Devotion
Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen!
David Jacobs
One of my best friends died when I was young. He was young and strong, diagnosed with testicular cancer at 21. He was given a high chance of survival, nearly 80%, so we remained hopeful throughout the process. Sadly, he was not one of the lucky 80%. At the time, I cried more than I have cried before. Tears of sadness turned to anger, and I really blamed God for doing this to him. "Only the good die young." Perhaps you have heard this before. Why would God have taken him? My friend was a far better person than me, certainly. It didn't make any sense to me and I was furious with God for a long period of time. What did this anger get me? Did I feel any better? No. Did I get to see my friend as a result? No. Did I appreciate all the good things that I had with my friend? No. Did I appreciate all of the good that I had with God? I think you know the answer to that....
People die. Sin exists. The devil works tirelessly to recruit and destroy. Troubles come and go, but the word of the Lord remains our only constant. Work, family, money, health...all of these things fluctuate, both good and bad. As the Apostles have shown, happiness will always be attainable through God and in service to Him. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Perhaps this idiom is a good example of our relationship with the Lord. A real testament to our character and to our relationship with God is on full display when we are at our most downtrodden.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive me for using your name in vain! I was selfish and weak, O Lord, thinking only of my own pain instead of the good that you have instilled in me. Lord, I ask that you comfort all that have felt pain as I have, and grant their heart peace and resolve so that they can grow closer to you. Thank you, loving Father, for listening to all of our anger and prayers, and we know that you have sent your only begotten son, Jesus, so that we may be forgiven. In his holy name I pray, 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...
