Devotion
The Last Will be First, and the First Will be Last
Frances Taylor
Jesus is speaking to his disciples who have given up a lot to follow him. Peter and Andrew, James and John have left both their families and their work as fishermen, Matthew was a tax collector. All have given up their homes, jobs and families to follow Jesus. This message of Jesus must have been a consolation to them. It should be a consolation to us as well. Although many of us have not had to give up that much in order to be Christians, some have.
I know a nurse who had to make a choice to keep her job at a clinic that began doing abortions which was against her conscience. Another woman became a whistleblower when she discovered illegal actions at her place of work. At other times, we may have to give up friendships because they are toxic. The last phrase is interesting to us, but for Jesus it referred to the Jewish people who were called first to know the only true God and the promise of a Messiah, and yet so many didn't recognize Jesus and denounced him and then the Gentiles who were called last and responded with faith.
We might not think this refers to our time as well, but many come to faith in their youth and then fall away, and others later in life. I had the privilege of being present at the baptism of an eighty-year old man who had come to believe in Jesus and wanted to become a Christian. May each of us who have paid a price for our faith stay the course and receive our promised reward.
Prayer
Lord, you have given us so much and you continue to remind us that our faith is not in vain. We thank you for all you have done and continue to do. Help us to stay faithful to you. 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...
