Devotion
My Sheep Know My Voice
Frances Taylor
Sometimes sheep get a bad reputation and are considered dumb. However, sheep actually do know their master's voice. When sheep from several flocks graze on the same hillside, and it's time for them to return for the night, the shepherd comes among them and calls his sheep and only the sheep of his flock follow him. Jesus' listeners were familiar with the actions of sheep – much more that I am, as a city dweller! But as far as they were concerned, Jesus just wasn't the one they were waiting for. How well were they listening? Jesus had fulfilled the prophesies, had healed the sick, and the blind, had preached in the synagogues with an authority that surprised them, and performed many other acts that astounded them, but he wasn't raising an army to defeat the Romans and drive them from their land. They wanted a leader in the sense of King David who would put things back to what they had been. Jesus came for permanent freedom, not temporary, for peace, not war. How many times have we rejected the word of Jesus when we are being called to change and be better people than we have been, to be more loving and forgiving. Let's make sure that we listen for our shepherd's voice and follow where he leads.
Prayer
Lord, open our ears to hear your voice, and our hearts to do your will. 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...
