Devotion
A brother scorned
David Jacobs
I have an older brother and a younger sister and we always got along well. My parents made sure that we were healthily competitive but above all, supportive of each other. I have leaned on my brother and sister at different times for support, and they have never spurned me of been unwilling to aid me. Luckily for us, our parents shared their love equally, and we never thought that one of us was the favorite of either our mother or father, so jealousy was not a part of our household growing up.
The same cannot be said of the family of Isaac and Rebekah. Their sons, Esau and Jacob, are twins but seem to be near opposites of one another: Esau is a cunning and skilled hunter, a big, strong, hairy, and profane man. Jacob on the other hand is a sensitive, passive, obedient, devout, and loyal man, more accustomed to farming than with hunting. Isaac preferred the manly qualities of Esau while his wife, Rebekah, preferred the caring nature of Jacob. Not having his father's blessing and birthright became an obsession for Jacob, making Esau swear his birthright to him when he was hungry after returning home one day, and in these verses, tricking his blind father into giving Jacob, posing as Esau, his blessing.
Jacob goes to great lengths in order to secure a more stable future for himself, scorning his brother in the process. Esau, realizing that he has sworn his birthright to Jacob and that his father has mistakenly believed that Jacob was Esau and given him his blessing, has lost all hope. Similar to how Jacob was obsessed with gaining the birthright and blessing, Esau becomes obsessed with losing it, pledging that he will one day kill his brother. These verses make me so sad, because I consider my own family. Siblings should be able to rely on each other, not plot to dupe and murder one another! Think about your own family and siblings: have you been on their side or on your own? In some cases it can be a matter of life and death.
Prayer
Reach out to a sibling or friend and tell them that you will be there for them if they need. These words are usually assumed but rarely said, and verbalizing them can make a big difference in mending wounded relationships.
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...
