Devotion
You Are Anointed
Frances Taylor
These were the words that Jesus quoted in the synagogue when he began his ministry. When you were baptized into Christ, you (and I) were appointed to do the same. Just as Jesus brought good news to the people, it is our job to bring good news to those around us. We are to reach out to people in pain even if the only thing we can do is pray for them. We may not be able to go into prison and free those who are there, but there are different kinds of prisons and we can help to bring freedom to people held in bondage there. There are the prisons of addiction, the prisons of closed doors to people who have disabilities, the prisons of injustice.
We can choose to get involved and try to help, or we can decide it's not our problem and turn a blind eye. We can work to get more facilities to help people with addictions and get funding for those who cannot pay. We can challenge property owners to make their businesses more accessible to those with disabilities. We can work with community groups to help provide housing, educational opportunities, and food to the poor. I'm sure if we look around our neighborhoods, our communities, our churches, we will find areas where we who are anointed and appointed can fulfill the mission we have been given.
Prayer
Lord, open our eyes to see the work that needs to be done for your people and give me the courage to get involved. 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...
