Devotion
They Came to Believe
Frances Taylor
Jesus' time is getting close and the Jews who wished to kill him were getting closer but he wasn't quite ready, so he went back to the beginning. In Jesus' day, people didn't travel as far as they do today so many if not most of the people that Jesus would have encountered as he returned to the area where John had baptized, would have remembered John as well as his prophesy concerning Jesus and would have heard of him with his teaching and healing. Now they could decide for themselves if John had been right. This passage tells us that they did understand that John had spoken the truth and they came to believe. We don't have this gift of seeing and experiencing Jesus in the flesh, but we have come to believe. Have you ever thought of thanking those who brought you to believe? None of us gets there on our own. Someone must have told you about Jesus, and others must have nurtured that faith, helped you in times of doubt and brought you to the point where you could accept Jesus as your Savior. These are important people in your life and we should be grateful for them. For me, it started with my grandmother, then my parents who witnessed their faith to me. It continued with the many people of faith through the years who were there to answer questions, challenge me and helped me grow in my knowledge and love of Jesus. Who do you need to thank?
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for putting all these wonderful people in my life. Let me be able to thank them by helping to bring others to you. 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...
