Devotion
Stay and Wait
Frances Taylor
Wouldn't you love to be able to ask the apostles what they were thinking during these days of waiting? They really had no idea what it would mean. They had all run away when Jesus was arrested. Only John was at the foot of the cross. They stayed in the upper room when they were in Jerusalem, or back in Galilee as Jesus had asked. Now Jesus was leaving them and he told them to wait for something or someone but they didn't have any idea what it would be. What we do know is that they waited, prayed, and chose someone to replace Judas. Sometimes we want Jesus to act in our lives now, and we hate to be told to wait, but God doesn't work in our time frame. Often we need to wait. What do we do while waiting? Do we gather with others to pray with us? Do we ask the Holy Spirit to help us? Or do we try to solve our problems ourselves without waiting for God to be with us? It's easy to think that we can do a better job with taking care of our lives than God, after all, we know ourselves better than anyone, right? Well, how does that work for you? I know it doesn't work for me. Patience is not a gift I have an abundance of. However, I have learned from experience that God does know what's best for me and it would have saved me a lot of trouble if I had waited for his lead. How about you?
Prayer
Lord, you asked the apostles to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit before they went out to preach. You often ask us to wait for the guidance of the Spirit in our lives as well. Give us the grace to do as you have asked us to do. 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...
