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tessa-liam · 1 year ago

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Marabelle

It’s A Dream Come True

– Chapter 7

Choices – The Royal Romance, AU

Series Premise – An American teenager from New York City is introduced to the world of a small European country and its society of royalty, nobility, and commoners. How will her life story be transformed? Will this new adventure bring her happiness...or regret?

Marabelle Series Masterlist

Main Pairing – Prince Liam Rys x F!OC Sophia (Sophie) Taylor

Other Pairings – Maxwell Beaumont x M!OC Daniel (from NYC), Drake Walker x F!OC Melanie Smithson

Most characters belong to Pixelberry.

Series Rating – M*🔞Warnings: this series will have NSFW material, crude language & innuendo.

Not Beta’d - Please excuse all errors.

Category – Alternate universe/on-going series/angst/fluff

Words: 2393

It’s A Dream Come True

Chapter 7

Chapter Summary – It’s the evening of the Masquerade Ball. Bertrand and Maxwell formally introduce Sophie to King Constantine as Lady Sophia of House Beaumont and officially joins the court as a noblewoman. Prince Liam and Sophie spend more time together and reach a milestone.

Music Inspiration:

When You Walk in the Room, Sanne Saomonse

A/N1: Bethany Beaumont, Maxwell’s mother, is originally from the U.S. and is Barthelemy Beaumont’s second wife. Annabelle Beaumont (deceased) is Bertrand’s mother.

A/N2: ‘Social Season’ in this AU series refers to a traditional period in the spring/summer for royalty and members of the court to take part in Balls, dinner parties and charity events.

A/N3: My submission for Choices Flashfics @choicesflashfics, Week #52, prompt 3 - “Well...that was/this is unexpected.”

A/N4: My submission for @choicesseptemberchallenge2023, @midnightmelodiz, Day 4 – Dreams, Day Dream, “I’m in love with you!”

It’s A Dream Come True

Royal Gym, Cordonian Palace

In the heart of the palace, Liam and Drake were in the midst of an intense workout session. The Royal gymnasium was within an imposing chamber with high, vaulted ceilings, adorned with paintings of legendary battles and noble ancestors.

Liam adjusted the weights on the bench press and began to lift, his muscles straining against the resistance. Drake, spotting him, supplied encouragement.

“You’ve got this, Li! Remember, every rep gets you one step closer to looking dashing in that masquerade outfit.” Drake chortled with a grin.

Liam chuckled, grateful for Drake’s support. “I don’t know how I’d manage this without you, my friend. It’s not just about looking good at the ball, though. I want everything to be perfect for Sophie. This is a big night for her.”

Drake nodded, understanding all too well the pomp and circumstance of court events.

“Yeah, I feel you, buddy. Melanie has been talking about this ball non-stop. It’s like the Super Bowl of fancy parties, and I am determined not to embarrass her.”

Their conversation paused momentarily as they continued their workout, their thoughts on their respective relationships. While Drake thought about Melanie and their commitment to each other, Liam’s thoughts went back to his conversation with Sophie after the garden party.

‘Sophie, I’m glad you could make it.’

'Thank you for inviting me, Liam.’

'I hope you don’t mind my asking, but is everything all right? You seemed a little ... disturbed earlier.’

‘I must admit, running into your chest was not exactly how I envisioned starting a conversation today.’

'Nor I, but it was a pleasant surprise nonetheless.’

Sophie opened up about the events that had troubled her that day. She spoke about the pressures of court and the weight of expectations, and her encounter with Madeleine.

Liam knew and understood that the palace and the court can be overwhelming; even at times, for himself. He found that they had ‘common ground in unexpected places.’

This was why he was determined to get to know her better. He felt a connection with her and a shared understanding that went beyond their titles. Liam wanted to find out everything about her.

After finishing their sets, they retreated to the terrace to grab water bottles and fresh fruit. Liam sat down with a towel and wiped sweat from his brow. “Have you chosen your mask for the ball yet?” he asked Drake.

Drake scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Not yet, but I’ve been thinking something mysterious and intriguing. Melanie loves a good mystery, so I want to keep her guessing all night.”

Liam grinned. “All night, Drake? Really?”

“Yeah, maybe not all night,” Drake winked with a grin. Liam laughed taking a swig of water.

The Masquerade Ball

“Awe, Sophie... look at you!”

Maxwell blurted excitedly, as he twirled her around to appreciate her gorgeous red ball gown.

Sophie blushed at Maxwell’s enthusiastic compliment, feeling a warm flutter of happiness in her chest. Her ball gown, with its intricate lace details and flowing skirt, had taken her hours to choose with Aunt Bethany, but it was worth it to see the delight in Maxwell’s eyes.

“Thank you, Max,” she replied, her voice soft and touched by his admiration. “You don't look too shabby yourself in that dashing suit.”

Maxwell chuckled and gave her a playful wink. “Well, I had to step up my game to match your elegance tonight. Wait until Liam sees you, little blossom,” he teased.

“Are we ready?” Bertrand inquired, stepping beside Sophie and his brother, offering his arm for her to take.

As Sophie slipped her arms with her cousins, Maxwell exclaimed, “let’s do this.”

The doors to the grand ballroom are opened, and the herald announces,

“Lady Sophia Taylor of House Beaumont, accompanied by Duke Bertrand Beaumont of Ramsford with Lord Maxwell Beaumont of House Beaumont.”

The Introductions continued, as each noble or noble couple made their entrance into the ballroom.

King Constantine and Queen Regina, seated on the raised dais, exchanged polite greetings and nods with each noble as they were presented, their regal presence commanding respect and admiration from all in attendance.

As Sophie, Bertrand, and Maxwell approached the royal dais, Sophie executed a graceful curtsy, her gown billowing elegantly as she lowered herself before the King and Queen.

Bertrand and Maxwell, the brothers by her side, performed deep and respectful bows.

King Constantine and Queen Regina acknowledged their gestures with warm smiles and nods of appreciation.

Prince Liam, who was standing to the right of the dais, could not help but smile as he caught Sophie’s eye after she had finished her graceful curtsy as she moved towards him. His smile was warm and friendly, a silent greeting that conveyed his pleasure at seeing her once again.

"My lady, you are a vision of beauty."

Sophie, her cheeks tinged with a subtle blush from his attention, returned Liam’s smile with a gentle one of her own. It was a small, private moment amidst the grandeur of the ballroom, but it spoke volumes of their connection and friendship in the midst of the royal event.

A soft gasp escaped her lips as he gently lifted her hand and pressed a tender kiss to it. Her heart fluttered at his chivalrous act, as she felt a rush of warmth and attraction towards him.

With a charming smile, Liam offered his arm to Sophie in invitation to join him in the ballroom. She gracefully accepted, her hand resting delicately on his arm as they entered the grand hall together, the music and festivities swirling around them.

Melanie, watching the pair stroll into the ballroom, could not take her eyes off them. Their presence captivated her completely.

“Do you want another drink, Mel?” Drake asked, trying to get her attention. His voice broke through Melanie’s trance, and she turned to look at him, momentarily torn between her fascination with Liam and Sophie and the offer of another drink.

“Oh, uh, yeah, sure,” Melanie replied, her gaze reluctantly leaving the couple as she refocused on Drake. “Thanks, Drake.”

As Drake shook his head and started to walk to the bar, Melanie could not help but steal another glance at the couple now across the room. Liam and Sophie looked so comfortable together, their laughter heard from across the hall. It was hard for Melanie to ignore the pang of jealousy that tugged at her heart.

Drake returned with a fresh drink in hand, offering it to Melanie with a warm smile.

“Everything okay?” he asked, concern clear in his eyes.

Melanie forced a smile, trying to shake off her feelings of longing. “Yeah, just lost in thought, I guess. Thanks for the drink, babe.”

He nodded understandingly, his stare lingering on her for a moment longer before he turned to talk with his sister, Savannah. Melanie took a sip of her drink, determined to enjoy the evening despite the twinge of heartache.

Melanie watched as Liam gracefully guided Sophie across the ballroom floor, their waltz a mesmerizing display of elegance. The couple moved with such synchronized grace that it seemed as if they were the only two people in the room. She could not help but feel a pang of envy at their obvious connection.

As they waltzed towards the French doors and stepped out onto the balcony, Melanie’s curiosity got the best of her. She decided to follow discreetly, making her way through the crowd and out onto the balcony as well. The cool night air greeted her, and she saw Liam and Sophie standing at the balcony railing, gazing out at the garden maze.

From her vantage point, Melanie could see the intricate pathways of the garden maze lit by soft, romantic lighting, when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

Startled, Melanie turned to see a royal guard standing behind her. She immediately straightened up and offered a polite smile.

“I’m sorry,” she said apologetically. “I didn't realize. I was just admiring the view.”

The royal guard nodded, his expression stern but professional. “I understand, Miss, but for security reasons, we need to keep this area clear. I’ll have to ask you to return to the main ballroom.”

Melanie nodded in understanding. “Of course, I didn’t mean to intrude. Thank you for letting me know.” She turned to leave the balcony, casting one last glance at Liam and Sophie, but they were no longer there.

The Garden Maze

Sophie’s laughter echoed through the hedges as she darted around corners. Her gown billowing behind her. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air, and the distant sound of music from the palace mingled with the symphony of nature. Liam pursued her with playful determination, his eyes alight with mischief as he turned a corner.

He found Sophie, cheeks flushed with eyes sparkling, standing at a small clearing where a stone bench rested beneath a canopy of Ivy. Sophie, breathless but with an impish grin hiked up her gown, revealing her shapely legs and slipped off her heels.

“A lady must do what a lady must do,” she declared, her voice teasing. Liam couldn't help but chuckle, charmed by Sophie’s unpretentious spirit. He approached slowly, allowing himself to savor the moment.

“Well, this is unexpected,” Liam remarked, his voice laced with amusement.

Sophie's eyes twinkled mischievously. “You didn't think I let you catch me so easily, did you?”

Liam shook his head, feigning innocence. "Of course not. I just did not expect you to resort to such … tactics.”

With a playful glint in her eyes. Sophie stepped closer. “Desperate times call for desperate measures, don't they?” She winked.

Their continued banter dissolved into shared laughter, filling the garden with an infectious joy. Liam took a step closer, his fingers lightly brushing against Sophie's as he reached for her.

“Well then, Lady Sophie, I shall have to employ my own tactics.”

As if in response, Sophie took a step back, her eyes dancing with anticipation.

“And what tactics might those be?”

With a sly smile, Liam lunged forward, but Sophie was quicker than he anticipated. She dodged his outstretched hand with a graceful pirouette, her laughter ringing out like a sweet melody.

Their game of tag continued, each chase and evasion bringing them closer together, the connection between them growing stronger with every shared moment. The palace seemed a distant world, forgotten in the enchantment of their own private garden.

They finally paused, breathless, and flushed from their game of tag.

Liam’s gaze met Sophie's, and in that moment, the world seemed to fade away leaving only the two of them.

Their newfound love, unspoken yet palpable, hung in the air like fragrance of the surrounding flowers. It was a love that was blossoming amidst the twists and turns of the garden maze, a love that had taken root in their hearts.

Without a word, Liam took a step closer, his hand gently cupping Sophie’s cheek. She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed. Their lips met in a tender, unhurried kiss. Sophie's blue eyes met his as Liam wrapped his other hand around her waist to pull her closer. Their lips met again, this time with an urgency as Liam deepened the kiss; his tongue searching hers.

Beaumont Estate

It was early morning when Sophie awoke in her bedroom at House Beaumont. The dreams she had experienced that night were like fragments of a beautiful story unfolding into reality.

As the soft light filtered through the gauzy curtains, Sophie could not help but smile. She lay in bed, the memories of her adventures with Liam in the garden maze still fresh in her mind. The way he chased her, the laughter they had shared, and the kisses that had ignited a fire within her heart.

With a contented sigh, she pushed back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She couldn’t linger in bed all day, no matter how tempting it was to stay in bed with her daydreams. ...but she knew Marabelle was waiting for her morning ride.

Sophie picked up a brush and began to brush her long, chestnut hair. Her reflection in the mirror seemed different now – happier, more alive. She remembered the laughter they had shared, the way Liam’s eyes sparkled when he looked at her, and the warmth of his embrace. In her thoughts...Liam, I think, I’m in love with you!

📌@ao719 @txemrn @queenmiarys @sfb123 @twinkleallnight @alj4890 @differenttyphoonwerewolf @harleybeaumont @busywoman @karahalloway @kingliam2019 @imjusthereforliam @lovingchoices14 @kyra75 @tinkie1973 @emkay512 @malblk21 @kristinamae093 @charlotteg234 @irisk12 @walkerdrakewalker @choicesficwriterscreations @midnightmelodiz

#liam rys #prince liam #tessa liam writes #the royal romance #trr #trr fanfic #choices the royal romance #choicesflashfics #choices monthly challenge #cfwc fics of the week #marabelle #sophie taylor

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myremnantarmy · 10 months ago

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𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥

Friday of the Third Week of Easter

Jn 6:52-59

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,

"How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?"

Jesus said to them,

"Amen, amen, I say to you,

unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,

you do not have life within you.

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood

has eternal life,

and I will raise him on the last day.

For my Flesh is true food,

and my Blood is true drink.

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood

remains in me and I in him.

Just as the living Father sent me

and I have life because of the Father,

so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.

This is the bread that came down from heaven.

Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,

whoever eats this bread will live forever."

These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

#jesus #catholic #my remnant army #jesus christ #virgin mary #faithoverfear #saints #jesusisgod #endtimes #artwork #Jesus is coming #come holy spirit #Gospel #word of God #Bible #bible visuals #bible verse of the day #bible verse

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i-am-worm · 1 year ago

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Inktober 52 2024 - Week 1 - 'Hunt'

Starting 2024 inktober 52 with something ancient. I have these alien species based on a common ancestor that was not unlike an early sea slug.

The two forms of life were the Fermax (a tall, purple, matriarchal race. Think a giraffe meets purple sea-horse) and the Limoux (smaller, green with branching orange exterior lungs, genderless and more nurturing. Think sea slug meets a rabbit). I suspect that in the primitive forms there would be a version of cave painting. The Fermax who were omnivores would have been actively hunting and may have done the basic drawings of such acts (the bolder parts). Whereas the Limoux ware vegetarians and were more social, so they would have had more abstract art works with more uses of what colours they and available.

I imagine the two races drawing into one another art work as they made cautious introductions to each other in the early days. The Fermax displaying their hunts and the creatures they chased, whereas the Limoux would add pattens and colours and emotions to the scenes.

#inktober #creature #monster #alien #inktober52 #inktober 52 #hunt #ancient #cave art #seaslug #sea slug

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contentment-of-cats · 1 year ago

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Pandemic pantry now past-tense

I was raised by a family that had food scarcity trauma. My maternal grandmother was so malnourished as a child that she developed rickets. My maternal grandfather routinely had to go out and shoot his breakfast post-1906 earthquake. My paternal grandmother was from coal country, so malnourished as a child that she never exceeded being 4 ft 10 in tall and bow-legged from rickets as well. My paternal grandfather, despite living in a thriving metropolis was just three generations removed from the potato famine that sent his survivor ancestor across the Atlantic.

These are people who survived first World War, the 1918 influenza, the Great Depression, and the second World War. In particular, my maternal grandparents went through the Great Depression with young children. For all of these people, food was love. A full pantry and refrigerator, plus a freezer chest in the basement meant that the hard times would at least have a cushion. Hunting meant that you didn't have to rely on money for the butcher. A garden next to the house supplied fruit and vegetables.

My pandemic pantry grew out of my emergency food, since I live in earthquake country. I was better prepared than a lot of people, but I also had that generational paranoia about an empty shelf. I kept well-stocked until after I had received my vaccines. Then I started to gradually dwindle the stockpile and replace it with fresher items.

Then in October of 2021, I wasn't feeling too good. I've had a diagnosis of fibromyalgia since 2007. I understood not feeling good, but this was a new level. I was told that it was probably menopause and the fact that I was exercising a lot at home. Never mind that my periods had stopped when I was 52. I couldn't eat. The fatigue was so intense that I would actually fall asleep if I sat down. In my home office, I stood up and paced in order to stay awake. Finally in March of 2022, everything came to a head, and came to a stop. I had stage 4 colon cancer and a 10 cm tumor in my gut.

From my first week on chemotherapy and radiation I could not eat. I was hospitalized for dehydration due to the vomiting and diarrhea. The next five weeks were a fine line between killing the patient, and killing the cancer that was killing the patient. My diet consisted of saltine crackers, soda water, baby food packets, and little else. When I would go in for my chemotherapy treatments, they made sure to give me a small enough dose of steroids that I would get hungry on top of a big dose of Zofran to stamp down the nausea. I remember the infusion clinic tuna fish sandwiches very fondly. Usually the steroids would stick with me long enough to get another meal down when I got home.

Even after I finished chemotherapy in August of 2022, chemotherapy was not finished with me. It stayed in my body for weeks afterwards. I was still losing weight, my hair was still falling out. I hadn't needed to trim my nails or shave my legs for months. Then I had the big operation in November with a full hysterectomy, a ureter and bladder resection, a colon resection, and an ileostomy. I still couldn't eat. The weight loss continued even after the resection was opened and the ileostomy closed in February of 2023.

During all that time the pantry just sat there and gathered dust. Some of it expired. In March of this year I started using bits and pieces because my appetite had started to come back slowly. I rapidly found out there were many things that I had enjoyed previously that I could no longer eat. Bit by bit I emptied that pantry, thinking of my grandparents, and even my mother and aunts, ever paranoid about food and having a conflicting relationship with it to the point of disordered eating. I thought about my own relationship with food, and being a size 3 in my twenties. Sometimes you face your demons, other times you vomit them out, other times you eat them.

Emptying my pandemic pantry by box and by can has been another part of my journey. As someone who was divorced from food for so long, much of my enjoyment has returned. I appreciate being able to eat more than I ever did before. I appreciate not only the opportunity, but the ability. Now that my pantry is empty, I'm thinking about what to stock it up with. I won't put anything in it just for the sake of having it, or filling an empty space. Each box and can must have a purpose, must be appreciated and enjoyed.

So today, I am going to make one of my grandfather's favorites. Creamed chipped beef on toast with an egg over easy, coffee, and a glass of orange juice. You're never going to find an epicurean or a gourmet tucking into this modest breakfast made with dried beef and canned milk. I have always enjoyed it though, and appreciate the history that brings it to my table today.

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frmartinshomiliesandreflections · 11 months ago

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19th April >> Fr. Martin's Reflections / Homilies on Today's Mass Readings (Inc. John 6:52-59) for Friday, Third Week of Easter: ‘Whoever eats me will draw life from me’.

Friday, Third Week of Easter

Gospel (Except USA) John 6:52-59 My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.

The Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ they said. Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me. This is the bread come down from heaven; not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’

He taught this doctrine at Capernaum, in the synagogue.

Gospel (USA) John 6:52-59 My Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Reflections (14)

(i) Friday, Third Week of Easter

In today’s gospel reading Jesus declares ‘whoever eats me will draw life from me’. The Lord comes to us in the Eucharist so that we can live more fully with his life, which is a life of love. He gives himself to us in the Eucharist so that he can live in us, and continue his life of loving service today through us. The first reading is the story of how the risen Lord came to Paul. He didn’t come to Paul initially in the Eucharist but through an appearance to Paul. From that moment on, Paul began to live with the Lord’s own life, a life of loving service of others. Up until that moment, Paul had been violently persecuting the church, which he saw as a threat to his Jewish faith. As a result of the Lord’s appearance to him, he came to see that in persecuting the followers of Jesus he was persecuting Jesus himself who was God’s Son. From being the great persecutor of the church, Paul became the great preacher of the gospel to Jews and, especially, pagans. He went from being a violent person to being a peacemaker and reconciler. The Lord began to live in Paul. Some years later, in his letter to the Galatians, Paul could say, ‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me’. The Lord was now living his life of loving service in and through Paul. The Lord does not appear to us in the same dramatic fashion as he appeared to Paul, but the same Lord comes to us in a very personal way at every Eucharist, so that he can live his life of loving service of others in and through each one of us today.

And/Or

(ii) Friday, Third Week of Easter

We can often find ourselves initially resisting a request that someone makes of us or some declaration that they make to us. We can resist for various reasons. At some level it does not make sense to us, or it appears to make too great a demand on us. In both of our readings this morning we have an example of such resistance. After Saul had his transforming encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus, he was taken in his blind state to a house of one of the members of the church in Damascus. Another member of the church there, Ananias had a vision of the Lord in which the Lord asked him to go to Saul and to heal Saul’s blindness. However, Ananias resisted what the Lord asked of him because he knew Saul’s reputation as a persecutor of the church and he didn’t trust Saul. Yet, the Lord insisted and eventually Ananias did as he was asked. In the gospel reading, the crowd resist what Jesus had just said about giving his flesh for the life of the world as bread to be eaten. Yet, is spite of this resistance, the Lord insisted all the more on the need, not only to eat his flesh, but to drink his blood also. There is a clear reference here to the Eucharist as the moment when we enter into communion with the body and blood of the Lord. On this occasion Jesus did not break through the resistance of those to whom he spoke. Even some of his own disciples would walk away because of this teaching on the Eucharist. Yet, we are asked to take these words of Jesus into our own hearts, extraordinary as they are, tempted as we are to ask the question, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ The Lord wants us to receive him in faith in the Eucharist, so that we can draw life from him, and become channels of his life to others.

And/Or

(iii) Friday, Third Week of Easter

The question that the Jews ask at the beginning of today’s gospel reading must have been a question that was on the lips of very many people in the time of Jesus and of the early church. How can this man, Jesus, give us his flesh to eat? In response to that question Jesus goes on to speak not only of eating his flesh but of drinking his blood. It is very striking language, and it would have been scandalous to many people at the time. This language is very familiar to us from the Eucharist, ‘the body of Christ’, ‘the blood of Christ’. It has been the language of the church since its very earliest days. In one of the earliest documents in the New Testament, the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul says, ‘the cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion with the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a communion with the body of Christ?’ It was the Lord’s wish that in the Eucharist we would enter into communion with his body and his blood. Such communion, if entered into in faith, is an opportunity to draw life from the Lord. As Jesus says in the gospel reading, ‘whoever eats me will draw life from me’. We come as beggars to the Eucharist, recognizing that we need to draw from the Lord’s risen life so that we can be fully alive in the way God wants us to be.

And/Or

(iv) Friday, Third Week of Easter

The first reading tells one of the great stories that we find in the New Testament, the story of the conversion of Saint Paul. He was persecuting the church, believing that this was what God wanted him to do. He was trying to protect God’s people from a very strange message that was being preached by some Jews about a crucified criminal being the long-awaited Messiah. He was being the good Pharisee that he believed God wanted him to be. Then out of the blue, the risen Lord stopped him in his tracks. In one of his letters he wrote, ‘Christ Jesus took hold of me’. It was as if a heavenly light helped him to see everything in a new way. His meeting with Jesus convinced him that Jesus was alive, risen from the dead. He now knew that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah; he was the Son of God. From that moment he knew that Jesus was calling to announce this message to all, especially to the pagans. It was as if the risen Lord was creating him anew; his energies and gifts were being channelled in a new direction; he had become a new creation. Later on, writing to the church in Corinth, he would say, ‘if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation’. Christ is always working to create us anew. What he did for Paul in a very dramatic way, he can do for all of us in smaller ways. This morning we ask the Lord to channel our energies and our gifts in ways that serve his purpose in the world.

And/Or

(v) Friday, Third Week of Easter

The language of Jesus in today’s gospel reading must have sounded very offensive to many people. The realism of his talk about eating his flesh and drinking his blood is shocking in many ways. It is the language of the Eucharist. In the Eucharist we consume Christ in a very personal way. In taking him into ourselves in this very intimate way, we are taking in all that he stands for, all that he lived and died for. We are taking in his loving commitment to God and to humanity. In receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, we are inviting him to live out in us his life towards God and towards others. As Jesus says in the gospel reading, ‘whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in them’. The Lord comes to us in the Eucharist to draw us to himself so that he can live in us and through us. We receive his body and blood in the Eucharist so that we may become more fully his body in the world. That is why the Eucharist is at the heart of our lives as disciples of the Lord. The Eucharist was very much at the heart of the life of Sister Gonzaga. Through her own faithful celebration of the Eucharist the Lord came to live in her and the Lord came to others, especially to young people, through her. She drew life from the Lord in the Eucharist, in the words of today’s gospel reading, and that empowered her to give life to others, to give the Lord to others, especially to young people who always had a very special place in her heart. We remember this morning these young girls who are soon to make their first Holy Communion.

And/Or

(vi) Friday, Third Week of Easter

The question the Jews ask in this morning’s gospel reading - ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’- is an understandable one. The language Jesus had used about eating his flesh was shocking. After the question Jesus went on to speak not only of eating his flesh but of drinking his blood, which would have sounded even more shocking. Yet, it is language which expresses the depth of communion which Jesus wants to create between himself and his disciples. In fact, Jesus wants our relationship with him to be as close as his relationship with God the Father. As he says in our gospel reading, ‘as I draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life form me’. Just as Jesus was always in communion with his Father so he wants us to be always in communion with him. The Eucharist is a very special expression of our communion with him and of his with us, but our communion with him is to extend beyond the Eucharist. In the language of John’s gospel, we are to remain in him, as he remains in us. We remain in him by remaining in his word, by keeping his word and allowing his word to shape our lives. Our communion with the Lord in the Eucharist calls us to this ongoing form of communion.

And/Or

(vii) Friday, Third Week of Easter

The story of Paul’s transformation is one of the founding stories of our Christian faith. Here was a Pharisee who, on his own admission, was a zealous persecutor of the church. Yet, the Lord managed to break through to him and completely turn his life around, so that the zealous persecutor became the equally zealous preacher of the gospel to the Gentiles. As a Pharisee, Paul could never have envisaged the way he would spend the last thirty years of his life, but the Lord was able to envisage it. Paul’s story reminds us that the Lord’s plans for us may be a great deal bolder than what we might have in mind for ourselves. The Lord took Paul by surprise, and he can take any of us by surprise. Our calling is to allow the Lord’s vision and purpose for our lives to become more of a reality. In receiving the Lord in the Eucharist we are opening ourselves up to the Lord’s vision and purpose for our lives. As Jesus says in today’s gospel reading, ‘whoever eats me will draw life from me’. In receiving the Lord in the Eucharist we give him the opportunity to shape us in the way he wants to. Paul met the Lord on the road to Damascus; we meet the Lord in the Eucharist. In coming to us there he directs us to take the path he wants us to take, just as he directed Paul.

And/Or

(viii) Friday, Third Week of Easter

Many questions are asked by people in the course of the gospels. Some are asked by Jesus; others are asked by those who meet with Jesus. In this morning’s gospel reading, the Jews ask the question, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ Far from pulling back in response to that dismissive question, Jesus goes on to speak of the need not only to eat his flesh but to drink his blood as well. The language of eating the flesh, the body, of Jesus and drinking the blood of Jesus is shocking. Yet, it is the language of John’s gospel. Jesus, who gave his life for us on the cross, gives himself to us as our food and our drink in the Eucharist. Jesus goes on to state that he gives himself to us as food and drink so that we might draw life from him. ‘Whoever eats me will draw life from me’. The life which flowed from the side of Jesus as he hung from the cross, symbolized by the blood and water, is conveyed personally to each of us when we eat his body and drink his blood. We come to the Eucharist to draw life from the Lord, as branches draw life from the vine. We are then sent from the Eucharist to live with his life, to live his life.

And/Or

(ix) Friday, Third Week of Easter

Syria has been in the news for some time because of the unrest there and Damascus, the capital, has been mentioned more than once. This morning’s first reading is set in Damascus and its vicinity. The story of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus has captured the imagination of many people in the course of the centuries, including the imagination of many artists. As a result of his meeting with the risen Lord outside Damascus Saul the violent persecutor of the church became the great apostle to the Gentiles. Yet, according to Luke in the reading we have just heard, in the immediate aftermath of his meeting with the Lord, Paul was first struck blind and had to be led by the hand into the city of Damascus. The self-assured Pharisee suddenly found himself completely dependent on others. He was dependent on Ananias, a member of the church of Damascus, to receive back his sight, be baptized and received into the church. Before he began his missionary career the Lord gave Paul this profound experience of his dependence on others, and, ultimately, on the Lord. We can only work for the Lord and serve the Lord to the extent that we are aware of and acknowledge our total dependence on him. As Jesus says in John’s gospel, ‘apart from me you can do nothing’.

And/Or

(x) Friday, Third Week of Easter

The first reading this morning is Luke’s dramatic account of the call of Paul. As a result of the risen Lord’s appearance to him, Paul was transformed from a zealous persecutor of the church to an equally zealous proclaimer of the gospel to the Gentiles. After this encounter with the risen Lord, Paul continued to see himself as a Jew, but he now recognized that the Lord Jesus was the face of the God of Israel. He saw in his relationship with the risen Lord the completion of his Jewish faith. Because of his meeting with the Lord, he went from being a violent persecutor of the church to absorbing the violence of others for the sake of the gospel. He no longer sought to impose his religious views on others by violence but he now sought to persuade them by his preaching. His zeal was now tempered by love. As he says in his second letter to the Corinthians, ‘the love of Christ urges us on’. It is his loving communion with Christ that now drives him. As he says in his letter to the Galatians, ‘it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me’. In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus invites each of us into that same communion of love with himself that Paul enjoyed. He calls us to eat his flesh and to drink his blood. This is a call to Eucharistic communion with the Lord. From this communion of love we are sent out, as Paul was sent, to proclaim the love of the Lord by our lives, to allow the love of Christ to urge us on and flow through us.

And/Or

(xi) Friday, Third Week of Easter

The question that people ask in today’s gospel reading is a perfectly understandable one, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ The notion of eating’s someone’s flesh is abhorrent. Yet, Jesus does not qualify what he says but, rather, he goes on to say something even more shocking. He not only calls on people to eat his flesh but to drink his blood. It is evident that Jesus is not speaking literally. His way of speaking reflects what he said at the last supper where, having taken, blessed and broken bread, he gave it to his disciples and said, ‘This is my body’. Then, having taken and blessed wine, he gave it to his disciples and said, ‘This is my blood’. Jesus identified himself, body and blood, flesh and blood, with the elements of bread and wine. He went on to instruct his disciples at the Last Supper to ‘do this in memory of me’. Ever since, the church has repeated the actions and words of Jesus at the last supper. In today’s first reading we have the dramatic story of the call of Paul. Paul will later declare in his first letter to the Corinthians, ‘The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a communion in the body of Christ?’ This was the faith of the early church and of the church ever since. The Lord wishes to enter into communion with us in a very profound way so that, in the words of the gospel reading, we can draw life from him. The Eucharist is a celebration of life. We are then sent out from the Eucharist to nurture and protect life in all its forms.

And/Or

(xii) Friday, Third Week of Easter

There is a wonderful painting of the scene in today’s first reading, the call of Paul, in a church in Rome by the artist Caravaggio. The artist does not depict the risen Lord, only the impact of the risen Lord on Paul. Paul is lying on the ground with his arms raised towards the heavens as light falls on him from above. A large horse stands behind the prone Paul, occupying the centre of the painting. The painting conveys a sense of this powerful figure, Paul, now rendered helpless before the risen Lord. In his weakness, he is ready to be redirected by the Lord. The helplessness and weakness of Paul is conveyed in the first reading by the blind Paul having to be led by the hand into the city of Damascus, a city he had expected to be riding into confidently and authoritatively. Yet, the Lord had wonderful plans for this almost helpless figure. As the Lord said to Ananias, ‘this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before pagans and pagan kings and before the people of Israel’. It was as if Paul had to become like a little child, needing to be led, before the Lord could work through him with great power. Indeed, Jesus said that unless we become like little children we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Sometimes, it is our very weakness that gives the Lord scope to work through us most fully. When we are overconfident and too sure of our own ability and success we can block the Lord from working in our lives and working through us. In the gospel reading, Jesus declares, ‘whoever eats me draws life from me’. When we come before the Lord in our weakness, in our need, aware of the spiritual hunger within us, we will draw life from him, and, then, like Paul we too will become the Lord’s chosen instruments to bring his presence to others.

And/Or

(xiii) Friday, Third Week of Easter

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks of the importance of eating his flesh and drinking his blood so as to draw life from him. Yet, in these Covid times, it hasn’t been possible for believers to receive the Eucharist. We have had to live without the Eucharist and this has been a great loss for many Catholics. Yet, the Lord finds other ways of coming to us when we cannot receive the Eucharist. In today’s first reading, the Lord came to Saint Paul in a very striking way. There came a light from heaven all round him and, as a result, he fell to the ground and he heard the Lord say to him, ��Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ That kind of dramatic experience of the Lord’s coming is not an everyday event. Normally, the Lord comes to us in much more ordinary ways. Do you remember the story of Elijah on the holy mountain of Sinai? He had a sense of the Lord coming to him in the sound of a gentle breeze. The Lord can come to us through the refreshing beauty of nature. Everything is so fresh in nature at the moment as it comes to life again after the winter. The Lord can also come to us through other people, just as the Lord came to Paul through Ananias who entered Saul’s house in today’s first reading. The Lord who came to Paul through Ananias had earlier come to Ananias through a vision. Ananias heard the Lord speak to him, directing him to where Saul lived. The Lord continues to speak to us, to come to us, through his word today. The word of the Lord remains a living word for each one of us today. In these Covid times when we cannot receive the Eucharist, it is good to be alert to the many other ways that the Lord comes to us. These days when we are deprived of the Eucharist can sharpen our awareness of the many other ways the Lord is always coming to us.

And/Or

(xiv) Friday, Third Week of Easter

The story of Paul’s conversion in the first reading has captivated artists down the centuries. One of my favourite depictions of this scene is by an artist called Caravaggio. It shows Paul prostrate on the ground beside his horse, looking upwards with a light shining upon him. According to the reading, when the risen Lord appeared to Paul, ‘there came a light from heaven all around him’. The effect of his light was to make Paul temporarily blind, ‘Even with his eyes wide open, he could see nothing at all’. His physical blindness perhaps suggests his spiritual blindness up to this moment. He had been violently persecuting the first followers of Jesus, and in persecuting them he was persecuting God’s Son, Jesus, now risen Lord. This was what Paul came to realize when the risen Lord appeared to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ Yet, the Lord had great plans for this persecutor of the church, but first he had to endure a period of blindness, during which this proud man was completely dependent on others, ‘they had to lead him into Damascus by the hand’. It was only when a member of the church of Damascus, Ananias, laid his hands on Paul in prayer that his sight was restored. The Lord appeared directly to Paul but he also came to Paul through a member of the church he was persecuting. That is how the Lord generally comes to us, in and through the members of the church, the community of faith. That is why we gather as a community of faith, in various settings, especially in the setting of the Eucharist. In the gospel reading, Jesus declares that he comes to us in the Eucharist so that we can draw life from him. We gather to celebrate the Eucharist so that we can draw life from the Lord. Paul once persecuted the Lord, but after his experience near Damascus, he went on to draw life from the Lord as he gather with other members of the church at the Eucharist. Even when we have turned against the Lord, he continues to call us to draw life from him.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

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roman-catholic-mass-readings · 2 years ago

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28th April >> Mass Readings (USA)

Friday, Third Week of Eastertide

Saint Peter Chanel, Priest, Martyr

Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, Priest.

Friday, Third Week of Eastertide

(Liturgical Colour: White: A(1))

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 9:1-20 This man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles.

Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight.” But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 117:1bc, 2

R/ Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. or R/ Alleluia.

Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples!

R/ Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. or R/ Alleluia.

For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

R/ Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. or R/ Alleluia.

Gospel Acclamation John 6:56

Alleluia, alleluia. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood, remains in me and I in him, says the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 6:52-59 My Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

------------------------------

Saint Peter Chanel, Priest, Martyr

(Liturgical Colour: Red: A(1))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Friday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 It was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith.

Brothers and sisters: The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.

Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 117:1bc, 2

R/ Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. or R/ Alleluia.

Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples!

R/ Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. or R/ Alleluia.

For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

R/ Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. or R/ Alleluia.

Gospel Acclamation Mark 1:17

Alleluia, alleluia. Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mark 1:14-20 I will make you fishers of men.

After John the Baptist had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

---------------------------------

Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, Priest

(Liturgical Colour: White: A(1))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Friday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 It was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith.

Brothers and sisters: The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 40:2 and 4, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.”

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!”

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.

R/ Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Gospel Acclamation Luke 4:18

Alleluia, alleluia. The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 28:16-20 G,o therefore, and make disciples of all nations.

The Eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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mcphilbrick · 17 days ago

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Prompted

Have you ever written a blog post inspired by another genealogy blogger’s prompt? Many of us participate in Randy Seaver’s Saturday Night Genealogy Fun or Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. But have you ever found yourself prompted by another blogger’s post about one of your own ancestors? That’s exactly what happened to me recently while reading my Feedly account. I came across a…

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bllsbailey · 3 months ago

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Biden Arrives In Angola, Vows To Provide More Than $1B In American Funds For African Aid

US President Joe Biden (CL) is welcomed by Angola President Joao Lourenco (CR) ahead of their bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace in Luanda on December 3, 2024.

During a visit to Angola on Tuesday, President Joe Biden reportedly learned of the complex and unpleasant history between the two continents while vowing that the United States was “all in” on developing a new, stronger partnership with Africa.

While speaking at Angola’s National Museum of Slavery on the outskirts of Luanda, the country’s capital, Biden referred to the history of the slave trade and America’s “original sin” of enslaving Africans.

“I’ve learned that while history can be hidden, it cannot and should not be erased. It should be faced. It’s our duty to face our history. The good, the bad, and the ugly. The whole truth. That’s what great nations do,” Biden said.

A “significant number of all enslaved people” who came to America were Angolan citizens, Biden said in his speech. At the ceremony, three people who he claimed are direct ancestors of the first Africans in America to be enslaved joined him as well.

“We’re gathered in a solemn location. Because to fully consider how far our two countries have come and our friendship, we have to remember how we began,” Biden said.

The president praised his administration’s efforts to work with Africa on Tuesday, citing how he had provided more than $40 billion in government investments so far and $52 billion in business agreements between American and African companies in the areas of infrastructure, telecommunications, and solar energy.

During his visit, Biden also pledged an extra $1 billion in U.S. aid for drought-stricken African nations, displaced persons, and more, despite how many American victims of Hurricane Helene are still wondering when they’ll receive more federal assistance, especially being U.S. taxpayers.

“Today, President Joseph R. Biden announced that the United States is providing more than $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address food insecurity and other urgent needs of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and affected communities in 31 African countries. This funding, announced during President Biden’s visit to Angola, includes nearly $823 million through USAID – of which more than $202 million is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation – and nearly $186 million through the U.S. Department of State,” read a statement by USAID.

Biden began his speech after walking on stage, which was covered by a bullet proof glass casing.

The country of Angola is a mecca for gang activity and “destination for human trafficking, with both Angolan and foreign citizens targeted. The victims include people of all genders and age groups from neighbouring countries as well as Asian and Latin American countries. They are exploited in a wide variety of ways, from forced labour in the construction, agriculture and diamond mining sectors to prostitution in massage parlours,” according to the Global Organized Crime Index.

“The right question in 2024 is not what can the United States do for the people of Africa, it’s what can we do together for the people of Africa,” Biden continued.

As he gets ready to step down in January, this occasion could be Biden’s last foreign trip as president.

During discussions with Angolan authorities, reporters also questioned Biden about his decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, but the president remained silent and ignored those questions. Biden previously claimed on numerous occasions that he would never pardon his son and that “no one is above the law.”

“As you know, I’m in the final weeks of my presidency. You don’t have to clap for that. You can if you want,” Biden said at the end of his speech. “And although I don’t know exactly what the future will hold, I know the future runs through Angola. Through Africa.”

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

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johnhardinsawyer · 4 months ago

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Immediate Gratitude

John Sawyer

Bedford Presbyterian Church

10 / 27 / 24 – Reformation Sunday[1]

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Mark 10:46-52

“Immediate Gratitude”

(Grace and Gratitude – Week 3)

I have mentioned this before, but when I was in the tenth grade I got glasses for the first time. The change in my view of the world was immediate. It was as if I had never known that there were so many beautiful, individual green leaves fluttering on the trees or that the writing on the chalkboard at school was actually legible, instead of just being fuzzy squiggles. I put on my new glasses and the change was immediate.

“Immediately. . .” I don’t know if you know this, but the word “immediately” appears – in one form or another – over thirty times in the Gospel of Mark. And, if you were to read this book of the Bible – the shortest of the four gospel accounts, by the way – you get a sense in Mark’s Gospel that there is an undercurrent of urgency. Immediately, Jesus goes from one place to another. Immediately, this or that happens. Immediately. . . Immediately. . . In today’s story, a blind man named Bartimaeus asks to be healed and Jesus responds, “Go, your faith has made you well,” (Mark 10:52) and immediately, Bartimaeus regains his sight and follows Jesus on the way.

We should note that Bartimaeus both gains his sight, immediately, and he immediately follows Jesus on the way. It’s almost like a gratitude reflex response – like when you go to the doctor and they take that little hammer and gently bop your knee and your leg jumps. Bartimaeus experiences the gracious gift of healing and then his whole body jumps to follow Jesus. . . immediately. By the way, this is not the first time in today’s story that Bartimaeus jumps at the chance to be close to Jesus. And we’ll come back to this, in just a moment. . .

Just to give a little context, Jesus and his disciples are on their way to Jerusalem but, in those days, the main road down from Galilee to Jerusalem – following the Jordan River – passed through the city of Jericho. They travel South to Jericho and turn right and go up the mountain to Jerusalem – a route that they and their ancestors have been traveling for generations. Jericho is one of the most ancient continually-inhabited cities in the world – and the first urban area in all of Israel/Palestine.[2] It is also just a few miles away from the Dead Sea – over 800 feet below Sea Level,[3] the lowest city on earth and has a history of being conquered and rebuilt, again and again on the same spot, because there are multiple springs that bring fresh water in a very dry place. Jericho figures into the Bible as a crossroads of civilizations. It is the first city that the Israelites conquer – with God’s help – when they enter the Promised Land in the Book of Joshua.[4] Centuries later, it will be the city closest to one of the possible sites where Jesus is baptized by John in the nearby Jordan River. Later, Jesus tells a parable about a man who is traveling down the well-known road to Jericho and is attacked by bandits and then saved by a Good Samaritan.[5] Still later, Jericho will be the city where Jesus meets Zacchaeus – the “Wee Little Man” who climbs a tree – in the Gospel of Luke.[6] And it is the city where Jesus meets Bartimaeus, in today’s story.

Jericho is still home to over 20,000 people in the occupied West Bank – Christians, Muslims, and Jews all call Jericho home. And even though there are a lot of fresh-water springs there, to this day it is very a dusty place. Always has been. Always will be. For years, Bartimaeus has been sitting in the dust by the side of the road – a road traveled by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem – begging for money, food, anything to survive. As to how he got there, to begin with, we do not know. There were some, at the time, who believed that anyone who was in a position like Bartimaeus was – poor, blind, etc. – that Bartimaeus, or his father Timaeus, or someone else must have sinned and this was God’s punishment. You should know that Jesus does not believe that God works in this way. And, for what it’s worth, neither do I.

By the time Jesus arrives in town, it is clear that Bartimaeus is well-accustomed to not being able to see. Instead, he uses his other senses to make his way and learn about the world. I imagine Bartimaeus catching snippets of conversation from those who are passing by on the road. Lately he has been hearing about someone named Jesus of Nazareth who is a great teacher, or prophet, or even something more than that. And, in today’s story, when Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is in Jericho and hears a crowd approaching – a crowd with Jesus at its center – what does Bartimaeus have to lose? “Lord, have mercy!” Bartimaeus shouts, over and over, even when people tell him to hush. Suddenly, the crowd slows and then stops. All is quiet, except for some murmuring, here and there. And then someone says quietly to Bartimaeus, “Take heart! Get up! Jesus is calling you.” (10:49)

“Take heart! Get up! Jesus is calling you,” they say. So, throwing off his cloak and leaving it behind – almost like he doesn’t need it anymore – Bartimaeus springs up and goes to where Jesus is. It doesn’t matter that he can’t see. He has been blind for so long that he can almost hear his way through the crowd where the people are standing, quietly, breathing – looking at him. He can’t see, but he can feel their eyes on him as he walks by. And then, suddenly, there he is – right in front of Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks him. Bartimaeus doesn’t know that a few days earlier Jesus had asked the same question of a couple of his disciples and they had selfishly asked him to give them power, beyond imagining. As we talked about last week, Jesus had not given this power to them, saying, “. . . whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant. . . for the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve. . .” (10:43, 45)

And so, here is Jesus – the Son of God – ready to serve. . . the likes of poor and blind Bartimaeus. “What do you want me to do for you, Bartimaeus?” Jesus asks. Bartimaeus asks for the only thing that is on his mind and heart – not for power beyond imagining. . . just the power to see again.

We should acknowledge, here, that Bartimaeus is not completely blind. His physical eyes do not work. He cannot see the world right in front of him, but in his heart and soul, he can see that the One who has called him close has the power to give sight to the blind.

“My teacher, let me see again,” Bartimaeus says to Jesus, Jesus says to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” (10:52). Another way of translating this phrase is, “Your faith has saved[7] you.”

Now, to be clear, it is not Bartimaeus, himself, that has any role in this “saving” act. No, it is Bartimaeus’ faith that Jesus recognizes as a key factor in this miracle. So, how is it that Bartimaeus has faith – faith that Jesus identifies? Where does this faith come from? On this Reformation Sunday, we remember the example and theology of people like John Calvin, who wrote that “. . . faith itself has no other source than the [Holy] Spirit.”[8] Faith is something that the Holy Spirit plants within us, like a seed – at the heart of who we are – so that, in the case of Bartimaeus (or in the case of any of us), it is God who does the saving, through the faith that God plants, and not we, ourselves.

When he writes about today’s story, Calvin says that even though “the power and grace of God sometimes extend[s] even to unbelievers, yet no [one] enjoys [God’s] benefits in a right and profitable manner, unless [they] receive them by faith.” Bartimaeus has come to know, “. . . by faith. . . that God [is] gracious to him,��[9] and he is healed.

I know how hard faith can be – especially if we think that faith has to come from us instead of coming as a gift from God. It’s not like we can force ourselves into trusting in God by our own willpower or stick-to-it-iveness. No, faith is a gift that doesn’t come from us. It is a gift bestowed on us by God’s gracious invitation. “Call him here,” Jesus tells the crowd when he hears Bartimaeus’ cry. And so, immediately, Bartimaeus leaps up and draws close, because of the irresistible and gracious invitation of God.

Jesus sees Bartimaeus’ faith – Jesus recognizes the Holy at the heart of Bartimaeus – this Holy seed of faith and trust and hope, planted there by the Holy Spirit – and immediately Bartimaeus regains his sight and follows Jesus on the way.

We should note that this phrase, “on the way” has a double meaning. The first meaning is fairly clear: Bartimaeus leaves town with Jesus, following him up the mountain to Jerusalem and all that will occur there. Calvin says that this act of following is “an expression of gratitude. . . [showing] a grateful mind. . . and [presenting himself] to many, in that journey, as [a] mirror of the grace of Christ.”[10] This does beg the question of each of us: in what ways does our own following of Jesus reflect – like a mirror – the grace of Christ?

But the phrase, “on the way” has another meaning that would have, likely, meant something to the community of the early church that first heard and read these words of the Gospel of Mark. You see, the early church would often refer to themselves as “The Way,” or “People of The Way,” or “The Way of God.”[11]

Before they called themselves “The Church of the Apostles in Jerusalem,” or “The First Apostolic Church of Such-and-Such” they were simply part of “The Way” of Jesus. The way they identified themselves was first, and foremost, was a way of life. There were no theological labels – no liberals and conservatives, no Catholics and Protestants. . . there was just the Way – a way of life defined by and lived as a grateful response to the “surpassing grace of God, given as a gift”[12] that Paul writes about in today’s first reading.

The Way of Jesus is a way that begins with gratitude – a reflex response of gratitude to and for God’s grace. An immediate response to a gracious gift.

Now, some of us have reflexes that are slower than others. Some of us need to take some time to reflect on the gifts we have received from God. But, if you start to think about your life – your God-breathed, God-filled life – you might just find some places in your life, and people, and events, and circumstances that make you grateful. And the more you and I think about all of these blessings – our reflex response times might just get shorter and shorter – more immediate and full of grace.

All good things – every blessing – comes from God. May God help us see – may God grant us vision – and fill us with Holy gratitude. And may our whole selves respond in faith, hope, and love.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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[1] Year B, Proper 25.

[2] Watson E. Mills, et al, ed. Mercer Dictionary of the Bible (Macon: Mercer University Press, 1990) 439. “Jericho” by William G. Dever.

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho.

[4] See Joshua 5.

[5] See Luke 10.

[6] See Luke 19.

[7] Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979) 798.

[8] John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1960) 541. III.i.4.

[9] John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries – Vol. XVI, Harmony of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2009) 432.

[10] Calvin, Commentaries, 433.

[11] See Acts 9:2, 18:26, 19:9/23, 22:4, 24:14/22.

[12] See 2 Corinthians 9:14-15.

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