Devotion
And the Truth Shall Set You Free
Frances Taylor
Today there are so many voices claiming to tell us the truth. We have various radio and television stations reporting, each one with its own version of the truth, quoting people who are supposedly telling the truth. But what truth is it? And whose truth? Most of what we hear is contradicted in the next hour and sometimes by the very person or persons that were quoted the hour before! Much of what we hear is taken out of context and is actually not representative of the truth. So how do we know who or what to believe? Jesus tells us how to know what the truth is. If we abide in HIS word, and are truly his disciples, we will know the truth. Jesus gives us a yardstick by which to judge the truth of what we hear. The Gospels give us the teachings of Jesus so if we want to be set free, this is where we need to go to verify what we hear is true. It is our responsibility to check it out. We can't just take for granted that the media is telling us the truth. We have seen in history how easy it is for people to be brainwashed by media. It happened in Germany in the 1930's and 1940's; it happened in advertising when movie theaters used to project images of candy or popcorn subliminally during movies just to increase the profits at the concession stand! We need to protect ourselves from falsehoods, listen to Jesus' advice, and we will be free.
Prayer
Dear Lord, it is not always easy to tell truth from falsehoods. Give us the wisdom to pay attention to the words of your Son Jesus. 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...
