Devotion
Wasting no time
David Jacobs
In university, I had 4 roommates. I got along very well with 2 of them, but none of us got along very well with the fourth. He was dirty, loud, obnoxious, and generally didn't consider the feelings of others. However, his family was very powerful and well-known, so we felt that we were not really able to say anything. It made all of us feel helpless, because if we had not known who his family was, we would have certainly dealt with him differently. Alas, we did know his family, so we acted meek, scared, and oppressed, letting him bully and dirty the apartment.
It is not easy for the oppressed to stand up for themselves. If you have ever seen a wild dog roaming the streets, you may have seen some of them that have been kicked one too many times. They are unable to think about humans the same way as before. They associate humans with the negative actions that have occurred to them so many times.
Think about the downtrodden and unfortunate in history: the slaves in Egypt and the Americas, the Holocaust, or the plight of women in some parts of the world. It is difficult to hear their voices because they have no power. Nobody is listening. It is our duty, according to Isaiah, to listen. Do not contribute to the problem, be a part of the solution.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, fill me and each and every one of your followers with the desire to help give the voiceless a voice, to alleviate the suffering of mankind wherever they may be. Without your help and ours, they will continue to suffer, as your son, Jesus Christ, was forced to suffer for our sins. In his name I pray, Amen.
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...
