Devotion
He Meets Us Along The Way
Frances Taylor
Have you ever wondered where God was when you needed him? I'm sure that the two disciples on the road to Emmaus were wondering the same thing. But Jesus was right there walking with them and they didn't even know it. Jesus walks with us every day and we often don't recognize him. The main reason is that we're not even looking! Do you invite Jesus into your life each morning and thank him for being there each night? We all need to feel the presence of God in our lives. But we also need to notice him. When you're in a hurry and all the lights are green, do you say thank you? When the alarm doesn't work but you wake up in time anyway, do you say thank you? When your mind wanders as you walk or drive but come to just in time to avoid a disaster, or you need a hug and someone is right there offering one, does God come to mind? Jesus walks with us every day. He is there in the ordinary circumstances of our lives as well as in all the people we meet. Sometimes, we are the ones called to be Jesus for others. Are we open for that? Each time we pray, Jesus gives us the strength to become more like him as well as to make us more open to coming to recognize him in others.
We must remember, however, that Jesus didn't just walk with the disciples, he taught them. He opened up the Scriptures to them so that they would know him better. We are also called to get to know him better and one way of doing that is to open the Scriptures at home each day so that we will know him better and so be able to bring others to know him better as well.
Prayer
O Lord, sometimes the busyness of the world keeps me from spending time with you. I say that I love you but don't make more opportunities to get to know you better through your Word. Slow me down, Lord, so that I have more time for you. 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...
