Devotion
Where is your garden?
David Jacobs
As we grow up, many of us turn to certain things as "escapes." Work, exercise, sex, and alcohol can all be used in different ways, some more positive than others.
There is one place where I go when I am feeling despondent: my diary. Writing in my journal is a place where I always feel safe. I can reflect on my day and almost always feel a sense of peace and accomplishment when I write in it. Although it may not traditionally be considered prayer, writing in my journal is a meditative, contemplative, and calming action that helps me focus on the things that are most important to me. My journal, in a way, is my garden of peace.
In these verses, Jesus goes to pray with his disciples by the brook Cedron in a garden. His soon-to-be betrayer, Judas, knew would find Jesus there. Even as Jesus knew of his impending end he remained calm, and surrounded himself with those important to him. What better place for Jesus to spend his final hours of peace! He spent his remaining hours doing what he enjoyed the most with the people that he enjoyed the most. Like my journal, it was a place he could turn to calm down, prepare for what was coming, and focus on what was important to him.
Prayer
What is your "garden" of peace? Is there a place, person, action, or substance that you turn to habitually to try to relax? More importantly, whatever your garden may be, is it a positive one? Does it help or hurt you? Use Christ as an example: be in a setting that you love with people that you love.
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...
