Devotion
Preparing For My Resurrection
Frances Taylor
We say we believe in our "resurrection from the dead." Have you ever given any thought to what that might mean? What about preparing for your resurrection? This is our question to consider today. After giving it quite a bit of thought, I began to wonder what eternal life might be and how we could prepare for it. The answer I came up with was to love. We know that God is love. If we are to live with God, doesn't it make sense to learn how to love? We know that children who do not experience love early in their lives find it difficult to love, or to accept love, as adults. The most important thing parents can do for their children is to love them, to tell them they will always love them and to let them know that there is a God who loves them and will also be with them no matter what. As one of my co-workers pointed out, love is cyclical. When we open ourselves up to receive love, we are better able to love others. The more we love others, the more we are able to experience their love as well as God's love. And we shouldn't forget to love ourselves as well! I guess that our preparation for our own resurrections will depend on how we envision eternal life. Jesus made sure he spent some time with his friends. I like to think that I, too, will spend time with those I loved on earth. What are your thoughts?
Prayer
Loving God, you have promised us eternal like. Scripture tells us that "eye has not see, ear has not heard what God has ready for those who love him." Help us to love better so that we may experience the love of God for all eternity. 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...
