Too often in evangelical Christianity, the study of God's word is equated with "devotion." Now, this is not to say that study can't be devotional. Whenever we read and meditate on the word of God, our spirit will be edified. That being said, the study of Scripture should not be our primary form of devotion. Unfortunately, evangelical Christianity does not offer much beyond this in the way of devotional practices.
Growing up, I was taught that reading my Bible was the primary form of devotion, and that to enhance this experience, keeping a journal to record what I had been reading would help. I benefited from reading Scripture, and it most definitely should be part of the Christian life. But I struggled to feel as though my study was truly devotional. Yes, I was growing in intellectual knowledge about God—a helpful and necessary part of the Christian life—but I did not feel as though I was truly participating in the divine life that he had given me to share in.
Only when I adopted a sacramental worldview did this change. The very structure of the liturgy on Sunday morning proclaims the reality of participation. We are spiritually partaking in heavenly realities. And because the life of the church is sacramental and liturgical, this does not stop on Sunday. You continue this pattern of worship throughout the week with the Daily Office. These prayers are primarily Scripture, but instead of studying them to grow in knowledge, you are speaking them and meditating on them as a form of worship. This truly changes the way in which devotion is understood.
I'd encourage all of you to take up a devotional habit outside of studying Scripture. Something like the Daily Office or the Rosary. In these practices, you will find that it requires the whole of you; not just your intellect. In many ways, true devotion is when both your will and intellect unite in the same motion of worship.
The study of the word is great, but it can often become more academic if a rich devotional life is not thoroughly established. I have found that through engaging in a sacramental and liturgical devotional life, my study of the word has become more sacramental and participatory.
I hope this is helpful!
This is the first video reflection for the Great Fast.
Welcome to the Mere Catholicity Locals Community! Here, you will find like-minded Christians with a desire to live ecumenically and pursue Christ in all things.
The Mere Catholicity movement runs only through listener support. The work that I (Jonah) do requires time and money. Without the financial support of my Locals community, I would not be able to continue making content. Simple as that. It is only thanks to this group that I can continue providing you with content that (hopefully) both edifies and challenges!
The good news for you is that joining the community itself is completely FREE! Once you sign up, you will be able to see most posts, live streams, and even content posted by other users. However, you will only be able to observe. You will not be able to comment, post, or see any exclusive content. This might be a good way to see if you want to support later down the line. So please join! Even if you cannot afford to give at this time!
Now, for those who do wish to give ...
Friends - as I consider the various platforms that I operate, I find Substack to the most conducive to the model of online ministry that I am aiming for. Though I still plan to post here, as many of you still support me through this platform, Substack is where I will be focusing the majority of my time. If some of you wish to move your subscription from here to Substack, you are welcome to do that. Those who continue to support here, I will continue to post here — mostly the stuff that is behind the paywall on Substack so that you are getting the exclusive content regardless of where you are subscribed.
Hope you all are doing well. Lord bless you.
- Rev. Jonah
I've been gone again for a time preparing for my ordination. I was ordained a Deacon in the Holy Catholic Church on March 8th, 2025.
It was a joy beyond words. I am now back in full swing with ministry, media, and work.
I hope you all have been doing well. More to come soon.
Good morning everyone. I wanted to quickly update you on the Mere Catholicity Podcast. I’ve been posting videos on my channel, but it has been quite sometime since my channel has had a podcast episode release.
With my new job as a classical teacher, scheduling interviews has been a challenge. However, my plan is to use my summer breaks as time to double down on planning and recording new podcasts. The idea will be to record a ton of interviews that will then slowly release throughout the school year, expiring around the time the following summer arrives. This will ultimately result in a consistent once a month interview.
All that to say, the podcast will resume here in May or June of 2025 with some excellent interviews lined up!
Blessings on your Sunday!
