Devotion
Job’s faith tested
David Jacobs
When I was 22, I experienced one hardship after another and was unable to focus on anything positive for a long time. At that time, I truly began to think that nothing mattered and life had no meaning. My best friend had died of cancer at the age of 21, and I had to witness him waste away until he was just skin and bones. My oldest friend died when he fell out of a window, an incredible stroke of bad luck. My best friend's mom, mere months after his passing, also was diagnosed and suddenly died from cancer. Egotistically, I thought about my role, blaming myself for their deaths in one way or another: what could I have done differently? Why did God hate me? Worst of all, I hated God.
Satan puts Job to the absolute test, making my misfortunes seem almost insignificant. Within a span of a few verses, one messenger after another approaches Job with worse and worse news: first the cows were stolen and servants killed, then the sheep and fields were burned, then the camels and more servants were killed, and, the icing on the cake, all of his children were killed when the house collapsed. It would be enough to break any man. More than just break, it would be enough to send most men away, a new ally of Satan.
Somehow, Job's faith is strong enough. He realizes that he was born alone and will die alone, except accompanied by God. He has a good point too: we were alone saving for God upon birth, and do we look upon it as terrible? The same could be true of death, yet we seldom view it as such. Our time on earth is fleeting, like water vapor: here one second, gone the next (James 4:14).
Prayer
With a strong faith and trust in God, we are promised life eternal. For a stubborn man like me, and a stronger man like Job, it may take some time, but the choice is clear.
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...
