Accidental Curmudgeon

Themes of Faith from The Third Sunday of Advent, 2009

2009-12-13T23:28:00.006-06:00

Hymn Verse by Saint Ambrose of Milan (translation by William Morton Reynolds) Savior of the nations, come; virgin's Son, here make thy home! Marvel now, O heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth. This English text has essentially the same meaning as the following choral composition by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Prayer intention for the Third Sunday of Advent
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us.

From the Gospel According to Luke (3:16-18): John [the Baptizer] answered [the pilgrims at the Jordan River] by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

From the Letter from the Apostle Paul to the Philippians (4:8-9): ... whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Quotation from Meister Eckhart Meister Eckhart o. p. (c. 1260–c. 1328) For however devoted you are to (God), you may be sure that he is immeasurably more devoted to you.

Themes of Faith from The Second Sunday of Advent, 2009

2009-12-06T19:33:00.011-06:00

Selections from "In a Dark Time" by Theodore Roethke

I meet my shadow in the deepening shade ...
A lord of nature weeping to a tree
I live between the heron and the wren...

A man goes far to find out what he is ... Dark, dark my light, and darker my desire ... The mind enters itself, and God the mind, and One is one, free in the tearing wind.

Verse 1 From an Hymn by Carol Christopher Drake

What is the crying at Jordan? Who hears, O God, the prophecy? Dark is the season, dark our hearts and shut to mystery.

Verse From an Ancient Hymn (contemporary wording)
Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding, "Christ is near" it seems to say; "Cast away the workds of darkness, O you children of the day"

Prayer intention for the Second Sunday in Advent

Merciful God, who sent your messenges the prophets to preach repenance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer ...

From the Letter of Paul to the Phillipians (1:9-12)

... this is my prayer, that your ... knowledge and full insight ... help you to determine what is best, that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousess that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Hymn verse by James Mason Neale

O very God of very God, and very light of light, Whose feet the earth's dark valley trod that so it may be bright; we wait in faith and turn our face to where the daylight springs, till Thou shall come our gloom to chase with healing in Thy wings.

A Great Video I Want to Share

2009-11-10T13:54:00.003-06:00

There a two sides to every disagreement, but this side certain has an edge in the creativity department.

Themes of Faith from Sunday, August 9

2009-08-09T14:36:00.007-05:00

The following are recollections and interpretations of what I heard at church today.

In today's gospel reading (according to the Revised Common Lectionary), John continues to explain who Jesus was. In this passage, Jesus' fame has spread and he has been drawing crowds, including a group of 5,000 who showed up at a hillside pasture to hear him teach. Those present at this gathering experienced an apparent miracle, through which Jesus provided bread and fish to feed the entire crowd. After feeding the multitude, he suddenly crossed Lake Genesseret to get away from the crowd, who might have otherwise tried to form an army to march on Jerusalem with Jesus as its leader. So that took the steam out of the would be revolutionaries, but the more persistent followers pursued him around to the other side of the lake at Capernaum, with the bread they had received fresh in their minds. And here is part of what Jesus said to them this time, according to John, the apostle:

Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." John 6: 47-51

So what does that mean? First, one must have an understanding that heaven is the place (or dimension) inhabited by God, the Creator. Jesus came down from heaven and offers eternal life to those who believe him ad who accept the nourishment that he offers. Eternal life for humans does not occur in our present state of existence, so it must be a feature of an alternative state of existence like heaven. The nourishment that Jesus is offering is not for our physical bodies, but for that which makes us who we are.

"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey." Pierre Theilhard de Chardin, SJ (1881-1955)

Alison Krauss seems to understand that we are spiritual beings, as the following video link will attest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9TmJBBKYmU I wonder if she ever thinks about the other one --- Allison Krause, who was killed in the massacre at Kent State Univeristy, about 14 months before she was born.

Curmudgeon Redux

2009-08-04T01:54:00.002-05:00

On Februry 19, life got a lot busier when 40% of our office staff was laid off. I believe they are all now employed elsewhere, Laus deo. Nevertheless, my days are longer, and I had to give up something --- the daily postings that I used to make here.

Now however I would like to use this space to help spread a virus --- a certain YouTube video that already has 15,000,000 hits. Since it was mentioned favorably in a sermon at church and as we struggle to retain in the 21st century the joy of the ceremony honored by Christ at Cana, the following is worth a look.

Data for Friday, February 20

2009-02-20T05:59:00.002-06:00

This has been the week that was. Next is the week that will be. It seems to be time to put this blog on hiatus. We'll see if the Accidental Curmudgeon, whoever that is, comes back after Lent.

Data for Tuesday, Febr\uary 17

2009-02-17T07:01:00.004-06:00

Saint of the Day --- Onesimus, who, as a slave, was the subject of Saint Paul's letter to Philemon

Scripture of the Day --- Mark 11:20-25 -- As [Jesus and his disciples] passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, "Master, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered." And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Word of the Day --- rains -- events in which water precipitates from clouds and falls to earth in the form of liquid drops.

Place of the Day --- Betelu, Navarra, Spain -- 43°01'32"N, 1°58'50"W

Data for Monday, February 16

2009-02-16T08:29:00.012-06:00

Saint of the Day --- Janani Luwum (1922-1977) -- Archbishop of Uganda, Martyr

Scripture of the Day --- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] -1 Timothy 1:12-16 -- [The Apostle Paul wrote the following in the first of two letters to the younger apostle Timothy] "I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service, though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him; but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life." --

Word of the Day --- decimal -- 1) a number written using the base 10; 2) more commonly - a number smaller than one divided by 100 and represented by the two digits to the right of a decimal point.

Place of the Day --- Oschatz, Saxony (Sachsen), Germany -- 51°17'57"N, 13°06'46"E - a town located 32 miles east of Leipzig, the largest city in the state of Saxony. The uploaded photo shows the market place in Oschatz as captured by Klaus Brink and posted at http://www.panaramio.com.

Data for Sunday, February 15

2009-02-15T17:11:00.003-06:00

Observance of the Day --- Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

Collect: (prayer for intentions designated for this particular Sunday of the church calendar, as specified in the Book of Common Prayer; it may align 0with the designated scripture readings) -- O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you; Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture --- [Selected from the Eucharistic Lectionary for Year B, Revised Common Lectionary] --
First Corinthians 9: 24-25 -- [Saint Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, wrote the following in his first of two letters to the Christians in Corinth around the year 55 AD. Paul uses the metaphor of a race to stress that effort, discipline, goal-orientation are needed by the followers of Jesus Christ.] -- Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable [one]. (RSV)

[The other readings from the Revised Common Lectionary - the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany - are as follows.]

O.T. LESSON: Second Kings 5:1-14 -- The story of Naaman, army commander for a neighborhing county, who contracted a skin disease (leprosy) who was cured by following the instruction given by the prophet Elisha, 'the man of God".
PSALM 30 -- "I will exalt you, O LORD, becuase you have lifted me up and have not let my enemies triumph over me. ..."
GOSPEL: Mark 1:40-45 -- Jesus heals a leper, who spreads the news of his healing. Henceforth Jesus can not visit towns openly because of the crowds; and he begins conducting his missions in the countryside.

Place of the Day --- Lietchfield, Kentucky, USA -- 37°28'49"N, 86°17'37"W -- a town on US Highway 62, the seat of Grayson County and just off the Western Kentucky Parkway, 61 miles SW of Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky.

Data for Saturday, February 14

2009-02-15T02:21:00.004-06:00

Saints of the Day --- Cyril (ca. 827 - 869), and Methodius, (ca. 825 - 885) Missionaries to the Slavs

Scripture of the Day --- Mark 10:48-52 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] And many [in the crord] rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but [Bartimaeus, a blind beggar] cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. (RSV)

Word of the Day --- rink -- 1) a smooth extent of ice marked off for curling or ice hockey ; 2) a surface of ice used for ice-skating or a smooth surfuace used for roller skating 3) a building that contains such a surfaces

Place of the Day --- Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia -- 28°39'20"S, 151°56'02"E - A town on Highway 15 located about 104 miles SW of Brisbane, the state capital.

Data for Friday, February 13

2009-02-12T21:41:00.004-06:00

Saint of the Day --- Absalom Jones of Philadelphia (1746-1818), who with Richard Allen was one of the first two African-Americans ordained in the US.

Scripture of the Day --- 2nd Timothy 3:12-17 - [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] - [In the last days...] All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (RSV)

Word of the Day --- seigniors -- feudal lords of manors ; men of rank in pre-revelutionary France or in ancient England after the Norman conquest.

Place of the Day --- Sievering, Vienna (Wien), Austria -- 48°15'07"N, 16°19'15"E - neighborhood of Vienna, located in the district of Döbling, it's about 4 miles (6 km) NW of the city center.

Data for Thursday, Februrary 12

2009-02-12T07:17:00.005-06:00

Hero of the Day --- Saint Ethelwald of Lindisfarne ( - ca. 721), Bishop at Lindisfarne

Scripture of the Day --- Mark 10: 17-27 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." (RSV)

[Comment: For the Christian the message of this passage in as follows --- It is virtually impossible to enter the kingdom of God through one's good works alone. Our best hope is the grace of God, which is earned (as we are told elsewhere in the scriptures) through faith in Christ as one's savior and maintaining a relationship with him through prayer and worship.]

Word of the Day --- coronary -- 1) surrounding like a crown --- used especially to characterize the arteries surrounding the heart; 2) an event in the coronary arteries --- e.g. a "heart attack"

Place of the Day --- Borrano, Abruzzo, Italy -- 42°46'57"N, 13°42'01"E - a small village about 33 miles NE of the provincial capital L'Aquila and 87 miles N of Roma (Roma) the capital of Italy.

Data for Wednesday, February 11

2009-02-11T06:18:00.004-06:00

Hero of the Day --- Caedmon (?-675) -- poet and musician at Whitby

Scripture of the Day --- Mark 10: 13-16 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] - And [people in the crowds] were bringing children to [Jesus], that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them. (RSV)

Word of the Day --- sportsmen -- 1) men who participate in sports; 2) people who observe rules, respect others, and accept victory or defeat graciously

Place of the Day --- Patromeno Uno, Nayarit, Mexico -- 21°45'47"N, 105°15'24"W - a isolated farming village about 5 miles directly SW of the town of Santiago Ixcuintla, and 29 miles NW of the state capital, Tepic and 430 miles WNW of Mexico City.

Data for Tuesday, February 10

2009-02-10T04:28:00.003-06:00

Saint of the Day --- Scholastica (c. 480 - 543) OSB, -- nun and abbess

Scripture of the Day --- 2 Timothy 1:7-10 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control. Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (RSV)

Word of the Day --- radicchio -- a variety of chicory, with purplish-red, (Cichorium intybus) leaves that form an oval head, used in salads

Place of the Day --- Gonaïves, Haiti -- 19°26'51"N, 72°41'21"W - This city is a seaport and district center located about 67 miles NNW of the national capital Port au Prince.

Data for Monday, February 9

2009-02-09T07:23:00.009-06:00

Saint of the Day --- Apollonia of Alexandria ( - 249), martyr

This uploaded image is a painting of Saint Apollonia by Piero della Francesca currently in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Scripture of the Day --- Isaiah 58:6-11 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. "If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you ontinually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. The Revised Standard Version The Bible text designated RSV is from The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1959, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Word of the Day --- manorial -- pertaining to a manor - i.e the main house on an estate -- originally connoting inherited property with feudal rights (e.g. as ruled by the Lord of the
manor.)

Place of the Day --- Marianna, Arkansas, USA -- 34°46'28"N, 90°46'20"W - a town located on US Highway 79, which happens to be the seat of Lee County, 48 miles SW of the city of Memphis, Tennessee and 85 miles east of the Arkansas state captal, Little Rock.

Data for Sunday, February 8

2009-02-09T07:23:00.008-06:00

Placeholder entry

Data for Saturday, February 7

2009-02-07T01:04:00.003-06:00

Saint of the Day --- Anselmo Polanco (1881 - 1939) O.S.A., --- Bishop of Teruel, Missionary

Scripture of the Day --- Psalm 23:1-6 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] - The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (RSV)

Word of the Day ---armadas -- 1) large fleets of warships; 2) [by analogy] large groups of military vehicles in formation

Place of the Day --- Dator, Senegal -- 13°18'57"N, 15°41'12"W - near the border of The Gambia, a small village 64 miles NE of Ziguinchor, which is the largest city in the southern half of Senegal.

Data for Friday, February 6

2009-02-06T03:46:00.005-06:00

Saint of the Day --- Dorothy, martyr at Caesarea of Cappadocia (- ca. 288)

Scripture of the Day --- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] --Galatians 5:19-24 -- [Paul, the Apostle, continues with his letter to Christains in the province of Galatia...] Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (RSV)

Word of the Day --- throat -1) in human anatomy, the passage from the mouth to the stomach or to the lungs, including the pharynx, esophagus, larynx, and trachea; 2) similar structures in other vertebrates; 3) analagous structures in various mechanical devices.

Place of the Day --- Itajubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil -- 22°25'37"S, 45°27'11"W - This city is located 107 miles NE of São Paulo , the nation's largest metropolis; 146 miles WNW of Brazil's former capital city Rio de Janeiro and 205 SE of its state capital Belo Horizonte. I have uploaded a peek at the skyline of downtown Itajuba. The original may be found on Panaramio indexed to the city name or the photographer ''Paulo Márcio da Silv…: "

Data for Thursday, February 5

2009-02-04T23:20:00.005-06:00

Saint of the Day --- Paul Miki and his Companions, the Martyrs of Nagasaki -- 1597

Scripture of the Day --- Isa. 55:6-12 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts;let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth,making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace;the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Word of the Day --- isomerism -- the state of being an isomer i.e. Any of two or more substances that are composed of the same elements in the same proportions but differ in properties because of differences in the arrangement of atoms.

Place of the Day --- Sherpur, Bangladesh -- 25°01'09"N, 90°00'47"E - This large town / small city is a district capital located NNE of the national capital Dacca (Dhaka).

Data for Wednesday, February 4

2009-02-04T06:18:00.004-06:00

Observance of the Day --- Cornelius the Centurion of Caesarea (NT) Apparently he was the first Christian among the Gentile (non-Jewish) people, according to the Book of Acts, Chapter 10.

Scripture of the Day --- Psalm 72: 1-7, 12-14 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son! May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice! Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor! May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! ... For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight. (RSV)

Word of the Day --- ferments -- 1) undergoes [as a food or beverage] a process of fermentation, such as a chemical breakdown of sugars into alcohol ; 2) undergoes [as a group of people] a process whereby some concept [fact, idea, fashion, etc.} is disseminated resulting in a state of unrest or some observable behavior; 3) spoils through a natural process (as wine becomes vingar)

Place of the Day --- Artemisa, Cuba -- 22°48'44"N, 82°45'20"W - a village about 33 miles SW of the national capital Havana (La Habana) . According to the description given by the photographer "Forku", this picture from Panaramio shows the Hotel Sevilla in Artemisa.

Data for Tuesday, February 3

2009-02-03T06:46:00.005-06:00

Saint of the Day --- Anskar (801-865) -- Bishop and Missionary to Denmark and Sweden

Scripture of the Day --- Mark 8:1-6, 8-9 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, [Jesus] called his disciples to him, and said to them, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a long way." And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these men with bread here in the desert?" And he asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven." And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. ... And they ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. (RSV)

[Comment: At one level, this text indicates that Jesus was thoughtful and compassionate and and it suggests that these are virtues that would be highly appropriate for those trying to live a Christian life.

At another level this text raises the issue of what 21st century people are to make of the stories of miracles that one finds in the scriptures. In the telling, they are signs of Jesus' divinity; he is someone not bound by the laws of phyisics, etc. that apply to us mortals. But science and common sense tell us to always look for natural explanations for seemingly unbelievable events. For this particular miracle story, a strictly natural common sense explanation can be hypothesized --- and that may be all there is to this story.

But there are other miracle stories in the Bible that are much harder to explain using natural processes --- at least not in the world of our experience. However the physics we understand does not add up to the universe that we can see. Suppose there are actually four, five or six dimensions in the universe and we are only aware of 3 1/2. (North-south; east-west; up-down; time in one direction)

Ultimately faith requires a belief in things unseen. To believe in the Jesus of the Bible, you must in some way come to know him and trust him.]

Word of the Day --- marcher -- one who walks in a procesion

Place of the Day --- Nazca, Peru -- 14°49'50"S, 74°56'14"W -- a city in an area of archaeological significance --- It is located 75 SE of Ica, the district capital, and about 235 miles SE of Lima, the national captial

Data for Monday, February 2

2009-02-01T19:31:00.005-06:00

Observance of the Day --- The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple (formerly known as Candlemas) -- If one started counting days on Christmas Day, today would be Day 40. This is the observance of an event in the life of Christ, as reported in the third gospel Luke 2:22-40, which occured in fulfillment of the Law of Moses. The uploaded image is a picture of the Holy Family with Simeon the Righteous as described in Luke 2:25-35. Image source - unknown. It has been published on several blogs and web sites without attribution or copyright notice.

Scripture of the Day --- Psalms 57:7-11 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to thee among the nations. For thy steadfast love is great to the heavens, thy faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let thy glory be over all the earth!

Word of the Day --- continua -- sets of values that vary within continuous ranges

Place of the Day --- Kalvola, Finland -- 61°05'29"N, 24°07'55"E - a village in southern Finland located near Highway 3 about 31 miles SSE of the major city Tampere and about 70 miles SSE of the national capital Helsinki.

Data for Sunday, February 1

2009-02-01T00:34:00.007-06:00

Observance of the Day --- Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Collect: (prayer for intentions designated for this particular Sunday of the church calendar, as specified in the Book of Common Prayer; it may align with the designated scripture readings) -- Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture --- [Selected from the Eucharistic Lectionary for Year B, Revised Common Lectionary] -- Psalm 111: 2-3, 9-10 -- Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of honour and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures for ever. ... He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practise it have a good understanding. His praise endures for ever. [The other readings from the Revised Common Lectionary are as follows.]

O.T. LESSON: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 -- In this instruction manual for living under the covenant of Abraham, the people of Israel are told to expect a prophet to be raised up from among them.
EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Teaching of the Apostle Paul on food sacrificed to idols.
GOSPEL: Mark 1:21-28 -- At synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus teaches authoritatively and heals a demoniac.

Place of the Day --- Burgoyne, New York, USA -- 43°05'43"N, 73°39'52"W -- a crossroad settlement on state highway 29, 5 miles ENE of the county seat, Saratoga Springs (Saratoga County) and 31 miles NNE of the state capital Albany.

Data for Saturday, January 31, 2009

2009-01-31T19:51:00.004-06:00

Saint of the Day --- John Bosco (1815 - 1888) -- priest, educator

Scripture of the Day --- Isaiah 51: 4-6 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] --"Listen to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go forth from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. My deliverance draws near speedily, my salvation has gone forth, and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be for ever, and my deliverance will never be ended." (Comment: In this passage, the prophet --- perhaps the second to write under the name Isaiah --- writes a message to the children of Israel worded as one coning directly from God. This comes in the same part of Isaiah as the "servant songs", which Christians understand as prophecies fortelling the coming of Christ, Jesus. So when Christians read "My deliverance draws near speedily ... my salvation will be for ever", we understand that Christ is our deliverance and through him (if we accept the covenat of Christ) our salvation will be for ever.")

Word of the Day --- ministered -- 1) attended to the wants and needs of others; 2) functioned as a cleric (pastor, priest, deacon, , etc.) or lay minister.

Place of the Day --- Kozel’sk (Козельск), Kaluzhskaya, Russia -- 54°01'52"N, 35°47'21"E - a town on the Zhizdra River and highway P-94 located 31 miles SW on the district capital, Kaluga and 132 miles SW of the Russian capital, Moscow (Москва)

Data for Friday, January 30, 2009

2009-01-30T06:37:00.005-06:00

Saint of the Day --- Hyacintha of Mariscotti (1585 - 1640), Franciscan nun

Scripture of the Day --- Psalm 40: 5-6 -- [Selection based on the Daily Office Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer] - Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God! how great your wonders and your plans for us! there is none who can be compared with you. Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! but they are more than I can count. (NRSV)

Word of the Day --- licorice -- (alternate spelling - liquorice) - a perennial bush-like plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra, native to the Mediterranean area; 2) the dried, black, sweet tasting root of this plant; 3) a type of candy flavored with an extract from this plant. Photo of Glycyrrhiza glabra from http://www.pontefractliquorice.co.uk .

Place of the Day --- Durgāpur, West Bengal, India -- 23°29'48"N, 87°19'28"E - A large industrial city on the Damodar River accessible from highway NH2 and located about 90 NE of Kolkata (Calcutta), the capital of the province of West Bengal Photo of Durgāpur Steel plant from Wikipedia "Durgapur" article.