Morning Prayer
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Inspiration
Through Jesus, we as earthly beings have also found a path to overcoming the world. But, the only lasting transcendence is that granted to us by the Lord. Many might try other methods, the most sad and tragic one common today being drugs. Yet, without salvation and the word of the Lord, these attempts are doomed to fail. In the Christian faith we transcend ourselves into more perfect beings, and finally upon our day of reckoning, we transcend our flesh and enter into the eternal Kingdom. Drugs on the other hand allow one only to descend deeper into oneself and one's own anxieties, only to return to one's original position. Rather than being truly liberated, one simply plunges deeper into a need to escape. Without God, and one's spirit, one cannot truly transcend this life, one may merely bore deeper into its illusions.
Prayer
God Our Heavenly Father, I thank you for counting me amongst those of your blessed children, who know your name and wish to sit at the feet of your throne. I pray for those to whom you speak, but are too deaf to listen. May they find inner wisdom and the true path into eternal life; through your divine glory and mercy alone, 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...
