salvation – onewhoponders

Pondering for Sunday, November 2, 2025

The Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 26: Year C

“Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” (Luke 19: 9 – 10)

I always see Danny De Vito as Zacchaeus; a short man in statue but very tall in his openness to change. Funny how the man (Zacchaeus) climbs a tree to see a man (Jesus) who will end his life on a tree. This is something to ponder.

Something else to ponder is that Zacchaeus is called a “chief” tax collector.” This shows how he is considered even further removed from the House of Israel and from the Temple. He is perhaps the most repugnant among the excluded of the Hebrew people. But Jesus hears his change of heart and proclaims him also “a son of Abraham.” Jesus bypasses all the Temple bureaucracy and puts Zacchaeus back into the Promise of God.

Jesus came for people like you and me. And like Zacchaeus, we too must get ourselves into a place where we can see who Jesus is, and then allow him to come and visit with us. We must make right the wrongs we’ve done and promise to do all we can to fix or mend what we’ve broken. We too want to be placed back into the fold of Abraham.

Being lost is no problem because our Lord Jesus proclaims that he has come to seek out and save the lost. I am glad that our Lord Jesus is looking for us, how about you? Climbed any sycamore trees lately? He is coming! We need to get to a place where we can at least be seen by Him and then accept Him into our homes and hearts.

Today is traditionally the day assigned for the faithful departed. Therefore, let us pray: (BCP p. 467)

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 18: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 45; Evening, Psalms 47 and 48;
1^st Kings 16:23 to 34; Philippians 1:12 to 30; Mark 16:1 to 20:

“And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterwards Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.” (The shorter ending of the Gospel of Mark; NRSV)

As one who studies the Bible I had a hard time with this brief and somewhat challenge to the Easter message. Where are the Resurrection stories? Where is the Great Commission? Where is the witness on the road to Emmaus? Where are the admonishments for not believing Mary Magdalene?

Some words were added to Mark later to provide similar endings contained in the other Gospel accounts. Even in Mark’s closings there is inconsistency about whether the women leaving the tomb either, talked to no one, or as suggested in the extended version, went and told those who were with him. It can’t be both ways can it?

I guess what I glean from the short version, alleged to be the first recorded Gospel account, is that our Lord Jesus did in fact come back to life and that he “sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.”

That’s what I really want, eternal salvation. I don’t believe that this life is all there is. My hope is in the Name of the Lord. He who was raised from the dead, will raise his followers from their end of life also. How then should we be living our lives now in this life as we prepare for being raised into the next, and there being present with all who have gone before us?

He is Risen; Halleluiah!

Today we remember The Martyrs of Memphis, Constance and her Companions (September 9, 1878) and their information may be found at: Constance & Her Companions

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. 504)

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.

Pondering for Thursday, July 3, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 8: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 131, 132, [133]; Evening Psalms 134 and 135;
1^st Samuel 13:5 to 18; Acts 8:26 to 40; Luke 23:13 to 25:

“Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.)” (Acts 8:26)

As I read this Acts lesson I am reminded of how geographical God is. God finds the people with the faith and personality traits desired and then moves them to where God needs them. This is repeated throughout the Bible. God moves Abraham from his father’s house to a land that God will show him; God moves Ruth to Naomi’s people; God moves Moses back to Egypt to free the Israelites; God moves David away from, and then back to, Jerusalem; God Moves Joseph to Egypt and back again with the baby Jesus. And God moves Philip to the eunuch in our Acts reading for today. God is a mover and shaker.

But today’s Acts passage has several preaching points. After God, through the angel, moves Philip to the path of the eunuch, God has him to begin the explanation of the Christian life from where the eunuch was, rather than the beginning of the Bible. This is a lesson we could all learn. When we are asked to help someone understand, we should start with where they are, and go from there.

Another preaching point is the unexpected opportunity to Baptize. Philip waste no time when the eunuch points to the available water. While the eunuch was perhaps not allowed in the Temple due to his physical disfigurement (which makes him a eunuch), he none the less is accepted into the household of God in Christ Jesus through Baptism. Thank You Jesus.

Then God moves Philip to Azotus where he continues teaching and preaching the Good News. There are many lessons in this passage.

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:

Move us O Lord God as is necessary to fulfill Your divine plan for us. Make us sensitive to Your call on our lives as You are with us daily. Open our minds and hearts so that we hear, see, and feel Your presence, and then follow where You Lead. In Your most holy Name we pray: Amen.

Pondering for Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 5: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 68:
Deuteronomy 30:11 to 20; 2^nd Corinthians 11:1 to 21; Luke 19:1 to 10:

“Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” (Luke 19:8)

Meeting Jesus changed Zacchaeus in good ways. But this Jesus experience requires us to look deeper into what’s going on. Zacchaeus is the only tax collector in the Bible referred to as “chief” tax collector. Such a title would even further remove him from the house of Israel.

Zacchaeus says that, “if,” he has defrauded anyone he would pay it back four times as much. This was the requirement of the Law of Moses, the upholders of which, have rejected Zacchaeus from their society. But Zacchaeus remembers and respects the lineage from which he came.

From pondering this statement it is quite possible that Zacchaeus has not knowingly cheated anyone. He limited his authority to only what was required. We can’t assume that people in positions of authority are evil. Remember, our Lord Jesus was very deliberate when he stopped under that sycamore tree and looked up at Zacchaeus and invited himself to his home. People are not always who we think they are, but they are always who Jesus knows them to be. And that includes you.

Regardless of how the temple authorities and the people have labeled Zacchaeus, our Lord Jesus has circumvented their authority and positioned Zacchaeus in a place of honor – a place of honor that predates the Law and its often misguided interpretations. “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham: (Luke 19:9). Yes, a son of Abraham. This is a place of real honor. Jesus says something that might get past an inattentive reader. He says “salvation has come to this house.” Yes Lord, because you are the salvation of the world and you are in his house.

Lastly Jesus says, “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost:’(Luke 19:10). I think some of us are lost. But I think, like Zacchaeus, some of us are thrown away. Being thrown away also makes us lost, but let us take a page from Zacchaeus’ playbook. Even if we are rejected from our community of faith, let us remember the practices of prayer and our baptismal covenant and commandment of loving others anyway. Zacchaeus remembered the Law of his tradition even though he was rejected by them. Bless Zacchaeus. Bless the lost of today. Our Lord Jesus has come to seek you out.

Today we remember Ephrem of Nisibis, Deacon and Hymn Writer (June 10, 373) and his information may be found at: Ephrem of Edessa.

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. 289)

O God, whose wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day, you once delivered by the power of your mighty arm your chosen people from slavery under Pharaoh, to be a sign for us of the salvation of all nations by the water of Baptism: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham, and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.