Devotion
Think your free from pride? Think again!
David Jacobs
Imagine a proud person. Are they rich? Perhaps they are in a position of power or prestige that commands respect everyone around them. Or perhaps they take pride in their beauty or looks. But this is only an image of pride. In fact, pride is a human condition that we cannot escape, even if we lack all of these things.
Knowing this, the narratives of the Scriptures repeatedly emphasize the dangers of pride. For example, Saul, who was revealed to be God's chosen leader of Israel, is described as handsome and impressive. Scripture even says that he was without equal among the Israelites (1 Samuel 9:2). God promised to guide him and provide the powerful help of the Holy Spirit in leading the nation. You can see how this might go to someone's head.
Yet, Saul was meant to follow the instructions of God in his role as leader. Due to his pride, he failed in this. He acted as if he was in charge rather than God, and as a result he crumbled under the pressure of leadership rather than be obedient to God.
As Christians, we are all in a similar situation to Saul, being chosen to belong to God's family. God has given His Holy Spirit to dwell within us so that He can use us to empower His plans for the world. When our pride gets in the way of this, we fail in our purpose. God's command is that we put away our pride allow Him to be our guide by humbling ourselves before Him, confessing our sin, and asking for His help in overcoming it.
Prayer
God, I am prideful. I confess my pride to you, because alone I am not able to overcome it. I recognize that your plan comes first, and so I humble myself before you. I will not walk my own path, but the one that you have laid out for me, and I ask for the guidance of your Holy Spirit.
Devotion
Culpability
Frances Taylor
This is an interesting passage because, among other things, it talks about sin and who is considered guilty of sin. Paul is talking about how he has been forgiven, how God has been merciful to him because his actions were committed in unbelief. In order for sin to be committed, one needs to know he is committing it. No one can commit sin in retrospect. Sin is always a deliberate act. This can be hard for some to understand. Actions can be considered sinful, even though the person committing them may not be culpable. For example, lying is a sin. However, is the two year old hiding behind the curtains sinning when he or she claims not to have broken the vase? No, because the child has no understanding of the difference between truth and lie. Those who do not have a relationship with God, who do not know the commandments, who have never heard of Jesus, may commit sinful actions, but are not guilty of sin. This is what Paul claims is his situation. Paul ...
Morning Prayer
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.
Inspiration
When the Lord sent his only Son, he sent also his word. For his body was this very word made flesh. Importantly this was not simply a manifestation of God's word, but also rather an 'animation' of it (meant here in the original Latin as 'animare' –'to instill with life or spirit'), an instance of God's love and divine grace in action, among us.
Prayer
Lord, I am grateful for your mercy in showing us your word made flesh so that we may be redeemed. Further, I am grateful to you for showing us your love and grace through your only begotten son. Let his body not have been torn and broken for no avail, but feed us now in the Eucharist. Let not his blood have...
