Devotion
Send Me
Frances Taylor
Is the feeling of unworthiness the reason you don't think you can be a disciple? Isaiah didn't think he was worthy to be a prophet. We are sometimes people of unclean lips and we certainly do live in the midst of people of unclean lips. What made the difference so that Isaiah responded to God's call? He confessed his sin and received forgiveness. The first step is always to recognize our fault and sins, the second is to take responsibility for them and then to accept God's forgiveness. They are all difficult, but the third is sometimes the hardest. Have you ever hurt someone, asked their forgiveness and then been forgiven but you're still beating yourself up over it? It can be difficult to accept forgiveness because we still haven't forgiven ourselves. Isaiah was open to receive God's forgiveness and so was able to accept his assignment to deliver God's message. Once we can accept the fact that God has chosen us in our unworthiness and has made us worthy though his forgiving love, we will be ready to say, yes, to whatever mission God has in store for us.
Prayer
Compassionate Lord, I know I am not worthy to be your disciple, but through your forgiving love, you have chosen me for your purpose. Give me the courage to say, Lord, I am here, send me. Amen.
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...
