Devotion
Where Do You Need Healing?
Frances Taylor
We all need healing, but are we "blind" to where we need healing the most? Bartimeus in today's gospel knew what needed healing and who he needed to go to in order to obtain healing. Physical needs, such as Batimaeus' blindness, are obvious, but spiritual, emotional or psychological healing can be hidden even from ourselves. Those whose specialty includes marketing or advertising are well aware of this and use this to create a need for their products in us. Sometimes it is hard to see what we really need – or hard to admit it. Are we still carrying pain from a betrayal, a loss, an unfulfilled need buried so deeply that we are afraid to open the wound? Are we suffering from an addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling or our phones? We are told there is a new "condition" called FOMO, the fear of missing out of something. These addictions can take away from our families and even our ability to hold down a job, Doctors know that wounds sometimes need to be opened in order for healing to occur. Jesus is the Doctor who knows were our deepest wounds are found and is waiting for us to come to him in order that they may be healed. Bartimaeus knew this. We need to have the faith in Jesus to bring our wounds to the light and love of his healing power, but first we need to have the courage to face them. Let's take advantage of every opportunity to ask for healing. Jesus is waiting.
Prayer
Gracious God, open my eyes to the areas of my life where I need healing. I ask you to light the dark spots in me so that I may see more clearly the things that I need to change. I come to you, Lord, in the firm belief that you want me to be healed, and ask you to do it. 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...
