Devotion
Is The Holy Spirit Working In Your Life?
Frances Taylor
Answering this question implies that you look for the Holy Spirit's action in your life! So, take a few minutes and think about the past week or two. What opportunities have you had to help someone? What gifts of yours have been called upon? Did a friend or relative need a shoulder to lean on? Have you had to make any serious decisions lately? What moments of sheer joy have you experienced? Did you receive an answer to prayer? These are all examples of places where the Holy Spirit is present. We don't always recognize the Spirit. The disciples of Jesus had an experience of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost that changed not only their lives but ours as well. Without their witness and the witness of those that came after them, we would never have known about the saving act of Jesus. We would still be fearful of suffering death believing that that was the end, that there was nothing and no one waiting for us in the afterlife. We will probably never have so profound an experience of the Spirit as they did, but that doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit isn't present in our lives. When we share our experiences of God, when we open ourselves to others we are also witnesses that can give others hope. Where is the Holy Spirit present in your life? The Spirit is present; all we need to do is look.
Prayer
Come Holy Spirit, fill us with the joy and understanding with which you gifted your disciples on Pentecost and came to us at Baptism. Help us to appreciate this gift and give us the courage of the apostles to testify to our faith. 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...
