowledge as the cause of our wonder.”

We do not see evil in the night sky, only the good rotations and movements throughout the year as they make their way on their God-given paths. God has destined them for such. And God has also destined us for the same goodness through our Lord Jesus.  “For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Therefore, in pondering reflection, I think we are both day and night creatures.  And as the Holy Spirit says through Paul’s 1^st Letter to the Thessalonians, “we are on our own God-given path to salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let us come together then and stop evil from happening. We need to stop the evil some people do with guns and stop world violence and just be good as God has made us to be.

Let us pray:                                                                                       

Most Holy Lord God, the Grand Designer of all creation, we pray you guide us as you guide the stars above. Help us to remove or avoid any and all thoughts of evil towards our brothers and sisters. Help us also to see you clearly in each other in our days, and to wonder about you in our nights. We ask this of you, the source of all goodness. Amen.

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

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 2

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

 Leviticus 16:1 to 19; 1^st Thessalonians 4:13 to 18; Matthew 6:1 to 6 and 16 to 18:

“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.  I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1)

At some point in our lives we must admit that we are God’s own.  We belong to God. God will do what God will do.  We go to God for protection and wellbeing. We are seeing that we can’t always trust politicians (either side of the isle), or the military, or any human construct when it comes to unimaginable challenges that we face. It is only in God’s mercy that we can trust completely. 

And when we come out on the other side of our troubles (here or in heaven), we must give thanks and praise to God in word and song.  In this same Psalm we read, “My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast;  I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” (Psalm 57:7 – 8)  We must learn to put as much effort in giving thanks after God has helped us as we put in the asking for help in the beginning.

Let us pray:

Almighty and ever-loving God, You are the sanctuary of both our bodies and our souls, there is no other safe-guard for our lives. Increase in us O Lord the surety of your presence in our daily lives in order that we might lay all our concerns in your hands and then give you forever thanksgiving for your protection and refuge, now and in all eternity. Amen.

Today we remember Catherine of Siena: Reformer and spiritual teacher (1380). She played a significant role in getting the Roman Pope back in Rome in the 14 Century. Her story can be found at Catherine of Siena (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

The Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the 5^th Sunday of Easter: Year B

  John 15:1 to 8:

“Jesus said to his disciples, I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.”  (John 15:1)

The true vine does not suggest that there are false vines but rather, it makes us realize that there is a “main” vine that, like veins and arteries, brings us the air we breathe and takes away spent oxygen to be expelled. Jesus goes on to say, “He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. So, either way we get cut. We can be cut off, or, we can be trimmed so as to grow more fruit for God. The fruit that God is seeking is love.

I find myself, at times, doing too many things. And in order to get better at what I really want, I have to let go of some busyness so that I can more fully concentrate on what is more important. It is when I fully concentrate on what I want that I am more productive, more fruitful.  

Jesus says, “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing;” (John 15: 5). This metaphor or vision of God as Vine Grower apart from the vine itself works. God is Other-than-us, but we are the produce of God’s hands and heart. Jesus says, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Let us pray:

Oh Most Holy Lord Jesus, the Incarnate I-AM, breathe on us with your Holy Spirit in order that we might better understand our calling in this life and let go of all unfruitful interests. As you are our connection to the Great Vine Grower, feed us Lord Christ in order that we will be properly nourished for the doing of God’s will and produce the fruit God is looking for. In your most Holy Name we prey: Amen.

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

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 4^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalm 138, 139:1-17(18-23);

Exodus 40:18 to 38; 1^st Thessalonians 4:1 to 12; Matthew 5:38 to 48:

Psalm 139 Verses 1 – 3

1. Lord, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 2. You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways.  3. Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O Lord, know it altogether.

These are only the first three verses of Psalm 139.  I look at this Psalm as a meditation.  Verses 1 through 17 remind us of how well God knows us. These verses are also the ones most frequently treasured in this Psalm.  The remaining verses tend to deal with what the Psalmist wants to happen to the wicked. I try not to go there.

I ponder about how it feels to know that when I have a thought or a feeling, that God knows about it as soon as I do (maybe even before I do).  I am truly not alone, not even in my inmost thoughts. I like to think that sometimes God is not so passive in my thinking. That is, God also “prompts” my thinking in one direction or another. It’s like God allows me to see a “burning bush.” I, like Moses, must then decide if I am going to go check it out. The words of scripture are like the burning bush, the pages burn in us, but we are never consumed.  And through them, the Holy Spirit speaks to us.

Here’s the thing, God is a participant with all of us.  The divine hints are already with us.  But it’s up to us to check them out.  God discerns your thoughts from afar and is acquainted with all your ways.  Indeed, there is not a word on your lips, but God, O Lord, knows it altogether. This does not mean that God approves of all your words or thoughts.  Think about this and allow yourself to follow God’s lead in your life, not your own idea about what you should do. Try not to go there.

Let us pray:

Most gracious and loving God, you already know whereof we are made and the path we are likely to take, be present, be present Dear God with all our steps and then lead us in ways pleasing in your sight, this we beg of you most loving God. Amen.

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

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 4^th Week of Easter: Year 2

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

Exodus 34:18 to 35;  1^st  Thessalonians 3:1 to 13; Matthew 5:27 to 37:

“Great things are they that you have done, O Lord my God! how great your wonders and your plans for us! there is none who can be compared with you.” (Psalm 40:5)

Psalm 40 is wonderful. While it does have some verses that try to move God to deal with problem people, most of it is giving thanks to God for God’s wonder care of us.

I have been in tight spots where I didn’t see a good outcome. I don’t know if I consciously prayed during such times but deep within me, I am always aware of the presence of God. Actively pray or not, God is aware of our situations, and the situations of our communities. Great are God’s wonders and God’s plans for us. We must always trust in the Lord and remember to be so thankful when God has acted for our benefit.

Let us pray:

Oh All mighty God, giver of all good gifts and graces, you know our needs before we ask and provide them for us when we need them. Your plans for us exceed anything we could ask or imagine. Dear Lord God, help each of us to be better participants in your plan for humanity and this planet our island home. Teach us to be coworkers with you in your divine plan as it pleases you. In your most gracious Name we pray: Amen.

“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