Devotion
Walking With Jesus
Frances Taylor
This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday and we begin the most solemn week of the year – Holy Week. How will you walk with Jesus this week? Try not to let the last minute chores of Easter preparation get in the way of your Lenten journey. Think of the ways you can use each day to walk with Jesus along his way to the cross and to his resurrection. Our churches give us many opportunities during Holy Week to gather in prayer and remembrance. Beyond that, we need to decide what we can do in our daily lives.
Perhaps on Monday we can make an attempt to help someone, call someone, do something for a stranger. On Tuesday, perhaps we can take a minute and pray for those who have served as models of faith for us, both in our families as well as for those who have served in ministry. We might decide that we can fast each day of the week instead of just Friday. As Wednesday is traditionally called "spy Wednesday" we might think of someone we need to ask for forgiveness. Thursday is a great day to appreciate the Lord's example of washing the feet of his disciples and thank those who have served us. Especially we should thank parents and others whose care for us we take for granted. Friday we can think of those times when we have complained about the problems and pains of everyday life and offer them up as a small sacrifice when we remember the torture suffered on our behalf by Jesus. Saturday, we wait secure in the knowledge that Jesus has paid the ultimate price for our sins and has gained for us eternal life. Let us all walk together with Jesus this week.
Palm Sunday! The people shouted in joy as Jesus entered the city and then shouted for his death before the week was over.
Prayer
Lord, let us be people who shout for joy each day, not just for this week, but for every week of our lives in thanksgiving for the gift of salvation. 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...
