onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 29: Year 1

Psalm 106:1to 18; Evening, Psalm 106:19 to 48:
Joel 3:1-2 and 9-17; 1^st Peter 1:1to12; Matthew 19:1to 12

“His disciples said to him, ‘If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.’ But he said to them, ‘Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given” (Matthew 19:10 and 11).

There are many people who perhaps should not marry, both men and women. Jesus himself did not marry. There are a lot of societal pressures exerted on us to get married but once we do, that same pressure is not there to help us maintain our marital relationships. 

Too many young men and women are not aware of the option of monastic or, personal religious life – a life dedicated to the service of the Lord. It would be wonderful if brothers and sisters from monasteries and convents could have their turn in high schools and universities explaining the monastic way of life.  How many young people would accept a call to this vocation rather than the military, or college, or secular employment and marriage, or, on the negative side,  gang involvement and incarceration with  perhaps too early a death?

As our Lord Jesus says, only those to whom it is given can accept such a vocation. I believe that we should make available to our young folk every possible way of honorable life, including and also beyond marriage, as they may have been given such a call. Life is not one size fits all. And our communities need the variety of all sorts of dedicated discernments.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Christ the King Sunday: Year A

Ephesians 1:15-23  Matthew 25:31-46:

“Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34)

Again, the “king” language is used.  So, I use it too.  We, Americans fought a war to rid ourselves of being under a king.  Therefore, we probably have negative feelings about being under a king, even today.  But I would call our attention to the kind of kingdom God is calling us to.

It is a kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world. It is a kingdom of rest and peace.  It is a kingdom of “no more tears.”  Right now we live in a world of both metaphorical sheep and goats; of wheat and chaff. But at the Resurrection, there will be a great separation.  Those who have self-identified as sheep by a life of self-denial, (not just for the sake of self-denial) but, in order to serve others, will be placed on the right side of God Almighty, which is where our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ resides.  It will be a wonderful place with a never-ending table of nourishment and comfort. Let those who have ears listen, learn; love and live.

What we must notice in this Gospel reading is that of all that is remembered about the sheep; their giving of food, their giving of drink, their clothing of the naked, and their visiting the sick or incarcerated, is, that they are never proclaimed sheep because of what they say they believe.

What we say we believe is lived out, not just talked out. And, as Christians, if our talk is about our Lord Jesus, there is no excuse of “I didn’t know it was you Lord.”  Every  person we encounter is Jesus to us. This means that persons who do not outwardly claim to be Christian but who feed the hungry, give drink to those who thirst, clothe the naked, visit the incarcerated or infirmed, are as much sheep as any practicing Christian, and in some cases, maybe even more.

Some act as sheep because it is the setting of their moral compass. They are not behaving this way for a future reward, but they are going to receive it because the King of kings will see them as the sheep they are and He will say to them, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

When we hear their invitation to the Kingdom, we can’t become the Prodigal brother’s elder brother and be jealous because they are with us. We are not to be an us – them people. We have Jesus in our lives in order that we might repent and recalibrate our own moral compass and become His sheep as well.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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 Proper 28: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 107:33 to 43, and Psalm 108; Evening,  Psalm 33;
Isaiah 65:17 to 25; Revelation 22:14 to 21; Matthew 18:21 to 35:

“For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.” (Isaiah 65; 17 and 18)

I visited the City of Jerusalem during my Holy Land tour in February of 2018. The picture that heads this blog of Israel from Lake Galilee was taken from that trip.  I was not impressed with Jerusalem.  Even Jesus remembers it as a city that kills the prophets. (Matthew 23:37)

Perhaps a new earth with a Jerusalem as a joy is a wonderful idea.  However, not remembering human sin causes me some concern. I forget when or where I heard it said but it is true that unless we remember where we went wrong, we will go wrong again. The sin of the inhumanity to humans by humans is heartbreaking and awful. I so want a new way to live together with all humanity. But I think collectively we need to justifiably feel sad about much of our past and teach our young ones to watch their thoughts and attitudes towards others.  The nationality, language, skin color, sex, sexual orientation, diet nor anything else, should ever hinder our ability to love the other.

I pray the new earth and new Jerusalem prevents discriminating barriers from being built at all. Hey, I have an idea!  Why don’t you and I live in joy as citizens of that new earth and that new Jerusalem now?  We’ll delight in doing the Lord’s work.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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 Proper 28: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1 to 32;
1^st Maccabees 4:36 to 59; Revelation 22:6 to 13; Matthew 18:10 to 20:

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20)

In this talk Jesus has asks us to passionately confront any person whom we feel has wronged us, or anyone we have wronged.  If the one on one doesn’t work, bring in two or three more for fairness sake. If that doesn’t work, consult the parish family, perhaps the pastor or priest. Jesus is setting up a way to bring us back together as in the one sheep that was lost in the lead story.

We are created social beings (like sheep).  We need each other. When we are together, God is in the midst of us. God may have finished the heavens and the earth, but you and I are still a work in progress. It is not so much that we were created, but rather, we are being created. When any two of us are together in the faith, our Lord Jesus accompanies us and we become three. We become a trinity in the Lord. We just need to become more aware of God’s divine presence with us. It is in this way that we are blessed, and brought back, and belong.  I know I am. Thank You Lord Jesus.

“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 and our schools.

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 Thanksgiving Day: Year A

Luke 17: 11 to 19

Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?”

Like all responses from God, there is a participatory part we must do in God’s response.  So, to answer our Lord’s question, the other nine are doing what was required of them, that is, they were headed to priests to show that they had been cleaned. But the one wanted to give thanks first.

Today is Thanksgiving Day.  This is another strictly American holiday. But the need to give thanks to God is universal. All human beings should pause and give thanks to God for our existence even if our existence is unpleasant.  Just being aware that there is a forever God who will eventually receive us in that glorious presence is in, and of itself, something to be thankful for.

Many of us spend a lot of time asking God for many things.  We never stop asking for something. Like the lepers in our Gospel reading we too say, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” We should spend just as much time giving thanks for what God has done, and is doing. As we have seen in our reading, Jesus notices. “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?”

I am glad that America has set aside a time of reflection and Thanksgiving. It is a great and unified way to show God that as a nation we are thankful. However, each person, family and parish should establish the habit of giving thanks regularly.  Such a habit will keep our national habit of Thanksgiving thriving; lest we forget in whom we put our trust.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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 Proper 28: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 101 and 109: Evening, Psalm 119:121to 144;
1^st  Maccabees 3:42 to 60; Revelation 21:9 to 21; Matthew 17:22 to 27:

“And when he [Simon Peter] came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?’ When Peter  said, ‘From others’, Jesus said to him, ‘Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offence to them, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.” (Matthew 17: 25 to 27)

In my experience this passage is seldom used as sermon material.  However there are layers of revelation here about who Jesus is.

First of all, Jesus, while not with Peter when he encountered the collectors of the temple tax, already knew what happened, just as he knew the experience of many before they came to him.  Second, when he posits the question to Peter he already knew the answer. He knew that he and his followers were the “other,” from whom the king takes his toll or tribute.  Lastly, I always thought the fishermen of Jesus’ day fished with nets. But Jesus instructs him to use a hook, (no mention of bait) and upon bringing in a fish, examine its mouth and get the coin.  This coin, Jesus says,  will be paid for “you and me.”

We are the “other” of this Gospel lesson.  We are not the children of the rulers of this world. We are the children of God. And God, even working through God’s own created nature will save us and provide what we need even without bait. We should live our lives always expecting divine intervention. This certainly will preach.

Today our Church remembers Clive Staples Lewis: (C. S. Lewis), lay theologian and Christian writer. It will do one good to look him up on the net and ponder about his many works.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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 Proper 28: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 97 and 99; Evening, Psalm 94;
1^st  Maccabees 3:25 to 41; Revelation 21:1 to 8; Matthew 17:14 to 21:

“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith.”  (Matthew 17:19 and 20)

The Gospel accounts, and perhaps the whole of the Bible, require intense study. I noticed that while our readings from Matthew are from chapter 17: verses 14 to verse 21. However, there was no verse 21 in the NRSV that I started with.  So I went to other Gospel accounts that covered the same story. Lo and behold, Mark has a different response from Jesus to the disciples, and to us. The notes in the Matthew version acknowledge that “some manuscripts have what is in Mark, that is Jesus saying, “this kind can come out only by prayer,” which is found in Mark 9:29.

While the original, or some version of Matthew might have had the same words before a redaction, the point is, prayer is so important. I am not talking about audible, out loud prayer. I am talking about sitting silently with God and asking for help.  God is a Spiritual presence that is always with us, waiting to help us because God loves us. We just need to ask God for the help we need, and then we just let God do what God does. As we trust in God, God will, in return, trust us.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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 Proper 28

Morning, Psalm 89:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 89:19 to 52;
1^st Maccabees 3:1 to 24; Revelation 20:7 to 15; Matthew 17:1 to 13:

“While he (Peter) was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)

The Transfiguration appears on its day in August and at other times during the year like today.  I am very aware of how much is going on in our readings. Today we have a hidden Trinity.  We have a cloud that overshadows Peter, James and John; we have the voice of God, and we have the visual of our Lord Jesus in plain, and very bright view.

While this is a Matthew account, we also have Peter to speak of this event in his own letter to us.  He says, ^“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”” (2^nd Peter 1:16 to 18).

This cloud-like Spirit of God has spoken about Jesus before, at His Baptism.  But this time the words, “Listen to Him,” has been added. And to listen is to be understood as “obey.”

I feel that once something this amazing happens, there is no way to continue in life the way it was before.  There would be no way to deny who Jesus is or that I know him, but Peter will do just that.  This makes me ponder about the amazing things that have happened to me in my life in Christ and yet I sometimes go on living as if these events didn’t happen.  I don’t think I listen all the time.  I am so thankful for a radiantly merciful Jesus, aren’t you?

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 28: Year A

1 Thessalonians 5:1to11 and  Matthew 25:14to30

“But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” (Matthew 25:18)

Imagine you were witnessing others being given more gifts and more responsibility and therefore, more trust than yourself.  It might have been different if you had not witnessed the gifts, responsibility and trust, given to others, but alas, you did witness it. and jealousy prevails.

There are a couple of ways to respond to such an experience.  One way is to not go along with such a disregard of your abilities, (albeit abilities you didn’t create for yourself, nor did the others). Jealousy of how others are perceived to be respected more will often make us resentful, and revengeful.   Also, it will show that your overseer (God) actually overestimated your loyalty, your faith, in his assessment of what you are capable of. Not hardly, God knows all.

I have been made aware of some kind of trade game wherein people begin with very little and then begin to trade for something better. Some have started with only a paper clip or an empty glass and have (over time) ended up with even a car. The post that I found on the net is called the “Trade Game” and is found at https://www.socialstudiesar.org/blog/tradegame.  The class room game begins with the instructor “giving” each student some random item. Of course the class later trades among themselves to achieve greater satisfaction. The point is, each person was given something. 

Our Lord has given each of us something, while it may not be to trade, it is something that is needed in our community, in our Church and in our world. It is something to be thankful for. It may not be much, only one little thing, but we are all given something.

Another way is to look at this is to be thankful that you have such a low bar to get over. Do what you can to the best of your abilities.  But know this, God knows more about what you are capable of than you do. What you observe may not be the whole story.  The others that were given more may have been you in previous years.  Always be thankful and do the best you can with what you are given.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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 Proper 27: Year 1

 Morning, Psalms 87 and  90; Evening,  Psalm 136;
1^st  Maccabees 2:1 to 28; Revelation 20:1 to 6; Matthew 16:21 to 28:

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16: 24 and 25)

It’s pretty challenging to put down the words of what our Lord Jesus said in a different language, and some forty years after he has died, raised, and ascended back to the realm of the Creator. I think he knew that if he kept up the practice of the love of God for all people, the people themselves would kill him.  However, I see the cross that we should take up is more a metaphor for us to accept whatever burdens are put upon us, and at the same time, faithfully and lovingly, do the best we can in this life with the Lord’s help.

We follow our Lord Jesus by not going along with evil, and even in the presence of evil, we must show love. We follow our Lord Jesus by practicing that same love of God for all people as Jesus himself did. There is a pretty good chance that in most places today Christian practitioners will not be killed because of their faith, as Jesus and his early followers were.  Remember, I said most places. There are still some hateful places left on the planet. Where we are free to worship and extend love to all, we must keep in prayer those people and places that challenge the love of Christ. Today is a good day to start. Today is a good day to take up whatever your cross looks like and follow Christ.

How is your Sabbath going?

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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