Devotion
All Preexisting Conditions Accepted
David Jacobs
Praise be to Him! Rejoice to our Lord! The Creator, The Father, The Healer. Imagine entering the world's greatest hospital after feeling terribly ill for some time. The doctor examines you and says that you are very sick, but he can cure you by teaching you to cure yourself. You ask the cost and if he accepts your medical insurance. He smiles and says 'By coming to me, I have accepted you'.
You explain that after years of sickness you have many preexisting conditions. Would they void his acceptance? He explains that due to the nature of the sickness and sin, we all have preexisting conditions. Acknowledging those preexisting conditions and trying to cure them is actually required in order to receive his healing. You would stand on the rooftops and tell every person within an earshot about this miraculous healer who only asks that you come to him, acknowledge that you are ill, and accept his healing.
God loves us more than we could fathom, more than we could ever hope to repay. Therefore give thanks and rejoice in him each and every day, for in forgiveness we may find our spirits cleansed, our minds detoxed and our hearts healed.
Prayer
God not only heals our bodily diseases but also cuts out what is cancerous to the soul, or toxic to our faith. Let Him in, and rejoice his works, all preexisting conditions and iniquities accepted!
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...
