onewhoponders

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 28: Year A

Matthew 25:14to30

“But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” (Matthew 25:18)

Imagine you were witnessing others being given more gifts and more responsibility and therefore, more trust than yourself.  It might have been different if you had not witnessed the gifts given to others, along with responsibility and trust, given to others. But alas, you did witness it. and jealousy prevails.

There are a couple of ways to respond to such an experience.  One way is to not go along with such a disregard of your abilities, (albeit abilities you didn’t create for yourself, nor did the others). Jealousy of how others are perceived to be respected more will often make us resentful, and revengeful.   Also, it will show that your overseer (God) actually overestimated your loyalty, your faith, in his assessment of what you are capable of. Not hardly, God knows all.

I have been made aware of some kind of trade game wherein people begin with very little and then begin to trade for something better. Some have started with only a paper clip or an empty glass and have (over time) ended up with even a car. The class room game begins with the instructor “giving” each student some random item. Of course the class later trades among themselves to achieve greater satisfaction. The point is, each person was given something. 

Our Lord has given each of us something, while it may not be to trade, it is something that is needed in our community, in our Church and in our world. It is something to be thankful for. It may not be much, only one little thing, but we are all given something.

Another way is to look at this is to be thankful that you have such a low bar to get over. Do what you can to the best of your abilities.  But know this, God knows more about what you are capable of than you do. What you observe may not be the whole story.  The others that were given more may have been you in previous years.  Always be thankful and do the best you can with what you are given.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: Proper 28: The Sunday closest to November 16

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 27: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 87and 90; Evening, Psalm 136;
Joel 3:9 to17; James 2:1 to13; Luke 16:10 to17:

“So he said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15)

So why does it have to be this way?  Why is it that what is prized by God cannot also be prized by human beings as well?  And we know what that is, right?  It is “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God,” (Micah 6:8), and, “to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1: 27). We have the Bible as a rule and guide of our behavior fully knowing that it contains all things necessary for our salvation.

All we have to do is read, learn and heed.  Perhaps I am being a little naïve. We first have to believe. We have to believe what our parents have handed down to us.  I, myself, did not come from a “Churched” family.  And the Bible was not read as a part of our family life.  My father was an over-the-road truck driver.  He was away for much of my up-bringing. My mother was a business woman who operated restaurants for as long as I can remember as a child growing up.  They enrolled me in Catholic School in Nashville, Tennessee.  Both parents seemed interested in me having a belief in God, and in our Lord Jesus in particular, notwithstanding, their lack of Church attendance or Biblical teachings.

Now, I have both the Church, (not Roman Catholic but Episcopalian), and the Holy Bible. Because I later joined the Church and attended regular services, I followed the guidance of my last priest and discerned a call to the priesthood.  I also have a seminary education now.  I am blessed.

None of us are blessed for our own personal benefit.  When we are blessed, we are blessed to pass it on.  I sincerely pray that I have a loving heart. Only God knows. But where I am failing, I pray God straightens me out. God knows every human heart. But regardless of where your heart is, God can make it better. You cannot, but God can. For God, all things are possible.  But you must ask for a righteous heart in prayer. 

Today we remember the Consecration of Samuel Seabury, (14 November 1784) the First Bishop to the Americas; (Bestowal of the American Episcopate). And this information can be found at: Consecration of Samuel Seabury.

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. 832)

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

(Blogging from the West Coast, Pacific time until Tuesday, 17 November)

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 27: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 88; Evening, Psalms 91and 92;
Joel 2:28to3:8; James 1:16to27; Luke 16:1to9

“You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.” (James 1: 19 to 21)

I love reading the letter of James.  This James was the brother of our Lord Jesus and later Bishop of Jerusalem.  We don’t hear much about him in the Gospel accounts but here he is now sharing his insights and ponderings. The above verses remind me of the words of the prophet Jeremiah as it pertains to the “implanted word.”  Jeremiah writes, “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”(Jeremiah 31:33) 

My beloved in the Lord, we, (you and I), already have this implanted word written in our hearts. When Jeremiah says, “after those days,” he is speaking of the days after our Lord Jesus comes to be with us (this generation) and shows us just how to live by that same word implanted in us. All we have to do is welcome it with meekness as James says. We must be quick to listen and slow to speak, in person or on social media.  And when we do speak, do so from inclusive love.  And this inclusive love often brings with it a little amount of discomfort. But we can overcome it.

The inclusive person professes to be receptive to all persons, even those with whom they often disagree. Therein, is the discomfort. The “exclusive” person has no such tolerance. The exclusive person makes it clear that only like-minded people are welcome. That is not who Christ wants Christians to be. Jesus ate at the home of Pharisees and healed people of the household of a centurion. Jesus received those who were his own and reached out to those who were of a different perspective, like Nicodemus.  “Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls,” the word that is already written on your heart.

“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. 839)

O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Office readings for Wednesday of Proper 27: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:97-120; Evening, Psalms 81and 82:
Joel 2:12 to19; Revelation 19:11to21; Luke 15:1to10:

“Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain-offering and a drink-offering for the Lord, your God?” (Joel 2: 12 to 14)

The real good news about God is that God is merciful, God will forgive us. Too often we will not forgive one another, but God will forgive each of us. God will forgive you.

This forgiveness comes from God’s deep, abiding and steadfast love for us.  It is a sacrificial love as expressed in our Lord Jesus going to the cross.  And nothing can separate us from that divine love. Paul said, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:38 and 39)

It has occurred to me then, that such a love makes it easier to forgive someone when offended. Forgiveness for children and family might come a little easier than forgiveness for friends, and certainly easier than for strangers and folks who are different from us.  And there’s the rub.  God, especially in Christ Jesus, is family. While not really denying his earthly mother and family he declares also that those who do the will of God are his family. (Matthew 12:50) He also blurs the line between family and neighbor in the parable of the Good Samaritan where a stranger, a Samaritan, cares for a wounded man left for dead by robbers (Luke 10:29 to 37).  And finally, as he was crucified, our Lord Jesus ask God our creator to forgive the act we were committing (Luke 23:34)

It is impossible to forgive if we don’t first love. We are asked by God to first love God and then to love one another. There is a direct connection between love and forgiveness.  If you don’t want to forgive, you never wanted to love in the first place.  To not love is ungodly. To change we must “return to the Lord, our God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.” I don’t know about you, but I could use some of that grain-offering and a drink-offering “from” the Lord, our God.

Today we remember Martin of Tours, Bishop and Theologian (November 11 397) and his information may be found at: Martin of Tours

Today, November 11, we give thanks to God for all the veterans that have stood up for our country.

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: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. (BCP p. 360)

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 27:Year 2

Morning, Psalm 78:1to39; Evening, Psalm 78:40 to72;
Joel 1:15 to 2:11; Revelation 19:1-10; Luke 14:25-35

“To you, O Lord, I cry. For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and flames have burned all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals cry to you because the watercourses are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.” (Joel 1:19 and 20)

I am currently living next to a fire station. I have gotten used to their sirens randomly sounding at any part of the day or night. I often wonder how “can so many fires be started?” I think many of their calls are for traffic accidents. But any fire emergency is very serious.

Firefighters are one of those vocations that a community must have and maintain should the need ever occur. Better to have and not need, than to need and not have. Fires, whether homes, businesses, traffic or our woodlands are a serious matter. The Ultimate Firefighter is God. And our prayers, especially with tears, are the sirens and alarms that call God to our aid, no matter where God is needed or the kind of fire we are dealing with, burning homes or burning hearts.

Crying to the Lord is prayer, and prayer works. I believe “God’s ears hears tears.”  God hears our prayers, and God will respond. And God responds in surprising ways.  However, we must remember that God comes to us, through us. And, as revealed in the Joel reading, we must keep our non-human friends in thought, prayer, and response as well. You may be God’s response to a squirrel or rabbit, or even a wolf.  I believe we humans were brought into being to care for, and maintain this fragile earth, our island home.

Today we remember Leo of Rome, Bishop of Rome, Doctor (November 10, 461) and his information may be found at: Leo the Great.

Today, November 10^th is also my Marine Corps Birthday! Semper Fi.

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 Almighty God, through whom all life came into being, please let your life-giving hand extinguish the fires that harm life and turn our tears into waters of life, for the sake of all life. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 27: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;
Joel 1:1to13; Revelation  18:15to24; Luke 14:12to24

“Hear this, O elders, give ear, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your ancestors? Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten.” (Joel 1: 1 to 4)

In the Joel reading we hear of four different kinds of locusts.  There are cutting locusts, swarming locusts, hopping locusts and destroying locusts.  Therefore, no matter what kind of defense they plan, there comes a different kind of attack. It sounds similar to our Covid pandemic a few years ago.

But Thanks be to God, we are never without hope. We have had to endure many social limitations and when I read “Grain-offering and drink-offering are withheld from the house of your God”  (Joel 1:13), I remember that we, in the Church, had to omit the chalice part of our Holy Communion. We did however get the bread or grain-offering.

The ever restructuring locusts were not too different from our Covid Virus.  Some catch it, and some re-catch it.  In Joel we read, “For a nation has invaded my land, powerful and innumerable; its teeth are lions’ teeth, and it has the fangs of a lioness” (Joel 1:6).  However, we believers must remember that no virus or any “bug,” is more powerful than our God.  And as the hymn goes, “Our God Reigns.”

And while the virus made us isolate for a time, I believe it is coming together again in the right way that we were able to substantially reduce the effects of Covid.  Perhaps these words came from the Spirit of God down through the saints of God.  I think the worst effect of Covid was the breaking of the habit of going to Church. We still have not re-gained our pre-Covid numbers. We are only a remnant of what we used to be. But wait! The remnant is the build-back folks that God used to re-establish believers. If we hang in there, believing, we will be okay after all.

Today we remember Richard Rolle, Walter Hilton, and Margery Kempe, Mystics, 1349, 1396 and 1440 respectively. And their information may be found at: Richard Rolle, Walter Hilton & Margery Kempe.

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 Future of the Human Race (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.

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 27: Year A

Matthew 25:1to13

Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25: 13)

There are a couple of things to ponder here in this Eucharistic Gospel reading from Matthew.  First, the foolish are called foolish because of their neglect in not having a reserve supply of oil for their lamps.  Likewise, the wise are called wise because they brought along an extra supply of oil. 

Secondly, the point that Matthew has Jesus to make in this parable, is to, stay awake.  But in the parable, they all became drowsy and slept.  This then, is not literally about sleep deprivation. It’s about discipleship. It is about being forever diligent in prayer.

Being wise, or wisdom itself, must be based on caring; caring for yourself, and caring for others. The wise bridesmaids cared for themselves but were not able to give additional care for those who didn’t think things through. We, today, must first make sure we are taking care of ourselves, and, if we are able, to help those who didn’t think ahead. I guess the old adage is true, “It is better to have and not need, than to need and not have.” This should have been the thinking of all the bridesmaids.

To stay awake, we must stay focused. Yes, we must get our rest, our sleep. But we should go to sleep praying, and we should wake the same way. As children we learned, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep….”  Our Church adult version of this before bed prayer can be found in our Compline words, “Guide us waking O Lord, and Guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Lord you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised. For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever; Guide us waking O Lord, and Guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.”  (BCP p. 134)

The wise bridesmaids thought ahead about what the requirements would be if they were really serious about not only being at the right place, but also about sustaining themselves if things went longer than expected, and indeed, they did.  We too, of today, must take those first steps in not only doing what is wise, but also thinking through the process and preparing for the “what ifs” of life, and, “whatever is right.” And my beloved in the Lord, staying awake in prayer.

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: Proper 27: The Sunday closest to November 9 (BCP p. 236)

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of Proper 26: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 75 and 76; Evening, Psalms 23 and 27;
Ecclesiasticus 51:1to12; Revelation 18:1to14; Luke 14:1to11

“On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely. Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, ‘Is it lawful to cure people on the Sabbath, or not?’  But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away.  Then he said to them, ‘If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a Sabbath day?’  And they could not reply to this.” (Luke 14: 1 to 6)

Jesus asks a question about how closely they follow their own laws.  This is God in Christ Jesus who sees “in secret” and knows all that we do.  But what he is trying to show them is that the Sabbath is a gift from God to them for their own health of body, mind and spirit. The Sabbath is not some tool of wrath for God, by which God might condemn us just for the sake of enforcing a law.

Besides all this, who prepared the meal they were partaking of on the Sabbath?  No faith should have laws whereby only certain humans are to abide by.  This includes my own tradition.  Maybe one day we will let all persons desiring to partake of Holy Communion do so.  We are not there yet unfortunately.  I am not so sure that baptism was a requirement with our Lord Jesus to receive the Bread and Wine (Body and Blood), but it is for us today.

No religious tradition is perfect. Sometimes it takes people from other traditions to show us our shortcomings.  “Is it lawful to cure people on the Sabbath, or not?”  Is it lawful to for the un-baptized to receive Communion or not? We all must follow our own paths.  I am on the Episcopal path of the Jesus movement as our former Presiding Bishop said. And, I am thankful.  But I also see paths for improvement. I think Jesus is saying that not all laws should be absolute save loving God and loving our neighbors. These two laws of love are absolute laws under which all other lower laws must yield. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Today we remember Willibrord of Utrecht, Archbishop and Missionary (November 7, 739)  and his information may be found at; Willibrord.

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 Proper 26: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 69: Evening, Psalm 73;
Ecclesiasticus. 50:1,11to24; Revelation 17:1to18; Luke 13:31to35

“At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.  Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.”  Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13: 31 to 34)

I was blessed to be able to go on a Christian pilgrimage to Israel in February of 2018.  I am thankful to God for that opportunity.  Before going I prayed to God to let me be open to accept and receive whatever God saw fit to bless me with.  And God answered me with truth.  My pilgrimage began in Northern Israel (Galilee) and then ended in the city of Jerusalem in the south.

The two landscapes are totally different.  Galilee, to the north, has fertile fields and little hills, and is the span of land that our Lord Jesus conducted his three-year ministry of teaching, preaching and healing. I was impressed with Capernaum, Nazareth, Cana, and Mount Tabor. Also, I was impressed with Lake Galilee, of which, I use my picture from a boat in Lake Galilee looking back at the shoreline of Galilee as the heading of my daily blog. The picture shows all the places Jesus walked to do His ministry more than 2000 years ago.

We ended our trip down in Jerusalem.  To get there we went down to Jericho and then the long ride by bus up to the top of a mountain of sand some 2,474 feet above sea level.  It must have been a real task to get water up there 2000 years ago. Much praise and worshipful attention has been centered on Jerusalem.  Judaism, Christianity and Islam all claim a religious heritage to the place. I went to, and visited, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Given all of its splendor, I was not that impressed.  Then I remembered that I prayed to God to show me what God wanted me to see.

I also recalled that our Lord Jesus, of his own free will and accord, chose the land of Galilee to bring the good news of the kingdom of heaven. And when he was raised from the dead, he told his followers to again meet him in Galilee from which he gave the Great Commission (Matthew 28). If I am again blessed to go to Israel, I would only go to Galilee and again take in as much as I can. If you ask God for something in serious prayer, please understand, God’s response to you is not guided by what humanity values. Ponder, pray and perceive.

Today we remember William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury (November 6, 1944) and his information may be found at: William Temple

“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. 831)

O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel, surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.