faith – Page 2 – onewhoponders

Pondering for Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Today is the 7^th Day of Christmas

Morning Prayer Readings for December 31^st: Year 2

Psalm 46, 48;
1^st Kings 3:5 to 14; James 4:13 to 17 and 5:7 to 11; John 5:1 to 15:

“It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.” (1^st Kings 3: 10)

The new young king Solomon prayed to God for the understanding necessary to lead God’s people. God was pleased that Solomon did not ask for riches or for long life, or for human glory, or harm to his enemies. At this point in his life Solomon was genuine about wanting to do the right thing in shepherding God’s people.

We should understand that Solomon, while assisting God, wanted what was best for the people believing in the one God. God wanted what was best for the faithful. God still does.

We should take a page from Solomon’s play-book, our prayers to God must be sacrificial, Agape love. Each of us are placed in communities, or called to communities, where the gifts God has placed in us are needed. Our prayers, like Solomon’s, should always be to give God thanks, and to use our God-given gifts as God sees fit for the benefit of those in our midst.

So too may we be granted the understanding that enables us to live loving lives void of any negativity towards others. Merry Christmas: Day 7

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: A Prayer of Self-Dedication (BCP p. 832)

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pondering for Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Today is the Sixth Day of Christmas

Daily Office Readings for December 30^th: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 20 and 21:1to 7; Evening, Psalm 23 and 27;

1^st Kings 17:17 to 24; 3^rd Letter of John 1 to 15; John 4:46 to 54:

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.” (John 4:50)

Going to our Lord Jesus seeking aid for another is the most powerful act we can perform for someone. It is more important than money. The Scripture in today’s Gospel reading says that the man believed and started back home. However, he did inquire about the time the boy was healed, and scripture says he believed (again). Regardless of when he really believed, he obeyed Jesus and started for home. Jesus is everywhere. He didn’t have to be standing above the child to heal him. He healed him across space and time.

Our Lord Jesus is still doing this today for those who ask, across time and space. The catch is, we must believe. Believing is about going to Jesus in prayer, but it is also about following Jesus’ teachings regarding forgiveness. Few of us, even if we struggled with all the medical learning and technology, could not come close to the healing that Jesus can do. But, if we learned to forgive like Jesus does, all of us could achieve His merciful likeness and receive His healing miracles.

Prayer, with forgiveness, is the greatest of gifts we can ever give to anyone, for Christmas, or anytime. Jesus is everywhere, all the time. Merry Christmas: Day 6

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 Heavenly Creator and Sustainer, help us we pray to always have faith and trust in Your saving and sustaining grace in all circumstances through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Sunday, December 28, 2025

Today is the Fourth Day of Christmas and the First Sunday after Christmas Day

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the First Sunday after Christmss Day: All Years

John 1:1-18

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

These words are the beginning to what we call the Prologue to the Gospel according to John. It does my heart and faith good to stop and read these words from time to time regularly.

It was a clergy person of another denomination (Lutheran) who traveled to Virginia Theological Seminary and made my Episcopal Seminary class slow down and hear what was “not” being said. In the beginning was the Word, not the book. The book, and that means the Bible, like our houses of prayer, are man-made. While the greatest of human effort was made to ensure all glory is attributed to God, the Bible and our Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, and Temples are imperfectly human made.

The One Who has no beginning created our beginning. This opening of John is reminiscent of the opening of Genesis. Perhaps this was John’s intent. In this opening of John, we also have a creation story, “All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being” (John 1:3). From this I gather that the Word proclaimed, and life, all life, came into being. This Word, this Breath, of God is the same part of God who also worked with Mary and walked among us.

Then, in all unassuming nature, the Creating Word walked among us as one of us and we did not see that there was something different about this Person. But when we listen to the words of the Eternal, Creating Word, we are awakened into an everlasting light; the light of love, love, both for God and for one another.

It does us good to read the first 18 verses of John from time to time throughout the year. Merry Christmas: Day 4

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: First Sunday after Christmas Day: (BCP p. 213)

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pondering for Saturday, December 27, 2025

Today is the Third Day of Christmas

Eucharistic Readings for St John the Evangelist

Exodus 33:18 to 23; Psalm 92; 1^st John 1:1 to 9: John 21: 19 to 24:

“This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.” (John 21:24)

John is one of at least five Apostles that the Gospel shows written evidence of being handpicked by Jesus. Oh the Gospel says he had 12 but some were just joiners I guess. John and James, Simon (Peter) and Andrew, and later Matthew (Levi; Matthew 9:9), were actually invited with the words, “follow me,” and they accepted. There was also the rich young man but he declined the invitation of our Lord, (Matthew 19:21). His name could have been among the 12 (or five). He was invited but his many possessions had control of him. There is a lesson in this for you and me.

John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1: 1 to 3). We have a beginning from One who has no beginning.

We must recognize the testimony of John as a divine revelation and message. All of his words, from the Gospel according to John, his pastoral letters, and the Divine Revelation from our Lord Jesus, are God’s doing and it is for our benefit. Thank You Lord Jesus.

I have come to recognize and appreciate that our Church, has been built on the written words from past experiences of people, and primarily from the Bible. Perhaps the greatest contribution we could do for those who come after us is to also write something of our own experiences. In this way we give back, even if just a little, as a token of our appreciation for what has been given to us.

The testimony of John the fisherman, made an apostle, about our Lord Jesus is true; Believe. Merry Christmas: Day 3

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: Saint John December 27 (BCP p. 238)

Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light, that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pondering for Friday, December 26, 2025

Today is the Second Day of Christmas

Eucharistic Readings for St. Stephens

Jeremiah 26:1-9,12-15; Psalm 31; Acts 6:8-7:2a,51c-60; Matthew 23:34-39:

“Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.” (Acts 7:60)

As a retired priest, but still considered a servant of our Lord Jesus, I am not in total agreement with how our first deacons were formed. As I understand it deacons were formed in order to excuse priests from the responsibility of feeding those who were hungry, (Acts 6), which is in contrast with what Jesus did at every opportunity he could. In fact he said to the apostles, “You feed them,” (Matthew 14:16). However, more than that, and in keeping with today’s focus, Deacon Stephen’s devotion to God through the examples of Jesus is most remarkable.

Stephen knows his faith history and relates it to those who falsely judge him. He has every right to be angry about how they are treating him, however, he lets love prevail. Psalm 31:13 – 16 may hold comforting words for Stephen and for all of us who are held in contempt. For it reads:

13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.

14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. I have said, “You are my God.

15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, and in your loving-kindness save me.” (Psalm 31:13 -16)

“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. Merry Christmas: John

Let us pray: (BCP p. 237)

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand: where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. 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 Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 4^th Week of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 66 and 67; Evening, Psalm 116 and 117;
1^st Samuel 2:1b to 10; Titus 2:1 to 10; Luke 1:26 to 38:

“Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38)

The angel Gabriel approaches Mary and shares with her God’s plan for humanity. Mary is of the lower middle class of her day and place. There are people around her who look down on her. The whole land of her home is occupied and dominated by a foreign army, Rome. What God is proposing is for her to be a co-creator with God to create a space in human history and the human heart for God to be made manifest with us, Emmanuel.

Here is yet another example of the true believer emptying themselves in order to be useful for God. Mary, the human Mother of God Incarnate literally gives her body into the service of the will of God. “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” We can, and should, learn from this young, yet very wise Israelite woman whom God partnered with for the benefit of the world.

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: A Prayer of Self-Dedication (BCP p. 832)

Pondering for Monday, December 22, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 4^th Week of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 112 and 115;

Zephaniah 3:14 to 20; Titus 1:1 to 16; Luke 1:1 to 25:

“He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’” (Luke 1:16 – 17)

In this passage the angel Gabriel is speaking with Zechariah about things that will happen and how all this will be good news. He is telling him about a son that he will have through Elizabeth his wife and that he is to name the child John.

Gabriel tells Zechariah that this child will turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. This is amazing. These are Israelites. They are raised in the Holy Scriptures of the Lord our God from birth. Yet, this John the Baptist is going to have them love their children again, as they always should have. And he is going to shine a light on the ignorance of disobedience. This adds clearer meaning to making crooked paths straight and leveling hills and valleys.

But Zechariah questions Gabriel and as a result Gabriel makes Zechariah mute until the child is born. “Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.’ The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.’” (Luke 1: 18 – 20)

We know that Zechariah’s son, John the Baptist, becomes the herald or announcer of the coming of our Lord Jesus. John was a hard man who did not bend to the selfish desires of others, be they the Pharisee (Brood of vipers) or Herod the puppet king who married his brother’s wife. John told it like it was. Yes, he lost his head but he saved his soul. We can’t lose anything that God can’t put back together and even make it better than it was before. We too need to get back to loving family and seeking righteousness as we await the coming of our Lord.

Transferred from yesterday, we remember St Thomas the Apostle, (December 21 NT) and his information may be found at: St. Thomas, the Apostle

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. 828)

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary in families: We commend to thy continual care the homes in which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee, every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Sunday, December 21, 2025

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the 4^th 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.