Devotion
Ash Wednesday
Frances Taylor
As the season of Lent begins, what are your thoughts? Some people respond to Lent by giving up something. For some, it's chocolate, or dessert, or alcohol; for others, it's smoking or some other habit. There are also people who see this as an opportunity to give up time and spend their time doing good works. They may volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. They may collect food or clothing for the poor. Others take fasting to heart and take the money they might have spent on snacks and give it to the poor. What does God want of us? He wants a pure heart, a heart that is full of love and compassion, of forgiveness and kindness. Lent is a time to take stock of our lives. What do we need to change in order to "rend our hearts?" In Joel's day, people showed that they were repentant by wearing rags – rent garments – and sitting in ashes – not bathing.
Many of us go to church services on Ash Wednesday to get ashes placed on our foreheads. What does it really mean if that is one of the only days of the year that we go to church and then do nothing more to show our love of God? Are we actually showing a change of heart, a repentant spirit? Or are we hypocrites? Joel tells us what God expects, as we begin this holy season, may we truly prepare to celebrate Easter.
Prayer
Lord, you give us this season of Lent each year to remind us of the sacrifice that your Son Jesus made on our behalf. May we use this time to become more worthy of his sacrifice. 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...
