Devotion
Lift you up
David Jacobs
I can still remember one day when I made a huge lapse in judgment. I said something that I should never have said to my girlfriend at the time, making her incredibly upset. It seemed as if I said the thing solely to make her upset and sad, and it made me questions what I was doing with my life and with her. To make matters worse, I didn't want to admit fault, didn't want to admit my mistake to her, because it made me rehash the pathetic behaviors that I had displayed. Our relationship ended soon after, but it took me 2 years to apologize to her for the remarks that I made. At least it was better late than never, or that's what I told myself.
Everybody falls down. Everybody makes mistakes. It is not about falling down, it is about how you get up. With a strong faith in God, when we fall, He will strengthen us through His divine word. We will have the power that we do not even know exists, fortified by our rock, redeemer, and strength. As Isaiah says, we will be lifted up on eagles wings, and when even the young fall after growing faint and weary, the Lord will lift them up, and they will be strengthened.
Prayer
Think of a time where you stumbled mightily. How did you respond? Were you cowardly like I was? Or did your faith in God strengthen you, lifting you up faster than you fell?
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...
