Morning Prayer
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Inspiration
We all begin life as newborns. As we grow, we gain knowledge and wisdom that prepare us to live as adults. So too, we begin our spiritual lives as infants. God, by His love, grows us in our knowledge of Him. As we mature, we cast off the selfish ambitions, pride, and lies that we once knew as God perfects us by His grace.
Prayer
Father, thank You for making me Your child. Please walk with me so that I may know Your love and learn Your truth. Grow me in Your grace and wisdom, and teach me to put away my childish pride and pursuits. As You empty me of these things, fill me anew with Your Spirit so that as I grow in faith, I may resemble You more each day. In Jesus’ 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...
