Devotion
Signs of the saviour
David Jacobs
Isaiah is one of the most influential and important prophets in the Bible. He lived about 700 years before Christ was born, during a tumultuous time for the kingdom of Judah. He is one of the few people that were able to foresee the future through a connection with God, predicting many of the most important outcomes that would occur centuries later. In these verses, Isaiah is talking with the newly appointed king of Judah, Ahaz, who is stuck between a rock and hard place with several armies coming to invade his kingdom. Likely in his 20s, Ahaz did not know what to do and sought council with the wiser Isaiah.
In these verses, Isaiah has attempted to help Ahaz, offering him spiritual guidance, which Ahaz refuses. Ahaz is trying to think of a way to save himself at all costs, willing to broker alliances with enemies in order to save his own skin. Isaiah wants to send Ahaz and the kingdom of Judah a message, and he makes his proclamation here to reassure the people of Judah of the covenant that their ancestors made with God.
In hindsight, it may seem that Ahaz is a fool, but what would you have done differently? Ahaz did not know what would happen and he did not have a strong faith to rely on. Isaiah had built a strong foundation based on faith that he could fall on in difficult times. Like Isaiah, we need to foster our relationship with God so that when we see the armies of our enemies, of sin and temptation, we are strengthened by faith, with the knowledge that our God will not abandon us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I ask that you strengthen my faith today and all days. I know that I have not always been strong, I have doubted, and I have sinned in your eyes, O Lord, and I thank you for being so merciful and patient. You have given me a chance, even a second chance, and I shall not waste it or be unfaithful to you. I want to thank you for giving me these chances, through the virgin birth and the life of your only begotten son, in whose 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...
