Devotion
The Foolishness of God
Frances Taylor
Many people cannot get past the idea of a God who would send his son into the world to die. It seems like foolishness. They say that if there is a God, why does he allow such bad things to happen. There's probably nothing after death so why bother doing anything that you don't want to do. Besides, if we needed saving, couldn't God have done it in another way. As Paul writes, however, the foolishness of God is wiser than men. God gave us the gift of free will that has often led to the majority of the violence and pain that we suffer as well as the need of a Savior in the first place. While it is true that salvation could have happened another way, how would we know of it? How would we know of God's plan for us? How would we know of God's goodness? There is so much that we have to thank God for in sending Jesus to us, to know how God wants us to live, how to be happy in this world as well as in the next. We know that we are saved so that we can live without fear, that death has no power over us. As this Easter season comes closer to an end, let rejoice that God is foolish.
Prayer
Gracious and omnipotent God, it is in your strength that we take comfort. You are our strength and our shield against the power of Satan, who still tries to turn us towards him and away from you. We give you thanks and praise. 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...
