Devotion
Blessed are You Who Believed
Frances Taylor
Faith! That's what Mary had, and that's the gift given to us by God in our baptism. In faith, Mary believed the angel's message. And faith, she traveled to her cousin Elizabeth's home. In faith, she would teach her son that he was the Son of God, and she would follow him to his death, and remain with his disciples so that they would not lose faith after he returned home to his father. What do we do with our gift of faith? Why can it be so easily shaken? How many times have we "lost" faith – in God, in others, even in ourselves? Mary's faith did not promise her an easy life, in fact, Simeon told her that her heart would be pierced with a sword so that "the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Think of how often her faith was tested. How many of us have been tested in the same way? And yet, she continued to believe. God has given Mary to us as a sign that God is with us always, even through the darkest times, the most confusing times. If we continue to believe, to have faith, then we, too, will be called "blessed" because our reward is peace of heart and mind in this world, and a place in at the table with Mary in the next.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of faith! This gift that gets me through the dark days and brightens the good ones. May I always hold you in my heart and work to awaken the gift of faith in others so they may also experience the joy I feel. 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...
