onewhoponders

The Gospel Reading for Palm/Passion Sunday: Year B

Mark 14:1-15:47

“At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.” (Mark 14:72)

I have seen myself in the person of Peter. I mean well, but often the price of keeping my word is beyond my earthly mental ability. This is true even when it comes to my relationship with God. But like the centurion said, “Truly this man was God’s Son;” (Mark 15:39). What the centurion didn’t know is that this man is STILL the Son of God!

Many of us, me included, fear our outcome in this life based on our human relationships. We fail to understand that acknowledging our Lord Jesus is the freeing relationship that will get us where we really want to be, in glory everlasting. Jesus loves Peter and His first followers, and the same Jesus loves us today. We must not by our actions or words deny Him, but rather, walk the walk He set before us.

Let us pray:

Oh, All loving Lord Jesus, you know our weaknesses beyond our own knowledge of self, but you love us anyway.  Help us to really live into our faith no matter the costs. Help us daily dear Lord to not only believe in you, but also in your resurrection, your invitation into life eternal, where you live and reign in eternal glory forever and ever; 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 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 137:1 to 6 and Psalm 144; Evening,  Psalms 42 and 43;

Exodus 10:21 to 11:8; 2^nd Corinthians 4:13 to 18; Mark 10:46 to 52:

“So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” (Mark 10:50)

This is the healing story of blind Bartimaeus son of Timaeus who asks for his sight “again.”  This means he once had sight, could see clearly. What is often kind of glossed over is Bartimaeus throwing off his cloak.  Think about it, if you are blind you become well aware of keeping up with things so that you can put your hands on them again. I have my sight and still, I lose things all the time, my keys, my phone, my glasses, many things.

Bartimaeus, knowing he has the opportunity to stand (or kneel) before our Lord Jesus, throws off his cloak – his security blanket.  He lets go of his “security blanket” knowing that being before Jesus will make all things new. He knew that having the attention of Jesus changes what he values. He wants to see again.  Which means, he was once able to see but lost his sight.

The same is true for us today. The only way we can put our whole trust in our Lord Jesus is to let go of false security. Our Lord Jesus asks us today, What is it that we want Him to do for us?

Let us pray:

Dear God, in Whom we put all our hopes and desires, be present with us in our doubts and fears and receive us in our absolute trust in Your goodness. As we witness Your gracious hand at work in our lives, hearts and minds, teach us to through off all false securities and to value Your presence with us as the most important fact of our lives. This we ask in Your most Holy Name; 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 after the 5^th Sunday of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 22; Evening,  Psalms 141 and 143:1-11(12);

Exodus 9:13 to 35; 2^nd Corinthians 4:1 to 12; Mark 10:32 to 45:

“They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.” (Mark 10:32)

Here we have our Lord Jesus leading the pack to his own torture and death.  He is very much aware of his imminent pain and suffering and yet he leads the way. He sets the example for future Christians.  The brothers James and John are going to request places of honor in the kingdom of Jesus.  Jesus informs them that those places are determined by God Almighty.  The rest of his group becomes angry when they find out what James and John were up to.  Jesus gives them the lesson about the upside down world of honor in the kingdom of heaven.  He explains that it is those who serve others that are the most honored in the kingdom.  Our Lord Jesus tells them (and us) that the worldly demand of harsh leadership, which demands for itself to be pleased no matter the costs, is not who we are.  We are to lead in loving ways.  We are to lead by caring for those whom we lead.  We then, are to be copies of the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus himself.

Let us pray:

Abide in us Lord Jesus as we study your ways and follow your teachings. Help us to see that in Christian love we are to recognize all others as our brothers and sisters of our heavenly family, and as such, we are to care for them without fear as God intends for us to do since the foundation of our creation. In your most holy 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

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

Morning, Psalms 131and 132; Evening, Psalms 140 and 142

Exodus 7:25 to 8:19; 2^nd Corinthians 3:7 to 18; Mark 10:17 to 31:

“The magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, but they could not. There were gnats on both humans and animals.” (Exodus 8:18)

The magicians of Pharaoh were able to replicate the “staff – to- snake” action even though Moses’ snake destroyed those of  Pharaoh’s magicians; and they could also produce the frogs as God did.  But when God raised up the finer creatures of creation, the gnats, the magicians were lacking. All of creation comes from God. No exception. The gnats remind me of the small and insignificant status of human beings in the great expanse of the universe except that God in Christ Jesus elevated our status by being one of us.

To my knowledge, no other creature on earth has been reasoned with by God, only human beings.  Through Moses, God has tried to reason with Pharaoh several times to release human beings, but he would not. So God showed Pharaoh that the God of Moses is indeed the God of all beings, human and non-human alike. And all humanity, regardless of where we live, are connected to God our Creator through Christ Jesus our Savior.

While we are geographically disconnected from one another, we are Spiritually and  prayerfully connected with one another and God. Moses spoke with God for the relief of his people even though it was not something he wanted to do from the beginning. I ponder that it may not have been just Pharaoh whom Moses feared; he may have feared having a continued close relationship with God whom he just met and who was pushing him way out of his comfort zone. We know deep down in our hearts that a continued prayerful relationship with God will push us past our comfort zone. Unlike our Lord Jesus, we have never been physically connected with God although God intercedes on our physical behalf as is often requested by us in our prayers for ourselves and others.

Our God is not a God of convenience.  God is not “use now and forget.”  We are in this prayer relationship with God forever and we should show God our thanks for even being alive, My preaching is not so much a job.  It is a calling from my own spiritual burning bush. What I am called to say is not always pleasant to ponder but none the less, needs to be said. The Spirit of God is eternal and moves among us always. This is the Spirit we should listen to and heed its Divine direction. The last verse of our 1^st Corinthian reading for today says of the Spirit; And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (1^st Corinthians 3:18)

Let us Pray:

Come O Holy Spirit, Who with your eternal and life-giving presence of love, fortifies all life, dwell in us that we may see and hear you in one another to the enhancement of our lives together, You who made us and loves us all, 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 Wednesday of the 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:145 to 176; Evening,  Psalm 128, 129, 130;

Exodus 7:8-24; 2^nd Corinthians 2:14 to 3:6; Mark 10:1 to 16:

“I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope. My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130: 4 and 5)

These verses capture our state of being right now.  We are waiting.  We are finally witnessing the beginning of the end of the devastation of Covid 19. And while it might stay with us in one form or another, we are now better able to protect ourselves from serious hospitalization or death. God has worked with us in our prayers to help us make vaccines against it.  Our hope and faith and trust continues to be in the Lord.  And we pray that God Almighty continues to  intervene with healing and health for all. “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope.”

God’s Word is that God loves us, that we are created in God’s Image. Our very souls wait for the Lord’s action.  Our souls already know the Lord our God and our souls speak to us (if we would but listen) informing us to put all our hope in the Lord.

In the old days the watchmen were those who stayed vigilant while everyone slept. They served as alarms if danger came near but also they watched for the first signs of the new day. They watched for the sun. Our souls today still watch for the Son.  But the Psalmist informs us that our souls watch even more intently.  Our souls today watch for the coming again of the Son of God.  

Let us pray:

Almighty God, creator and lover of all souls, give us that patience necessary to continually wait for your guidance in our lives. Help us to ever strive for your Word through Christ Jesus to lead us and guide us in all matters in order that our words and actions may be pleasing in your sight. 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 Tuesday of the 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 121, 122, 123; Evening, Psalms 124, 125, 126;

Exodus 5:1-6:1; 1^st Corinthians 14:20 to 33 and 39 to 40; Mark 9:42 to 50:

 “Then Moses turned again to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, why have you mistreated this people? Why did you ever send me?”  (Exodus 5:22)

Moses is caught between the rock and the hard place.  His demanding of Pharaoh to release the people of Israel in order that they may go and worship God has caused Pharaoh to be even more severe with the Israelites. Now he will not provide for them the material for making the bricks but also holding the same expectation of quantity of bricks as before. Moses feels trapped.

God has not changed.  Today God will engage us in activities that will inconvenience us and cost us time, and often money.  But like with Moses, God will not abandon us.  People who don’t know or can’t sense God in their lives will only hold you responsible for what is happening (or not happening).  They don’t want to hear our “God-talk.”  They want us to get out of their way.  But we must endure no matter the costs.

I often tell people this is how we know a path is from God.  First, it is inconvenient. Second, it takes us out of our comfort zone.  Third, there is the issue of time and or money (often both). And fourth, the act is for the benefit of someone else, not you. Hey, God has not changed. Just ask Moses.  God is unchangeable. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. But know this, God will not abandon you.

Let us Pray:

Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of all that is, we give you thanks and praise for your continual love and providence for us, and over us. You walk with us and guide us into right actions for the benefit of the whole human race and for all creation. Help us we pray, to be steadfast in our faith like Moses as we often encounter resistance to your loving ways.  This dear God, we ask in your most Holy Name; Amen.

Today our Church remembers St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus; and can be found at: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Joseph.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 Monday of the 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 31; Evening, Psalm 35;

Exodus 4:10 to31; 1^st Corinthians 14:1 to 19; Mark 9:30 to 41:

“John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” (Mark 9: 38)

Earlier, in this same chapter, Jesus has told them that he was going to be handed over to those who will have him killed and this is what he came into the world to do. This was Jesus’ lot in his life.  But sadly they were arguing amongst themselves about who was the greatest in their own lives, forgetting that our Lord Jesus was sacrificing himself, not promotng himself.  They were so off track.  Now they are confused about someone outside of themselves, doing good works in Jesus’ Name, but because they did not know the person they tried to stop him.  I wonder if they even listened to themselves. Our Lord Jesus sure has a lot of patience. I’m glad he does.  Lord knows, I am always in need of the Patience of Jesus. How about you?

If we don’t learn anything else from the original followers of our Lord Jesus, let us at least learn that we are always learning.  We don’t know it all, and the beautiful part is, nobody else knows it all either.  We are free to go about life in the comfort of knowing that all humanity is trying to figure out life together. We can’t do it apart from one another, not successfully anyway. The more of us that use our Lord Jesus’ Name the better.  Perhaps the best we can do is to learn from others who have also followed Jesus in their own way.  This is why I am  always reading from the writings of the saints.  I call them my heroes. They were still learning right up to the day they departed this life.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, while we believe that you are the Way, the Truth and the Life, we also know that there are many Christian paths learning from your teachings. Give us tolerance Lord Christ as we witness your mighty works made manifest in believers we have not met. Let us be compassionate rather than competitive when we witness your hand at work in others, you O Christ, who works through the faith of all believers for the sake of all people. 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

Gospel Reading for the 5^th Sunday in Lent: Year B

John 12:20 to 33

“They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.”  (John 12: 21 and 22)

Taking a child fishing is perhaps one of the happiest moments a fishing person can have with a child. It ranks right up there with a baby taking their first step, or a child learning to ride a bicycle. When the fish is caught, patience is required of the experienced fisherman. We must let the child experience “bringing it in” and, taking it off the hook.  It’s all a part of fishing.

The Greeks in today’s Gospel lesson have bit the hook of Philip who is being taught by Andrew, (a fisherman by trade), how to fish. Jesus himself is the Master Fisherman. And while Jesus goes on to talk about how sad he is that he has to depart back to his eternal realm, there has to be some degree of happiness about the fishing seed that has been planted in us and how it will continue to multiply over and over again.

As you live out your Church life, people will approach you about wanting to see “your Jesus.” When this happens, and it will, take them to the priest or the wardens of your parish and invite them to a Sunday service.  Our Lord Jesus will take it from there. Jesus trained us to be fishermen for the kingdom.  The fishing seed is planted. It is now time for you to bloom where you are planted. It’s all a part of the Gospel fishing inheritance.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord Jesus, author of love and peace, you have set the example of love for all humanity to follow and caused a deep desire in us to want to be like you. Assist us as we strive to follow the pattern you have set and let us draw others to your ways for the sake of the kingdom of heaven where you continue to invite us to eternal life. In your name we pray: 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 Sunday of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 107:33 to 43; Evening,  Psalm 108:1-6(7-13); 33;

Exodus 2:23 to 3:15; 1^st Corinthians 13:1 to 13; Mark 9:14 to 29:

“He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer.” (Mark 9:29)

I feel like not enough Christian effort is applied in prayer today either. By this I mean the “sit-in-your-room-alone – prayer.” After the disciples of our Lord Jesus failed to cast out the evil spirit by whatever means they were using, Jesus himself interviewed the father of the boy about how long this has been happening. Then Jesus told the evil presence not only to come out of the boy, but also to never enter him again. Our Lord Jesus later explains about our needing to pray more. He says that “This kind can come out only through prayer.”  This is still what we need today.

We have suffered as a planet from this Covid 19 and even some clergy, Christian clergy, have gone along with secular instruction to establish and maintain physical (social) distancing. And that has worked, but perhaps during our time (alone) and distancing, we also prayed, prayed without ceasing.  

Perhaps this physical distancing was good advice for the physical self. How about our spiritual selves?  Sooner or later we will all stand before the One  for whom nothing is impossible.  What response will we give for not coming to our Lord for help?  Our Presiding Bishop once said the most important prayer we can pray is one word, and that word is; “Help.”

Folks, we must have faith and believe. Our Lord Jesus took issue with the father who showed some doubt when he ask, “if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us;” (Mark 9: 22).  To this Jesus responds, “‘If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes” (Mark 9: 23).  My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we must never under estimate the power of our faith in God and the power of prayer that brings to an end whatever troubles us. God loves us so much that God can’t refuse whatever good we ask, but we must trust and ask. And we ask for the benefit of one another everywhere. We don’t ask just for ourselves, our family, or our Church or our Country, but for humankind all over the planet as our news technology today enables us to know what is going on. 

Let us pray:

Most holy and all powerful creating and loving Spirit, please hear our prayers of praise, confession, thanksgiving, intersession, and personal needs. Remind us daily Dear Lord that prayer is our best connection to you and that we should pray daily. Thank you Lord Jesus. 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 Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening,  Psalm 107:1 to 32;

Exodus 2:1 to 22; 1^st Corinthians 12:27 to 13:3; Mark 9:2 to 13:

“He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why did you leave the man? Invite him to break bread.”  (Exodus 2: 20)

Moses has killed an Egyptian and has been exposed by an angry Hebrew man, maybe even the same Hebrew man whom he spared the beating.  He is on the run. Just as he got in trouble for saving a man from a beating, he later defends women from harassing shepherds.  Perhaps these are the traits that God saw in Moses and therefore called him to the Burning Bush and enlisted Moses to do more work.  I’m just pondering here. 

Moses is invited to “Break Bread” in the home of Reuel and later marries his daughter (Zipporah).  Some translations say he was invited to a meal.  I like the term “Break Bread.”  I also like, and admire, the courage of Moses. He continues in his way of courage even though he is on the run because of his troubles in Egypt.  God notices his courage and righteousness and will make good use of his character for the benefit of the enslaved Israelites.

The father of the girls also recognized the goodness of Moses and wanted to welcome him into his home. Moses possessed traits the father hadn’t seen in the local men who would rather bully women at the well. Moses didn’t back down when trouble came, be it his Hebrew kin, the Egyptians, except for the pharaoh himself who could have him killed, or even mean spirited shepherds in a foreign land.  With Moses, there was a difference between right and wrong. So the same should be with us as well. When we see an injustice happening we have a moral obligation to intervene.

Let us pray:

O God, the Author of justice and peace, incline our hearts and wills to stand in the breach where we witness injustice taking place. Give us the courage to stand with those who cannot defend themselves. As we partner with the vulnerable, let the oppressors see your presence at work. 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