Devotion
The Prodigal son
Frances Taylor
We all know the story of the Prodigal Son. When you hear it, who do you compare yourself to? Are you the forgiving father, the sinful son, or the jealous brother? Or maybe you're the mother we don't hear about praying that her son will come home. If we're honest, we could be any one of them, depending on the day. If we have children, we know what it's like for a child to hurt us by his or her actions. Sometimes this can be very serious. There are parents who have children in prison. It takes a lot of courage and forgiveness to visit them and make sure they still know of a parent's love. At other times a child turns his or her back on the parent's beliefs. How do we react? There are times when we are the prodigal who turned their back on their parent, rejecting their values, getting involved in drugs or worse. Do we have the courage of the prodigal in this parable to admit that we are wrong and return home admitting our failures and begging our parent for forgiveness? And maybe we're the jealous brother or sister who doesn't understand how the father or mother can forgive this brother again and again. Most likely, if you are a parent, you pray every day that God will protect this child of yours and bring them back unharmed.
God is truly a "prodigal" father whose love is poured out to us in immeasurable ways. When we have lost our way, God is ready with open arms welcoming us back with open arms as the precious son or daughter he loves.
Prayer
Lord, let me be an example of your love in my life and not be jealous of the love you offer others. 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...
