Tag: jesus

Daily Office Readings for Saturday, of the 6^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 87 and  90; Evening,  Psalm 136;
Ezekiel 3:4 to 17; Hebrews 5:7 to 14; Luke 9:37 to 50:

“John answered, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:49 and 50)

I understand these words from Jesus as a lesson in ecumenicalism, specifically, dialogue and action between different Christian denominations resulting in good works for a community.

What makes Christians Christian is the belief in, and use of, the Name of Jesus to bring about good. John, in our Luke reading for today, is upset that a Jesus believer is someone whom he does not know. But he is making good use of the Name of Jesus. Jesus tells him to let him be.  Ironically, the Gospel of this same John records Jesus saying, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd:” (John 10:16).

I think different gatherings of today’s Christian Church focuses on different agenda. Some are concerned with the forgiveness of sins; some on equality of life; some are about the afterlife; some are about our historic church; some are about who Jesus is and what he wants of us. some are about inclusivity and love for all. None of the Christian Churches, that I can see, have a perfect program. Perhaps the ecumenical approach is best. But in no way am I saying the “Non-Denominational Church is the perfect answer, or for that matter, my own faith choice, the Episcopal Church.  While we all are sometimes terrified and often amazed by trying to follow the Jesus path, we all have stumbling blocks.

I pray that as we all mature spiritually, that we evolve in a way that looks like “devolving.” That is, we begin to look and act more and more alike.  It seems to me that we got where we are today by “splintering” over divisive issues.  We must learn to have dialogue rather than debate; consensus rather than election where voting makes winners and losers.  For the most part we all have something good to do in the Name of our Lord Jesus. And we are all called by him into one fold, under One Shepherd.

Today we remember The Visitation of The Blessed Virgin Mary, and her information may be found at: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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.

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

Morning, Psalms 85 and 86; Evening,  Psalms 91 and  92;
Ezekiel 1:28 to 3:3; Hebrews 4:14 to 5:6; Luke 9:28 to 36:

“Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:35)

Jesus went up to pray, a separate place to pray, and took Peter, James and John only, from all who were following him.  We are informed that Jesus, Peter, James and John we joined by Moses and Elijah from their own place in eternal life. And while there seems to be a separate conversation happening with Jesus, Moses and Elijah, all this brightness happens within the light of prayer, which is why Jesus went to this location in the first place. Let us not omit that there is a presence beyond the six figures atop the mountain. The very voice of God speaks to Peter, James and John saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen.”

This is the second time the voice of God proclaims our Lord Jesus as the pride of God. The voice of God says it the first time when Jesus comes up out of the water after being baptized by John in the river Jordan.  There is a little bit of a difference this time however. In this Transfiguration reading, the words, “Listen to him,” has been added.

We must understand that, “Listen to him,” means to heed his commands and to do what he tells us. There is a barrier broken on this mountain top experience. Our Lord Jesus has taken them to another dimension of time and space. This moved Peter so much that he recalls the experience in his own written letters in our Bible where he says, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, ⁱ with whom I am well pleased.”  We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.” (2^nd Peter 1: 16 to 18)

My beloved in the Lord, we can only pray, as we read these words, asking God to bend these dimensions once again within us, so that we too might receive deeper understanding about the realities of the kingdom of God.  We too must find a quiet place to be alone with our Lord Jesus and witness His radiance.  Let us ponder this in our Sabbath time tomorrow.

Today we remember Joan of Arc, Visionary, May 30,1431, and her information may be found at: Joan of Arc.

“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 Joy in God’s Creation (BCP p. 814)

O heavenly Father, who hast filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works; that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 6^th 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.

One of two Eucharistic Gospel Readings for the 6^th 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.