Devotion
Do You Love Me?
Frances Taylor
In today's gospel passage, Jesus tells his followers that those who love him will keep his word. We know that his word is to love others as Jesus has loved us.
Love is an interesting word. This past week, our Bible study group spent four days reflecting on the Scripture sayings concerning love, the definition of love in the dictionary, the importance of love, and how we can walk in the way of love. It's not always easy. We have heard more than once that love is a choice we make, an act of the will, not of the emotions. We are to love our families, friends, our God, but also our enemies. How do you love your enemies? When Jesus laid down his life for us, he didn't qualify the gift. In fact, he reminded the Pharisees that he came to save sinners. Of course, that includes us even if we don't want to think about it! Just because we are the ones in church doesn't make us perfect by any means.
Jesus also promises us that he is sending us help so that we can learn to love better – the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who is that bond of love between the Father and the Son from all eternity. I'm sure that I have quoted verses from St. Paul before, but if you really want to challenge yourself, reread his First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13 – all the verses! – and then use this as a checklist to see how well you are doing. I know I can think of a few verses that I need to work on, what about you?
Prayer
Lord, you know that I love you, but like Peter, I have been weak and have failed. You have forgiven me and now I need your help to show my love in a better way by being more loving in my actions with others. Show me the way. 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...
