Devotion
Just Mercy
David Jacobs
I recently read a book called Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson that touched me deeply. In the book, Mr. Stevenson, a lawyer, sets up a non-profit organization in the southern states of America with the aim of protecting people that have no means of protecting themselves. The stories of some of his legal teams' cases are shocking: many of the inmates given the death sentence were given horribly unfair trials. Some of them were clearly innocent, some of the cases involved the police tampering with evidence and threatening witnesses, and some of the convicted criminals had severe mental and physical disabilities and would never be able to healthily survive in the American legal system. I truly believe that Mr. Stevenson is doing admirable work and his efforts have improved the American legal system. There is still so much work to be done.
In the first verses of Habakkuk, we read the pleas of a desperate man, crying out to God, wondering why God is not listening. I have certainly felt like my prayers were falling on deaf ears at times. Christ himself even wondered in the gospel of John why his Father had forsaken him. We all have our doubts, especially when faced with immoral, unjust, and evil people. Habbakuk cannot believe that God would stand idly by as the wicked rule his nation. As is the case in many countries and Mr. Stevenson's book illustrates, if the people responsible for "justice" are unjust, the law is broken. If bad people are the ones passing judgment on the good, wrong judgment and evil prevails.
The final verse speaks of work, and that is the responsibility of all Christians.
Prayer
We have been given God's moral compass in His word; we have received the teachings of Christ and the disciples; we have no excuse not to stand up to the injustices that prevail in many of our nations. If we work as one, we cannot fail: God is on our side. He will hear our prayers.
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...
