onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 22: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 137:1-6, and Psalm 144; Evening, Psalm 104;
Jeremiah 35:1 to 19; 1^st Corinthians 12:27 to 13:3; Matthew 9:35 to 10:4:

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.” (1^st Corinthians 12:27 and 28)

Paul is not only talking to the Church in Corinth. He is talking to all who profess to be Christian.  He says “We” are the body of Christ as the Christian Church. He goes on to say that some,  not all, are appointed bishops, or prophets or pastors and teachers.  We all bring to the Church certain God-given and needed gifts.

Some of us in the Church are doctors and teachers as well as trash collectors and grocery store clerks and all walks of community life. All are needed in order that a community might be sustained.

Some of us in the Church are pastors and teachers.  This is a huge responsibility. It is the call of pastors and teachers to fortify the people in the pews to take the love of the Gospel out into the community.  In our Matthew Gospel reading for today, Jesus is doing just that.  He is sending out the twelve.

I was told long ago, that Church service begins at the dismissal. It is when the people in the pews are dismissed at the end of the service that they began the faithful work of carrying the Gospel of Christ out into the community, in deed and word, but I pray, mostly in deed.  I think it was St Francis of Assisi who said in so many words, “go and preach the Gospel and when necessary, use words.” I like that.  We should walk it before we talk it.

In our 1^st Corinthians reading for today we also hear Paul speak of leadership and language. I believe God will from time to time call any one of us to leadership. It does not matter about their physical appearance. They could be heavy of thin, or any shade of skin. They could be male, female, heterosexual, homosexual or non-sexual. God will call who God will call and then gift them with what is needed to help communities in need.  I am reminded of another Church saying I heard long ago.  God doesn’t call the qualified, God qualifies the called. Yes, this even includes giving them the words needed to get God’s point across and for righteous teaching with love.

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 22: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 140 and 142; Evening, Psalms 141 and 143:1-11;
2^nd Kings 23:36 to 24:17; 1^st Corinthians 12:12 to 26; Matthew 9:27 to 34:

“As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, ‘See that no one knows of this:” (Matthew 9:27 to 30)

Can you imagine being blind?  Can you imagine being blind and trying to follow someone?  And can you imagine blind leading the blind?  Nevertheless, they did and were rewarded for their tenacity. But pay close attention to what happened. 

Jesus asked them if they “believed” he (Jesus), was able to do this?  They said yes. They had faith in Jesus.  Jesus then touched their eyes and restored their sight while saying that in accordance with their faith, their sight is restored. 

Here again our Lord Jesus works with what we have inside of us for our own benefit. With little or no faith, we cannot be healed or cured, unless of course the faith in the Lord, and the desire for our health, comes from someone who loves us and pleads with Jesus on our behalf.  Our Lord Jesus will take what is good in us and drive out of us that that is bad. Jesus connects what we believe with what we need. Thank You Lord Jesus.

 I too am still stumbling along following my Lord Jesus and continually asking for more and more sight.  Join me, won’t you?   Thank You Lord Jesus. Thank you for love; thank you for rest; and thank you for more sight into what our lives are all about. I pray that our faith in your ability will increase in us, in order that you may touch us in ways that improve our ability to see the love of God, and help us to love our brothers and sisters, and all creation. 

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

 “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

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 Proper 22: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 131, 132, and133; Evening, Psalms 134 and 135;
2^nd Kings 23:4 to 25; 1^st Corinthians 12:1 to 11; Matthew 9:18 to 26:

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good;” (1^st Corinthians 12:4 to 7).

I do believe we are all given much needed gifts when we are conceived. They are given to us by the Spirit of God the Creator. These gifts lay dormant until brought to life by our faith and the Holy Spirit. It truly is magic.  Our faith provides the path for the Holy Spirit to find our God given gifts.

We, of various communities, have a variety of needs.  Therefore, God has ensured that each of us has those gifted qualities needed in the community we are in, or the community to which we are called to be in.  God runs a balancing act within humanity for the good of humanity.

The needed formulas are planted in us before birth. As we are brought up in love and faith, we are brought to “full” life through the Holy Spirit.  As Paul says, it is the same Spirit that activates all of us to be what God has planted in us for the benefit of those whom we share life with, our community.  This is why it is so tragic when we lose anyone to untimely death. When a person dies, needed gifts are gone unused.  This is very sad. This is also why we should treasure every person in our community. We need them.  We need you.

Each one of us should spend time pondering about what our Godly gifts are and what our contribution is to our community (or any community), we might be called to.  This is called discernment.  We will, after discernment, discover what we are gifted for, and what our passion is, and what we are called to do. When we discover our gifted passion and perceive what our community’s needs are, we are well on our way. Where, and when, our passion, and a community’s need resolve for each other, God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

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 22: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 119:145 to 176; Evening, Psalms 128, 129 and 130;
2^nd Kings 22:14 to 23:3; 1 Corinthians 11:23 to 34; Matthew 9:9 to 17:

In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me:” (1^st Corinthians 11:25).

My blog post of two days ago, (Monday, 9 October), was all about the importance of the Cup of Christ.  I mentioned the references from our Book of Common Prayer.  However the actual words for the consecration of bread and wine come from our 1^st Corinthians reading for today. I now revisit my point about the wine and how we, as Christians, are to receive it in the Name of Christ.

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Paul ensures that we understand the importance the cup, not only in the Church assembled, but also whenever, and wherever, we partake of it. Paul says this is what was handed on to him from the apostles, apostles who walked with our Lord Jesus. So this is not so much about Paul himself, but rather Peter, John and James and others. It is what our Lord Jesus asked us to do as the way of remembering him.

It seems however, we are a death centered people who prefer the cross as the way we want to remember our Lord Jesus.  We also chose the fish, I guess because of the fisherman he told to follow him and that he would make them catchers of people. But our Lord himself asked to be remembered by the cup, and, individually, as often, as we drink it, in remembrance of him.

I know this is difficult for those of us who have problems with alcohol (and it was real wine). I personally believe our self-care should come first.  However, I think wine during the time of Jesus was a regular dinner affair. I am not promoting the drinking of wine. I am simply bringing to our attention what I have pondered regarding what our Lord Jesus asked of us.

With the frequency of meals, not only Communion at Church gatherings, but meals in our homes and refreshments at other social events, our Lord Jesus has worked in a way for us to raise his Name. Who knows what impact such a witness might have in promoting the following of Jesus, and the catching of people?  Again, I think a, “Thank You Lord Jesus,” will do nicely.

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 22: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 120, 121, 122 and 123; Evening,  Psalms 124, 125, 126 and127;
2^nd Kings 22:1 to 13; 1^st Corinthians 11:2 and17-22; Matthew  9:1 to 8:

“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left: (2^nd Kings 22:1 and 2).

Josiah had every opportunity and privilege to become a spoiled rotten brat, taking over the kingdom as a child, and yet, he didn’t.

I especially like that when he was in the eighteenth year of his reign he let the Lord lead him into transparency with the people. He was open and forthright with the treasure of the kingdom. He trusted the blue collar of his day. He let them be in charge of what they were doing. He told them what to do without telling them how to do it. Concerning the money for the repair of the House of the Lord he said, “let them give it to the workers who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house, that is, to the carpenters, to the builders, to the masons; and let them use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the house. But no account shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly:” (2^nd Kings 22:5 to 7). This was total honesty and trust in the workers.

Josiah walked straight up the middle. He did not turn aside to the right or to the left. I have visited hospitals to check on parishioners where different colored lines were drawn on the ceiling, or on the floor. This was valuable. After my initial contact with the receptionist, he or she would tell me which color to follow in order to reach the ward and patient I was visiting. Perhaps God left such a line for Josiah to follow, and he drifted neither to the right, or to the left, but stayed on course.

His obedience to God led him to the Book of the Law. Josiah, after hearing the words read to him, stopped everything in order to get back on track, or, should I say, the right color path God laid out for him to follow.  How about you?  Every now and then, we need to stop, look up, look down, and look all around. I call this my looks of 180, (straight up and straight down); and my view of 360, (turning in a circle observing where I’ve been and what is to my right and left). From this action I proceed on, making sure that I am following the path God has laid out for me. I am John, son of Evelyn, I hope to do what is right in the sight of the Lord. What is your name? What is, or was, your mother’s name?  Do you hope to do what is right in the sight of the Lord?

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 22: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 106:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 106:19 to 48:
2^nd Kings 21:1 to 18; 1 Corinthians 10:14 to11:1; Matthew 8:28 to 34:

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ?” (1^st Corinthians 10:16)

The words of the Consecration of the cup of wine at the Altar are very specific. The blessing ends with, “When ever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”  This is said for Eucharistic Prayer A, page 363; Prayer B, 368; Prayer C, 371; and Prayer D, 374.  Given this information, I make it a point to remember our Lord Jesus each and every time I pour any glass of red wine for myself or others.  Call me a fanatic if you will, it is what our Lord Jesus said for His followers to do, in remembrance of Him.

During Covid, our practice has been to have a designated recipient to receive the chalice of wine on behalf of the congregation.  Our Bishop has long since restored permission for all of us to once again receive the wine for every individual desiring to do so with certain precautions. But then, it has from its inception, been a blessed taste.

This is symbolically putting the blood of our Lord Jesus into ourselves. If we think about it, we become brothers and sisters of God Incarnate. Wow!  With this weekly sip, shouldn’t we proceed from Church inoculated against evil thoughts and desiring to do good works? I think so.

We just have to put our faith in Christ Jesus. We must believe in the Cup covenant that Jesus left with us. Jesus said the Cup, but we chose the cross as a way to remember Him. The cross was a Roman death tool. The Cup is a forever life tool. This is not so hard to understand, and here is the thing, we don’t have to be in Church. For the bread we do have to be in Church  as it is the taking, blessing, breaking and giving of the bread; and it is the sharing of the cup also. But with the cup is added the words, “When ever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”  For me, “whenever” also means “wherever.” 

We could be at home or out for an evening social. But when we hold a glass of wine, and we are Christian, we are asked by our Lord Jesus to, at that moment, to remember Him.  I remember the words of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who said “it is the moment that adds significance to things (or experiences), not things that add significance to moments,” from his book, The Sabbath.   Therefore, the moment we are about to sip the first taste of wine, (the thing), we should remember our Lord Jesus, (the significant moment). I think a softly said, “Thank You Lord Jesus,” will do nicely.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Hamas,  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 22: Year A

Philippians 3:4b-14 and Matthew 21:33-46

“Jesus said, “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.””  (Matthew 21:33)

In some circles God is referred to as the Great Architect of the Universe, the One who both Creates and Maintains all creation.

We are the tenants of this earth today.  The Creator has done (and is doing) everything for us already.  All we have to do is monitor it and keep it in ecological and spiritual balance with the rest of nature on earth.  God, like the owner of the vineyard, has fashioned the universe with this earth our island home with everything we need to sustain ourselves. And has given us the necessary wisdom to use the resources of our environment to our protection, comfort and nourishment.

Jesus told this parable against the chief priests and the Pharisees by saying that the Hebrew people tried to hijack what is rightfully God’s.  These religious leaders began to put themselves in the place of God and putting their own needs and desires ahead of God’s will for all people.

I have come to believe that God, the owner of the vineyard is looking for the fruit of humanitarian harmony amongst us. When God comes to collect, God wants to know that creation is in good hands and the primary fruit of the harvest is the love and respect we have for one another.

God has built a vineyard of faith whereby we may grow the fruits of love for God, and for one another.  It is so important for us to understand that we are tenants here on this fragile earth our island home and in this our present earthly life.  The Owner of this vineyard is coming to see what we have grown faithfully and harmoniously with one another.

Harmony then, the willingness to get along with one another, is the stone that too many people still reject today. But, it is the cornerstone of building relationships.

Will our children have faith?  Will we live in harmony?  Harmony then, is the real fruit that God will be looking for.  If we live our lives fully believing that we are not the owner of anything, including our own lives, then we will begin to see the value of living for the health and welfare of others. We are renters even of our own lives. Let’s do the best we can with what we have and assist others in doing the same with theirs.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, 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 21: Year 1

 Morning, Psalm 107:33 to 43 and Psalm 108; Evening, Psalm 33;
2^nd Kings 19:21 to 36; 1^st Corinthians 10:1 to 13; Matthew 8:18 to 27:

“And they went and woke him up, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm.  They were amazed, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”  (Matthew 8: 25 to 27).

I’d like to say that we are still saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’  And the only way we can be saved is through our Lord Jesus Christ. Drowning seems to be a fear of the ancient Hebrew peoples.  We have the story of Noah and the Flood; we have the story of Moses and the parting of the sea; and many other water related near-death experiences that plague their minds.  So we are saved through the waters of baptism.  Jesus brings us back to our fears and then brings us through them to eternal life.

Jesus seems to infer that fear and faith occupy the same space in our hearts and minds. He asks, ‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’  I know that Abraham was afraid during his lifetime but he never stopped believing in God. Therefore, at some level, fear accompanies our faith. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and. We just have to decide which one we are going to let lead us.

Jesus, when asked, comes to us and reduces the cause of our fears, the storm itself.  Later, in this Gospel according to Matthew, Peter will individually struggle with faith and fear while trying to walk on the water. When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, Jesus told them not to be afraid and that it was he, himself.   ^“And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me.”  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14: 29 to 31)

It is ironic that the very thing we need to sustain life, we fear. That that cleanses us, can drown us. Faith and fear, which road will we take?   The same is true of our Lord Jesus with one big exception; there is nothing at all to fear about our Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, 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 21: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1 to 32;
2^nd Kings 19:1 to 20; 1^st  Corinthians 9:16 to 27; Matthew 8:1 to 17:

“When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.  I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And the servant was healed in that hour;” (Matthew 8:10 to 13).

It seems that our Lord Jesus was the first to bring the Good News to the Gentiles. Jesus is amazed at the faith of the centurion.  The centurion compares the power of Jesus who can order diseases and evil spirits to depart, to his own human power to order soldiers around.  He goes to Jesus because of his understanding of real power and his faith in Jesus.

In this Gospel reading Jesus heals a leper, the servant of the centurion, Peter’s mother-in-law and a host of others brought to him later that same day.  It makes no difference to Jesus whether the people are Jews or Gentiles, or men or women.  Our Lord Jesus only needs someone in the mix to have faith. It could be the person in need or someone petitioning on behalf of a person in need. Our Lord Jesus uses our faith to heal us and those we love, and later, to save us and, hopefully to turn around those we love so that they too might be saved and meet Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in all eternity.

As we approach the Sabbath tonight, ponder about the strength of your faith.  Do you put your whole trust in the healing power of Christ Jesus? Do you do this for yourself as well as for the healing of those you love?  Our Lord Jesus is still looking for our faith in order to heal us and save us.  Rest, this evening and tomorrow, in the sure and certain knowledge that God in Christ Jesus loves you regardless of your ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, nationality, or language, or even your faith tradition. God just loves us no matter what. Jesus explains that our connection and response to God is through our faith in God’s call on our lives.  I believe this call was made manifest in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.  Acknowledge God this Sabbath.

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

 “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

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 Proper 21: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 105:1 to 22; Evening, Psalm 105:23 to 45;
2^nd Kings 18:28 to 37; 1 Corinthians 9:1 to 15; Matthew 7:22 to 29:

On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.” (Matthew 7:22 and 23)

Here our Lord Jesus makes it clear that God can, and will use any of us, with, or without us being aware of our fulfillment of God’s will.

We, especially clergy, can pass on the word of God and even do the miraculous actions that God wants done. But if in our hearts we are not totally genuine in our walk of faith, God will know. And of them (us) our Lord Jesus says, “I never knew YOU.”  Jesus is aware of the conversions we prompted, and the positive outcomes in the lives of people we with whom we brought to Christ. But if while doing the Lord’s work we also participated in immoral acts known to be sinful, we remove ourselves from the circle of those whom Jesus knows.

This fellowship of Jesus extends beyond the clergy. As God can, and does, use any of us to fulfill the dream of God, all of us have the personal responsibility to stay on the righteous course in life. We personally have to walk our talk. We can’t just tell others to do the right thing, we too must do the right thing. Some commentaries recount that Jesus here quotes Psalm 6:8 in saying, “Go away from me, you evildoers.”  Therefore, what we profess and what we do may be drastically different. It is up to us individually to seek divine help in correcting our missteps.

If we truly are trying to master the art of love, it will be shown in our everyday ways of living. It won’t just be about what we say, or about how we give to charities, but how we live. We will not return evil for evil. We will not think of anyone as less valuable than ourselves. We will strive to love all people, and we will try especially hard to love those who often prove difficult to love. It is in this way that on that Day, “ The King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”  (Matthew 25: 34 to 36)

Our lives are about love. We were brought into being through love in order that we might also love.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, 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