Tag: christmas

Pondering for Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Eucharistic Readings for the Epiphany

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7,10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12:

This is a re-submit of Sunday’s blog because today is the Day of the Epiphany.

“Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?  For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” (Matthew 2:2)

These travelers from some point East, have been called Wise Men or Magi (Magicians) and even kings. But further study by scholars have shown them to be Astrologers, or perhaps astronomers . They studied the heavens.

So in these words we hear the men of early science say that they are looking for a child born king of the Jews (not king of Israel).  I find it interesting that this will also be the words placarded over his head on the cross, “Jesus king of the Jews.”  So Jesus is king not of a specific land mass but of a One God faith –  a faith that he invites all people to share – to be grafted into his very own body and blood.  There is a specialness about this child.

The Astrologers say, “We observed his star.”  Wait, What? He has a star? If a child or any person has a dedicated star, that child or person is recognized by the heavenly bodies as an entity unique in all creation.  No one before, or since, has ever had a celestial body as an indicator of their being.  From outside the child’s community, the specialness of this child is made known to those, even in far off lands, who study the heavens.

It takes a certain amount of acceptance to acknowledge not being the chosen people of God, and that a person from another culture has been chosen.  But here is the deal, we have this blessed assurance, that whomever God picks, it is not just for that person, or group, or nation, or clan, or family only. Moses was blessed not for himself but for the liberation of Israelites.  And in this particular case the Son of God is born for the salvation of all humanity.

If a celestial body bends down to identify its creator, who are we to ignore that same author of our own creation, we who live within that same creation? The astronomers put their own ethnicity, culture and race aside and looked at what the heavens were doing, and so should we. God’s plan is so much larger than any group of us.  We too need to see the light.

Two additional notes: 1. I am reminded of the bumper sticker that says “Wise men still seek Him.” And 2. I advise all who read this blog for today to seek out the “Forward Day by Day” Daily Devotional for today written by David Sibley, Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walla Walla, Washington. It is worth the search and the pondering.

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. 214)

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pondering for Sunday, January 4, 2026

This is the 11th Day of Christmas

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the Week Epiphany Begins

Matthew 2:1-12:

“Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?  For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” (Matthew 2:2)

These travelers from some point East, have been called Wise Men or Magi (Magicians) and even kings. But further study by scholars have shown them to be Astrologers. They studied the heavens.

So in these words we hear the Astrologers say that they are looking for a child born king of the Jews (not king of Israel).  I find it interesting that this will also be the words placarded over Jesus’ head on the cross, “Jesus king of the Jews.”  So Jesus is king not of a specific land mass but of a One God faith people –  a faith that he invites all people to share – to be grafted into his very own body and blood.  There is a specialness about this child.

The Astrologers say, “We observed his star.”  Wait, What? He has a star?!!! If a child, or any person, has a dedicated star, that child or person is recognized by the heavenly bodies as an entity unique in all creation.  No one before, or since, has ever had a celestial body as an indicator of their being.  From outside the child’s community, the specialness of this child is made known to those, even in far off lands, who study the heavens.

It takes a certain amount of acceptance to acknowledge not being the (thought-to-be) chosen people of God, and that a person from another culture has been chosen.  But here is the deal, we have this blessed assurance, that whomever God picks, it is not just for that person, or group, or nation, or clan, or family only. Moses was blessed not for himself but for the liberation of Israelites.  And in this particular case, the Son of God is born for the salvation of all humanity.

If  a celestial body bends down to identify its creator, who are we to ignore that same author of our own creation, we who live within that same creation?

The Astrologers put their own ethnicity, culture and race aside and looked at what the heavens were doing, and so should we. God’s plan is so much larger than any group of us.  We too need to see the light. Mery Christmas, Day 11.

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. 214)

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pondering for Monday, December 29, 2025

Today is the 5th Day of Christmas.

(Transferred from yesterday) Eucharistic Readings for “Holy Innocence”

Jeremiah 31:15 to 17;  Psalm 124;  Revelation 21:1 to 7;  Matthew 2:13 to 18:

“A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”  (Jeremiah 31:15 and Matthew 2:18)

The writer of the Gospel according to Matthew repeats words written in the journal of Jeremiah. He adds to them as one builds on a previous foundation.  I think we all should do this.  I will do so a little here.

I know a Rachel who has no children and yet she is a perfect mother. She is kind and gentle, very smart and nurturing.  Children, when we are blessed with them, are a gift from God. And because they are precious in God’s sight, they should be precious in our sight as well.  After all, we are made in the Image of God. We should all be Rachel; we should all be Saint Nicolas (Santa Claus).

The first Herod, called Herod the Great, was great at building water ducts from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Coast, and who ruled Judah around the birth of our Lord Jesus. But he was not great as a compassionate ruler; he was an evil monster and baby killer as recorded in the Gospel according to Matthew. He felt threatened by the Newborn King. If I find myself to be the leader of a people, and I want what’s best for my people, and I find that someone else is better suited to lead, whoever he or she might be, then I welcome in the better leader and just relax.

Is there is a biblical foundation that inspires you to build on?  Please do it, we need it. Lead me.

We are never to hurt or harm children, only love them, teach them, save and help them. Children are what Christmas is all about. Merry Christmas: Day 5

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. 238)

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pondering for Thursday, December 25, 2025

This is the First Day of Christmas

Eucharistic Readings for Christmas Day

Isaiah 9:2 to 7  Psalm 96  Titus 2:11 to 14   Luke 2:1-20)

“While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6 – 7)

No room at the inn, BALDERDASH!  I would like to think that you or I would have given up our room for a pregnant woman, any pregnant woman or at least shared it, if we only knew about her.  We are not unique in this regard.  There have always been compassionate people like us in the world.  But we have to know about the need of the pregnant woman.  No, I think this lack of compassion rests clearly on the managers of the inn.  They didn’t want to upset the paying guests, This lack of compassion is more accurately termed “inconsiderate.”

There would have been room in the inn for Herod; there would have been room for Caesar, today there would be room for the Governor, there would be room for the President.  But there was a lack of compassion for this pregnant girl on the part of management. 

Jesus is born in Bethlehem at the corner of Ignorance and Inconsiderate. In Dickens “A Christmas Carol” the ghost of Christmas Present shows two children whose names are “Ignorance” and “Want.”  The ghost additionally says; “beware of them both but more especially of Ignorance.”  I’m thinking ignorance can be fixed with some good teaching and preaching.  That is what Jesus came to do, to inform the ignorant among us. This has always benefited and changed me.

Do you think that when ignorance is informed, such a one will become more considerate?  There are some examples in the life of Jesus.  In chapter 3 of the Gospel according to John Jesus meets Nicodemus in darkness (another word for ignorance), and explains how one must be born again from above to be saved. Later, in chapter 19 of that same Gospel, after Jesus has died and was taken down from the cross, Nicodemus brings fragrances to anoint the body.  He changed from being inconsiderate to being very compassionate through being informed and taught, and was brought out of his darkness.

This baby Jesus, born this day, teaches us and brings us out of our darkness also. Jesus teaches us so that we too may be open to those who need our help, or a shared use of our room in the inn of light. In this way we are saved.  Our being saved has as much to do with the birth of Jesus as it does of his Resurrection from the dead.  Merry Christmas

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: The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day December 25 (BCP p. 212)

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pondering for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Today is Christmas Eve!  So I have decided (as is my custom) to break from the normal readings in order to again share my poem written in 2006. This is most fitting for this evening. Ponder and enjoy:

The First Night Before Christmas

It was me and my buddies out watching our sheep,

The night was quiet, not one of them bleeped.

It was so quiet in fact, we were about to sleep,

When we noticed someone out by the sheep.

Then all at once it became very clear,

No ordinary person was visiting us here.

We were all afraid, but he said “Fear Not.”

And then there were more, and their numbers wouldn’t stop.

He said “go to Bethlehem and see the Baby,

He is the Word of God, there is no maybe.”

He said “the baby’s in Bethlehem, laying in a manger,

He can save you all, from permanent danger.”

Then they all left, praising God for this birth,

Just like they came, they were all gone from the earth.

Then I and my friends said, let’s go if we’re able,

To Bethlehem there, and straight to the stable.

And there we were on a cold winter’s night,

We saw Joseph, and Mary, and Baby, what a sight!

We told them everything right from the start,

But Mary just smiled, kept our words in her heart.

So we left there then in the thick of the night,

Asking you to thank God with all of your might.

Luke 2: 8 – 20: The Reverend John Thomas Frazier (2006)

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. 212)

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Pondering for Sunday, December 21, 2025

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the 4th Sunday of Advent: Year A:

Matthew 1:18-25:

“But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”” (Matthew 1: 20 – 21)

So God is preparing to walk with people on earth.  And God decides to start as all humans start, as a baby.  Of all the earth, and specifically, the people of the earth, Joseph and Mary become the new Adam and Eve.  This is not about original sin but a new place to begin.  This is not even about marriage as the scripture makes clear.  This is about the best parents for raising God Incarnate regardless of whatever marital customs the community had developed for themselves. 

Joseph goes to sleep with a heavy decision to make: to keep, or not to keep Mary.  He decided not to keep her but even that was burdensome. This is why an angel from God came into his life and in a dream none the less.  This is not the first time God visited us in this way.  In the first beginnings, in Genesis, God visited Jacob as he slept (Genesis 28: 12 – 13).

For me, Joseph is the patron saint of fatherhood. He hears and obeys. He is told that he is not to back away from marriage to Mary only because he is not the biological father of the baby.  Joseph is told by the angel of God that this is not about him, it is about saving all humanity from our sins, then and now. Jesus is born into humanity to save us not from disease like cancer, Covid, Aids or any other fatal illness. Jesus is born into our presence not to prevent our mortal death from horrific storms or natural disaster. Jesus didn’t even come among us to save us from the sin of personal violence and murder from our neighbors. All such deaths are temporal dangers. They have nothing to do with the eternal life promised. Our personal sins however, our hatred of our brothers and sisters, our disrespect of other human beings can hinder our relationship with God and can indeed separate us from the eternal life offered to us by God Almighty. God saw this and decided to come among us, Emanuel, in the infant of Jesus Christ to mend the breach, to redeem our Salvation.

Joseph was a silent listener and servant of God. We have no words from Joseph anywhere in scripture. Later he will be told to take the baby and mother to Egypt, and later still to bring them back to Israel. He silently obeys.

Do you believe that God, or the angels of God, really did this?  If yes, do you believe God can, and still does this kind of holy work?  I do.  Like Joseph and Jacob, we too get so burdened with fear or conflicts of the norms and laws of our day that we need help in doing what God wants.  It is during these times that God acts. God’s dreams enter our troubled and tired minds sometimes as we dream because we resist when we are awake.

This is the Holy Spirit of God.  The Holy Spirit of God always acts for the benefit of the human race and this earth, our fragile, island home. The Holy Spirit of God continues today, preserving us in eternal life by saving us from our sins, saving us from permanent danger.  And, like Joseph, we too are called to silent obedience.

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: Fourth Sunday of Advent (BCP p. 212)

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.