Devotion
The Diaconate
Frances Taylor
This passage of Acts gives us the institution of the order of Deacon. The purpose of the deacon was to serve. The word for deacon comes from the Greek word for "to serve." This is the first separation we see in those called to spread the Gospel message. The apostles continued their ministry of prayer and preaching the good news. The apostles understood that there was another whole side of ministry and that was to serve the needs of the people. This continues today with some men and women called to a ministry of prayer and preaching and some being called to serve more practical needs. God wants the whole person to be served. Just as he both healed the sick and fed the multitudes and prayed both alone and with others while talking about the coming of the kingdom, Jesus expects us to serve the whole person as well. It is no less a ministry to serve in a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter, than it is to preach or to teach.
We are physical as well as spiritual beings and when our physical needs are not met, it is hard to concentrate on the spiritual. When we're hungry, when we can't take care of our families, we need to spend time taking care of these needs. As James says in his letter, what good does it do to wish a person a good day and then do nothing to help him have one. The apostles understood that and so the order of deacons began. Not all of us are called to the order of deacons, but we are called to reach out and help alleviate the needs of the poor as best we can.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for showing us the importance of reaching out in love to the whole person if we want to lead them to you. May we be witnesses of your love in all ways and at all times. 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...
