Tag: god

Pondering for Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 6th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 78:1 to 39; Evening, Psalm 78:40 to 72;
Deuteronomy 8:11 to 20; James 1:16 to 27; Luke 11:1 to 13:

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world,” (James 1:27).

It seems that in any pure and undefiled religion there is the humanitarian requirement to care for others, especially those who are stressed such as orphans and widows. Jews, Christians, and Muslims, all have the requirement to care for the needy. And, all can be pure and undefiled religions.

We who call ourselves Christians have our Lord Jesus as the divine example of pure and undefiled religion. Jesus was very attentive to the needs of the sick, the demon possessed, the blind, and all who were stressed in His earthly time, and ours today. And, our Lord Jesus responds to the needs of the people in ways that improve their lives. And he still does this today.

Now, let us not ignore the words, “to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  I don’t think this applies to the planet when James says “the world.” I think he means the people of the world. I have been around the planet six times while serving in the Marines. I have met good and bad people from all walks of life.  With many people that I have met, I could not speak their language and was unfamiliar with their traditions and customs. But through it all, there were good people trying to be as hospitable as they could; and, there were those, for whatever reason, only wanted to take advantage of me and others, and to be self-serving, hostile and unfriendly. I don’t know why.

I think if we attach our words from James for today with the words from the prophet Micah where he says, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). This, coupled with the words from James, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world,” will guide any of us, of any religious stripe, to be the best persons we can be no matter where on the planet we live, or language we speak, or faith we profess. These words help us to stay unstained by the unfriendly and inhospitable people of the world. God made us all with the unlimited capacity to love one another. We just have to choose to do so.

Today we remember Bertha and Ethelbert, Queen and King of Kent (616)  and their information may be found at: Bertha & Ethelbert of Kent

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 of love and life, be with us daily as we strive to love and care for one another. Help us to avoid any meanness or inhospitality we witness in the world and change unloving behavior to that of loving kindness through Jesus Christ our divine example of life; Amen.

Pondering for Sunday, May 25, 2025

One of two Eucharistic Gospel Readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter, Year C

From John 5:1-9

“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’(John 5:6)

For this man, over 2000 years ago, as well as for us today, this is a serious question.  Do we want to be made well?

Being made well first requires us to know that we are not well, and then want to be made well. We fall short. We can’t do the right thing as we should. We need help.

Today many of us still suffer from physical, psychological and spiritual ailments. And for many, even our most advanced technological medicines and treatments fall short of a cure.  But our Lord Jesus may still find a way to comfort us through our faith. The spiritual path is not one accessed through science or technology; but through prayer and faith. We first must personally realize that we need divine intervention. Jesus didn’t even use the healing waters that all were rushing to. Jesus was, and is, the healing waters.

Like the man in our Gospel, we so often want to blame others for our inability to do for ourselves. The sick man answered Jesus saying, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.” How many times do we hear, at many levels, that some policy or procedure prevented me from achieving success?  We use race, gender, sexual orientation, language, national origin, criminal past and other excuses to satisfy our comfort of not trying to make it. No matter what, we should go to the Lord, and with our Lord, spiritually stand up, take up our mat and walk.

It is only when someone who has given-in to any form of addiction, and finally wants help, that such a person seeks real help. Wanting help is, wanting to be made well. Jesus helps. Jesus helps through any of many rehabilitation programs, but mainly, through faith. Jesus said to him, and to us today “Stand up, take our mat and walk.”

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 Sixth Sunday of Easter BCP p. 225)

 O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; 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, May 24, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 5th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 75 and 76; Evening, Psalms 23 and 27;
Wisdom 19:1 to 8 and18 to 22; Romans 15:1 to 13; Luke 9:1 to 17:

“For there were about five thousand men.  And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled.” (Luke 9: 14 to 17)

 I can remember asking my bishop, when I was about to graduate from seminary, to consider me for a small parish.  I felt most comfortable in small parishes. My sending parish, St. Christopher’s, Havelock, North Carolina, was such a small parish. It is easier to get to know all the members if it’s not a “mega” church, (five thousand members).  Of course, the financing is more challenging, especially with the Episcopal Church’s compensation package.  None the less, the five loaves and two fish of the small parish were sufficient to pass on to other groups of fifty totaling over 5 thousand over time. And, there will be leftovers.

My supervisor during my field education while at seminary had a painting of the Lord’s Supper with a room full of people. Yes, the apostles were there, but so were other people also, other men, women and children. It was both solemn and celebratory.  I would love to have that painting or one like it. It suggests that while the apostles were present, they were not the only ones there, some disciples were present also. You and I were there also. For me, this painting doesn’t dispute the Bible, it tells the greater truth.

Our Lord Jesus teaches us to not look at the greatness of the five thousand or the littleness of the five loaves, but rather, to focus on the groups of fifty. We will get to the five thousand, fifty at a time. We will take them, bless them and dismiss them back into the outer community to further spread the word of the Kingdom of God.  Herein lies the fourfold points of Communion.  Our Lord Jesus Took, Blessed, Broke, and Gave to us the different pieces of blessings.  For us to be whole and holy, we must come together again and again, reuniting what is blessed in the hands of our Lord.

This distribution and making whole and holy is much easier done in smaller groups, say fifty or so.  We should come together weekly in remembrance of our Lord Jesus asking us to be seated in groups of about fifty. When we see members of our “family of fifty” outside of the parish, we know them, and are glad to see them.  We don’t worry about how little we have; we celebrate how much we love.  What a great parish.  What a great plan. What a great Lord and Leader.

Today we remember Jackson Kemper, Bishop, Missionary (May 24, 1870) and his information may be found at: Jackson Kemper

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. 834)

Be present, be present, O Jesus, our great High Priest, as you were present with your disciples, and be known to us in the breaking of bread; who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Pondering for Friday, May 23, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 5th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 106:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 106:19 to 48;
Wisdom 16:15 to17:1; Romans 14:13 to 23; Luke 8:40 to 56:

“He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”  (Luke 8:48)

While Jesus was on his way to help Jairus’ daughter, he was touch by a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years.  This was an unintended healing. But more than that, this was an unexpected opportunity. I struggle with this term, “unexpected opportunity.”  If I didn’t see it coming, and it wasn’t planned for, how can it be an opportunity? Well, Jesus teaches me how to handle unexpected opportunities.

It was an opportunity for Jesus to show that we already have it within ourselves, to heal ourselves. It is our faith.  Jesus tells her (and us), that our faith makes us well. But we must realize that this woman “acted” on her faith. She got past those who were guarding Jesus; she let go of norms about touching a man she doesn’t know. She followed her faith against all odds to find healing.

I now realize that not only did Jesus show me how to deal with unexpected opportunities, The woman did also. What an unexpected opportunity to have our Lord Jesus come by when all other healings have failed.  Now she, and we, have to take advantage of this unexpected opportunity and do something. She did, and we should.  First, we must realize that our Lord Jesus is near us in our prayers.  It is through the faith that is implanted in us that our prayers go forth and touch Jesus. We must drop any, and all thoughts that inhibit our faith impulse to pray.  The faith that is in us will heal us.

Now is the time to expect the unexpected. Now is the time to make ourselves aware of the presence of our Savior and get close enough to touch him. As we approach our Sabbath downtime today, let us ponder about the healing faith that is in us. Let us reflect on the approach of Jesus in our lives and then be bold enough to prayerfully reach out to Him. Then, we too, “ may go in peace.”

Today we remember Nicholas Copernicus and Johannes Kepler, Astronomers, 1543 and 1630, and their information may be found at: Nicholas Copernicus & Johannes Kepler

“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: (For use by a sick person for healing: BCP p. 461).

O God, the source of all health: So fill my heart with faith in your love, that with calm expectancy I may make room for your power to possess me, and gracefully accept your healing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.