Devotion
Do as the Lord commands: feast!
David Jacobs
Everyone likes to celebrate from time to time: birthdays, vacations, holidays. We all need a chance to relax and enjoy God's gifts. Consider this, however: when was the last time you truly celebrated God? It happens too few and far between. "Twice a year Christians" celebrate on Christmas and Easter, forgetting the 363 other days of the year. Although some of the Old Testament may seem prohibitive and gloomy, these verses in Nehemiah are a stark contrast.
Nehemiah makes a proclamation that all people would love to hear: "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared" (Nehemiah 8:10). Eat, drink, and be merry! Last but not least, give to those that do not have the means to celebrate. There are certainly many people that give back on the biggest Christian holidays in modern times, but our consumer culture has changed the meaning of Christmas. If the Jews living in the time of Nehemiah can learn to celebrate their love of God and share with the less fortunate during a turbulent and difficult time, certainly can we!
Prayer
When have you recently given back to society? It may sound like a Christmas cliché, but it truly is "better to give than to receive."
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...
