Tag: god

Pondering for Monday, June 16, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 6: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;
1st  Samuel 1:1 to 20; Acts 1:1 to 14; Luke 20:9 to 19:

“Then Eli answered, ‘Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him; (1st Samuel 1:17).

This opening of 1st Samuel is important as it opens for us the beginnings of the prophet Samuel. But there is a lesson here about parental responsibility.  Hannah is distressed because she has not given birth to a child.  While her husband’s other wife has given birth to a few children.  So she prays for the ability to become pregnant. Eli, the priest also had sons but his sons did not follow the pattern of the parent, they were rude and gluttonous and disrespectful.  Eli did not hold them accountable. Such negligence will come back to bite him later.

While Hannah is devoted to God in her inmost self, the priest, Eli, doesn’t know her well enough to see that she is a pious woman. He assumes the worst, and he is wrong. To his credit however, when he sees his mistake, he works with God to grant her petition.

Our Church today is wrong if, and when, it takes part in judging people.  We forget that we, the Church, are not called to judge, we are called to love, and to love unconditionally. God will judge.

Today we remember Joseph Butler, Bishop and Theologian (1752) and George Berkeley, Bishop and Theologian (1753) and their information may be found at: Joseph Butler, and George Berkeley, respectively.

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 the Unity of the Church, BCP p. 818)

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Sunday June 15, 2025

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Trinity Sunday: Year C

John 16:12-15

“Jesus said to the disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16: 12)

God’s Wisdom may not be in us, but God’s love is in us. Many biblical writings report this; from Jeremiah 31:31-34, to what we have in Romans 5:5 for today.  God has already done this wonderful thing to bring us closer to God. We just have to rely on it and trust it. As the writings say, we have God’s love through the Holy Spirit. As we learned last week (Pentecost Sunday) the Holy Spirit of God has come among us. This Holy Spirit works through the gathered community, the Church. This is why we must come together, yes, as an organized religion.  Jesus did not say go and do your own thing, but rather, he said, “follow me.”

We are a creedal people.  My own personal creed is Trinitarian.  While I still adhere to the tenets of our Nicene Creed, I needed to fashion words that more closely articulate my personal theology. And, here it is, “I Trust in the Creating Word through the Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word, in whom I live and move and love and have my being, and to whom I must give an account.”

I try to be intentional about worshiping God in spirit and truth. This was foretold by Jesus when he said, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks;” (John 4:23). Jesus prepares us to receive what he wants us to know, and then tells us only what we can handle at the time. “Jesus said to the disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” Jesus will inform us of what we need to know, when we are ready.

This remembrance of Trinity Sunday informs us that God meets us where we are.  Some of us may need an All Powerful God to move the waters so that we can get to safety. We may need a companion God while on the road to Emmaus to break bread with us. Or, we may need the Great Spirit of  God to visit us in our dreams, or through the voice of another to guide us on our way (as revealed in our Gospel lesson for today), and move us away from divisiveness, in order to have us to do God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.  In all of these cases we are “on the move” with One or another quality of the Trinity.” 

Here is a little note about Father’s Day.  Joseph, husband to Mary the Mother of Jesus, is the best example of fatherhood I think there is.  We do not have one word from his mouth in all the Gospel accounts, yet, we witness his steadfast obedience to God.  He keeps Mary who is pregnant but not by him.  He follows God’s instructions to take the family to Egypt and then to bring the family back to Israel again.  He is a carpenter by vocation who provides for his family and is obedient to God.  As he is a quiet man so I imagine him to be one-who-ponders also.

As we listen to what the Spirit 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 fathers in remembrance of Joseph)

O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; 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, June 14, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 5: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 75 and 76; Evening, Psalms 23 and 27;
Ecclesiasticus 46:1 to 10; 2nd Corinthians 13:1 to14; Luke 20:1 to 8:

“Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever:” (Last verse of Psalm 23).

I think Psalm23 is the most famous Psalm of all. Many people know it by heart, including me.  For this evening we also have Psalm 27.  There is a related verse in it. It reads, “One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life:” (from Psalm 27). There is a difference here. Psalm 23 proclaims “for ever,” whereas Psalm 27 asks for as long as the Psalmist lives.

I know it sounds petty but my requests are eternal requests.  I don’t know what the eternal life is like.  Do we eat food in the next life? Do we even get hungry?  Do we breathe in the next life? Do we need air?   I am of this earth and I don’t know any other way to exist. O God I need you to help me understand.  I want to dwell in your house regardless of what that existence is like. But I am afraid. I need your help and your counsel. Or else I am not sure I will be able to handle eternal life which I so desperately want.

“Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.” Your face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not your face from me, nor turn away your servant in displeasure. You have been my helper; cast me not away; do not forsake me, O God of my salvation:” (Verses from Psalm 27). This is my prayer as well.

I truly feel that God is the God of my salvation.  I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, for whatever that living is like. God’s ears hears my tears. And I am so thankful.  I also remind myself that God is the God of loving surprises. We must expect the unexpected.

Pray with me if you will: “Surely God’s goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and with God’s guidance, we will dwell in comfort and joy in the house of the Lord for ever:”  Thank You Lord Jesus.

Today we remember Basil the Great, Bishop and Theologian (June 14, 379) and his information may be found at: Basil the Great

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 Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)      

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Friday, June 13, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 5: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 69; Evening,  Psalm 73;
Ecclesiasticus  45:6 to 16; 2nd Corinthians 12:11 to 21; Luke 19:41 to 48:

“As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes:” (Luke 19: 41 and 42).

We have a slightly different take on Jesus’ emotions from the Gospel of Matthew as he assessed Jerusalem; He says, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23: 37) 

But even from our Luke version we learn that it is not so much the place, (Jerusalem), but the recognition of the events that make for peace. I borrow from Abraham Joshua Heschel in his book “Sabbath,” where he writes, “The Bible is more concerned with time than with space. It sees the world in the dimension of time. It pays more attention to generations, to events, than to countries, to things; it is more concerned with history than with geography:” (pages 6 and 7 of Sabbath).

In February of 2018 I visited Israel for 10 days.  Our tour started in the Galilee area of Israel and concluded with Jerusalem.  I, personally, was more impressed with the events of Jesus’ baptism, healings, sermon of the Mount, changing water into wine, walking on the water, Transfiguration, the feeding of the multitude with only a few fish and loaves, his discussions with Pharisees and the woman at the well, and many other events that Jesus did in Galilee, rather than the what we did to him in Jerusalem; that is, killing him.  The whole earth is the holy land because God made the whole earth.

For me, in the Bible and in our lives today, first and foremost is the “What;” then, the “why.”   Of course then there is the “Who.” And, lastly, the “where,” becomes obvious. 

I have found that this formula works today. If we first ask what needs to be done, and then why it needs to be done, and then who should do it, we are well on our way to resolution.  The “where” will become obvious but in the end, it makes no difference.  Resolution happens where the problem is, whether its voter suppression in the South, cyber attacks from another country, a virus from yet another country, or whatever. We must ask what the problem is, why we need to resolve it, and who should lead the work with God’s help. But first, let us remember our sacred time given to us by God.

“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:                                                            

Open our eyes dear Lord, not only to see, but to recognize what is right before us. Help us to understand and keep sacred the blessed moments that You change our course in life in order that we might make our way to You, doing what is pleasing in Your sight. Amen.

Pondering for Thursday, June 12, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 5: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 70 and  71; Evening,  Psalm 74;
Ecclesiasticus 44:19 to 45:5; 2nd Corinthians 12:1 to10; Luke 19:28 to 40:

“And now that I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me, till I make known your strength to this generation and your power to all who are to come:” (words from Psalm 71).

I went to the state DMV a few years ago to renew my driver’s license. The DMV clerk asked me to take the standard vision test and she looked at me and gave me the description of 6 feet tall, brown eyes and black hair.  Some time later I went back for my “Real ID Driver’s license” and another clerk looked at me and gave me the description of 6 feet tall, brown eyes and gray hair. The truth be known, it was probably gray the first time but the clerk was trying to be nice.  Perhaps this truly is my “Real ID.”  I am in my seventies now.  I don’t deny it. And yes, my hair is mostly gray now. 

God has invested a lot in me all these years. And I pray, “O God, do not forsake me, till I make known your strength to this generation and your power to all who are to come:” This is in part why I write this blog.  I want people to know about God and God’s loving care for all of us, gray haired or no haired.

I practice music and much of my music is centered on hymns and spiritual songs.  My favorite is “Praise to the Lord,” it is Hymn number 390 in the 1982 Hymnal of the Episcopal Church. But I have heard it from different hymnals from different Churches.  The third verse says in part, “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do, when with His love doth befriend thee.” 

I am of the English tongue. It is who I am. There is no denying it. Some people try to express who or what they are based on their skin color or ethnic ancestry. Not me. I am the language I speak. I don’t know how to even express it any other way. I am who I am. I love people of all languages.  I just happen to be an English speaker.

To take it to the next level, beyond the language I speak, I also sing in the same language. These are the hymns and songs of faith that I pass on to children and their children after them so that they too might have faith. Our reading from the Psalm 71 continues, “Therefore I will praise you upon the lyre for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel: (Words from Psalm 71). The Psalmist continues from his soul, “My lips will sing with joy when I play to you, and so will my soul, which you have redeemed: (words from Psalm 71).

I just talked about the importance of our souls yesterday. You might want to review it. Whether we are aware of it or not, our souls long for God’s salvation.  Beloved of the Lord, we must put our hope and trust in God’s Word and God’s guidance in our everyday lives, gray haired or no haired.

Today we remember Enmegahbowh, Priest and Missionary (June 12, 1902) and his information may be found at: Enmegahbowh.

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 God, I beg You, strengthen my faith only that I may strengthen the faith of others in order that Your plan for eternal salvation may be received by all people through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 5: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 72; Evening, Psalm 119:73 to 96;
Deuteronomy 31:30 to 32:14; 2nd Corinthians 11:21b to 33; Luke 19:11 to 27:

 “My soul has longed for your salvation; I have put my hope in your word:” (Psalm 119:81)

I understand that Psalm 119 is patterned after the Hebrew alphabet with each alphabet having eight verses for each letter. From the letter Kaph, and in our verse 81, we have the above words, words of hope for our salvation. 

We have souls.  For far too many of us we are not in touch with our souls.  Our souls are our connection with God. It is within our souls that we have hope.

Hope, as Paul explains, is not something seen, but rather, unseen, God’s unrevealed plan for us is coming into being in spite of ourselves.  And by God’s plan, we are clueless. We can never see it coming.  Paul says, “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience:” (Romans 8:24 and 25).  So we are driving blind.  We trust in God to work God’s magic. The Israelites did not see the sea parting for their escape from the oncoming Egyptians. No one saw, or expected God almighty to come to us as an infant. God always surprises us, but at the same time, fulfills our hopes in ways we don’t see coming.

In my quiet moments I come into close contact with the presence of God. It is the almost, but not yet.  It is Peter, James and John at the transfiguration. It is about feeling the presence of the Almighty, the Creator of all that is, and yet, concerned about humanity, about you and me.

There really is hope for all of us.  God has implanted a soul in each of us. We are special among living creatures.  We need to be more attentive to the nudging we get from God in our daily lives. God wants good for each of us.  God wants it for us more than we want it for ourselves. Yes we hope for what is not seen and yet desired. This too is the action of our God given souls.  I believe the hope that is in us is part of the Image of God who is the God of hope. Paul prays for us in saying, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit:” (Romans 15:13).

Whether we are aware of it or not, our souls long for God’s salvation. My beloved of the Lord, we must put our hope and trust in God’s Word and God’s guidance in our everyday lives.

Today we remember Barnabas the Apostle and his information may be found at: Bio and Readings for St. Barnabas.

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 Guidance ( BCP p. 832)

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Monday, June 9, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 5: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening, Psalms 64 and 65;
Deuteronomy 30:1 to 10; 2nd  Corinthians 10:1 to 18; Luke 18:31 to 43:

“As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.  When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening.  They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’  Then he shouted, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’  Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’  Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him,  ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He said, ‘Lord, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.’  Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.” (Luke 18:35 to 43)

Jesus had just finished telling the twelve about what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem but they couldn’t see it although they had their visual sight.  This blind man asked what was happening and when he heard that it was Jesus, saw very clearly what was good for him to do regardless of the pushback from the crowd.

The crowd tried to hold him back but he was persistent, saying, “Have mercy on me.”  Often we are denied the call of our faith through pressure from our friends, (social media, virtual or face to face). We must learn about what is good for us. We must strive to see clearly for this is how we are given our moral sight back.

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”  What would you ask our Lord Jesus for if given the one opportunity?  The blind man in our passage for today just wants to be back where he was when he could see and appreciate the difference between light and dark; sight and blindness; indeed, right and wrong. He said, ‘Lord, let me see again.

Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you. Again, his cure was already in him just as ours is already in us, our faith. We must take our faith to the living Jesus who is waiting to do for us whatever we ask. This blind man did and, “Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God.”  I wish we had his name. Are you following our Lord Jesus? Do we have your name?

Today we remember Columba, abbot of Iona and Missionary (June 9, 597) and his information may be found at: Columba.

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, The Holy Spirit of God Incarnate, keep us mindful of Your promise to ask You for whatever good we might need and to ask with confidence knowing that You will satisfy our needs as may be best for us in order that we will also will care for our neighbors through You O Lord; Amen.

Pondering for Saturday, June 7, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 7th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 107:33 to 108:6; Ezekiel 43:1 to 12; Hebrews  9:1 to 14; Luke 11:14 to 23;

Eve of Pentecost: Psalm 33; Exodus 19:3 to 8 and 16 to 20; 1st Pet. 2:4 to 10; 

“Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites:” (Exodus 19: 5 and 6).

These are some of the words we read for the Eve of Pentecost, of which, tomorrow is Pentecost, the Day we remember as the Day the Holy Spirit descended upon us to be with us and guide us.

The Holy Spirit can be heard as the Voice of God speaking in our hearts and minds. This Voice is heard by our souls. Our souls are in dialogue with God.  Then our souls try to lead us, if we will listen and heed its guidance.

The whole world, and all the people that walk the earth, belong to God, but too few believe, or follow the connection that our souls make with God. For those of us that do, we are a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.  The path to becoming a part this kingdom and holy nation, is believing. Believing in God and what God wants of us changes the way we live our lives.

We are commanded to love God and then to love our neighbor.  It has to be in that order. If not, we tend to put God on the back burner. But it is only through God that we have our very existence; the One in whom we live and move and have our being.  If we didn’t exist we couldn’t love at all. But please know this: God is God even if we never existed.  So let’s be thankful, trusting and loving: thankful to be here, trusting that God wants what’s best for us and then let us be loving back to God and all who God has made, including ourselves.

My own personal creed is: “I Trust in the Creating Word through the Holy Spirit of the Incarnate Word, in whom we live and move and love and have our being, and to whom we must give an account.”  What do you believe?  Write a short statement about what you truly believe. It may evolve over time. Don’t be afraid to capture your faith in your own words. You don’t have to share it. But it’s a start in your own spiritual development. Do you believe in God? What path to God are you on?  Go ahead, write something down. Then, revisit it from time to time and examine how you have moved, or not.  No matter how real you think you are, the Creator is the ultimate reality. “Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples;” (Exodus 19:5).  We now have the Holy Spirit of God through Christ Jesus.

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 Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)      

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Friday, June 6, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 7th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1 to 32; 
Ezekiel 34:17 to 31; Hebrews 8:1 to 13; Luke 10:38 to 42:

“This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  And they shall not teach one another or say to each other, “Know the Lord”, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” (Hebrews 8:10 and 11)

This quoting of Jeremiah 31: 31 to 34 by the writer to the Hebrews is affirmation for me as it has been one of my favorite quotes of the Bible.  It basically says that after the presence of our Lord Jesus in the midst of humanity we all “know the Lord.”  We may pretend like we don’t but Jesus has made an indelible mark on the human soul, and it’s there forever. We just need to listen to our souls.

I am having a hard time with the writer to the Hebrews where he says, “In speaking of ‘a new covenant’, he has made the first one obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old will soon disappear:” (Hebrews 8:13).  What does the writer mean by “disappear”?  I like, and hold on to, these ancient words of the Hebrew, (Old), Testament. There are very valuable lessons within these precious writings.  I think even the writer using the Jeremiah text indicates that he does too.

The main point to ponder here is that God has planted in EVERY human heart and mind an awareness of God. We don’t, (and can’t), figure God out.  The awareness of the presence of God is God’s free gift of grace to human kind. Personally, I don’t think human beings are the only creatures in God’s creation that has an awareness of God. Some other earth creatures are among the “infants” within creation and are very aware of God’s presence.

We humans however, must try to prove everything so that we will believe. According to Anselm, (Archbishop of Canterbury, 1109); that’s not the way to live into our faith. Anselm says about his own belief, “He writes, “I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order that I may understand. For this, too, I believe, that unless I first believe, I shall not understand.” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for April 21)  We truly do have to “Let go and let God.”  

Let us take some time this Sabbath time and ponder the presence of God in our lives.  All of us have God in our lives. We just have to quiet ourselves and listen as did Mary in our Gospel reading for today from Luke.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

Today we remember Ini Kopuria, Founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood, 1945 and his information may be found at: Ini Kopuria

“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: (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 Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 7th Week of Easter: Year 1

Psalms 101 and 109:1 to 4 and 20 to 30; Evening Psalm 119:121 to 144; 
Ezekiel 11:14 to 25; Hebrews 7:1 to 17; Luke 10:17 to 24:

“At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”  (Luke 10:22)

There are several phrases within our readings for today that jump out at me as I observe human nature and compare us today with our ancient writings.  I notice that our Lectionary excludes verses 5 through 19 of Psalm 109. These verses wrap any kind of justice up in revenge, for example; “When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his appeal be in vain:” (Psalm 109:6).  Today, when I hear people call for justice I hear revenge in their voice and in their heart. This is sadness for me.  I’m glad we have the opportunity to skip such verses.

The Hebrew Testament offers some relief where Ezekiel reports, “I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God:” (Ezekiel 11:19 and 20). Perhaps it is with a heart of stone that we have lost all compassion. We need the heart of flesh – the heart of compassion so that we shall be God’s people and God will truly be our God. This is better than sadness.

In the Gospel reading for today after the seventy returned from doing the Lord’s work, “At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit:” This is from our Gospel reading for today as printed above. It is not often that we can contemplate a happy Jesus, and even less is it talked about. This is a move away from sadness. I believe we were made to be a happy people.

If we pay close attention to this Luke verse we will notice that our Lord Jesus is actually praying in his rejoicing.  He prays, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”  He is not praying from a state of sadness. How often do we seriously pray in our rejoicing?  I know that personally, I like to give out a big “Thank You Jesus,” whenever something good happens in my life.  It just feels good to say it out loud. I also like looking at these words on the sign posted in my front yard. A happy Jesus makes me happy too. We are happiest when we pardon or forgive one another and not carry the burden of hate, jealousy, racism, and revenge under the veil of so called justice. Give it a try; be happy!

Today we remember John XXIII (Angelo Guiseppe Roncalli) Bishop of Rome and his information may be found at: John XXIII (Angelo Guiseppe Roncalli)

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, open our eyes to see the good and the happiness in our world. Receive our thanksgiving in prayer to you for such occasions and help us to spread Your happiness and glory throughout our community and the world; Amen.