Devotion
From every mountain sing
David Jacobs
Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on earth. It is also one of the most dangerous. Many people have gone to Everest, seeking to climb the tallest peak and claim to have conquered it. Many have not lived to reach the top or the bottom again. Some of the bodies of those that did not make were left on the peak as a warning and also because getting the bodies down in their frozen state is far too difficult. The higher that you venture up, the more difficult and deadly your journey has become.
God will live forever, but the time that man can spend on earth is limited. No matter how high your achievements, how important you think you are, you will die. For those of us that can claim to be true believers of Christ, there is a way to live like God; follow His ways, love each other as Christ has loved us, and we can be redeemed. For those of us that choose to refuse God's welcoming embrace: the world is filled with their wasted bodies, a warning for any others that choose to go that path.
Prayer
Lord of life, creator of heaven and earth, hallowed be your name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Help us all to remember those words, so that we can work together to build a kingdom on earth that is in the image of your heavenly kingdom. Our time on earth is fleeting, but you have given us a chance of life eternal. I am so grateful, O Lord, and shall waste no breath on doing anything but praising your name. 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...
