Devotion
Consider the Lilies
Frances Taylor
The first time I saw Sidney Poitier in a movie was in "The Lilies of the Field" for which he won an Oscar for best actor. The movie had a couple of important lessons and every time I read today's gospel passage I am reminded of both the movie and the lessons. A group of sisters want to build a chapel and they don't have the means to do it but believe that if they pray hard enough, the Lord will provide the means and men to do the work. Sidney needs a place to stay and the Superior sees her man. He stays on and works to build the chapel. Okay, you know there must be a twist! He tries to do it alone and fails. Eventually he must ask for help and the chapel is built.
Today we are being told not to worry about the needs of tomorrow but to concentrate on the "now." But what kind of "now" are we supposed to concentrate on? Not, we are told, on what we are to eat and drink, but to seek first the kingdom of God and then God will provide everything else that we truly need just as he feeds the earth to bring forth the flowers and cares for the birds of the air. The second lesson from the movie is that we all need help at times. Sometimes we need to ask for help, and sometimes we need to be help for others. It is often through his people that God provides for our needs. If we are truly seeking God's kingdom we will be ready both to ask for help and to offer it. As we continue this season of Lent. Let us reflect on the ways in which we will work to bring the kingdom to others through our prayers, fasting and almsgiving so that our celebration of Easter might be even more glorious.
Prayer
Yes, Lord. I know that you know us and you know what we need even more than we know ourselves. Give us the grace to put you and the kingdom first in our lives trusting in your goodness and mercy to provide for us. 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...
