Tag: psalms

Daily office Readings for Friday, January 9: Epiphany Year 2

Morning, Psalms 121, 122, 123; Evening, Psalms 131, 132:
Isaiah 45:14-19; Colossians 1:24-2:7; John 8:12-19:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?  My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. (The opening of Psalm 121).

Our parish Bible Study uses this Psalm to open our Weekly Wednesday Bible study. We probably know it by heart now. Yet it reassures us weekly that we can, and should, count on God always, and especially when we are troubled.

We might have many friends who say that we can count on them, and they mean well. But they are not God. We need the love and care of the Creator of the universe who has decided to take special care of us who believe and accept Him who caused us to be and then walked among us.

God never forgets us or forsakes us as some of our friends might. All of us are precious in His sight. Even if some of our human loved ones want to rescue us, they may not have the ability or the means to do so. God does. It makes no difference if our need is finance, health, victimization, storm, or hopelessness; God will save. Our never-failing help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. We however, must be a people of prayer. We must pray to God always, and more especially in our time of real need. God is real and prayer works.

Today we remember Julia Chester Emery, Lay Leader and Missionary, January 9, 1922, and her information may be found at: Julia Chester Emery

“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. 826)

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This is the Ninth Day of Christmas

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the Second Week of Christmas: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 34; Evening,  Psalm 33:
1 Kings 19:1-8; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:1-14

“The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them and delivers them from all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17)

I have a saying that “God’s ears, hears tears.” Perhaps this is not correct grammar but it expresses my belief that whoever cries, they are also praying without knowing it.  God has encoded in every human an alarm that signals God of our distress. And God responds to us as God sees fit.

I know people who cry often. And, often they are not sure of their faith. But it doesn’t matter. If we cry, God hears us and will attend to us. In the Bible, from Hagar with her son Ishmael, to Mary Magdalene at the grave of Jesus, God is with those who cry even as he was with David at the loss of his son Absalom. Emanuel, God is with us.

Therefore, if you are distressed but don’t have words, don’t worry just “let the tears flow, and  God will know.”  God will feel your pain and attend to you. God engineered us this way. Merry Christmas: Day 9

“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 those who suffer for the sake of Conscience (BCP p. 823)

O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the First Week of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 18:1 to 20; Evening, Psalm 18:21 to 50:
Amos 4:6 to 13; 2^nd Peter 3:11 to 18; Matthew 21:33 to 46:

“I called upon the Lord in my distress and cried out to my God for help.

He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; my cry of anguish came to his ears.” (Psalm 18: 6 and 7)

These words from Psalm 18 are just another affirmation of my long-standing belief that God’s ears hears tears.

God, our loving Creator, has hardwired humans to resort to crying when sorrowful or distressed.  When it happens, a signal is sent straight to God where God decides what, and when, divine action will occur. Crying is universal prayer. It matters not what the crier thinks he or she believes, or does not believe. We, all of us, are God’s own.  God fashions us as God wants. And so it is, when we cry, God is brought near.

We should not want to be sorrowful or in distress, but sometimes it happens. It happens through natural disaster, disease, and human evil and sin. It happens and it causes hurt in our lives. These are times we must hold fast to our faith in God, no matter what.

Our crying, makes where we are standing, holy ground. I have come to believe that while God may not always “fix” my woes in this life, the way I want them to be fixed, there is another life that I hope to reach wherein the same God reigns and all is well. Yes, as the hymn goes, “Our God Reigns.”

Today our Church remembers John of Damascus, Hymn-writer, Defender of Icons (December 4, 750) and his information May be found at: John of Damascus

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. 826)

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Proper 26: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening, Psalms 64 and 65;
Nehemiah 6:1 to 19; Revelation10:1 to 11; Matthew 13:36 to 43

“I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; I will sing praise to you among the nations.” (Psalm 57)

For me, “confessing God” means giving God proper credit for the good that happens to us as we journey through life.  I know that the good that has happened to me was not of my own doing. There have been opportunities and breaks in my life that were beyond anything I could ask or imagine. There have been military or government rules or regulations that were broken or changed that favored my further progression as a servant of God. And for all this I am so truly thankful.

I talk God up whenever I am with others in order that they understand that my progression in life is not my strategy conceived and built by me, but rather by God.  I want people to put their trust in God again. We are not on our own to love whom we choose. We are owned by Love to love all. Hate has no place in us.

Today we remember Richard Hooker, Priest and Theologian (November 3, 1600) and his information may be found at: Richard Hooker

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 Almighty, Creator, Sustainer and Lover of all souls, we give You thanks and praise for all that You do for us, the little that we are aware of and the great multitude of blessings that we don’t find out about until later, in this life, or the next. Continue to us Your blessings, protection and nurture in order that we may spread Your blessings to others through Jesus of Nazareth. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 24: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 30 and 32; Evening, Psalms 42 and 43;
Ezra 4:7 and 11 to 24; Philemon 1 to 25; Matthew 12:33 to 42:

“My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God; when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?” (Psalm 42:2)

While all the readings for today have good messages of sound ministry, sometimes I find that the words in a Psalm more readily resonate with me. Verse 2 of Psalm 42 speaks of how my soul longs for the Lord. My cloaked or veiled soul is struggling to be in the presence of God. But as my soul approaches the Holy Presence of God, it brings the rest of me with it. This makes me nervous.

My day to day life is not perfect. I sometimes do stupid stuff, stuff I regret.  My life during this time is the daytime of my life.  And at my passing, I will enter my nighttime. This understanding makes me ponder about verse 10 of Psalm 42: “The Lord grants his loving-kindness in the daytime; in the night season his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalm 42: 8 or 10 Depending on Translation)

Most days I play and sing hymns to my God.  These hymns go to bed with me every night. I keep this discipline as it feeds my soul. My soul that is athirst for God, athirst for the living God. I can often feel the heaviness of my soul. It might even cause a rise in my blood pressure. I too ask myself, “Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? and why are you so disquieted within me?” (Psalm 42: 14) May my soul, as it speaks to God, it also struggles to make me behave and live the most godly life I can.

 So, as we try to listen to God, It might be good to listen to our souls as they try to bring us to God. After all, God has given us our souls as the God-spark which guides us along right pathways for His Namesake, (Psalm 23).  My advice to all is to: “Put your trust in God; for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.” (Psalm 42: 15)

Today we remember Dorcas (Tabitha) of Joppa, Co- worker with the Apostles, (October 25 NT) and her information may be found at: Tsbitha (Dorcas) of Joppa

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 Saturday of Proper 17: Year 1

Morning, Psalms, 30 and 32; Evening,  Psalms 42 and 43;
1^st Kings 12:1 to 20; James 5:7 to 12 and19 to 20; Mark 15:33 to 39:

“O Lord my God, I cried out to you, and you restored me to health.” (Psalm 30:2)

One of my reflections that I have preached to my listeners for 20 years now is that God’s ears hears tears. While this sentence may not be correct grammar, the message is timeless and universal.  Everywhere in our Bible narratives when someone is crying, God, or an angel of God, appears whenever tears are rolling down cheeks.  The two I most like to recall are Hagar as she pushes away her son Ishmael, son of Abraham, because she does not want to see him die; (Genesis 21: 15 to 17).  And, Mary Magdalene, as she is broken down and crying outside the tomb of Jesus, who removed seven demons from her, giving her back to herself. Jesus was all she had and he was murdered:  (John 20:10 to 15).

Crying does not depend on language, country of origin, ethnicity or any human label.  God has fixed a way to connect with us when our spirits are at their lowest. It is sadness and/or sorrow that makes us cry.  And when we cry, God wants to know.  Crying is not dependent on faith or no faith. One can be a card-carrying atheist but if he or she cries, they are praying even without knowing it. 

All crying is to God. The Psalmist continues, “I cried to you, O Lord; I pleaded with the Lord, saying, “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?  Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; O Lord, be my helper. You have turned my wailing into dancing; you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.  Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.”  (Psalm 30: 9 to 13)

I love how much God loves us. It truly does make me want to dance with joy.  And who knows, maybe even make tears of joy.  I think God will feel them too and be happy for us.

Today our Church remembers Hannah More, Religious Writer and Philanthropist (September 7, 1833)  and her information may be found at: Hannah More.

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, Creator and Lover of all souls, You made us in ways that inform You when we are low and in misery.  As Your ears hear our tears, comfort us dear Lord as You have always done, and wipe away the tears of sadness from every eye. In Your Holy Presence we pray. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 16: Year 1

Psalm 1, 2 and 3; Evening, Psalm 4 and 7;
1^st  Kings 1:5 to 31; Acts 26:1 to 23; Mark 13:14to 27

“Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful!” (Psalm 1:1)

Our Daily Office Lectionary starts the Psalm readings over again.  We cycle through them several times throughout the year. It pleases me that the first word of the first Psalm is “Happy.”  It is a good way to start anything.

In this particular verse the Psalmist is commending those of us who can recognize unpleasant company and politely avoid them.  The outcome is happiness. It is overall happiness.  We will all have bad days, it’s just a part of life.  But we shouldn’t make it worse by staying in the company of negative minded persons who are always looking for antisocial ways of relating to us and others. Part of being happy is assisting others in being happy as well.

Some of the Psalms are revengeful and harsh, at least for me. I don’t do well with asking God to wreak havoc on those whom I think have done me, or others, wrong. If they are sinful, God knows, and in God’s own way, they will be corrected or adjusted. In our Acts reading for today Paul recounts being corrected and adjusted as he was going to Damascus. 

In our Mark Gospel Reading Jesus informs us that had not God cut short the dreadful day of the coming of the Lord, no one would be spared. But God saved those that God chose.  I personally don’t like the word “elect.”  It kind of seems like some of us are better than others. God loves us all. This kind of “culling” process is present in biblical language in several places in scripture. It is suggested in the Flood language with Noah and his family on the Ark where only he and his family were spared.  It is used to save Lot from Sodom. God seems to favor the people who choose to be happy rather than let them be dragged into the company of wickedness, sin and scornfulness.  

I don’t initially avoid people I find unpleasant.  I try to get them to see and think about an alternative way of seeing the world. I try to get them to consider an “out-of-control” God.  I say this because when I mention bringing God into their lives, too many people already have an idea about what God would say or do. The key to happiness is not “knowing” God, but rather, trusting God.  Once we make an out-of-control, but loving God a part of our relationship with others, we are well on our way to being happy.  In this way we will cease from walking in the counsel of the wicked, and lingering in the way of sinners, and sitting in the seats of the scornful. We will just be happy trusting in God.

Today our Church remembers Bartholomew the Apostle, (August 24 NT)  and his information may be found at: St. Bartholomew 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

O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making provision for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 13: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;
2 Samuel 7:1-17; Acts 18:1-11; Mark 8:11-21:

“I commune with my heart in the night; I ponder and search my mind. (Psalm 77: 6)

As most all of my readers know, my ponderings are reflections derived from the Daily Office readings of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church. My ponderings are theological and meant to share for the theological enhancement of all who may read what I share.

Rarely do I attempt to connect a theme with all the readings for a given day.  But today is an exception.  For some reason I think I see something of the nature of God. I’m just pondering.

I am moved by the number of repeats in our different readings for today.  Let me give you some examples. In our first Psalm recommended for the morning, Psalm 80, we read, “Restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved:” (Psalm 80: 3 times this is said).  We do need the light of God’s countenance.  And it is only with it that we will be saved. 

In Psalm 77 recommended for the evening I catch the repeated “pondering” that goes on. We read, “I think of God, I am restless, I ponder, and my spirit faints. (Psalm 77:3).  And again, “I commune with my heart in the night; I ponder and search my mind. (Psalm 77: 6).  And once more, “I will meditate on all your acts and ponder your mighty deeds:” (Psalm 77:12).

Our God seems to be and “outdoorsy” kind of God.  God is with us in tents in 2^nd Samuel and with tent makers in the Acts of the Apostles. In our 2^nd Samuel reading, God doesn’t seem to want a house but then says later that God does want one, but it will be built by an ancestor of David.  This is thought to be Solomon.  But what if, I ponder, the house is not one built with hands, but a house of faith, eternal in the heavens.  Eternal in the heavens, now that’s very outdoorsy. 

Paul is outdoors during most of his preaching and teaching. It is revealed that he never loses his vocation of tent making. I like that.  I have always felt the those of us who teach and preach for God should also carry their own weight in community occupations like everybody else.  Ironic that while Paul’s preaching and teaching is mostly outdoors, his vocation is one of covering people with tents. It’s okay, he’s got us covered in more ways than one.

God in Christ Jesus is with us in boats in our Gospel for today.  But if we care to notice, much of our Lord Jesus’ activity is in, or around, boats. Jesus reveals the outdoorsy nature of God. I ponder that maybe being outside might often bring us closer to God as we are saved by the light of God’s countenance, in a tent or in a boat; but mostly, in the ponderings of our outdoorsy minds.

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)

O gracious Father, who openest thine hand and fillest all things living with plenteousness: Bless the lands and waters, and multiply the harvests of the world; let thy Spirit go forth, that it may renew the face of the earth; show thy loving-kindness, that our land may give her increase; and save us from selfish use of what thou givest, that men and women everywhere may give thee thanks; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of  Proper 12: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 72; Evening, Psalm 119:73 to 96;
2^nd  Samuel 3:22 to 39; Acts 16:16 to 24; Mark 6:47 to 56

“Today I am powerless, even though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too violent for me. The Lord pay back the one who does wickedly in accordance with his wickedness:” (2^nd Samuel 3:39)

David is sad that Abner, whom he sent away in peace, has been killed out of revenge.  David articulates his limitations. He is the King of Israel, he doesn’t have to acknowledge his weakness, but he does. 

David has shown that he can be a man of violence when necessary. But he maintains that he is not an intentionally an evil man. I will reserve judgment about that. After all, he will, in the future, have one of his subordinate leaders killed in order that he might have his wife, but that’s later. Right now, he says something that I want to ponder; and that is, “These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too violent for me.”

I see or hear of mean and evil people on the news almost every day that are too violent for me.  And while I often reject Psalms, or parts of the Psalms which contain words of vindictiveness, I do ponder about David’s words asking God to “Pay back the one who does wickedly in accordance with his wickedness;”  I guess it stands to reason that the author of the Psalms would utter these words of payback, or revenge; as most were written by David.

The problem I have with revenge is that it produces what I call “consequential behavior.”  Consequential behavior is the behavior we do, or not do, based on what the community will do to us if discovered.  I would much rather people have a change of heart and behave in such a way as they themselves would want to be treated.  The old eye for an eye does not work.  It operates from a hate brought about because of the love we had for the one injured, mistreated or killed. However, I will agree with David, that God can deal with people according to their deeds, that is, according with their wickedness.  I will admit that I believe some people are unfortunately bent on being bad.

I believe the preferred way to deal with all people is to appeal to their goodness. True sorrow and the accompanying repentance is worth the effort required of counseling.  The search for the elusive goodness in some people may be too difficult for the novice counselor or family member. However, prayer to God from the love you have for them, also works.

Today we remember William Wilberforce, Social Reformer (1833) and Anthony Ashley-Cooper,7^th Earl of Shaftesbury, Prophetic Witness, and their information may be found at William Wilberforce; and Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury; 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: (BCP p. 826)

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Proper 10: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening, Psalm 119:25 to 48;
1^st Samuel 20:1 to 23; Acts 12:18 to 25; Mark 2:13 to 22:

“As for the matter about which you and I have spoken, the Lord is witness between you and me for ever:” (1^st Samuel 20:23).

Obviously there was a strong relationship between Jonathan and David.  The nature of their relationship can be argued. What I want to focus on is how we may latch on to people outside of our biological family and make strong, life commitments with them.

These strong lifelong commitments happen in many ways. There is marriage, there is career choice, there are fraternities and sororities, there are healing clinics such as AA and others where strangers establish bonds of trust that could never happen in some biological family relationships. 

There are also our Church relationships.  Church relationships happen when we decide that we want the Lord to witness the bond we make with another. Such a covenant needs to be equally important to both parties. It doesn’t work if one of the two is an atheist or of a different faith tradition.  Oh, they can be friends, even business partners, but they will not be bound in an unconditional, agape love as were Jonathan and David. Again, Jonathan tells David, “As for the matter about which you and I have spoken, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.”

Perhaps the best biblical examples of two people committing themselves to each other can be found in the words of Ruth to Naomi, and Tobias to Sarah in the Apocrypha of the Bible.

Ruth says to Naomi her mother-in-law, in whom she saw God working, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” (Ruth 1: 16 and 17) 

In the Apocrypha of the Bible we find the only actual marriage vows in scripture, Tobias prays with Sarah; “Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors, and blessed is your name in all generations forever. Let the heavens and the whole creation bless you forever. You made Adam, and for him you made his wife Eve as a helper and support. From the two of them the human race has sprung. You said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.’ I now am taking this kinswoman of mine, not because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together.” And they both said, “Amen, Amen.” Then they went to sleep;” (Tobit 8: 5 to 9)  And to this I too say, Amen, Amen.                                                                          

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 those we love, BCP p. 831)

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.