Devotion
We are the chosen generation
David Jacobs
We live in uncertain times: many would say that today, a new 'dark age' has befallen much of the world. War, pollution, disease...there is so much darkness that it can be easy to not notice the light. However, is today any darker than the days of Sodom and Gomorrah? Did the light of salvation not shine divinely now as it did at that time? It was not God changing how brightly the light shined, no. It was the inhabitants that chose to ignore and be blind to it.
Today, there are challenges to ones faith everywhere, just as it was with Lot: sex, drugs, violence...any type of sin that you can imagine seems to be commonplace in the society that we are currently living. There are times I wonder whether it is responsible to have a child in today's era, forgetting how the light of the Lord never ceases to shine. The choice is mine. The choice is yours. For those who are fortunate enough to know and have chosen to accept Christ, we may consider ourselves chosen by God. We have a responsibility to shine forth in the darkness, as a new nation of light, not limited by geography and distance, but instead brought together by faith.
Prayer
Lord God Almighty, help me realize how lucky I am, to be warmed and bask in your eternal light. Grant me the strength to shine brightly as an example to others, so that with my word and deed I may help spread your light, especially at the darkest hours. Lord I humbly ask that you use me as a vessel for others, so that they may see you as I do. Please, my God, use me so that I can show others that we are chosen to shine, and together we can change the darkness to light. I pray all of this in your holy name, Amen.
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...
