Devotion
“I am your father”
David Jacobs
Have you ever heard the phrase "daddy issues"? This phrase is used to describe people that have had a difficult or non-existent relationship with their fathers and the challenges that often come with it. Even if you have a good relationship with your father, how you perceive people, especially men, has probably been greatly influenced by this relationship. Now think about God: do you view Him as your Father? If so, does that affect the way that you act towards Him?
God sent Jesus to Earth to live among us. I believe He wanted to fully understand what it means to be human because, as a loving Father, He wanted to have a closer relationship with us. Through Christ's sacrifice, God proved that we are an "heir of God." He humbled himself for us, so that those of us that had over-bearing, strict, or even violent father figures in our lives. God did all that He could to grow closer to us and asks that we do the same.
Prayer
When you pray to God, pray to your biological father as well. Think of them similarly: how does it change the way you pray? When you think of another person, including your father, understand that we are all equals: we are all heirs to God, His children.
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...
