Devotion
Go and Tell
Frances Taylor
He is risen! First the angel and then Jesus tell the women at the tomb to go and tell the apostles that he is risen. We have finished Lent, we have rejoiced with all the Alleluias of Easter and now it is our turn to go and tell! On Ash Wednesday, people walked around with ashes on their foreheads to let them know that Lent had arrived. Do they now walk around with a joy that makes people stop and ask them why they are so happy? We Christians claim to be Easter people, but I don't often see that glow of love on people's faces. I once heard a priest say that we are supposed to be God's chosen people, not his frozen people! I never saw Billy Graham with a frown on his face when he talked about God and his relationship with Jesus. Perhaps that is why so many people followed him and came to Christ because of him. Now, we are not all going to become a great evangelist such as Billy Graham, but we are called to have the same spirit shining in our lives, not afraid to tell people of our love of God, of our decision to follow Jesus Christ. Let this Easter season shine in you so that others seeing you stop you and ask what makes you so joyful, begging you to let them in on the secret, which you are happy to share with them.
Prayer
Risen Lord, may our joy this season of Easter shine forth in our daily lives. 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...
