Devotion
Why do bad things happen to good people?
David Jacobs
I am a firm believer of good things happening to good people. What you reap is what you sow; if you sow good things, it will grow more good things; so bad, more bad things. However, what happens when bad things happen to good people?
One of the best person I have ever known was also my oldest friend. We knew each other since we were babies, growing up together with our families. He was good at everything; he was the captain of our high school soccer, baseball, and basketball team. He was the class president and valedictorian of our school. He didn't drink, smoke, or curse. He was a good Catholic boy that volunteered always. He eventually went to and graduated from Harvard, finishing at the very top of his class. Everyone in our hometown knew of and were proud him.
One day, he slipped and fell off of a balcony in a freak accident and died. That was it. We were all devastated; his family was unsure how to process the information, let alone move on without him. It left us all wondering: Why God? Why?
At the beginning of Job, it sets the tone for what is soon to come. He was not just a good man; he was a perfect man. He loved God, loved his family, and even asked for forgiveness on his family's behalf. Like my friend, God should reward him for his behavior...right?
Prayer
We must remember, there are more than just the forces of God at work. As we will read in the next verses, Satan is real and does all that he could to test Job's faith. Lest we forget, God has rewarded us; He has given us life, created the earth, and sent His son, Christ, and with his blood, we have been redeemed. There may be tragedies that occur during our time in the worldly kingdom, but what matters is the eternity we spend in the heavenly one.
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...
