Devotion
Easter Joy and Hope
Frances Taylor
Alleluia! Happy Easter! I hope you are feeling the joy and hope that this day and season brings. It is a reminder that this is not all there is, that our life continues because of Christ. What does the joy and hope of Easter mean to you? Stop for a minute, take a deep breath and smile! Think about those things that bring you joy. Is it family? Friends? The birth of a child? And hope, what gives you hope? So often we are bombarded with media blasts that tell us how dismal the future looks and how "I" have the answer! Sometimes hope can be hard to come by! If there is one person who can make our future better, it's Jesus! Last Friday, we felt the pain and the hopelessness of the disciples. Today we celebrate the hope and the joy of the Resurrection. If we have walked with Jesus these past few weeks, truly looking at our lives, changing what needs to be changed, asking forgiveness for our sins, it's time to look to the future with confidence and hope. Easter is a day but also a season. Let us work at continuing the hope and joy we feel today each day during these next weeks. Let us look for those things, those moments, those people who bring us joy and celebrate them every day. Today the glass is overflowing with feelings of joy and hope, don't let the glass run dry.
Prayer
Gracious and glorious God, thank you for sending your son to save us. Thank you for the love you have for us. May we always be grateful to you and never take your love for granted. Help us to be witnesses of your love to all we meet. 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...
