Devotion
Is it possible to have idols and worship God?
David Jacobs
I once had the pleasure of having dinner with an environmental scientist. I asked him how he got into that field, and as it turned out, he was a Christian who had fallen in love with God's creation and wanted to dedicate his life to studying it. We must have talked for more than an hour about the importance of preserving biodiversity. After dinner, I walked with him out to the parking lot to say goodbye. As he was unlocking his car, I said "wait a minute, don't you care about air pollution?" He replied, "Yes of course, as a father I am particularly concerned about the effect it could have on my children and grandchildren." I had to point out, "But you are driving a diesel car!" This got him all in a huff and he started stumbling on about improved gas mileage. It was clear that he knew there was a contradiction between his beliefs and the car he was driving, but somehow he has kept driving that diesel car as long as I have known him.
This conflict between belief and behavior isn't at all unusual - in fact we see it in God's own people again and again. In Exodus 32, verses 1-5, the people ask Aaron to make an idol, as Moses has gone up the mountain to talk to God. Aaron gives in and makes a golden calf. But notice he doesn't stop there. He builds an altar to God in front of the calf. He tried to let the people worship both God and the calf at the same time! Of course, this didn't sit well with God, as it was a contradiction to worship both Him and an idol.
All too often we try to put some aspect of our lives on equal footing with God. Yes, we go to church and pray, but we are really focused on getting ahead at work or on getting a date. How do we square this with the fact that God demands that we put Him above all? The fact is, we can't, and just as God wouldn't like His altar being placed next to a Golden calf, he also won't tolerate us putting our own desires on the same level as His.
However, as the story of the golden calf shows us, people are always looking for leadership. God has said, make Me your leader! We know that we must follow him, but sometimes as we begin to feel disconnected from God, we begin looking for leadership in other places. It's important that we stay on track for God, and one way we do that is by surrounding ourselves with leaders who are dedicated to God's path. Aaron did not stay on God's path, but led God's people astray when they asked him to. When we choose our leaders, we must be sure that they will not make Aaron's mistake -- and that we will not make that mistake when people look to us for leadership.Prayer: Lord, we are constantly being tempted to stray away from your path.
Prayer
I pray that when we forget you, you will remind us. I pray for the strength of our leaders, so that when we ask for idols, they lead us back to you. I pray also that you will make us each a strong leader, so that we will always remind each other that yours is the righteous path.
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...
