Devotion
The Christian Conga Line
David Jacobs
I am a fan of stand-up comedy, and the comedian James Acaster has a fantastic joke about Conga Lines. He jokes that a Conga dance is one of the most stressful enjoyable activities one can do. The leader has the stress of ensuring his followers go in a safe, sensible and fun direction. He goes on to explain that within the conga line, you are to follow the person in front of you, but lead the person behind you. If you try to leave the line in front, you don't leave the conga line, you accidentally start a rival one. It's all very funny but we can learn a lot about faith from this example.
When we are born, we model ourselves mostly on our parents or siblings, seeing as these are some of the first people we are exposed to. We follow the song and dance of them, and in turn, they lead us to safe, sensible and fun places. If there are moving to the right music (the word of the Lord) then I will enjoy following, and perhaps others will follow me. We progress together.
If one leaves the line prematurely, they run the risk of taking others with them, in the wrong direction. One that isn't sensible, safe, or fun.
So too, might we later model ourselves on Christ, or Christ's image, who in turn was modeled on his Heavenly Father, who is infinite in His compassion.
Prayer
Fear not for those at the rear of the Conga line, for The Lord will be behind you, encouraging you, accompanying you.
This is ultimately what our God wants, for it completes a virtuous circle
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...
