Devotion
The Secret of Happiness
Frances Taylor
Have you ever played a team sport? When the team plays as one, they are more apt to win. But even if they don't win, they still share in the knowledge that they did the best they could. Jesus prayed that his disciples and those who followed them would be one. That they would be one just as the Father and he are one. What would it be like if we all acted as one in Christ? How would our families be different, our communities, our church, our world? What we need to remember, is that this is a unity based on love. God is love and we are told that as long as we remain in love, God remains in us. In John's Gospel, we are told the secret to joy is love! It is so easy in our world today to create division. The politicians don't even bother to listen to one another since they might find a good idea in what their opponent says. The media follows every instance of wrongdoing and hypes those circumstances that will create conflict and chaos. This is not to say that there have not been, nor will most likely be instances of real wrongs, but the way it is presented by the media often creates more problems than it solves. That they may be one! Hate and fear divide; love unifies. Let us work at looking for the things that unite us and also work at those that divide and see if we can help bring about the unity for which Jesus prayed.
Prayer
Dear God, we all want happiness and joy in our lives and we look for things to make it happen. You have given us the answer! Teach us to love. 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...
