christianity – onewhoponders

Pondering for Saturday, April 4, 2026

The Gospel Eucharistic Reading for Easter Vigil: Year A

“Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”” (Matthew 28: 7 – 10)

Galilee, Galilee, Galilee. The Angels tell the women to tell his followers to go to Galilee to see him. A few steps later, the Resurrected Jesus himself tells them the same thing, “tell them to Go to Galilee.” I am surprised that more Churches aren’t named “Galilee” as the place where we meet our Lord Jesus.

Some points to note here is that Jesus, and those assisting Jesus, (his angels) are the ones who first addressed the women. The women were then “recruited” to further continue the message of how to find Jesus. So, we must be “in search of our Lord Jesus in the first place. If we are in search of him, Our Lord Jesus will send us directions.

The second point to ponder is, Where is “our” Galilee? Galilee is where Jesus did the bulk of his teaching and preaching, it is where he did his healing and walking on the water. It is where he was raised and grew up. This gives a double message of “going home.” Yes, he is going back to the Father but first he is going back to his earthly place of preference. Capernaum of Galilee, we are told, is the first place our Lord Jesus went to of his own free will and accord.

I have a few Galilees in my life. I have St Vincent de Paul, Catholic School, in Nashville, Tennessee, where I was first introduced to God, and the Christ of God. I have Paris Island, South Carolina (where I was made a Marine); I have Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Virginia, where my education was continued about our Lord Jesus. All of these Galilees are places to “go back to” for refreshment and renewal for me. Jesus is calling his followers out of Jerusalem, the place that kills the prophets, to a better place, a place of peace and refreshment.

The Resurrection should mean the same thing for you. Where, or when, in your life have you found learning and love? This does not have to be, and in most cases is not, geographic. It’s more a state of mind. It is about when you were happy, loved and learning. It’s time for a wake-up call. Let’s use our minds to go back to places of our own free will and accord, places where we can find our Lord Jesus. And remember; when we go looking, our lord Jesus will send help and guide us on the way. This is my message for you. Happy Easter!

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray. (BCP p. 291)

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Friday, April 3, 2026

Lessons appointed for use on Good Friday: All Years

Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

“Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds.” (John 19:39)

Nicodemus finds himself near the beginning of the Gospel according to John, in the middle, and at the end like this reading for today. Nicodemus is a secret admirer of Jesus. But because of his position with the Pharisees, he was distant and secret. He almost got in trouble defending Jesus with his fellow authorities. We read in John’s Gospel, “Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ^“Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” (John 7:50 – 51) He was quickly jumped on about that question and he backed off.

Nicodemus is another follower of Jesus who felt shame for not standing up for Jesus more than he did. Perhaps this is why he brought well more than enough mixture of myrrh and aloes to anoint his body. When we act outside of our Christian values we too disown Jesus. Today we remember his crucifixion. This is a very sad thing we did. I say we, as in humanity. I think God looks upon this act as an example of our ignorance. For the most part, we still are. Many theologians believe this was a necessary sacrifice for the atonement for our sins. Because of this sacrifice, we dub today “Good Friday.” I must confess, I have a hard time connecting “good” and murder together.

“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 to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Most Holy Lord Jesus, who has gone through death’s dark door and kept it open for all who believe in you, stay with us as we strive to stay with you as Nicodemus did. You were with us at the beginning of our lives, and we ask you to visit with us throughout our lives so as to strengthen our faith. Help us Dear Lord to not have regret for our neglect of You, You who live and love all people in this life and the next, forever and ever. Amen.

Pondering for Thursday, April 2, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Maundy Thursday of Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalms 142 and 143;

Lamentation 2:10 to 18; 1^st Corinthians 10:14 to 17 and 11:27 to 32; Mark 14:12 to 25:

“While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14: 22 – 25)

This is the central sacrament of our Christian faith. This act means so much more than sermons or readings. This is what our Lord Jesus left for us to do and to remember him by. Today is what our Church has named “Maundy Thursday.” This is the night our Lord Jesus was arrested and taken into the custody of the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the Temple. He knew this was coming but insisted on this sacramental meal anyway.

I ask each Christian family to also have a prayerful meal this evening as did Moses at the first Passover Meal. This is the faithful tradition that our Lord Jesus was maintaining, and asking us to do the same. And we must remember His words regarding the wine, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” It fortifies us for the sake of many.

St Paul also asks us to continue this tradition in our 1^st Corinthian’s reading for today. He says, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” (1^st Corinthians 10: 16 – 17) The four fold parts of Holy Communion are “Take,” “Bless,” Brake,” and “Give.” We are our Church regardless of where we are. It is not the building that makes us the Church; it is being the body of Christ that makes us the Church; broken apart but blessed nevertheless for the benefit of many.

And let us not get a big head about being Church. Being Church means being in service to those who do not belong to it. It was William Temple (1881–1944), who said, “The Church exists primarily for the sake of those who are still outside it.” God loves humanity – all humanity. As Church, sustained by the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are Baptized into the welfare of all people regardless of what they believe or do not believe. Amen.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (for Maundy Thursday; BCP p. 221)

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pondering for Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 6 and 12; Evening, Psalm 94;

Lamentation 1:17 to 22; 2^nd Corinthians 1:8 to 22; Mark 11:27 to 33:

“So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Mark 11:33)

When our Lord Jesus says, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things,’ it suggests that the chief priests and the scribes did in fact know that John’s Baptisms were from heaven. But they would rather play the “ignorant” card than admit that John was more holy than they were.

The truth is an amazing thing. The truth is not always pretty, but admitting it, is always noble. When our personal truth is not pretty we want to conceal it. We forget that God knows the truth that is in us just as God knew about Cane killing Able. While the actions of our personal truths may not be noble, being accountable for them is very noble. Instead of concealing their thoughts about John the Baptist, the chief priests and scribes should have just told our Lord Jesus that they truly believed his Baptisms were from heaven. God did ask Cane where his brother Able was. God was giving him a chance to be truthful.

God is giving us our chance during our earthly lifetime to be truthful. I pray we all strive to be and do the noble thing.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Almighty God in Christ Jesus, we believe that you truly are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and as you are in us, the Truth is in us also. Give us the strength to be honest in our thoughts and words no matter the cost. Help us we pray, to be truthful in our walk of faith, truthful in our determination to live into the integrity of your teachings and guidance, all the days of our lives. Amen.

Pondering for Monday, March 30, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Holy Week: Year 2

Psalm 51:1-18(19-20); Psalm 69:1-23

Lamentations 1:1-2,6-12; 2 Corinthians 1:1-7; Mark 11:12-25

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.” (2 Corinthians 1: 3 – 4)

When I read these biblical passages, I always try to seek out the timeless messages, those passages that are still relevant for us today. Paul identifies God as “Father of mercies and the God of all consolation.” He goes on to say that as God consoles us, so we then are able to console others. This consolation that God blesses us with is truly a blessing. And just like God told Abram, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you:” (Genesis 12:2 and 3). So I see this divine consolation as God’s blessing that comes upon us and then we are to console others.

Consoling, that is, the listening to, and blessing of, the other, is so important today. We need to be spiritually present with our neighbors. A phone call, a text message, an email, any form of spiritual consolation we can do means a lot to someone suffering from loss of work, fearing sickness, stuck in their home and are at their wits end. Our neighbors need us and we need them.

God has blessed you with the blessing of consolation. Some of it is for you, be blessed and wear it like a new suit. But some of what God has given you is for you to give to someone else. See who God puts in your path or on your mind today and give them that consolation that God gave you for them.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Oh Lord God, as you provide each of us with your divine consolation, remind us to also receive this same consolation from the people you put in our path, both on line or in line, wherever we encounter them. And also remind us to be generous in proving the same to others. In your Holy Name we pray: Amen.

Pondering for Sunday, March 29, 2026

Eucahristic Gospel Reading for Palm Sunday: Year A

Matthew 26:14- 27:66

“Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.” (Matthew 26:23)

What a shift from four days ago. As Jesus entered Jerusalem four days ago people were hailing him King of kings and Lord of lords. And now, at one of Christianity’s most important sacraments, Holy Communion, at the table, our Lord Jesus says, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.” And Judas will do this dirty deed with a kiss later after supper and after our Lord Jesus attends prayer three times.

We truly are a fickle people. Too many of us tend to go the way of the loudest rhetoric. There is not enough personal thinking and praying happening in our individual lives. Again, I go back to Blaise Pascal’s quote, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Judas’s hand went to a place that his heart should not have led him.

All of us have the personal responsibility for how we go forward. Most of the time in the Bible, when a crowd makes a decision, it’s the wrong decision. I have a poster of an old monk walking alone down a road and the caption at the bottom, by Diane Grant, reads, “It is better to walk alone, than with a crowd going in the wrong direction”. We each should carefully think about each next step we take. Be hesitant about loud rhetoric. Listen for the Spirit of God, and celebrate the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of lords, continuously.

Today is Palm Sunday (Celebratory); and Passion Sunday (Grief). Should we be both? Perhaps, but let us not move from celebration to betrayal. Rather, let us celebrate the love of Christ but also remember the sadness of our sins.

The philosopher John Mills said “people seek pleasure in the absence of pain.” We naturally want to be celebratory. But situations for grief happens. Death, particularly unexpected death will cause us grief. None of us should live in such a way as to intentionally cause grief for others, especially the death of another except in cases of self-defense. Let us seek pleasure but understand that unpleasantness happens from time to time.

What happened to our Lord Jesus was the result of us going down the road in the wrong direction. Even if His arrest and crucifixion was a divine plan, as many theologians believe, as a thinking and compassionate and loving people, we should make it very clear to God that the death of His Son is not what we want. We want love, and we want it for all people

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday (BCP p. 219)

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pondering for Saturday, March 28, 2026

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 and 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. We lose sight of our moral compass, and we want to see again. We have put too much trust in false security blankets like money and, or devices. When this happens, we need Jesus. The only way we can put our whole trust in our Lord Jesus is to let go of false security. Our Lord Jesus still asks us today, What is it that we want Him to do for us (for you)?

Today we remember James Solomon Russell, Priest, (March 28, 1935), and his information may be found at: James Solomon Russell

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

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 truth of our lives. This we ask in Your most Holy Name; Amen.

Pondering for Friday, March 27, 2026

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 call for harsh leadership, which demands for itself to be pleased no matter the costs, is not who we are supposed to be as followers of Him. 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.

Today we remember Charles Henry Brent, Missionary Bishop (March 27, 1929), and his information may be found at: Charles Henry Brent

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 to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

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 brought into being. In your most holy Name we pray: Amen.

Pondering for Monday, March 23, 2026

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 9:30-41:

“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 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.

Today we remember Gregory the Illuminator, Apostle to Armenia (March 23, 332), and his information may be found at: Gregory the Illuminator

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

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.

Pondering for Thursday, March 19, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 4^th Week in Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 69: Evening, Psalm 73;

Exodus 1:6 to 22; 1^st Corinthians 12:12 to 26; Mark 8:27 to 9:1:

“He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:29)

Our Lord Jesus had already asked his close followers, “who do the people say that I am?” And rumors abound. There were all kinds of responses. Then he let the dust settle and he asked those who closely followed him “who do YOU say that I am?”

The same question applies to us today, we who profess to be followers of our Lord Jesus as Christians. We hear all the time who people, (including some professed Christians), say who they think Jesus is.

Some folk are so misinformed that they don’t keep the history of our Lord Jesus in New Testament only, when they speak of Him. Some will have him in, and out of the Bible, anywhere from Adam and Eve in the garden, to being aboard the Mayflower as it came to the Americas. And some even say that he is a figment of our imagination. Fine for them, but who do YOU (reading this blog), say that our Lord Jesus is? And please, say who he is in your deeds rather than just your words, even as we struggle to love all people.

Say who He is in prayers and deeds as you do not return evil for evil. Say who He is as you bless those who curse you. For this is who our Lord Jesus is, and how we live out our lives is the only way we can truly say who He is; He is the Messiah! He is the source of eternal life. He is God revealed in human form for the benefit of eternal life for all human beings.

Today we remember Joseph, guardian of our Lord, 19 March, NT), and his information may be found at: St. Joseph, and Bible Browser : Matthew 1:18-25. I consider Joseph to be the patron saint of fatherhood.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Lord Jesus, you are the source of all life through whom all creation came into being. And you set the example for those of us who believe in you to follow. Help us we pray, to say who you are by the way we conduct ourselves in daily life, that in following your example we may teach the world about your unconditional love and abiding peace. Amen.