Tag: psalms

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 15, Year 2

Morning, Psalms 140 and142; Evening, Psalms 141and 143:1 to 12); 

Job 2:1 to 13; Acts 9:1 to 9; John 6:27 to 40: 

“Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips; let not my heart incline to any evil thing.” (Psalm 141:3)

So many times in my life I have wished that I had a guard at the door of my lips.  Such an idea gives the term “lip lock,” normally indicating a long and passionate kiss, a new meaning. So many times I wish I had filtered what I was going to say before I hit the “send” button of my mouth. Too often a celebrity of some notoriety is fired because he or she used a homophobic or racial slur. Our mouths get us in trouble.  But it doesn’t start with our mouths.

The Psalmist also says, “let not my heart incline to any evil thing.”  Our heart and mind is where it all begins. And in most cases, we can’t fix our hearts by ourselves. We must seek help.  If we ask God to first fix our hearts, (and God will), the mouth and hands will fall in, and follow the heart as it always does. This is why I always refer to our Collect for Purity as found in our Book of Common Prayer, page 355. 

Prayer really nails it, but if one does not really want to be better, praying is a waste of time.  We have to first want to be better people.  After the desire to be better is realized, then we must seek help from God.  With God all things are possible.  If the ugliness is not in our hearts it cannot come through our mouths or hands.  We won’t even accidently say anything wrong or hurtful.  “Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips; let not my heart incline to any evil thing.” (Psalm 141:3)  Please ponder and pray on this.

“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: (From BCP p. 355)                                        

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 15: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 121, 122 and 123; Evening, Psalms 124, 125 and 126,;
Judges 18:1 to 15; Acts 8:1 to 13; John 5:30 to 47:

“Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves” (Psalm 126: 6 and 7)

It seems that the way of life is that we must undergo some suffering, or at least challenges of duration before things get better.  But we work and suffer (if necessary) in hope, hope that God will watch us and ensure that those who sow, shall also reap.  Hope is about the harvest.

I practice music.  It is monotonous work.  But it is well worth it when I play “Praise to the Lord,” and it sounds right, and I celebrate in knowing that “I” played that! 

I workout daily.  Often when I wake I don’t really feel like working out.  It becomes boring and I play mind games about whether or not working out is really necessary, or even what I want to do. But I put such thoughts away. On the reward side, I am losing weight and feeling better and now better able to do things with less effort.

I make regular visits to the golf driving range.  I think my skill is truly lacking.  But when I manage to actually play with some of my friends, they, (and I), are amazed at how well I played.

With more serious sufferings, it seems sometimes we must undergo some degree of patient suffering in order to accomplish happiness.  The same is true with raising children. Parents must allow children to make a few mistakes, not dangerous ones, but enough to let them know that they are vulnerable.  Parents are asked to be more participatory in the education of their children. The education of children is among the greatest of rewards. And all graduations are joyful.

The Covid pandemic virus caused severe suffering in many segments of life.  It caused suffering in jobs and therefore finances; in education (and the education of our children impacts the jobs of parents); in hospitalizations, and most tragically the death of loved ones. We might have a new normal on this side of it. And we will evolve.  We plant the seed of hope.   “Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.  Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves” (Psalm 126: 6 and 7).  Hope is about the harvest.

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 God almighty, as hope keeps us willing to do good and pursue joy, please keep us ever mindful of focusing our hope and trust in you, You who live, love, and save, forever and ever, Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 10: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 25; Evening, Psalms  9 and 15;

Joshua 2:1-14; Romans 11:1-12;  Matthew 25:1-13

“But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, ‘True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from.  And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went out. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you can overtake them.’  She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof.”  (Joshua 2: 4 – 6)

Is it ever ok to lie?  As I study our ancient writings, I have to say, yes!  And it is not just in this case.  In chapter 27 of Genesis, Jacob, (who later became Israel), was blessed based on a lie!  Jacob, participating with his mother Rebecca, fooled Isaac with a lie into believing that Jacob was Esau, who was technically the first born son. Therefore all of Israel is based on a lie. But this was a lie that God sanctioned. 

It seems that God reads the human heart.  If the heart is good and loving, God will pardon a multitude of sins.  So I ponder about the six social laws of our ten commandments. The first four are about honoring God; have no other God, don’t use God’s Name in vain, make no image of God and remember the Sabbath.  The last six however have to do with how we relate with one another. To be a false witness is just another way to say lie. But God is merciful and pardons based on His judgment of our hearts.

I have also heard stories about not giving up Jews hiding in the homes of German families during the Hitler regime when Nazis were demanding that they be turned over to them.  Yes, lies told for the safety of people are pardoned by God.

Today we remember Conrad Weiser, Witness to peace and Reconciliation, July 13, 1760 and his information may be found at: Conrad Weiser

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:                                                           

Almighty God, the Absolute Truth, be merciful with us as we fall short of being as truthful as you are. But we pray, continue with us to be ever striving to be more faithfully truthful in our hearts as we journey to you, to live forever in your eternal love, truth and mercy. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 8: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 131, 132, [133]; Evening, Psalms 134, 135;
Numbers 23:11-26; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 22:1-14:

Psalm 134

1. Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, *
you that stand by night in the house of the Lord.

2. Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord; *
the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

Psalm 134 is one of the two shortest Psalms in the Bible.  The other is Psalm 117.  Both are uplifting.  Psalm117 is also all about Praising the Lord and 134 is about blessing the Lord and being blessed by the Lord, and we are.

These are not perhaps the most remembered Psalms but they indeed are short enough to be easily memorized.  Psalm 117 is two verses and Psalm 134 for today, is also 2 verses but may be three depending on the Bible translation you use, or the Book of Common Prayer. The point is, they are so short there is no time for wretchedness, or revenge for an enemy, that can be found in longer Psalms.  In two or three verses there is only enough time for praising God and being blessed by God.

Many people have committed Psalm 23 (6 verses) to memory and maybe even Psalm 121 ( 8 verses and a personal favorite of mine).  I also like Psalm 8 (9 verses).  All of these three are around six to nine verses. However, I also like Psalm 90 which has 17 verses.  Psalms 117 and 34 are 2 verses  each and they work very well as prayers of praise.

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: Psalms 117 and 134 now, ok?

Psalm 117

Praise the Lord, all you nations; laud him, all you peoples. For his loving-kindness toward us is great, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.   Hallelujah!

Psalm 134

Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,  you that stand by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord; the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 6: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 87 and 90; Evening, Psalm 136;

Numbers 13:31 to 14:25; Romans 3:9 to 20; Matthew 19:1 to 12:

“Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to another.” (Psalm 90:1)

God is our timeless Parent.  We have a beginning and an end, at least in this earthly life.  God is circularly infinite: no beginning, no end.

The Psalmist says, “The span of our life is seventy years, perhaps in strength even eighty; yet the sum of them is but labor and sorrow, for they pass away quickly and we are gone,” (Psalm 90:10).  As I have now passed the seventy eight mark and moving towards eighty, this Psalmist has my full attention.  I don’t consider my life only labor and sorrow while at the same time I acknowledge there are some things I could have done better.

Over my years of life I have become more and more aware of living in the “Dash.”  I have conducted many funerals as an Episcopal Priest.  Normally the inclusive dates of the deceased are inscribed by; month, day and year, born; then the dash; and then closes out the life with the ending; month, day and year. So, it’s what we do with our hearts, minds, hands and mouths (or don’t do) in the dash time, that makes all the difference.

The Psalmist continues, “So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)  The hands (as well as the tongue) follow the heart.  We Pray at our Sunday Morning worship, “Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of  your Holy Spirit.” We only have so many days on this earth. Numbering our days may indeed help us to be more lovingly responsive to the needs of others as we await the coming of the other end of our dash.

God is our timeless Parent.  We have a beginning and an end, at least in this earthly life.  God is circularly infinite: no beginning, no end. Through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we have an invitation to join God in eternity.  How shall we RSVP to this divine invitation?

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: (Psalm 90:12)

“May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; prosper the work of our hands; prosper our handiwork;” Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 56  and 57; Evening,  Psalms 64 and 65;

 Leviticus 16:1 to 19; 1^st Thessalonians 4:13 to 18; Matthew 6:1 to 6 and 16 to 18:

“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.  I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1)

At some point in our lives, we must admit that we are God’s own.  We belong to God. God will do what God will do.  We go to God for protection and wellbeing. We are seeing that we can’t always trust politicians (either side of the isle), or the military, or any human construct when it comes to unimaginable challenges that we face. It is only in God’s mercy that can we trust completely. 

And when we come out on the other side of our troubles (here or in heaven), we must give thanks and praise to God in word and song.  In this same Psalm we read, “My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast;  I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn,” (Psalm 57:7 – 8).  We must learn to put as much effort in giving thanks after God has helped us as we put in the asking for help in the beginning. Let us not take God for granted.

Today we remember Monica, Mother of Augustine of Hippo (May 4 387), and her information may be found at Monnica.

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:

Almighty and ever-loving God, You are the sanctuary of both our bodies and our souls, there is no other safe-guard for our lives. Increase in us O Lord the surety of your presence in our daily lives in order that we might lay all our concerns in your hands and then give you forever thanksgiving for your protection and refuge, now and in all eternity. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 4^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalm 138, 139:1-17(18-23);

Exodus 40:18 to 38; 1^st Thessalonians 4:1 to 12; Matthew 5:38 to 48:

Psalm 139 Verses 1 – 3

1. Lord, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

2. You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways. 

3. Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O Lord, know it altogether.

These are only the first three verses of Psalm 139.  I look at this Psalm as a meditation.  Verses 1 through 17 remind us of how well God knows us. These verses are also the ones most frequently treasured in this Psalm.  The remaining verses tend to deal with what the Psalmist wants to happen to the wicked. I try not to go there.

I ponder about how it feels to know that when I have a thought or a feeling, that God knows about it as soon as I do (maybe even before I do).  I am truly not alone, not even in my inmost thoughts. I like to think that sometimes God is not so passive in my thinking. That is, God also “prompts” my thinking in one direction or another. It’s like God allows me to see a “burning bush.” I, like Moses, must then decide if I am going to go and check it out. The words of scripture are like the burning bush, the pages burn in us, but we are never consumed.  And through them, the Holy Spirit speaks to us.

Here’s the thing, God is a participant with all of us.  The divine hints are already with us.  But it’s up to us to check them out.  God discerns your thoughts from afar and is acquainted with all your ways.  Indeed, there is not a word on your lips, but God, O Lord, knows it altogether. This does not mean that God approves of all your words or thoughts.  Think about this and allow yourself to follow God’s lead in your life, not your own idea about what you should do. Try not to go there.

Today we remember Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Theologian, Doctor ,,(May 2, 373), and his information may be found at: Athanasius.

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 gracious and loving God, you already know whereof we are made and the path we are likely to take. Be present, be present Dear God with all our steps and then lead us in ways pleasing in your sight, this we beg of you, most loving God. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening, Psalm 119:25 to 48;

Exodus 19:16 to 25;  Colossians 1:15 to 23;  Matthew 3:13 to 17:

 “O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.” Psalm 38

The whole of Psalm 38 is but doom and gloom. But near the end the speaker makes his request to God; to not be forsaken, and to be near him. The Psalmist speaks of enemies and his own body losing its strength. He speaks of his enemies tormenting him. But even in the midst of all this, he hopes in the Lord. He says, “for in you, O Lord, have I fixed my hope; you will answer me, O Lord my God.” 

It is amazing how God will soothe us in times of stress when we call on God.  Often, God acts by changing our attitudes about how we interpret our experiences. The same horror can happen to two different people but one seems to adjust with the help of the Lord while the other may drift into a state of irreversible anguish and distress.  In life, or even in death, we must never, never, never give up on God helping us. We count on God, in this life, and in the next.

Today we remember Hadewijch of Brabant; Poet and Mystic, 13^th c., and her information may be found at: Hadewijch of Brabant;

And today we also remember John Muir, Naturalist and writer, 1914: and Hudson Stuck, priest and environmentalist, 1920; and their information may be found at: John Muir & Hudson Stuck.

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 most Holy God, the Author of love and life, You love us more than we can imagine or understand, be with each of us in Your sustaining Presence, especially in our times of stress and doubt; that, being implanted with Your grace we might work through all adversities and be focused again on a path that leads to You. In Your most holy Name we pray; Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 3^rd Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 25; Evening, Psalms 9 and 15; 

Exodus 18:13-27;  1^st Peter 5:1 to 14;  Matthew (1:1-17),3:1-6:

“Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.” (Psalm 25: 6)

This is an interesting request.  The Psalmist is asking God to not see the sins of the earlier days of the Psalmist, but rather, to be judged by the love and the goodness of God.

I share this sentiment with the Psalmist.  I am a sinner.  I have erred and strayed from God’s ways on occasions.  I am in real need of a loving and merciful God.  I need a God whose mercy outweighs my wrongs. I need a God whose love makes me a better person, in spite of myself. 

And then, living into God’s love, I will do my best to be a new and much better person.  Like many, I am a work in progress.  But also, like many, I depend on God’s help and love to work in me, making me who God wants me to be understanding that God will gift me with what my community needs.  And in the end my friends, how do we want to be remembered?  We want to be remembered according to God’s love and for the sake of God’s goodness.

I love these mornings when I come to this laptop and ponder the spiritual presence of God first thing in the morning.  I know that each day brings a challenge and with it, some enlightenment. I just pray that I let God do the work in me and that I just settle down and watch what happens. Yes, even if for a moment it’s unpleasant.  “Remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.”

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:

Dear Lord God, You have gifted us with free will and we often use it in ways that go against Your plan for us. Forgive us Dear Lord through Your loving-kindness and renew a right spirit within us so that we will think, say, do, and act, in accordance with Your plan for all humanity. In Your most Holy Name we pray, Amen.

Eucharistic Readings for Tuesday of Easter Week: All Years

Acts 2:36-41  Psalm 33:18-22   or Psalm 118:19-24 John 20:11-18 

“Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, for in his holy Name we put our trust. Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, as we have put our trust in you.” (Psalm 33: 21 -22 BCP p.)

By the BCP translation, these are the last verses of Psalm 33.  I think “trust” is the key word here.  Some translators have suggested that the English word trust is a more accurate word for believe or even hope.  Many translations have the word “hope” in verse 22. But for me, hope has an element of uncertainty about it or, in the least, the possibility one’s hope may not be made manifest. Trust on the other hand, is putting all our eggs in one basket.  It is not having a plan “B” or a back-up plan. It’s God or nothing.

I know that on our currency we print “In God We Trust.”  I hope that is true for all of us but I have heard some self-proclaimed atheist swear there is no God, but I trust that same God loves them also.  Just as our currency is a communal way of acquiring our personal and family needs, so too should our trust in God be for the welfare of ourselves, our families and our community – in that order. The God that we trust is a personal, family and Communal God.

Our Lord Jesus, an exact Image of God, began life in his earthly family.  His mother Mary, though poor by the world economy of her day, never had want as her Son and Savior could feed thousands with only a few fish and loaves. Mary trusted in Jesus. Jesus later moved out and into the community. And the communities in which he visited also followed him and trusted in him, although some didn’t.

Jesus is present in our hearts, and families and communities today.  But folks, we must trust in him, though we have not seen him in a visual way, still we must trust in him. 

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 Lord Jesus, Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, as we have put our trust in You. Help us with patience and kindness and tolerance as we meet one another today. Assist us dear Lord as we live into our trust in You. This we ask in Your most holy Name. Amen.