Morning Prayer
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Inspiration
Fear of God' is not perhaps your typical fear, in the sense of what one may feel in a horror movie for example, or for a bully. Rather, fear of God within the context of the Bible in different translations may often times come out with synonyms such as 'awe', 'wonder' or 'reverence'. Whatever version of the Bible one may be reading, the basic notion remains the same, a deep sense of veneration brought on by a display of God's power. Time and time again, God and Jesus had to prove themselves in the face of disbelief, mockery and skepticism. This is the 'fear' God may instill in us; not that brought on by coercion, terror or violence, but rather in his works, his miracles beyond our own abilities. It is upon witnessing or believing these mighty works that we submit to our Lord.
Prayer
Lord Almighty, all powerful, all knowing and seeing, I kneel before you at the throne within your Heavenly Kingdom. Instill in those who criticize and ridicule the awe, the wonder and the reverence you deserve. Silence all those skeptics and the ignorant who still doubt your name, so they may see your miracles and power Lord, and upon doing so, become one of your children. 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...
