#B Ordinary 23 Saturday

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Sat July 20th, 2024 ... Saturday of The Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B ... KNOW YOUR CATHOLICISM

THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

There are two texts of Scripture most commonly used to “disprove” the Assumption of Mary.

1. John 3:13:

No one has ascended up to heaven, but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.

If “no man” has ascended into heaven, wouldn’t that include the Blessed Virgin Mary?

2. I Cor. 15:22-23:

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

If no one except Christ will be resurrected bodily before the Second Coming of Christ, would that not eliminate the possibility of Mary having been bodily assumed into heaven?

THE CATHOLIC RESPONSE

John 3:13 does not eliminate the possibility of the Assumption of Mary for four reasons.

1. St. John was quoting the actual words our Lord spoke when he wrote, “No one has ascended into heaven, but . . . the Son of man.” Jesus was merely saying that no one had ascended into heaven by the time he made that statement. That was long before the Assumption of Mary.

2. Jesus cannot be saying that no one else will ever be taken to heaven. If that is the case, then what is all this Christianity stuff about? You know, heaven and all.

3. If one interprets John 3:13 as speaking about Christ uniquely ascending to heaven, that would be acceptable. We would then have to ask the question: what is it about Jesus’ ascension that is unique? Well, the fact that he ascended is unique. Mary did not ascend to heaven. She was assumed. There is a big difference. Jesus ascended by his own divine power as he prophesied he would in John 2:19-21: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up . . . he spoke of the temple of his body.” Mary was powerless to raise herself to heaven; she had to be assumed. The same could be said of all Christians. Jesus raised himself from the dead. Christians will be entirely passive when it comes to their collective “resurrection.”

4. St. John is demonstrating the divinity of Christ in John 3:13. Historically, we know St. John was writing against his archenemy, the heretic Cerinthus, who denied the divinity of Christ. St. John quotes these words from Jesus to demonstrate that the Savior “descended” from heaven and was both in heaven and on Earth as the “only begotten Son” (cf. 3:16) sharing his Father’s nature (cf. 5:17-18). Thus, he was truly God. St. John also emphasizes that even while “the Son of Man” walked the Earth with his disciples in Galilee, he possessed the beatific vision in his human nature. In that sense, his human nature (Son of Man) had already “ascended” into heaven inasmuch as it possessed the beatific vision, which is at the core of what heaven is. That is John’s theme in the text, not whether someone years after Christ could be assumed into heaven or not.

I Cor. 15:22-23:

1. We must remember that there are sometimes exceptions to general theological norms in Scripture. For example, consider Matt. 3:5-6: “Then went out to [St. John the Baptist] Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him.” We know that “all” here does not mean “all” in a strict sense because we know, at least, Herod, Herodias, and her daughter, were exceptions to this verse (See Matt. 14:1-11). They conspired to put St. John to death. Not the best candidates for baptism! The bottom line: There are exceptions to Matt. 3:5-6. St. John the Baptist did not baptize everyone in “Jerusalem, Judea and the region around Jordan.” So Mary could be (and is, as we will see below) an exception to I Cor. 15:22-23.

2. There are exceptions to other general norms specifically laid out as true for “all” in Scripture. Hebrews 9:27 declares, “It is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Yet we see exceptions to this norm many places in Scripture by way of resurrections from the dead. Not only do we have Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, St. Peter and St. Paul raising the dead in Scripture, but after Jesus’ Resurrection, “the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and [came] out of the tombs” (Matt. 27:52-53). These folks obviously did not “die once.” They died at least twice!

3. We have examples of other “assumptions” in Scripture. Both Enoch (cf. Gen. 5:24) and Elijah were taken up “into heaven” (II Kings 2:11) in a manner quite out of the ordinary. And so are the “two witnesses” of Revelation 11:3-13. Why couldn’t God do this with Mary?

4. We know that Mary is an exception to the “norm” of I Cor. 15:22-23 because she is depicted as having been assumed into heaven in Rev. 12. “And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun . . . she was with child . . . and . . . brought forth a male child [Jesus], one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron” (12:1-5). Who was the woman who gave birth to Jesus? Mary! And there she is in heaven!

IS THE WOMAN OF REVELATION 12 MARY?

Many will object at this point and deny “the woman” of Revelation 12 is Mary. They will claim it is either the Church, or, as do dispensationalists, they will claim it is the Israel of old.

The Church acknowledges Scripture to have a polyvalent nature. In other words, there can be many levels of meaning to the various texts of Scripture. So, are there many levels of meaning to Rev. 12? Absolutely! Israel is often depicted as the Lord’s bride in the Old Testament (cf. Song of Solomon, Jer. 3:1, etc.). So there is precedent to refer to Israel as “the woman.” And Jesus was born out of Israel.

Moreover, the Book of Revelation depicts the New Covenant Church as “the bride of Christ” and “the New Jerusalem” (cf. Rev. 21:2). “The woman” of Revelation 12 is also depicted as continuing to beget children to this day and these children are revealed to be all “who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (vs. 17). The Church certainly fits this description.

In fact, we argue as Catholics “the woman” to represent the people of God down through the centuries, whether Old Covenant Israel or the New Covenant Church, “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16).

THE FIRST AND LITERAL SENSE

All we have said about “the woman” of Revelation 12 representing the people of God down through the millennia of time does not diminish in any way the first and literal sense of the text as representing Mary. In fact, there are at least four reasons why one cannot escape including Mary when exegeting Revelation 12 and specifically the identity of “the woman.”

1. “The woman” in Rev. 12 “brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her son was taken up to God, and to his throne.” This child is obviously Jesus. If we begin on the literal level, there is no doubt that Mary is the one who “brought forth” Jesus.

2. Though we could discover many spiritual levels of meaning for the flight of “the woman” in 12:6, 14, Mary and the Holy Family literally fled into Egypt in Matt. 2:13-15 with divine assistance.

3. Mary is referred to prophetically as “woman” in Gen. 3:15, Jer. 31:22, and by Jesus as the same in John 2:4 and 19:26. Especially considering the same apostle, John, wrote the Gospel of John and the book of Revelation, it is no stretch to say St. John would have had Mary in mind when he used the familiar term “the woman” as the descriptor of the Lady of the Apocalypse.

4. There are four main characters in the chapter: “the woman,” the devil, Jesus, and the Archangel Michael. No one denies that the other three mentioned are real persons. It fits the context exegetically to interpret “the woman” as a person (Mary) as well.

HOW DO WE KNOW MARY IS BODILY IN HEAVEN?

Some may concede Mary to be the woman of Revelation 12, but the next logical question is: “How does this mean she is in heaven bodily? There are lots of souls in heaven, but they don’t have their bodies.”

It seems clear that “the woman” is depicted as having “the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown” (vs. 1). Elsewhere in Rev. and in other parts of Scripture, saints in heaven are referred to as the “souls of those who had been slain” (Rev. 6:9) or “the spirits of just men made perfect” (Heb. 12:23). Why? Because they do not have bodies! They are disembodied “souls” or “spirits.” But the “woman” of Rev. 12 is portrayed as having a body with a head and feet.

But perhaps even more important than this is the fact that “the Ark of the Covenant” is revealed as being in heaven in Rev. 11:19. This is just one verse prior to the unveiling of “the woman” of Rev. 12:1.

Some may respond at this point: “Who cares if the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ is said to be in heaven?”

This is crucial, because Hebrews 9:4 tells us what was contained within the ark: a portion of manna, the miraculous “bread from heaven” of Old Testament fame, Aaron’s staff, and the Ten Commandments. In fact, it was precisely because of these sacred contents that the ark was so holy, and that is precisely why it is here depicted as having been taken up to heaven.

The question is: Is the Ark of the Covenant depicted as being in heaven a “what” (an Old Testament box made of acacia wood overlain with gold in Exodus 25), or a “who?” I argue it not only to be a “who” but to be the Blessed Virgin Mary for these reasons:

Let’s first take a look at the text of Rev. 11:19:

Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within in his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, loud noises, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

In order to appreciate the identity of “the ark,” let’s first take a look at the identity of “the temple” that St. John sees as housing the ark. John 2:19-21 and Rev. 21:22 tell us quite plainly that the temple St. John speaks of is not a temple made of brick and mortar.

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”. . .  But he spoke of the temple of his body (Jn. 2:21).

I saw no temple [in heaven], for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the lamb (Rev. 21:22).

When St. John views the temple in heaven, he is not viewing the Old Testament temple. He is viewing the true temple, which is Christ’s body. In the same way, St. John is not seeing the Old Covenant ark. He sees the new and true Ark of the Covenant. And remember: this would not just be talking about Mary but Mary’s body! It was Mary’s body that housed the Son of God, the fulfillment of the various types of Christ that were contained in the Old Covenant ark.

The conclusion is inescapable. Where is Mary’s body? In heaven, according to the Book of Revelation!

A FINAL OBJECTION

Some may argue at this point our energy was wasted in asserting Mary to be identified with “the woman” of Revelation 12 because this “woman” is depicted as “travailing” with the pangs of labor in verse 2. Thus, this cannot be the “Catholic” Mary.

TWO POINTS IN RESPONSE:

1. No matter which interpretation you choose—Israel, the Church, Mary, or all of the above—all interpretations agree: the labor pains of Rev. 12:2 are not literal pains from a child passing through the birth canal. This really should not be a problem at all.

2. From the very beginning of Mary’s calling to be the Mother of the Messiah, she would have most likely known her Son was called to be the “suffering servant” of Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, and Wisdom 2.

Mary’s “labor pains” began at the Annunciation and would continue from the cradle to the cross, where she suffered with her Son as prophesied in Luke 2:34-35 and as painfully fulfilled in John 19. Mary’s deep love for and knowledge of her divine Son brought with it pains far deeper than any physical hurt could ever cause. A body can go numb and cease to feel pain. But you can’t deaden a heart that loves, as long as that heart continues to love. Mary clearly chose to love. She was uniquely present for our Lord, from the Incarnation of Luke 1:37-38, to the birthing of his ministry in John 2, to the cross in John 19, and into eternity in Revelation 12.

***

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[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

19th October >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Saturday, Twenty Eighth of Week in Ordinary Time 

or

Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests, and their Companions, Martyrs 

or

Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest 

or

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Saturday, Twenty Eighth of Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II))

First Reading Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul’s prayer for the enlightenment of the faithful.

I, having once heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and the love that you show towards all the saints, have never failed to remember you in my prayers and to thank God for you. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 8:2-7

R/ You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.

How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth! Your majesty is praised above the heavens; on the lips of children and of babes you have found praise to foil your enemy, to silence the foe and the rebel.

R/ You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.

When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you arranged, what is man that you should keep him in mind, mortal man that you care for him?

R/ You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.

Yet you have made him little less than a god; with glory and honour you crowned him, gave him power over the works of your hand, put all things under his feet.

R/ You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.

Gospel Acclamation 1 Samuel 3:9, John 6:68

Alleluia, alleluia! Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!

Or: John 15:26,27

Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of truth will be my witness; and you too will be my witnesses. Alleluia!

Gospel Luke 12:8-12 If you declare yourselves for me, I will declare myself for you.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of men, the Son of Man will declare himself for him in the presence of the angels. But the man who disowns me in the presence of men will be disowned in the presence of God’s angels. ‘Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. ‘When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests, and their Companions, Martyrs 

(Liturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

First Reading 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 Such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.

We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you. But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke – we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 125(126):1-6

R/ Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs.

R/ Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels the Lord worked for them!’ What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

R/ Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land. Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

R/ Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

They go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing: they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves.

R/ Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 28:19,20

Alleluia, alleluia! Go, make disciples of all the nations. I am with you always; yes, to the end of time. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 28:16-20 Go and make disciples of all nations.

The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest 

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

First Reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 We preach a crucified Christ, the power and wisdom of God.

The language of the cross may be illogical to those who are not on the way to salvation, but those of us who are on the way see it as God’s power to save. As scripture says: I shall destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing all the learning of the learned. Where are the philosophers now? Where are the scribes? Where are any of our thinkers today? Do you see now how God has shown up the foolishness of human wisdom? If it was God’s wisdom that human wisdom should not know God, it was because God wanted to save those who have faith through the foolishness of the message that we preach. And so, while the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, here are we preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 116(117):1-2

R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or R/ Alleluia!

O praise the Lord, all you nations, acclaim him all you peoples!

R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or R/ Alleluia!

Strong is his love for us; he is faithful for ever.

R/ Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. or R/ Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 5:6

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 16:24-27 Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? ‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

Either:

First Reading Genesis 3:9-15,20 The mother of all those who live.

After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this,

‘Be accursed beyond all cattle, all wild beasts. You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life. I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. It will crush your head and you will strike its heel.’

The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who live.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

OR: --------

First reading Genesis 12:1-7 All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you

The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.

‘I will bless those who bless you: I will curse those who slight you. All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you.’

So Abram went as the Lord told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had amassed and the people they had acquired in Haran. They set off for the land of Canaan, and arrived there. Abram passed through the land as far as Shechem’s holy place, the Oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘It is to your descendants that I will give this land.’ So Abram built there an altar for the Lord who had appeared to him.

OR: --------

First reading 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-11,16 The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House

Once David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go and do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.’ But that very night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did, in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

OR: --------

First reading 1 Chronicles 15:3-4,15-16,16:1-2 They brought in the ark of God and put it inside the tent that David had pitched for it

David gathered all Israel together to bring the ark of God up to the place he had prepared for it. David called together the sons of Aaron and the sons of Levi. And the Levites carried the ark of God with the shafts on their shoulders, as Moses had ordered in accordance with the word of the Lord. David then told the heads of the Levites to assign duties for their kinsmen as cantors, with their various instruments of music, harps and lyres and cymbals, to play joyful tunes. They brought the ark of God in and put it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered holocausts before God, and communion sacrifices. And when David had finished offering holocausts and communion sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

OR: --------

First reading Proverbs 8:22-31 Before the earth came into being, Wisdom was born

The Wisdom of God cries aloud:

The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded, before the oldest of his works. From everlasting I was firmly set, from the beginning, before earth came into being. The deep was not, when I was born, there were no springs to gush with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I came to birth; before he made the earth, the countryside, or the first grains of the world’s dust. When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there, when he drew a ring on the surface of the deep, when he thickened the clouds above, when he fixed fast the springs of the deep, when he assigned the sea its boundaries – and the waters will not invade the shore – when he laid down the foundations of the earth, I was by his side, a master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere in his world, delighting to be with the sons of men.

OR: --------

First reading Ecclesiasticus 24:1-4,8-12,18-21 From eternity, in the beginning, God created wisdom

Wisdom speaks her own praises, in the midst of her people she glories in herself. She opens her mouth in the assembly of the Most High, she glories in herself in the presence of the Mighty One: ‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and I covered the earth like a mist. I had my tent in the heights, and my throne in a pillar of cloud. Then the creator of all things instructed me, and he who created me fixed a place for my tent. He said, “Pitch your tent in Jacob, make Israel your inheritance.” From eternity, in the beginning, he created me, and for eternity I shall remain. I ministered before him in the holy tabernacle, and thus was I established on Zion. In the beloved city he has given me rest, and in Jerusalem I wield my authority. I have taken root in a privileged people, in the Lord’s property, in his inheritance. Approach me, you who desire me, and take your fill of my fruits, for memories of me are sweeter than honey, inheriting me is sweeter than the honeycomb. They who eat me will hunger for more, they who drink me will thirst for more. Whoever listens to me will never have to blush, whoever acts as I dictate will never sin.’

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 7:10-14,8:10 The maiden is with child

The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’ Then Isaiah said:

‘Listen now, House of David: are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men without trying the patience of my God, too? The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 9:1-6 A Son is given to us

The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone. You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time, as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him, the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor, these you break as on the day of Midian.

For all the footgear of battle, every cloak rolled in blood, is burnt, and consumed by fire.

For there is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 61:9-11 I exult for joy in the Lord

Their race will be famous throughout the nations, their descendants throughout the peoples. All who see them will admit that they are a race whom the Lord has blessed.

‘I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity, like a bridegroom wearing his wreath, like a bride adorned in her jewels.

‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow, as a garden makes seeds spring up, so will the Lord make both integrity and praise spring up in the sight of the nations.’

OR: --------

First reading Micah 5:1-4 He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord

The Lord says this:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old. The Lord is therefore going to abandon them till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth. Then the remnant of his brothers will come back to the sons of Israel. He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace.

OR: --------

First reading Zechariah 2:14-17 'I am coming', says the Lord

Sing, rejoice, daughter of Zion; for I am coming to dwell in the middle of you – it is the Lord who speaks. Many nations will join the Lord, on that day; they will become his people. But he will remain among you, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. But the Lord will hold Judah as his portion in the Holy Land, and again make Jerusalem his very own. Let all mankind be silent before the Lord! For he is awaking and is coming from his holy dwelling.

Responsorial Psalm 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

My heart exults in the Lord. I find my strength in my God; my mouth laughs at my enemies as I rejoice in your saving help.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

The bows of the mighty are broken, but the weak are clothed with strength. Those with plenty must labour for bread, but the hungry need work no more. The childless wife has children now but the fruitful wife bears no more.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

It is the Lord who gives life and death, he brings men to the grave and back; it is the Lord who gives poverty and riches. He brings men low and raises them on high.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

He lifts up the lowly from the dust, from the dungheap he raises the poor to set him in the company of princes to give him a glorious throne. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, on them he has set the world.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

Gospel Acclamation cf.Lk1:28

Alleluia, alleluia! Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women. Alleluia!

Or: cf.Lk1:45

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled. Alleluia!

Or: cf.Lk2:19

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who treasured the word of God and pondered it in her heart. Alleluia!

Or: Lk11:28

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy are those who hear the word of God and keep it. Alleluia!

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, for the sun of justice, Christ our God, was born of you. Alleluia!

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy is the Virgin Mary, who, without dying, won the palm of martyrdom beneath the cross of the Lord. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 1:1-16,18-23 The ancestry and conception of Jesus Christ.

A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother, Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother, Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother, Obed was the father of Jesse; and Jesse was the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Azariah, Azariah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah; and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers. Then the deportation to Babylon took place.

After the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob; and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel,

a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[anthony-stewart-head-fan]

Saturday 23 November 2013

interview: Anthony Head

Okay, Buffy fans - how many of you can name the American telefantasy series that Anthony Head starred in before he was Giles? It was a short-lived thing called VR.5, starring Lori Singer, and it was the subject of this phone interview on 4th October 1995 (by which time it had already been cancelled). A short version of this ran in SFX but the full version has never been published. (NB. At this time Buffy the Vampire Slayer was just a 1992 movie starring Kristy Swanson so there’s no mention of it here. Sorry.)

Was it planned in advance that you would come in on episode four of VR.5, or was it something that was decided during production?

"No, I think it was basically that, after the pilot, they realised that the professor character was great up to a point. It helped establish (a) that she's vulnerable, (b) that what she's doing is very dangerous. But there was very little antagonism between them, and once they had established that they were both coming from the same place, there needed to be another character introduced who would stir things up a bit. It was planned after the pilot. The pilot set up these basic characters and from there on in, it transpired that you need to go somewhere else. For the theories to have a stronger line and for the committee to be more imposing.”

Did you have to audition for this?

“Oh yes."

What did they tell you about the role?

"Very little. There were keeping it extremely hush-hush. Then on my second reading - my first call-back - they started to explain roughly what it was about. The general description of the characters was that he is 'more Armani than Brooks Brothers' and he's a bit like a Svengali figure. You can't work out whether he's taking care of her or usurping her."

Have they told you stuff about the character that they haven't revealed to the audience?

"Oh, yes. Well, it gradually becomes revealed as the series progresses. You find out why he is such a strange, guarded chap and what dark secrets are locked in his past. They did say at the interview that initially he gives very little away, and it's exasperating because of that. Eventually you do start to discover that he does have dark secrets. We find out what makes him tick. It's a very interesting part. It's not your ordinary run-of-the-mill series, and it's not your ordinary run-of-the-mill part. In terms of American episodic TV it was very different from anything else I'd ever seen or been up for."

Was the series doing quite well when it was dropped?

"It was doing extremely well. It was very controversial, it was extremely well critically received. There are still discussions about its future - it's by no means dead - and in fact I'm going out there next week for negotiations. It's something that has developed an enormous cult audience. So much so that people have gone to Canada to get pirate copies of the shows that didn't get shown on Fox."

How many episodes did they make altogether?

"Altogether we made 13, which will all be shown on Sky, but they only showed ten on Fox because it was a mid-season replacement. We had extremely good viewing figures but they were up and down, they were all over the place. It wasn't obvious; one week we'd be up there, the next week we'd be down. So the overall viewing figures were not stunning, but the general response was brilliant. You had TV critics in the New York Times praising it hugely. It was all very good. But I wasn't expecting it to be received like any other American TV programme. It requires more work than they are normally used to. The audience has got to work quite hard to suss out who's doing what to whom."

Did you do any of the sequences in VR?

"Couple of times, yes."

Was that an unusual filming experience?

"Yes. One of the things they were very specific about was that they wanted to do most of the effects on camera, rather than relying on a lot of post-production. So for instance there's a court scene that we did that was shot in the hotel where Bobby Kennedy was shot. We did it in this enormous lounge, a bizarre courtroom setting. All the uprights supporting the balustrade were perspex pillars, so when you shine light through it, it's the most beautiful, extraordinary effect."

What's Lori Singer like to work with?

"She's very, very good indeed. The thing that I think she's exceptional at - and that I don't think your run-of-the-mill Hollywood actress would have been able to cope with - was the transition that she goes through from her 'normal life' persona, which is a bit geeky, very shy, very reticent, to this stunning charismatic beauty that she becomes in virtual reality. This is why she enjoys going into virtual reality, she can't keep away from it because she suddenly becomes incandescent. She's very good. It's nice to be able to talk through dialogue and work out things that aren't working and be able to bounce ideas around. She's very up there for ideas and things. It was very interesting, very good."

Whilst it's a very interesting show, the basic premise of VR.5 is complete hokum. What was the feeling towards the scientific aspects of the show on the production?

"Hokum inasmuch as you can't take someone into a virtual reality set-up on the telephone, you mean?"

Yes, that's this big leap of believability, that's not really what virtual reality is. It's a nice idea, but there's a lot of technobabble in the series.

"I think there were certain rules that they set up within the boundaries of what they'd elected to generate. There was always a key that she would touch to get out. The virtual reality set-up to which she would go would always be something set up by herself on the keyboard. it wasn't just something that she leapt into and out of like a time machine. At the same time, it's not that far removed from possibility. If you think what people would have thought about virtual reality ten years ago, in terms of commercial uses, and people are now using virtual reality to walk into buildings that are just on a piece of paper. So (a) I don't think it's going to be long before virtual reality using all five senses is attainable, but (b) I also don't think it's that far removed from the possibility that you will be able to access people's subconscious thoughts. It's all feasible, that's as far as it goes. No, it's not available in the shops, but it's not that far removed from possibility. It has to be an extrapolation, it has to be what happens next, because we've got this far and we all know about that. You can't really make TV programmes about that because we're already there. What we do want to make programmes about are the uses of VR and how it shapes our lives from the next generation on. I think in terms of those extrapolations, it's quite an interesting hypothesis."

Does it bother you that you are still 'Anthony Head, that bloke from the coffee ads'?

"No. Not remotely, it's been very good to me. Why should I deny it? I don't get people ribbing me and giving me a hard time about it. I get people smiling and saying hello. It was a good thing to have done. It had a good vibe about it, it was well shot, it was intelligently written, as much as you can in an advert. Humorous, witty, romantic, it was just like doing quite a good little mini-series every six months for forty seconds."

How many did you do?

"We did twelve here, and I think we're on number twelve there, and we've just shot two more."

So the American ones are shot separately?

"Oh yes. The story has gone on, and has changed. They've taken a different line. But whatever you do that achieves some sort of fame or notoriety, you are then going to be known for that. Trevor Eve - Sharon's husband - is still known for Shoestring, and he's done a lot of extremely interesting things since then. He will always be 'Oh yeah! Shoestring!' but that's not a big deal. The bottom line is that Gold Blend is something I'm proud of. It had an effect on doing TV and film here for a while, but then it opened up a market in America so I was able to go over there. It also made me box-office over here for theatre, so I was able to do lots of theatre that I might not otherwise have done. Life deals its cards, and it's the way you deal with them, or the way you learn from them, that makes it interesting or exceedingly boring."

You were Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show. That's tremendous fun, isn't it?

"Wonderful, wonderful. I did it four or five years ago at the Piccadilly, and I had such a good time. They've asked me a few times if I'd do it again, but it always meant touring. This time they said, 'Do you want to do six weeks in the West End and I said, 'Yes!' Because he's wonderfully wicked and very dark, and a great little spirit to play. He's fab, just fab. Where else do you get that much vibe off the audience?"

Were you aware of the amount of audience participation?

"When I first did it? Well, they told me about it, but you're never quite prepared for it. The first Friday night that you do is like: 'Jesus!' But then when you get it right, you get incredible power off them. Not so much at the Duke of York, but at the Piccadilly, which is a fifteen hundred seater. To be able to stop somebody dead with just a look, because you couldn't always put them down verbally, otherwise the play would never get on. But you could just flash somebody a look in the back of the circle and they'd shut up. It was great. Great power. My own little virtual reality set-up."

Do you prefer doing stage work or TV work?

"It isn't a question of preferences. They're so different, and there are so many different excitements in both of them, that you can't compare. I've been very lucky to flip about between one and the other, and musicals as well. They're another thing again, not like doing a straight play. When I've wanted to sing somebody's said, 'Would you like to do Rocky Horror for six weeks?' It's like: 'Whoa! Yeah!' Then I think, 'I've done some theatre, I want to do a bit of film,' and suddenly something crops up. The more you put into life, the more you learn from life."

You were in an episode of Highlander: The Series. What did you play in that?

"I was about 38 or so at the time; I had to play it older than myself because I had a 24-year-old son in it. I played an American ambassador whose son has raped a local girl, whose father just happens to be an immortal. And so the guy lays siege to my chateau, and old Highlander turns up and helps me out. It was a good little episode, one of those at the end of the series when they have to stay in one set because of they've used their budget up. So you've got to have a reason to stay in one place, and so it happened to be a chateau surrounded by fog. It was a very good episode actually."

Did the guy kill you at the end?

"That was the only sad thing. I got shot with a semi-automatic weapon with bullet-holes across my chest. They cut to me croaking on the settee, and people saying 'We must get him to hospital...' In real life, you shoot someone with a semi-automatic weapon across the chest and they don't make it to the settee. Unfortunately this is what we teach our children happens. I don't know; I'm very confused about the argument about TV violence. I think it does have an effect on children. Depends how much you let them watch I guess."

What's this new thing you've made for the BBC, The Ghostbusters of East Finchley?

"It's a series starring Jan Francis, Bill Paterson, Ray Winstone, Joe Melia, it's got a whole list of people in it. It's written by Tony Grant, and it's about 'ghosts' who are people who don't really exist in order to avoid paying taxes. Bill Paterson plays a tax inspector. I'm part of the sub-plot. Ray Winstone has some odd deals going on the side, and I play this sort of East End wide-boy who sells cars to Ray Winstone in Spain. I come back to pick up some cars and waltz into their life. It's beautifully written, very funny.”

website: www.anthonyhead.org

interview originally posted 3rd December 2005

[dailybiblelessons]

Saturday: Preparation for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Complementary Hebrew Scripture from the Latter Prophets: Isaiah 33:1-9

Ah, you destroyer,  who yourself have not been destroyed; you treacherous one,  with whom no one has dealt treacherously! When you have ceased to destroy,  you will be destroyed; and when you have stopped dealing treacherously,  you will be dealt with treacherously.

O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you.  Be our arm every morning,  our salvation in the time of trouble. At the sound of tumult, peoples fled;  before your majesty, nations scattered. Spoil was gathered as the caterpillar gathers;  as locusts leap, they leaped upon it. The Lord is exalted, he dwells on high;  he filled Zion with justice and righteousness; he will be the stability of your times,  abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;  the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure.

Listen! the valiant cry in the streets;  the envoys of peace weep bitterly. The highways are deserted,  travelers have quit the road. The treaty is broken,  its oaths are despised,  its obligation is disregarded. The land mourns and languishes;  Lebanon is confounded and withers away; Sharon is like a desert;  and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture from the Writings: Proverbs 8:1-31

Does not wisdom call,  and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way,  at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town,  at the entrance of the portals she cries out: “To you, O people, I call,  and my cry is to all that live. O simple ones, learn prudence;  acquire intelligence, you who lack it. Hear, for I will speak noble things,  and from my lips will come what is right; for my mouth will utter truth;  wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous;  there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to one who understands  and right to those who find knowledge. Take my instruction instead of silver,  and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than jewels,  and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. I, wisdom, live with prudence,  and I attain knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil  and perverted speech I hate. I have good advice and sound wisdom;  I have insight, I have strength. By me kings reign,  and rulers decree what is just; by me rulers rule,  and nobles, all who govern rightly. I love those who love me,  and those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me,  enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,  and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness,  along the paths of justice, endowing with wealth those who love me,  and filling their treasuries.”

The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,  the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up,  at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth,  when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped,  before the hills, I was brought forth— when he had not yet made earth and fields,  or the world’s first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there,  when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above,  when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit,  so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,  then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight,  rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world  and delighting in the human race.

Complementary Psalm 146

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live;  I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes,  in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth;  on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,  whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth,  the sea, and all that is in them;¹ who keeps faith forever;  who executes justice for the oppressed;  who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;  the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;  the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers;  he upholds the orphan and the widow,  but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,  your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!

¹This passage is found at least three times in the Christian Scriptures. In Acts 4:24 it is part of a prayer in which believers pray for boldness. The prayer is at Acts 4:23-31. Later in Acts (14:15), Paul uses the phrase in responding to the crowds in Lystra, who want to offer sacrifices to him and Barnabas. His speech is at Acts 14:8-18. Finally, in Revelation 10:6, it is part of a speech by an angel holding a small scroll. The speech is at Revelation 10:1-7.

Semi-continuous Psalm 125

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,  which cannot be moved,  but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem,  so the Lord surrounds his people,  from this time on and forevermore. For the scepter of wickedness  shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous,  so that the righteous might not stretch out their hands to do wrong. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,  and to those who are upright in their hearts. But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways  the Lord will lead away with evildoers. Peace be upon Israel!

New Testament Gospel Lesson: Matthew 15:21-31¹

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

¹There is a parallel passage at Mark 7:24-30, which is the Sunday Gospel lesson this week.

Year B Ordinary 23 Saturday

Selections from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 1995 by the Consultation on Common Texts. Unless otherwise indicated, Bible text is from The New Revised Standard Version, (NRSV) copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All right reserved. Footnotes in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) that show where the passage is used in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) from Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) by David H. Stern, Copyright © 1998 and 2006 by David H. Stern, used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved worldwide. When text is taken from the CJB, the passage ends with (CJB) and the foregoing copyright notice applies. Parallel passages are as indicated in The Holy Bible Modern English Version (MEV), copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When text is taken from the MEV, the passage ends with (MEV) and the foregoing copyright notice applies. Image Credit: The Woman of Canaan at the Feet of Christ by Jean Germain Drouais, via Wikimedia Commons. This is a public domain image.

[makaias-trash-heap]

Soooooo lately ya girl here has been running into a lot of writing issues so I gave something a try...BACK TO BASICS FOR WHAT I ORIGINALLY MADE THIS BLOG FOR!!! First time I’ve written anything for my favorite Tsundere in a while. Enjoy!! Just more of my own self indulgent writing while I have no requests.

“Sooooo, guess who I just heard from.” 

Shin glanced up from his book with his usual blank expression, “Why not just tell me?”

Mira smiled and rolled her eyes slightly, “My parents. They called and asked me to come over for dinner for my sister's birthday this weekend.” She stated, plopping on the couch next to him.

Mirdorima raised an eyebrow giving her an intrigued look, “This is the first time they've wanted you over since we've been together nanodayo.” 

Mira hummed in agreement leaning into his side, naturally causing him to blush like always. 

“Are you going?” 

Mira shook her head, “Probably not.”

“Why not?”

“Shin, my family and I haven't gotten along in years. I've tried going over a few times and it always ends in a fight.”

She ignored the look he gave her in favor of playing with his fingers, a habit she picked up on when he still tapped them.

“Mira, they're still your family nanodayo. We've been together for nearly 3 years and I don't recall you seeing them at all.”

“Not true, I've seen my brother.”

“Mira.”

“Look, I don't want to go because I don't want to fight and that's exactly what will happen. Especially going now.”

He gave Mira a slight confused look, “What does that mean?”

She sighs turning to face him, “We've been together for about 3 years and aren’t engaged, I'm perfectly with how things have been going but my parents are incredibly judgmental and will nag and question why. There's also the fact that I’m 2 years older than you. And even though it’s incredibly stupid, my parents will not agree with the fact that I'm with someone younger than me. And to top all of that off I'm pregnant out of wedlock, big no no to my parents. We also fight about my brother everytime I'm there. I guess they invited him too so this is going to be twice the chaos.” 

Midorima adjusted his glasses looking down at her, “I understand these situations can be uncomfortable, but they're still your family and you haven't seen them in years. For all you know they may have changed from the last time you saw them.” 

Mira halfheartedly glared at him and sighed realizing this wasn't going anywhere, “You aren't letting this go until I agree to go are you?”

“I don't intend to.”

“Fine. But if I have to deal with them you're coming with me.”

He turned his full attention to her, “What! Why am I involved in this?”

“You got involved when you bugged me into going. And besides, as you've said, we've been together for 3 years, and you've yet to meet my family.”

If looks could kill Mira would be dead right now, multiple times over. 

“You'll see why I don't get along with them and I promise you'll never end up going with them again and you won't bug me into it.”

Midorima lets out a sigh leaning back into his seat, “I suppose. When are we supposed to be there?”

“Saturday at 5.” 

(Skip to weekend)

“Remind me again why we're here?” Mira groaned as they pulled up in front of her parents house. She ignored the slightly surprised look that snuck his way to his face. She’d given him warning that her family was pretty well off. 

He recovered quickly enough, “Because they're your family nanodayo.”

Mira rolled her eyes trying to mentally prepare herself for the interaction tonight. They climbed out of the car and started making their way up to the house. Mira spotted her brother coming up the sidewalk and waved.

“So you decided to come too huh.” Kenjuro said, returning the gesture.

“Not really, Shin forced me into it. I'm kinda surprised you came though.” 

He shrugged, “Boyfriend forced me to. He offered to come for moral support but you and I both know that that would have been a really bad idea.”

“How’s Reo-chan doing?” Mira asked as they started walking up the sidewalk to the house.

“Good. I watched him play basketball with his old team from high school. So that was kinda exciting .”

They finally reached the door and stood awkwardly glancing at each other until Midorima gently nudged her forward.

“Ok ok sheesh.”

Mira knocked on the door secretly hoping that her parents would ignore them and not answer….sadly that did not happen. Much to her dismay her sister Aika answered the door. 

“Hey Kenjuro, Mira.” Aika greeted them with a fake sweet smile.

“Hey Aika, happy birthday.”

Mira slipped past her with Kenjuro and toed her my shoes off pulling Midorima in behind her. 

“Hello Mira, Kenjuro. We're glad you could make it.” Her parents appeared at the door to greet them

“Hey mom, hey dad.” Mira forced a smile. 

“Who is your guest Mira?”

“Oh, right, Um, mom dad, this is Midorima Shintarou, my boyfriend. Shin, these are my parents.” 

“It's nice to meet you Hashigawa-San.” Midorima politely greeted her parents. 

“The pleasure is ours. Please right this way. Dinner is almost ready.”

Everyone started filing into the dining room, Mira and Midorima following behind last. 

“I don't understand your concern. Your parents seem rather pleasant.” He mumbled quietly so only Mira could hear it. 

“Oh, just wait for dinner. That's usually when the show starts.”

They all took a seat at the table, Kenjuro sitting as far as possible from their parents. Which left Mira and her sister to sit by them. Midorima sat next to Mira starting to notice the awkward atmosphere.

“So Mira. It's been a while since we've last spoken. What have you been up to?” Her father asked after a few moments of silence.

Mira hesitated a second before preparing to answer, this most likely this wasn’t going to go well.

“Working mostly, I just finished up art school not that long ago so I've been working freelance for a while. Making films for tourist companies, helping design Billboards, things like that.” 

Her parents stayed quiet before turning their attention to Midorima.

“Midorima-San, may I ask what you do for a living?”

“I am going into the medical field. I'm currently working on my internship at the hospital.” Midorima straightened up answering.

Mira’s father nodded, “Then a man as logical as you, you can't support this crazy dream of hers.”

Midorima froze and glanced at Mira before answering, “It's her decision to make and if it's something that she feels strongly about then naturally she has my support.” 

Her father was about to say something when he was cut off, “Now now dear, we're trying to have a nice civilized dinner tonight. Ok, this is a discussion we can have another time.”

Mira quickly turned her attention back to her food to avoid more questions. It worked for a while. Although this point Midorima was very uncomfortable. Kenjuro followed Mira’s lead but he's usually safe from questions. Their parents hate the fact that he's gay so they usually don't even acknowledge that part of his life. 

“Mira.” 

Mira looked up from her plate to see her mom holding the wine bottle out to her.

“Oh no thank you mom. I'm good.”

Aika snorted across the table, “wow, you of all people are turning down alcohol?”

Mira rolled her eyes, “do you really want to go there Aika?”

She shrugged, “I'm just saying for a while here sobriety was not your strong suit,” Mira shot a glare at her across the table, “oops sorry, did your boyfriend not know about that?”

“Do mom and dad know you've been sneaking into the liquor cabinet since you were like 14?” Mira shot right back at her.

Of course he knows, he helped her get her act cleaned up. Still a rather sensitive topic right now.

“Ok that's enough you two.” 

Mira rolled her eyes at her dads warning, ready to leave. On top of the unpleasant conversation, the constant nausea from the morning sickness was rough on her today.

“Mira, you ok?” Kenjuro asked, starting to notice her discomfort.

She just nodded waiting for the nausea to subside, “Yeah, stomach is just a little upset.”

Naturally Aika didn't seem to miss a thing.

“Oh my god you're pregnant aren't you?”

Mira immediately tensed up, hoping to completely avoid this topic, “What are you talking about?”

“You aren’t drinking which is pretty out of the ordinary for you, you’re randomly sick and I’ve noticed the weight gain.” Aika quickly insinuated.

Mira didn't answer, deciding instead just to get up and get ready to leave. Midorima grabbed her hand to stop her, it seems like he has other plans.

“They were going to eventually find out Mira.” He said, looking up at her.

“Is that a confirmation?” Her father looked back and forth between them waiting for an answer.

Mira sighs, “Yeah dad, it is. I'm pregnant.” 

Neither of the parents said anything right away. The tension gathering in the air was enough to show that this news was about to be either very well accepted or very poorly.

“We had the perfect life laid out for you. All you had to do was do as you were told and follow it.” Her father started to lecture, “First you turn down one of the best universities in Japan, and then rather than going to any university at all for a real career, you start to follow this ridiculous idea at some art school, and now you're 23 and pregnant. You couldn't have at least been decent enough to get married before spreading your legs for the first guy to take interest in you?!” 

For the first time in an argument with them, Mira was speechless. Her father certainly had a tendency to be cruel, but that was low even for him. He continued yelling, Kenjuro and Aika eventually getting involved in the argument. Mira started to tune out the yelling. This whole night has done nothing but stress her out, and stress is not good for her right now. She felt a sharp pain rip through her abdomen and lower back which snapped her back to reality and the current argument at hand.

“I don't understand where I went wrong with the two of you. My son is a faggot and my daughter is a who-”

“That's enough,” Mirodrima said sternly, “I understand you don't agree with Mira’s life choices. But you cannot control her. She is an adult and it's still her decision to make. As for her being pregnant. No it's not ideal timing right now. My parents were rather disappointed as well. 

We’re not married, and I’m only 21 years old and in medical school while starting this family, but we’re doing it. And my parents have never once referred to myself or Mira in such a derogatory manner.”

“Shintarou.” Mira grabbed his hand and squeezed to get his attention. 

He crouched by her side, “What's wrong?”

“Can we go? I'm starting to cramp badly and I'm just ready to go home.” She whined starting to stand up.

“Yeah let's go, but I'm going to call your doctor to make sure that things are ok before we go home.” 

He helped her stand up and started walking with her to the front door. He occasionally glared back behind them to make sure their family got the hint to leave them alone. Kenjro followed behind them to the car. Midorima helped her into the passenger seat taking her keys to drive.

“Feel better sis, call me later so I know things are ok.” 

Kenjuro closed the door and then went around to talk to Midorima who was on the phone. Once he hung up he turned his attention to Kenjuro to talk to him before climbing into the car.

“How are you feeling? Are you still in pain?” 

She shook her head, “No, it stopped for now. I just feel really sick now.”

He nodded and started the car. The ride home was fairly silent as he focused on the road and Mira focused on not throwing up. He pulled up to their apartment and he quickly came around to her side in case she needed help getting inside. 

“Your doctor said that as long as you aren't bleeding and you don't continue to be in pain that you should be ok. Sometimes some cramping isn’t uncommon, especially in stressful situations. But if they start again she wants us to come immediately,” He explained while they were settling in the bedroom, “so if you're in pain like that again I don't care what time it is wake me up and we’ll go ok.” 

Mira nodded changing into one of his shirts to sleep.

“Why do you insist on stealing my clothes all the time, you have your own dresser full of them.” He grumbled and changed as well.

“Oh stop whining,” She teased looking back at him, “I only steal your shirts and it's only for bed. Besides you never wear these.” 

He grumbled under his breath again while he settled in bed. Mira crawled in next to him and curled up into his side. He's finally used to cuddling with her...it only took him forever to do so. He turned on the lamp on his side of the bed signaling that he planned on reading for a bit before bed.

“Don't fall asleep with your glasses on again.” Mira said rolling over to turn off the light.

He scoffed, “that was once.”

She chuckled, situating herself into a comfortable position to drift off. Mira was nearly asleep when Midorima poked her in her back to get her attention.

“Hmm? What's up?” She rolled over and looked at him. 

“What your parents said earlier, it's bothering me.”

She sighed and sat up, “Just ignore it. Don't ever let anything they say bother you. Like you saw they're a bunch of judgmental assholes.”

He shook his head, “Nothing like that. They aren't bothering me. It just has me thinking. Are you really ok with how things are going?”

She cocked an eyebrow at his question, “I told you earlier I was. I mean, so long as you aren't planning on taking off on me anytime soon I'm perfectly fine with how we're doing ok.” 

He nodded, setting his book aside, “we should go to sleep.”

Mira leaned over and kissed Midorima before laying back down, “Goodnight Shin.”

Midorima returned the kiss and put his book away before laying down and wrapping his arm around her, “Goodnight Mira.”

[kwonjaes]

Monroe has a lot going on right now, but you’d never know it. Coming straight to the Sirius XM studio, only an hour after shooting a sketch for his Saturday Night Live debut, he’s radiating unearthly levels of clear-eyed serenity. He’s wearing a distressed jean jacket buttoned to the bottom of his collarbones and seemingly nothing underneath. Black jeans paired with black vans, a classic ‘off-screen’ look for the singer, and carrying a plastic cup of green tea — “not my usual go-to for late night drinking but we’re keeping it clean tonight,” he jokes. 

The 23-year-old singer is a consistent breakout star—his last album had two No. 1 singles, Like A Rockstar and Ordinary Life, and he's the 12th artist in history to score back to back Number Ones. Yet, in spite of his super stardom, little is known about the San Jose native, who has sat down with Sirius XM for a candid chat about his music, personal life and meteoric rise to fame.

“Is this swearing or no swearing?” Not even fully situated into his special guest seat yet, Monroe is wondering if he can say “fuck” or not. 

When the verdict comes back “yeah all good,” he gives a pleased grin and nods. 

So July 9th is the release of your newest album, The Party & The After party, which we are so beyond ready for by the way. Feels like it's been a long time since we've gotten new music from you.

Yeah, wow thank you. I’m super ready for everyone to hear it too. I’m really excited for this one.

Every release you’ve given us so far has been incredible, and not only that, but has done insanely well too on the charts. I think it’s safe to say that this one, which is a loaded album with thirteen songs on it, the biggest one you’ve done yet, will not fall short of these high expectations. 

I mean I hope so. I’m actually really nervous about this one which I’m usually not. I mean there’s always some level of nervousness involved when putting something new out and the anticipation that comes with waiting, but this one — it’s not that I don’t think it’s good. I’m super proud of what came out of it, but you know, I think it’s different than what people are expecting. 

What separates this record from your other ones? What went into the process of making this one differently?

This album is sort of split into two sides, you know, you’ve got the party and then you’ve got the after party. I’d say the first half of it is more what’s expected from me. They’re actually songs that I’ve held onto and almost released for past albums but just didn’t think it was the piece they belonged on. Then you’ve got the after party which is where I… [pauses] This was where that stress really kicked in for me. There’s a song on there that I didn’t write called Anointed — and I write all of my music — but this one I didn’t and that was really new for me. I think you can tell I didn’t write it too because [laughs] there’s a lot of really heavy metaphors in it that go sort of beyond my own technique and writing style. But it somehow fit into this record the way I wanted it too and I remember sitting in beat production and going over the lyrics and knowing I really wanted it on the album. There’s a few like that, this new style of arrangement for me and it was more sort of, I don’t know, an innovative experience. 

Speaking of new music, you actually did release a song at the beginning of this month. The single 21 which was a surprise release right?

Right.

I think we were all a bit surprised by it and curious for a few different reasons. This is the first time you’ve officially released a song in Korean, and the song itself too is representing a different style for you. It's got an explosive chorus with lots of dance elements and bouncing low pitched synths — the most pop influenced release from you yet I'd say. Is this something we can expect from you with future releases?

Yeah, maybe. When I go into the studio or when I’m working on writing something new, I don’t ever think about how I can get this to sound like.. me. I don’t think I can really stick a label on myself when it comes to music. I like being unpredictable and I think that’s something I enjoy experimenting with. I pride myself on my fluidity between R&B, hip hop, pop or what the fuck ever because I think that’s something not a lot of artists can do. I don't want to be restricted to a single musical genre. I don't want there to be boundaries. That's not music for me.

Something else that grabbed a lot of people’s curiosity is the inspiration behind the single itself. I know you haven’t confirmed anything in regards to the surface of the track here, and I don’t know if you can tell where I’m going with this..

You want me to talk about the cover? [laughs]

Well, yeah. I think everyone was just as surprised to see Lee Sooyeon as they were to hear the song itself. It is her, right?

Yeah, it’s her.

And it’s not the first time you have been linked together. We see you hanging around in LA a lot and now.. Here she is on the cover of this surprise single. The two of you have gotten really close.

[laughs] She’s just a good friend, man. She’s a great person and an amazing artist. 

Would you say she was an inspiration behind the song?

Yeah, of course. I wrote it just fucking around and wasn’t going to actually release it but I thought how insane of a birthday gift would that be? It came out a lot better than I thought it would, so we just put it out really quick because it was fun and different. But you know, we’ve hung out a few times and I really respect her. She’s just a good friend of mine. 

The singer plays a small sneak peak of the second single to the album, Can’t Feel My Face, which unfortunately had to be cut from air but was tremendously enjoyed throughout the Sirius XM studio by staff, possibly a little too much. The single drops July 2nd, a week after the release of his first single, Oh Mami, and a week before the album officially drops. 

This track, I can say, thematically fits in with the rest of your catalog. I won't spoil too much but it's a gorgeously sung song about, well, what you have quite a bit of experience singing about. But really, it's hard not to sing along to it. it's so catchy. But I can also see what you mean about this tip of a different approach. I think comparing this to what we’ve heard so far from Oh Mami, you can really see the difference in color that will be showcased on this album.

Can't Feel My Face was like the finishing touch of the roller coaster ride that you're gonna go through on the first half of this album. You can really hear it in the album too, this like, shift in disposition once you get to it's latter half. But to me Can't Feel My Face was a great way to end that energy before slipping into it’s interlude. That's what's so exciting about it but also nerve-racking this time around. I feel like I'm kind of breeding a whole new genre into this album with the filler tracks but it’s pretty cool.

It’s not like you haven't not already blended in enough genres. Just add more, right?

Yeah. Yep. You can always add more. This is the next step. It’s the next step on a long journey. Songs on this, like Anointed and Angel, you’ve never heard this from me before. 

It's one of those things where every song on the record has its own feel and it's own story and vibes that appear. Was that a part of the game plan for you? Like each song is, of course, a Monroe song, but each song is going to have it's own feel. So many new listeners can come and enjoy different tracks. Is that something you thought about?

Consciously? Probably not. [laughs] The thing is, I just make music that I like to make and it either sounds good or it doesn't sound good.

When do you know if it’s good or not? Is it when you're making it or like, after it's finished and you’ve listened to it? How does that process happen?

Um [pauses] I do it very unorthodox I feel. I create these instrumentals that are full pieces that I'm completely happy with. Instrumentals that could stand completely alone. I don't go collecting beats from other producers.. I don't work with other producers. So really if that instrumental is good from the beginning, like, you'll know. I'll be messing around with something and someone will tell me 'that sounds cool, what the hell is this?' or I'll really get into what I'm doing and it's like 'fuck this is good' and that's really all the affirmation I need. If I like it then, you know, I eventually want it somewhere. It’s always worked for me.

I always thought about that and I know it's different with every person that makes music. I've talked to artists and they end up making 15 songs but only end up putting 6 or 7 on the album. There comes a point where you have to be picky too.

Exactly, yeah. The thing is, I have this whole back catalog of amazing songs I've never released too. Music I really like and enjoyed making but just haven't found the place for it. I think if you can still make more music that you have yet to release, that can be equally as good as the music you already did release. There are literally two songs on this album that I wrote before I was even signed, when I was [pauses] I don’t know, eighteen or nineteen? And it’s the first two songs on the album. If it’s good and you like it and you want it out, it will eventually find its place. That’s good energy to have. 

How do you feel when you get the kind of energy that just hits you? When you just get struck by inspiration?

Moments like that is how i wrote 'often'. It was the fastest song I had written on finally bleeding. It was one of the last records — — literally, it almost didn't even make the record. I think I wrote that in about, like, 40 minutes maybe? [laughs] yeah, but I recorded it and it ended up being one of my biggest records ever. Insane.

Often was an insane hit, really it was. It was everywhere when it came out and I remember hearing it when I went to clubs or playing on the radio or anywhere on social media. There it was. It was a hit. But for a song like that to be a number 1.. It's so uncompromising.

Yeah. Crazy, isn’t it?

That was a game changer, that song. I feel like a lot of people now are taking a lot of risks with their singles and just presenting themselves and don't really feel like they have to bury songs like that.

Yeah, for sure. Even with ordinary life, that was definitely, one hundred percent, no doubt still a huge risk. But pop to me is, you know, what's popular and what's hot right now. You gotta meet pop. You gotta meet pop culture.

Going back to what you said about often almost not making the record, isn't that so insane? The possibility of losing songs during that decision making process that could end up being your biggest hit yet.

i think it's about, again, those risks that you're willing to take when it comes to songs like that. luckily, you know, fans loved often and the song went crazy, but it was me trying to do something a bit different compared to the release of blackdragon. it was a bold fucking move. when i wrote often, that was supposed to be a soundcloud song, and of course with Interscope, they were just like, 'there's no way you're gonna put out a result like this. this is a throwaway record..' [laughs] but Lenny heard the record, cause he loves that shit, he loves the darker shit, but he looks at me and he just goes, 'dude, this might be your biggest record of all time.' so i said fuck it and put it on there anyway.

When your writing your lyrics, do you sometimes write as a character? Or do you write with people in mind? How do you kind of get yourself into frame when you can be so detail driven and descriptive?

of course, yeah. a lot of it is a character. um, but i mean a lot of it is real life experiences too. i feel like i've experienced enough before my career started, which at that point, just being nineteen years old when i signed with NOVA, but i feel like i have enough experience to write what i've written and to continue whatever story that is that i'm telling. the past three years i've grabbed new inspiration and i've put that into the music also.

Something that's been documented a lot and reviewed, the subject matter in your music. It's dark. It's guilt-ridden. it's all this 'I can't stop taking drugs but it's bad for me but I need to do it anyway.' But I feel like since meeting you, you're very steady. Who is this person in those songs?

i do think overall i am a pretty chilled person, but um.. that guy is... y'know, it's who i am. but it's the me that i've taken and stretched and sort of created into this like, beast. it's me just adding on and turning it into something that's just uncontrollable. like it's own character. it just sounds good. he sounds good. it's like scarface, you know? the villian. it's horrible but you can't stop looking at it. my fans love it. people love it.

Man, you know, your female fans love it.

yeah. [laughs]

I mean they really love it. And I'm not trying to sound judgmental here, there's no judgement. It's just an observational question. But, why is it you think your music is so popular with women when the subject matter is so raw?

i think people just love raw. i mean look at things like, you know, fifty shades of grey. how did that blow up? it's the darkness of it. that's what the music is. it's raw and it's dark. to me, it's good to have that darkness because when the light comes, it just feels that much better. so a lot of the music, when you listen to it, it's really a good mix of that darkness and that rush but also there's those few songs that are just fun and that make you feel good. i think people feel a sense of relief almost when they reach those songs, whatever the reason be, and i think it just makes you feel that much better.

Do you ever feel yourself slipping into that darkness?

yeah. sometimes. but i have a good team.

Do they pull you back?

of course. it's good to have a good team around you. especially a team that you've grown with.

And for you, that would be your ex labelmates over at NOVA, right? You guys are all still close.

yeah, i'm still good friends with all of them. we're together literally all the time. some of them even flew out with me here. they’ve really shaped me as an artist and i feel like as a person too. you know, when i went to korea from the states, i really had no one. i moved there at sixteen completely alone and they were the ones that heard me and saw my potential and believed enough in me to give me a chance and i'll always be grateful for that. they're just a group of really talented guys and even though i parted ways with the label, i still respect them a lot as artists and will always keep them around me.

With the drinking and the drugs, do you think that's sort of a crutch for you sometimes? To help you get through those moments of darkness?

yeah. nerves.

How is that you — and it's a lot of artists too that suffer with things like nerves and bad anxiety — how do you do it? How do you get yourself to go in front of hundreds and thousands of people every night and perform when you struggle with something like that?

i think it's just... you know, you're singing to all of those people. it's an emotional thing. it's nerve-racking and it’s scary as hell. but you have to fight that feeling when performing is what keeps you going. like for me, the music and the fans and getting to perform. even though it’s only something i’ve been doing since 2017, it’s all i’ve ever had. so that was something i had to do and once i did it... [pauses] i don’t know. i just feel like now, people are more nervous to see me than i am to see them.

Well what's it like when you meet fans and you've created this character? This 'Monroe' to them. I mean, it's intimidating to people.

mm... [pauses] feels great. [laughs] you know what i mean? it's a good thing. you're seeing your favorite artist. you want to feel that way. you don't want to meet your favorite artist and it's like a normal fucking experience. it's the rush of it all, you know? then you find out like, i'm cool. then that's even better.

Who is that for you? Some people you look at like that?

nobody.

Nobody at all?

nobody.

Now I'm a bit curious about something, because it is something you play around with a lot in your music. Are you a religious person?

um.. i'm there. in a way. think i'm definitely spiritual now. i mean i was never a full out atheist, you know? nothing against that, it's all respect for whatever you believe, but i feel like people turn to that point because life is just, it's shit. they feel like there's no way there's a god and this is all happening.

In another viewpoint, I feel like religion is what people turn to when life gets shit.

yeah well, i was just a pessimist. always kind of pessimistic.

Were you like that as a kid?

oh yeah.

Where do you think that comes from?

uh, i don’t know.. [pauses] i guess growing up i didn't really have much around me to be optimistic about. i didn't have any brothers or sisters and i wasn't close with either of my parents or any family really. i always wanted a dog but i was never allowed to get a fucking dog. [laughs] but you know, when great things finally started happening for me, i just felt like all of that was something i had to go through in a way. like a test or something.

Speaking of family, I know you said you weren't close with them and that you moved at such a young age. How difficult was that for you? To take such a major turn in your life? I mean, something like that. Moving countries at sixteen all on your own?

the way i looked at it back then was like, i was just riding down this long road for so long and i had already been doing it all by myself. i mean my parents were around when i was a kid, but like, with my dad, we were never close. he was in and out of my life a lot and we never got along when he was around. my mom was really the only parental figure i had in my life, but she passed away when i was young and we never had that family bond either. so really, i was on this road with no one but myself and i just felt like i had finally reached that dead end and had to make a choice of where to turn or else i was going to just.. end up driving myself off of that cliff.

Driving yourself off that cliff — is there a darker underlier there?

there could have been.

Well, looking back at all of it now, I'm sure there are no regrets on the choices you made.

not at all. i think where i am right now and the people that i have around me is where i'm supposed to be.

These people you have in your life now, they see you be successful and they see the way you do it on the edge of things. This isn't, with the greatest of respect, this isn't pop music that your contemporaries are making. You push things a lot.

it's rock and roll, you know.

You're right, it is rock and roll. You're a rockstar, man. Really and I mean, you're making videos that have shit in hardcore.

someone's gotta do it. [laughs] no, but um, you know that's just what i've found that i do best and people love it. people hate it too but that's what sparks discussion and that's what art is all about, isn’t it?

Exactly. That’s your art. Keep it up. — Monroe, I want to thank you so much for coming in and talking with me tonight. I know you don’t do interviews like this too often so I do appreciate it.

of course, thank you so much for having me on. the energy has been good.

Everyone.. Oh Mami is only days away from it’s release on June 25th, followed by the release of the second single Can’t Feel My Face on July 2nd. The Party & The After Party will officially be released the following week on July 9th at midnight. Monroe concludes that an important and exciting announcement will be made shortly after the album’s release so stick around and be sure to follow him on all of his socials to stay updated on the news. This has been Sirius XM.

[toriii131466628]

100 reasons not to kill yourself

1. We would miss you.

2. It’s not worth the regret. Either by yourself if you failed or just simply left scars, or the regret everyone else feels by not doing enough to help you.

3. It does get better. Believe it or not it will eventually get better. Sometimes you have to go through the storm to get to the rainbow.

4. There’s so much you would miss out on doing.

5. There is always a reason to live. It might not be clear right now, but it is always there.

6. So many people care, and it would hurt them if you hurt yourself.

7. You ARE worth it. Don’t let anyone, especially yourself, tell you otherwise.

8. You are amazing.

9. A time will come, once you’ve battled the toughest times of your life and are in ease once again, where you will be so glad that you decided to keep on living. You will emerge stronger from this all, and won’t regret your choice to carry on with life. Because things always get better.

10. What about all the things you’ve always wanted to do? What about the things you’ve planned, but never got around to doing? You can’t do them when you’re dead.

11. I love you. Even if only one person loves you, that’s still a reason to stay alive.

12. You won’t be able to listen to music if you die.

13. Killing yourself is never worth it. You’ll hurt both yourself and all the people you care about.

14. There are so many people that would miss you, including me.

15. You’re preventing a future generation, YOUR KIDS, from even being born.

16. How do you think your family would feel? Would it improve their lives if you died?

17. You’re gorgeous, amazing, and to someone you are perfect.

18. Think about your favourite music artist, you’ll never hear their voice again…

19. You’ll never have the feeling of walking into a warm building on a cold day

20. Listening to incredibly loud music

21. Being alive is just really good.

22. Not being alive is really bad.

23. Finding your soulmate.

24. Red pandas

25. Going to diners at three in the morning.

26. Really soft pillows.

27. Eating pizza in New York City.

28. Proving people wrong with your success.

29. Watching the jerks that doubted you fail at life.

30. Seeing someone trip over a garbage can.

31. Being able to help other people.

32. Bonfires.

33. Sitting on rooftops.

34. Seeing every single country in the world.

35. Going on roadtrips.

36. You might win the lottery someday.

37. Listening to music on a record player.

38. Going to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

39. Taking really cool pictures.

40. Literally meeting thousands of new people.

41. Hearing crazy stories.

42. Telling crazy stories.

43. Eating ice cream on a hot day.

44. More Harry Potter books could come out, you never know.

45. Travelling to another planet someday.

46. Having an underwater house.

47. Randomly running into your hero on the street.

48. Having your own room at a fancy hotel.

49. Trampolines.

50. Think about your favourite movie, you’ll never watch it again.

51. Think about the feeling of laughing out loud in a public place because your best friend has just sent you an inside joke,

52. Your survival will make the world better, even if it’s for just one person or 20 or 100 or more.

53. People do care.

54. Treehouses

55. Hanging out with your soul mate in a treehouse

55. Snorting when you laugh and not caring who sees

56. I don’t even know you and I love you.

57. I don’t even know you and I care about you.

58. Because nobody is going to be like you ever, so embrace your uniqueness!

59. You won’t be here to experience the first cat world emperor.

60. WHAT ABOUT FOOD?! YOU’LL MISS CHOCOLATE AND ALL THE OTHER NOM THINGS!

61. Starbucks.

62. Hugs.

63. Stargazing.

64. You have a purpose, and it’s up to you to find out what it is.

65. You’ve changed somebody’s life.

66. Now you could change the world.

67. You will meet the person that’s perfect for you.

68. No matter how much or how little, you have your life ahead of you.

69. You have the chance to save somebody’s life.

70. If you end your life, you’re stopping yourself from achieving great things.

71. Making snow angels.

72. Making snowmen.

73. Snowball fights.

74. Life is what you make of it.

75. Everybody has a talent.

76. Laughing until you cry.

77. Having the ability to be sad means you have the ability to be happy.

78. The world would not be the same if you didn’t exist.

79. Its possible to turn frowns, upside down

80. Be yourself, don’t take anyone’s shit, and never let them take you alive.

81. Heroes are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary. Be your own hero.

82. Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.

83. One day your smile will be real.

84. Having a really hot, relaxing bath after a stressful day.

85. Lying on grass and laughing at the clouds.

86. Getting completely smashed with your best friends.

87. Eating crazy food.

88. Staying up all night watching your favourite films with a loved one.

89. Sleeping in all day.

90. Creating something you’re proud of.

91. You can look back on yourself 70 years later and being proud you didn’t commit

92. Being able to meet your Internet friends.

93. Tea / Coffee / Hot Chocolate

94. Sherlock season three.

95. Cuddling under the stars.

96. Being stupid in public because you just can.

97. If you are reading this then you are alive! Is there any more reason to smile?

98. being able to hug that one person you havent seen in years

99. People care enough about you and your future to come up with 100 reasons for you not to do this.

100. But, the final and most important one is, just, being able to experience life. Because even if your life doesn’t seem so great right now, literally anything could happen

Depression Hotline: 1-630-482-9696

Suicide Hotline: 1-800-784-8433

LifeLine: 1-800-273-8255

Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Sexuality Support: 1-800-246-7743

Eating Disorders Hotline: 1-847-831-3438

Rape and Sexual Assault: 1-800-656-4673

Grief Support: 1-650-321-5272

Runaway: 1-800-843-5200, 1-800-843-5678, 1-800-621-4000

Exhale: After Abortion Hotline/Pro-Voice: 1-866-4394253

Child Abuse: 1-800-422-4453

UK Helplines:

Samaritans (for any problem): 08457909090 e-mail jo@samaritans.org

Childline (for anyone under 18 with any problem): 08001111

Mind infoline (mental health information): 0300 123 3393 e-mail: info@mind.org.uk

Mind legal advice (for people who need mental-health related legal advice): 0300 466 6463 legal@mind.org.uk

b-eat eating disorder support: 0845 634 14 14 (only open Mon-Fri 10.30am-8.30pm and Saturday 1pm-4.30pm) e-mail: help@b-eat.co.uk

b-eat youthline (for under 25’s with eating disorders): 08456347650 (open Mon-Fri 4.30pm - 8.30pm, Saturday 1pm-4.30pm)

Cruse Bereavement Care: 08444779400 e-mail: helpline@cruse.org.uk

Frank (information and advice on drugs): 0800776600

Drinkline: 0800 9178282

Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 802 9999 1(open 2 - 2.30pm 7 - 9.30pm) e-mail info@rapecrisis.org.uk

Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02 every day, 6pm to midnight

India Self Harm Hotline: 00 08001006614

India Suicide Helpline: 022-27546669

Kids Help Phone (Canada): 1-800-668-6868, Free and available 24/7

suicide hotlines;

Argentina: 54-0223-493-0430

Australia: 13-11-14

Austria: 01-713-3374

Barbados: 429-9999

Belgium: 106

Botswana: 391-1270

Brazil: 21-233-9191

China: 852-2382-0000

(Hong Kong: 2389-2222)

Costa Rica: 606-253-5439

Croatia: 01-4833-888

Cyprus: 357-77-77-72-67

Czech Republic: 222-580-697, 476-701-908

Denmark: 70-201-201

Egypt: 762-1602

Estonia: 6-558-088

Finland: 040-5032199

France: 01-45-39-4000

Germany: 0800-181-0721

Greece: 1018

Guatemala: 502-234-1239

Holland: 0900-0767

Honduras: 504-237-3623

Hungary: 06-80-820-111

Iceland: 44-0-8457-90-90-90

Ireland: 1800-247-100

Israel: 09-8892333

Italy: 06-705-4444

Japan: 3-5286-9090

Latvia: 6722-2922, 2772-2292

Malaysia: 03-756-8144

(Singapore: 1-800-221-4444)

Mexico: 525-510-2550

Netherlands: 0900-0767

New Zealand: 4-473-9739

New Guinea: 675-326-0011

Nicaragua: 505-268-6171

Norway: 47-815-33-300

Philippines: 02-896-9191

Poland: 52-70-000

Portugal: 239-72-10-10

Russia: 8-20-222-82-10

Serbia: 21-6623-393

Spain: 91-459-00-50

South Africa: 0861-322-322

South Korea: 2-715-8600

Sweden: 031-711-2400

Switzerland: 143

Taiwan: 0800-788-995

Thailand: 02-249-9977

Trinidad and Tobago: 868-645-2800

Ukraine: 0487-327715

Uruguay: 095 73 8483

You will be missing out on every single wonderful thing yet to happen to you.

[thecatsreaderslibrary]

Hello and Welcome Friends, Readers, #Writers, and New Friends! Thanks for stopping by…

…. Cat’s going to jump right in with all the amazing literary News and Updates for all our award-winning writers and best-selling AUTHORS we have the Honor of PROMOTING and Working With…

First up is our prolific storyteller and best-selling author Mr. Joe Siccardi … And since he calls me his Personal Publicist, and I call him Papa Joe, I better get his updates correct! (lol). Now, Joe, who is on the road traveling this spring and summer around the USA while he visits all of his children and grandkids.

As he is feverishly writing a follow-up to his popular heart-warming Memoir of “Wisdom From A Father,” Joe, will be setting up a few Christian Book Reading and Signing Events along the way. And, all of his titles are garnishing many more new 4 & 5-Star Book Reviews like this new one for his newest title; My Name is Sam…And Heaven is Still Shining Through available on Amazon! ….

….. New Book Review For “Sam”

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2020 Format: Paperback  An ordinary woman who experiences God’s grace

Some people like escape fiction designed to take the reader out of their everyday reality. Escape fiction is fun, but I also like stories that help me in my everyday life. That’s why Joe Siccardi’s book, My Name Is Sam, first appealed to me. A fictionalized memoir, Siccardi’s book is the story of an ordinary woman, not so different from you or me. >>>> Her life, her loves, her ups and downs, and how through it all, God’s love shines through. An easy read. If you are looking for something to help you recognize God’s presence in your life, even when God seems far away, this is the book for you.

For more updates, author news, and his writing from Joe Siccardi, stop by his Official Author Website at https://wisdomfromafather.com/ or connect with him on Twitter!

…… <><><><><><><><>

…. MEET RUSTY BLACKWOOD THIS WEEKEND IN ONTARIO CANADA

….

Meet Rusty Blackwood! Rusty is the multi-award-winning writer and author of the riveting romantic fiction drama, Passions in Paris: Revelations of a Lost Diary, and the celebrated, 5-star award-winning romantic fiction drama, Willow’s Walk, and her newest, an intense romantic drama, The Perils of Autumn.

Rusty is kicking off Spring a little early with an Author Event at Chapters-Indigo bookstore this Sunday, March 8th, and begins at 1 PM! Ms. Blackwood is “Toasting March with Autumn & Willow and located at the Indigo Ancaster  in Hamilton, ON, Canada., as she will be greeting readers and sharing her newest book of  “The Perils of Autumn” and will have copies of “Willow’s Walk.” 

Books will be available for purchase and autographed by the author. This book event will begin her new book tour of 2020, as Rusty already has a date for another event this coming June!

……

….. The Cat will be sharing more about that one soon. She’ll also be sharing how the follow-up to “Perils” titled; “Return To Autumn” is coming along as you can read a sneak peek Chapter as she was gracious enough to share it with all of Cat’s Readers and Blog Visitors here: https://anauthorandwriterinprogress.wordpress.com/2020/02/23/coming-this-year-the-follow-up-to-the-perils-of-autumn-by-award-winning-romance-author-rusty-blackwood-here-is-a-taste-of-whats-to-come/

You are invited to connect with Rusty through social media and visit her beautiful Official Author website to sign up for her newsletter so you won’t miss an update!

Visit Her Website  Join Author’s Newsletter Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Pinterest, Linkedin …

….. <><><><><><><><><>

  ……. MEET AWARD-WINNING SELF-HELP AUTHOR MAUREEN SCANLON at B&N

…..

……

An Afternoon With Author & Life Coach Maureen Scanlon Book Event

Book Signing and Meet & Greet With Life Coach Maureen … Author Discussion, Life Advice, Author Signing (Happier Life, Self-Help, Furry Pets) Tempe, AZ.

Join Multi- Book-Award-Winner and Life Coach Maureen Scanlon as Barnes & Noble of Tempe Marketplace welcomes this fantastic Author, Speaker, and Life & Relationship Coach, Ms. Maureen Scanlon and Sponsored by Lyon Media Services.

Ms. Scanlon will be discussing how she uses unique cognitive techniques from her book and how she learned them through the ways of her doggies Jaden and Brodie. She’ll share sound advice on how to change poor habits and learn positivity to have a happier life through her research and personal experiences with her Furry Pets.

All this and much more can be read in her award-winning book, “My Dog Is More Enlightened Than I Am,” as books will be available for purchase and signed at this event, come and join us for a few hours of literary fun!

Saturday, March 21, 2020, at 1 PM – 3:30 PM Barnes & Noble (Tempe, AZ)   2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy, # 1032, Tempe, Arizona 85281

……

…. About The Author:

Maureen Scanlon is the founder and CEO of Maureen Scanlon Life Coaching. She is an award-winning author, relationship expert, motivational speaker, positive change integrator, and spiritual coach who has successfully helped many people, from experienced professionals to young adults and couples. She focuses her tools and techniques on overcoming past negative experiences and making positive changes in our thoughts and lives.

Maureen has been featured on 3TV Good Morning Arizona, 3TV Your Life Az, ABC15 Sonoran Living, Voyage Phoenix Magazine, appeared on the cover and featured in Ultimate Women International magazine, USA daily times, as well interviews on radio shows like Mind Body Radio, Business Talk Radio, and Networking Arizona. Her book has now won a silver award from Author Shout and Top 12 book pick list from Spirited Woman, with a 5 Star rating on Amazon.

When Maureen is not working to change the world, you can find her at home relaxing in Mesa, Arizona, with her husband, Dennis. She enjoys scrapbooking, painting, traveling, and time with her furry baby doggies, Jade and Brodie. She is also the mother of three adult children and grandmother to three grandchildren whom she adores.

Join us for a few hours of literary fun! It is a free literary event open to the public and located in Tempe Marketplace. See you there!

Don’t miss any new books or events by Life Coach and Award-Winning Author, Maureen Scanlon, so visit here official website at “Life Coach Maureen” or book  a session with her today! You’ll be much Happier and Motivated after.

CAT WILL BE SHARING MORE UPDATES SOON!

Lyon Media Services Has Our Authors on The Go! There Are Book Events, New Releases, Writing Projects, and Much More . . . Hello and Welcome Friends, Readers, #Writers, and New Friends! Thanks for stopping by... .... Cat's going to jump right in with all the amazing…

[anraliko-blog]

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[ryan-masamune-of-oshu]

Fic Inspiration Roulette

It’s a collection of posts I’ve seen that inspired some of my fics. They’re not all written like prompts but you get the idea. It’s a mix of fluff and smut. Anyways I decided to post it for my own reference but also so people could use it as a meme if they want to.

Send a ship name and I’ll randomly generate a number 1-40 for a “fic prompt”

1. “Characters trapped somewhere to hide from a storm” trope, more like: “HOW MANY ORGASMS CAN THESE CHARACTERS HAVE IN 48 HOURS WHILE WAITING OUT A BLIZZARD? THE ANSWER MAY SHOCK YOU!”

2.  BOSS: Know why I called you in here? ME: Because I accidentally sent you a dick pic BOSS: [stops pouring 2 glasses of wine] Accidentally?

3. “I am not sorry for who I had to become in order to survive.”

4. PERSON A: “Babe you wear a lot of black. Don’t you ever want some bright colors?” PERSON B: [smirks] “Nah you already brighten my day.” PERSON A: “I fucking love you.”

5. PERSON D: “I spy with my little eye, something beginning with ‘S’” PERSON C: “Is it [PERSON A and B’s] Sexual tension? PERSON A and B: “What?”

6. I stand in truth of who I am and what I feel. I’m liberated by authenticity. I stand exposed, my armor shed with arms outstretched in vulnerability. I am yours to wound, abandon, or embrace. I stand steady in patience as you search for your own truth. But know this: I will not wait forever.

7. I want sheet grabbing, back arching, heavy breathing, leg shaking sex. I want the slow kissing, hand roaming, and neck kissing. I want my lip bit and my back pinned against the wall. Pin me the fuck down. Get on top of me, rip my clothes off. Fuck...

8. If they stand behind you, give them protection. If they stand beside you, give them respect. If they stand in front of you, watch their back. And if they stand against you, show them no mercy.

9. No offense, but the soft uncertain kiss followed by a pause where the people look each other in the eyes and then fucking pull each other back into a more passionate kiss, will always be the most soul destroying trope. Catch me lying on the fucking ground sobbing and rewatching The Scene TM

10. I don’t want high school student aus. I want high school teachers aus. Please give me awkward teachers in love with each other and their students who work so, so hard to shove them together, please!

11. They told you it would feel good, but you couldn’t have imagined it would be this good. You hold their head down as you cum in their mouth. Don’t worry, let it wash over you. It’s what you both want. They’re happy to be on their needs, swallowing every last drop, unlike your partner.

12. Imagine your OTP having lazy Saturday morning sex. Eyes half open, early-morning sun washing across the bed. Sheets tangled around their legs. It’s nothing too intense. It’s warmth and messy tenderness, faces buried into each other’s necks and pleasure shivering down their spines.

13. If you run your fingers through my hair and pull a little while we’re kissing, I’m all yours.

14. Concept: We are laying in a hammock together, the summer breeze gently rocks us. My head is on your chest and I can hear your heartbeat and your breathing. The birds sing above and the sunlight warms us. I am in love with you.

15. You say you hate me, but I can see the love in your eyes. The way you say my name doesn’t match the vile words that follow. If I disgust you, then why do you pull me closer? If you say it hurts, then why beg to be touched. You confuse me darling, but let’s make one thing clear-you are mine, not his. So stop lying and show me how you really feel.

16. Neck kiss is honestly the hottest, most seductive thing anybody could ever do to me. If you kiss my neck, if you playfully bite my neck, if your tongue touches my neck, I will melt in your fingertips.

17. Plot: You’re an intelligent, pretty young thing who’s more familiar with books and philosophical concept. I’m that rough trade guy who you invite over to fix your sink and install a couple electrical things, but really you wanted to see me shirtless and of course, I end up fucking your brains out in the kitchen and then the bathroom and finally in the courtyard because that was the plan all along. Let’s be real.

18. When lazy kissing gets intense with that deep breath and hip pull.

19. When I have you, I’m gonna brand you with my lips and all of the world will know that you’re MINE now.

20. I say it’s time to bring back overtly sexual masquerade parties.

21. Someday, someone is going to look at you with a look in their eyes you’ve never seen. They’ll look at you like you’re everything...wait for it.

22. I’m sorry but if I’m sucking a dick and it hasn’t cum in like 10 minutes or less, it’s not my problem anymore and you can figure it out.

23. You call yourself ugly but you’ve only seen yourself when you look at the mirror, a thread. You don’t see yourself when your face lights up at the sight of a baby, ice cream, or your favorite restaurant. You don’t see yourself when you’re so focused on the things you love doing. You tell yourself you’re ugly but you’ve never seen yourself talk about the things you love. The stars, sky, the constellations, and the universe. You don’t see yourself when you smile at me for finally understanding what you’re trying to say. I guess that’s why it’s so easy for people to say they’re ugly because they’ve never seen themselves in the smallest moments, in the ordinary and still be beautiful. You never saw yourself tear up for laughing so hard or turn red after I told you something cheesy.

24. I want to lick your pulse and make you wonder if I’ll bite.

25. We’re on a date in a club and my friend is really high and confessing their love for me in front of you. So you take me to the back and fuck me to remind me who I belong to AU

26. Suggestion: Whisper praise in my ear when you’re fucking me from behind.

27. I’m sure you wouldn't mind them joining in, would you? You’re so needy. Sometimes you just need the extra attention. Don’t you? Need another set of hands on you, or more skin to get your hands on?

28. A shy sub riding your thigh, and hiding their face in your shoulder, mewling quietly as you guide their hips and make them move faster.

29. You’re OTP having sex. Person A has a habit of burying their face in something when they hit their climax, whether it be a pillow of Person B. This time Person B makes absolutely sure that Person A is looking at them when they orgasm (even if it means holding their face still). Bonus if Person B is so turned on by it they instantly cum.

30. From the bottom of my heart, please know that I’d appreciate being slammed against a wall with your hands down my pants and your breath against my neck saying that I am yours and only yours. 

31. If a monster or demon isn’t rawing you behind a haunted house or inside the woods, are you even doing Halloween right?

32. So there I was, a woodsman in flannel, eating out a beautiful man in a red cloak after saving him from a dangerous wolf. 

33. I don’t need prayers to worship you; just my head between your legs and your hands tugging at my hair.

34. I wanna hide my face in someone’s neck and sleep

35. Having sex with someone actually is a big deal and involves a ton of vulnerability and I think it’s extremely troubling and gross and unhealthy and actually exceptionally dangerous that we pretend otherwise and encourage people to “be mature” by compartmentalizing/completely eliminating their deeper human emotions from their sexuality and that any other view is dismissed as prudish and invalid and unenlightened and childish and restrictive. I can’t think about this too much because it makes me rage but I hate how much porn and capitalism have destroyed how we understand and experience sexuality and intimate connections with one another so much. 

36. I want to sleep with you. I don’t mean have sex. I mean sleep, together, under my blankets, and in my bed. With my hand on your chest and your arm around me. With the window cracked so it’s chilly and we have to cuddle closer. No talking, just sleepy blissfully happy, silence. 

37. Making out is one of the most underrated things in the world of sex. Like, one of the best feelings on Earth is tongue on tongue, biting each other’s lips and pressing your bodies together and grinding your hips into each other while your breathing mixes and making out is just so ugh God...

38. Imagine someone buying you lingerie just so they could see you in it.

39. “We’ve been fucking no strings attached but I just saw you go upstairs with another guy and I’m drunk and following you both upstairs to punch the shit out of him.

40.  My muse us clearly having a very vivid dream. Their body is reacting to it in a very sexual manner, panting and writhing in reaction as they sleep. It seems that whatever or whoever they are dreaming of is doing a good job of turning them on. Send me your muse’s response to walking in and finding them like that. 

[anastpaul]

One Minute Reflection – 24 November – Today’s Gospel: Luke 20:27–40 – Saturday of the Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year B – The Memorial of St Andrew Dung-Lac & Companions, Vietnam Martyrs

“Now he is not God of the dead but of the living;  for all live to him.”...Luke 20:38

REFLECTION – “ Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the earthly one.   The first man was from the earth, earthly;  the second man from heaven.   ” If we thus act, beloved, then we shall nevermore die in time to come. Even though our bodies may decay, we shall be living in Christ as he himself affirmed: “Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”   We are assured, on the witness of our Lord Himself, that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the saints are alive.   For it was concerning them that our Lord said:  “All are alive for him, for he is not God of the dead but of the living.”   And the apostle Paul said, speaking of himself:  “For me, life is Christ, death gain. I long to depart and be with Christ.”   And again:  “So long as we are in the body, we are away from the Lord  . For indeed, we walk by faith, not by sight.”   This is what we believe, my dearest brethren.   Besides:  “If we have placed our hope in this world only, we are the most pitiable people of all.” Life in this world, as you yourselves can see, is just the same for animals, wild beasts, birds and ourselves and it can even be longer for them.   But what is proper to humans is what Christ gives us through His Spirit, provided we sin no more – life without end…: “The wages of sin is death;  the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”…St Pacian, Father of the Church (c 310–391) (Biblical references: 1Cor 15:49.47; Jn 11:25; Phil 1:21.23; 2Cor 5:6-7; 1Cor 15:19; Rm 6:23)

“It is not this life that will serve as a reference point for eternity, for the other life that awaits us; rather, it is eternity — that life — which illumines and gives hope to the earthly life of each one of us! If we look at things from only a human perspective, we tend to say that man’s journey moves from life to death. This is what we see! But this is only so if we look at things from a human perspective. Jesus turns this perspective upside down and states that our pilgrimage goes from death to life – the fullness of life!” …Pope Francis – Angelus, 10 November 2013

PRAYER – O God, source and origin of all fatherhood, who kept the Martyrs Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions faithful to the Cross of Your Son, even to the shedding of their blood, grant, through their intercession, that, spreading Your love among our brothers and sisters, we may be Your children both in name and in truth and thus come to our resurrection with Jesus Christ, Your Son.   Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

(via One Minute Reflection - 24 November - Today's Gospel: Luke 20:27–40)

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Sat Nov 02nd, 2024 ... Saturday of The Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B/The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Reading I

----------

Wis 3:1-9

The souls of the just are in the hand of God,

    and no torment shall touch them.

They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;

    and their passing away was thought an affliction

    and their going forth from us, utter destruction.

But they are in peace.

For if before men, indeed, they be punished,

    yet is their hope full of immortality;

chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,

    because God tried them

    and found them worthy of himself.

As gold in the furnace, he proved them,

    and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.

In the time of their visitation they shall shine,

    and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;

they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,

    and the Lord shall be their King forever.

Those who trust in him shall understand truth,

    and the faithful shall abide with him in love:

because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,

    and his care is with his elect.

Responsorial Psalm

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

23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R.    (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or:

R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

    In verdant pastures he gives me repose;

beside restful waters he leads me;

    he refreshes my soul.

R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or:

R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

He guides me in right paths

    for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk in the dark valley

    I fear no evil; for you are at my side

with your rod and your staff

    that give me courage.

R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or:

R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

You spread the table before me

    in the sight of my foes;

You anoint my head with oil;

    my cup overflows.

R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or:

R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

Only goodness and kindness follow me

    all the days of my life;

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

    for years to come.

R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

or:

R.    Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

Reading II

----------

Rom 6:3-9

Brothers and sisters:

Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus 

were baptized into his death?

We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, 

so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead 

by the glory of the Father, 

we too might live in newness of life.

For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, 

we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.

We know that our old self was crucified with him, 

so that our sinful body might be done away with, 

that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.

For a dead person has been absolved from sin.

If, then, we have died with Christ,

we believe that we shall also live with him.

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;

death no longer has power over him.

Alleluia

-------

Mt 25:34

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Come, you who are blessed by my Father;

inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

--------

Jn 6:37-40

Jesus said to the crowds:

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,

and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,

because I came down from heaven not to do my own will

but the will of the one who sent me.

And this is the will of the one who sent me,

that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,

but that I should raise it on the last day.

For this is the will of my Father,

that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him

may have eternal life,

and I shall raise him on the last day.”

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

Today is a Lost and Found, a sorry and happy day!

A few years ago I was on a flight into New York City. We were preparing for landing and looking out the window I wondered at just how many graves there were down below. I began imagining the day of the resurrection of all those bones and bodies. I said to myself, “No that’s never going to happen.” Just then the plane banked sharply to the left and I then said to myself again, “Okay! Save such thoughts until I am safely inside the airport.” Not a good thing to question God while in the fragility of an airplane I suppose.

A few minutes ago I wrote an email to a dear friend of my very good Jesuit friend who died eight years ago. Today would be his birthday. So many good memories which somehow keep him alive within us both. Of course there are questions about his passing when he was so alive, active, helpful to so many. Now in the safety of my land-bound room I have such questions. Where is he? Can he see me, hear me? What is heaven like and what does this very active man do all the eternal-time? What is heaven like? How much like earth is it like?

What are your questions?

I looked for help with my questions within today’s Gospel from John Chapter six. Where’s the comfort? Where’s the encouragement? “That I should not lose anything of what He gave me….” Earlier in this same chapter, Jesus has the left-over fragments collected so that nothing be “wasted”. After the Resurrection of Jesus, He went around collecting those who were lost to themselves . We take courage and hope, because God created us, chose us, not individually only, but as this whole human family. God saw humanity, in Genesis, as “very good”, even when we don’t see this within and around us. God’s goodness is who we are and God cannot distance Himself from Himself, His Goodness.

One more reflection please! We have all been to wake and funerals and have listened to the “goodness” as lived in each of the departed. Often I think to myself, “Too bad she/he wasn’t here to receive such affirmations.” Such “goodness” lived in such human containers! That “goodness”, that gift was shared through him/her with both those present at this funeral, but in so many ways through this person’s life. We were created by God once and then so many other times through that same “Goodness”. This “Goodness” continues in our lives in God’s “Goodness” within us and it cannot be lost, but collected for further distribution.

I am not sure what we’ll do “there” all the “time” or for eternity. I do know that, because of the lives of the faithful departed in my life, their “goodness” will not be “wasted” in my few remaining days. God continues creating through the lives of “God’s Goodness” in our lives and then our time here is spent in God’s creating more “Goodness” through such as we. God! Grant us all a safe landing. 

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

The Story of the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

The Church has encouraged prayer for the dead from the earliest times as an act of Christian charity. “If we had no care for the dead,” Augustine noted, “we would not be in the habit of praying for them.” Yet pre-Christian rites for the deceased retained such a strong hold on the superstitious imagination that a liturgical commemoration was not observed until the early Middle Ages, when monastic communities began to mark an annual day of prayer for the departed members.

In the middle of the 11th century, Saint Odilo, abbot of Cluny, France, decreed that all Cluniac monasteries offer special prayers and sing the Office for the Dead on November 2, the day after the feast of All Saints. The custom spread from Cluny and was finally adopted throughout the Roman Church.

The theological underpinning of the feast is the acknowledgment of human frailty. Since few people achieve perfection in this life but, rather, go to the grave still scarred with traces of sinfulness, some period of purification seems necessary before a soul comes face-to-face with God. The Council of Trent affirmed this purgatory state and insisted that the prayers of the living can speed the process of purification.

Superstition easily clung to the observance. Medieval popular belief held that the souls in purgatory could appear on this day in the form of witches, toads or will-o’-the-wisps. Graveside food offerings supposedly eased the rest of the dead.

Observances of a more religious nature have survived. These include public processions or private visits to cemeteries and decorating graves with flowers and lights. This feast is observed with great fervor in Mexico.

Reflection

----------

Whether or not one should pray for the dead is one of the great arguments which divide Christians. Appalled by the abuse of indulgences in the Church of his day, Martin Luther rejected the concept of purgatory. Yet prayer for a loved one is, for the believer, a way of erasing any distance, even death. In prayer we stand in God’s presence in the company of someone we love, even if that person has gone before us into death.

***

【Build your Faith in Christ Jesus on #dailyscripturereadingsgroup 📚: +256 751 540 524 .. Whatsapp】

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

19th October >> Mass Readings (USA)

Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests, and their Companions, Martyrs 

on

Saturday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time.

Saturday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the feria (Saturday))

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

First Reading Ephesians 1:15-23 He gave Christ as head over all things to the Church, which is his Body.

Brothers and sisters: Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, I do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the Church, which is his Body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 8:2-3ab, 4-5, 6-7

R/ You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

O LORD, our LORD, how glorious is your name over all the earth! You have exalted your majesty above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings you have fashioned praise because of your foes.

R/ You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place— What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?

R/ You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet.

R/ You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

Gospel Acclamation John 15:26b, 27a

Alleluia, alleluia. The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 12:8-12 The Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests, and their Companions, Martyrs 

(Liturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

First Reading 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 We carry about in our body the dying of Jesus.

Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6

R/ Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing.

R/ Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed.

R/ Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

R/ Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, They shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves.

R/ Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 28:19a, 20b

Alleluia, alleluia. Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 28:16-20 Go, 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.

[cazacuflorin]

100 Reasons NOT To Kill Yourself

1. We would miss you. 2. It’s not worth the regret. Either by yourself if you failed or just simply left scars, or the regret everyone else feels by not doing enough to help you. 3. It does get better. Believe it or not it will eventually get better. Sometimes you have to go through the storm to get to the rainbow. 4. There’s so much you would miss out on doing. 5. There is always a reason to live. It might not be clear right now, but it is always there. 6. So many people care, and it would hurt them if you hurt yourself. 7. You ARE worth it. Don’t let anyone, especially yourself, tell you otherwise. 8. You are amazing. 9. A time will come, once you’ve battled the toughest times of your life and are in ease once again, where you will be so glad that you decided to keep on living. You will emerge stronger from this all, and won’t regret your choice to carry on with life. Because things always get better. 10. What about all the things you’ve always wanted to do? What about the things you’ve planned, but never got around to doing? You can’t do them when you’re dead. 11. I love you. Even if only one person loves you, that’s still a reason to stay alive. 12. You won’t be able to listen to music if you die. 13. Killing yourself is never worth it. You’ll hurt both yourself and all the people you care about. 14. There are so many people that would miss you, including me. 15. You’re preventing a future generation, YOUR KIDS, from even being born. 16. How do you think your family would feel? Would it improve their lives if you died? 17. You’re gorgeous, amazing, and to someone you are perfect. 18. Think about your favourite music artist, you’ll never hear their voice again… 19. You’ll never have the feeling of walking into a warm building on a cold day 20. Listening to incredibly loud music 21. Being alive is just really good. 22. Not being alive is really bad. 23. Finding your soulmate. 24. Red pandas 25. Going to diners at three in the morning. 26. Really soft pillows. 27. Eating pizza in New York City. 28. Proving people wrong with your success. 29. Watching the jerks that doubted you fail at life. 30. Seeing someone trip over a garbage can. 31. Being able to help other people. 32. Bonfires. 33. Sitting on rooftops. 34. Seeing every single country in the world. 35. Going on roadtrips. 36. You might win the lottery someday. 37. Listening to music on a record player. 38. Going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. 39. Taking really cool pictures. 40. Literally meeting thousands of new people. 41. Hearing crazy stories. 42. Telling crazy stories. 43. Eating ice cream on a hot day. 44. More Harry Potter books could come out, you never know. 45. Travelling to another planet someday. 46. Having an underwater house. 47. Randomly running into your hero on the street. 48. Having your own room at a fancy hotel. 49. Trampolines. 50. Think about your favourite movie, you’ll never watch it again. 51. Think about the feeling of laughing out loud in a public place because your best friend has just sent you an inside joke, 52. Your survival will make the world better, even if it’s for just one person or 20 or 100 or more. 53. People do care. 54. Treehouses 55. Hanging out with your soul mate in a treehouse 55. Snorting when you laugh and not caring who sees 56. I don’t even know you and I love you. 57. I don’t even know you and I care about you. 58. Because nobody is going to be like you ever, so embrace your uniqueness! 59. You won’t be here to experience the first cat world emperor. 60. WHAT ABOUT FOOD?! YOU’LL MISS CHOCOLATE AND ALL THE OTHER NOM THINGS! 61. Starbucks. 62. Hugs. 63. Stargazing. 64. You have a purpose, and it’s up to you to find out what it is. 65. You’ve changed somebody’s life. 66. Now you could change the world. 67. You will meet the person that’s perfect for you. 68. No matter how much or how little, you have your life ahead of you. 69. You have the chance to save somebody’s life. 70. If you end your life, you’re stopping yourself from achieving great things. 71. Making snow angels. 72. Making snowmen. 73. Snowball fights. 74. Life is what you make of it. 75. Everybody has a talent. 76. Laughing until you cry. 77. Having the ability to be sad means you have the ability to be happy. 78. The world would not be the same if you didn’t exist. 79. Its possible to turn frowns, upside down 80. Be yourself, don’t take anyone’s shit, and never let them take you alive. 81. Heroes are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary. Be your own hero. 82. Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections. 83. One day your smile will be real. 84. Having a really hot, relaxing bath after a stressful day. 85. Lying on grass and laughing at the clouds. 86. Getting completely smashed with your best friends. 87. Eating crazy food. 88. Staying up all night watching your favourite films with a loved one. 89. Sleeping in all day. 90. Creating something you’re proud of. 91. You can look back on yourself 70 years later and being proud you didn’t commit 92. Being able to meet your Internet friends. 93. Tea / Coffee / Hot Chocolate 94. Sherlock season three. 95. Cuddling under the stars. 96. Being stupid in public because you just can. 97. If you are reading this then you are alive! Is there any more reason to smile? 98. being able to hug that one person you havent seen in years 99. People care enough about you and your future to come up with 100 reasons for you not to do this. 100. But, the final and most important one is, just, being able to experience life. Because even if your life doesn’t seem so great right now, literally anything could happen

IF that isn’t enough:

Depression Hotline: 1-630-482-9696 Suicide Hotline: 1-800-784-8433 LifeLine: 1-800-273-8255 Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 Sexuality Support: 1-800-246-7743 Eating Disorders Hotline: 1-847-831-3438 Rape and Sexual Assault: 1-800-656-4673 Grief Support: 1-650-321-5272 Runaway: 1-800-843-5200, 1-800-843-5678, 1-800-621-4000 Exhale: After Abortion Hotline/Pro-Voice: 1-866-4394253 Child Abuse: 1-800-422-4453 UK Helplines: Samaritans (for any problem): 08457909090 e-mail jo@samaritans.org Childline (for anyone under 18 with any problem): 08001111 Mind infoline (mental health information): 0300 123 3393 e-mail: info@mind.org.uk Mind legal advice (for people who need mental-health related legal advice): 0300 466 6463 legal@mind.org.uk b-eat eating disorder support: 0845 634 14 14 (only open Mon-Fri 10.30am-8.30pm and Saturday 1pm-4.30pm) e-mail: help@b-eat.co.uk b-eat youthline (for under 25’s with eating disorders): 08456347650 (open Mon-Fri 4.30pm - 8.30pm, Saturday 1pm-4.30pm) Cruse Bereavement Care: 08444779400 e-mail: helpline@cruse.org.uk Frank (information and advice on drugs): 0800776600 Drinkline: 0800 9178282 Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 802 9999 1(open 2 - 2.30pm 7 - 9.30pm) e-mail info@rapecrisis.org.uk Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02 every day, 6pm to midnight India Self Harm Hotline: 00 08001006614 India Suicide Helpline: 022-27546669 Kids Help Phone (Canada): 1-800-668-6868, Free and available 24/7 suicide hotlines; Argentina: 54-0223-493-0430 Australia: 13-11-14 Austria: 01-713-3374 Barbados: 429-9999 Belgium: 106 Botswana: 391-1270 Brazil: 21-233-9191 China: 852-2382-0000 (Hong Kong: 2389-2222) Costa Rica: 606-253-5439 Croatia: 01-4833-888 Cyprus: 357-77-77-72-67 Czech Republic: 222-580-697, 476-701-908 Denmark: 70-201-201 Egypt: 762-1602 Estonia: 6-558-088 Finland: 040-5032199 France: 01-45-39-4000 Germany: 0800-181-0721 Greece: 1018 Guatemala: 502-234-1239 Holland: 0900-0767 Honduras: 504-237-3623 Hungary: 06-80-820-111 Iceland: 44-0-8457-90-90-90 Ireland: 1800-247-100 Israel: 09-8892333 Italy: 06-705-4444 Japan: 3-5286-9090 Latvia: 6722-2922, 2772-2292 Malaysia: 03-756-8144 (Singapore: 1-800-221-4444) Mexico: 525-510-2550 Netherlands: 0900-0767 New Zealand: 4-473-9739 New Guinea: 675-326-0011 Nicaragua: 505-268-6171 Norway: 47-815-33-300 Philippines: 02-896-9191 Poland: 52-70-000 Portugal: 239-72-10-10 Russia: 8-20-222-82-10 Serbia: 21-6623-393 Spain: 91-459-00-50 South Africa: 0861-322-322 South Korea: 2-715-8600 Sweden: 031-711-2400 Switzerland: 143 Taiwan: 0800-788-995 Thailand: 02-249-9977 Trinidad and Tobago: 868-645-2800 Ukraine: 0487-327715 Uruguay: 095 73 8483 You will be missing out on every single wonderful thing yet to happen to you.

[pope-francis-quotes]

26th September >> (@zenitenglish) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis’ Full Address at General Audience: On Trip to Baltic Countries #PopeinBaltics #Pope’s mission: ‘to proclaim anew to them the joy of Gospel & revolution of tenderness,mercy, b/c freedom isn’t enough to give meaning&fullness of life w/o love, love w/c always comes from God’.

GENERAL AUDIENCE: On Papal Trip to Baltic Countries (Full Text)

‘My mission was to proclaim anew to those peoples the joy of the Gospel and the revolution of tenderness, of mercy, because freedom isn’t enough to give meaning and fullness of life, without love, the love that always comes from God’

(Deborah Castellano Lubov @zenitenglish)

This morning’s General Audience was held at 9:30 in St. Peter’s Square, where the Holy Father Francis met with groups of pilgrims and faithful from Italy and from all over the world.

In his address in Italian, the Pope focused his meditation on his Apostolic Journey to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, which just ended (Bible passage: from Psalm 126, 1-6).

After summarizing his catechesis in several languages, the Holy Father expressed special greetings to groups of faithful present. Then he made an appeal on the occasion of the signing of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China, on the appointment of Bishops in China, which took place in Beijing last September 22.

The General Audience ended with the singing of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.

* * *

The Holy Father’s Catechesis

Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!

In the past days, I have just completed an Apostolic Journey to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, on the occasion of the centenary of the independence of these Baltic countries. One hundred years, half of which they lived under the yoke of Occupations, first the Nazi and then the Soviet. They are people that have suffered much and, because of this, the Lord has looked at them with predilection. I’m certain of this. I thank the Presidents of the three Republics and the civil Authorities for the exquisite reception I received. I thank the Bishops and all those that collaborated to prepare and carry out this ecclesial event.

My visit happened in a rather changed context from that which St. John Paul II found. My mission was to proclaim anew to those peoples the joy of the Gospel and the revolution of tenderness, of mercy, because freedom isn’t enough to give meaning and fullness of life, without love, the love that always comes from God. The Gospel, which in the time of trial gives strength and encourages the struggle for liberation, in the time of freedom is light for the daily journey of people, of families, of the society, and salt that gives flavour to ordinary life and preserves it from the corruption of mediocrity and egoisms.

In Lithuania, Catholics are the majority, whereas in Latvia and Estonia Lutherans and Orthodox prevail; however, many have distanced themselves from religious life. Therefore, the challenge is that of reinforcing communion among all Christians, already developed during the harsh period of persecution. In fact, the ecumenical dimension was intrinsic to this trip, and found expression in the moment of prayer at the Cathedral of Riga and in the meeting with young people in Tallinn.

In addressing the respective Authorities of the three countries, I stressed the contribution they make to the community of Nations and, especially, to Europe: contribution of human and social values, which passed through the crucible of trial. I encouraged dialogue between the generation of the elderly and that of young people, so that contact with the “roots” can continue to fertilize the present and the future. I exhorted to always combine freedom with solidarity and hospitality, according to the traditions of those lands.

Two specific meetings were dedicated to young people and the elderly: in Vilnius with young people, in Riga with the elderly.  Palpable in the Square in Vilnius, full of boys and girls, was the motto of the visit in Lithuania: “Jesus Christ Our Hope.” The testimonies expressed the beauty of prayer and singing, where the soul opens to God, the joy of serving others, coming out of the enclosure of the “I” to be on the way, able to rise after falls. In Latvia with the elderly I stressed the close bond between patience and hope. Those that have gone through harsh trials are the roots of a people, to protect with God’s grace, so that the new shoots can draw from them and flower and bear fruit. The challenge for those growing old is not to harden inside, but to remain open and tender in mind and heart, and this is possible with the “lymph” of the Holy Spirit, in prayer and in listening of the Word.

Also with the priests, the consecrated and seminarians in Lithuania, the dimension of constancy seemed essential for hope: to be centred on God, firmly rooted in His love. What great witness of this so many elderly priests, men and women religious have given and still give! They suffered slander, imprisonment, deportation . . . , but they remained firm in the faith.  I exhorted not to forget and to guard the memory of the martyrs, to follow their example.

And, in connection with memory, in Vilnius I paid homage to the victims of the Jewish genocide in Lithuania, exactly 75 years since the closure of the Ghetto, which was the anti-chamber of death for tens of thousands of Jews. At the same time I visited the Museum of the Occupations and the Struggles for Freedom: In fact, I paused in prayer in the rooms where the opponents of the regime were detained, tortured and killed. They killed more or less forty a night. It’s overwhelming to see to what point human cruelty can reach. Let us think of this.

The years pass, regimes pass, but above the Gate of Dawn of Vilnius, Mary, Mother of Mercy, continues to watch over her people, as sign of sure hope and consolation (cf. Second Ecumenical Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, 68).

Concrete charity is always a living sign of the Gospel. Even where secularization is strongest, God speaks with the language of love, of healing, of free service for those in need. And then hearts open, and miracles happen: new life springs in the deserts.

In the three Eucharistic celebrations — at Kaunas, Lithuania; at Aglona, Latvia and at Tallinn, Estonia — the holy faithful People of God journeying in those lands renewed their “yes” to Christ, our hope. They renewed it with Mary, who always shows herself Mother of her children, especially those suffering most; they renewed it as chosen, priestly and holy people in whose heart God reawakens the grace of Baptism. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters of Lithuania, of Latvia and of Estonia. Thank you!

[Original text: Italian]  [ZENIT’s translation by Virginia M. Forrester]

In Italian

A warm welcome goes to the Italian-speaking pilgrims.

I’m happy to receive the Capitulars of the Missionaries of Mary Immaculate; the participants in the meeting organized by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, and that organized by the Daughters of Mercy.

I greet the parish groups; the faithful of the Diocese of Alessandria with the Bishop, Monsignor Guido Gallese and Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi; the Saint Clare of Assisi School of Avellino; the Group of the University of Foggia; the Monsignor Cesare Mazzolari Foundation of Concesio and the pilgrims of Robbio.

A particular thought goes to young people, the elderly, the sick and newlyweds.

Observed today is the liturgical memorial of the Holy Doctors and Martyrs Cosmas and Damien. Let us learn, from these two brothers, the Christian witness of their faith in the tireless and free care, given to all those afflicted by infirmities. Through their intercession, may the Lord give comfort and health to all those that are suffering and sick and inspire generosity and a spirit of service in all those involved in health care.

The Holy Father’s Appeal

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Last Saturday, September 22, a Provisional Agreement was signed in Beijing between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China, on the appointment of Bishops in China. The Agreement is the fruit of a long and pondered path of dialogue, geared to fostering a more positive collaboration between the Holy See and the Chinese Authorities for the good of the Catholic community in China and for the harmony of the entire society.

In this spirit, I decided to address to Chinese Catholics and to the whole universal Church a Message of fraternal encouragement, which will be published today. With this, I hope that a new phase will open in China, which will help to heal the wounds of the past, to re-establish and maintain the full communion of all Chinese Catholics and to assume with renewed commitment the proclamation of the Gospel. Dear brothers and sisters, we have an important task! We are called to accompany our brothers and sisters in China with fervent prayer and fraternal friendship. They know that they are not alone. The whole Church prays with them and for them. I ask Our Lady, Mother of Hope and Help of Christians to bless and protect all Catholics in China, while we invoke from God the gift of prosperity and peace for all the Chinese people.

[Original text: Italian]  [ZENIT’s translation by Virginia M. Forrester]

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 14:23

GENERAL AUDIENCE

[dailybiblelessons]

The Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Complementary Hebrew Scripture from the Latter Prophets: Isaiah 35:4-7a

Say to those who are of a fearful heart,  “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.  He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense.  He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,  and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer,  and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.¹ For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,  and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool,  and the thirsty ground springs of water.

¹Jesus quotes these words in response to the messengers who come from John the Baptist to ask whether he is the one who is to come. Jesus' speech is in Matthew 11:2-6 and Luke 7:18-23.

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture from the Writings: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,  and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor have this in common:  the Lord is the maker of them all. Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,  and the rod of anger will fail. Those who are generous are blessed,  for they share their bread with the poor. Do not rob the poor because they are poor,  or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord pleads their cause  and despoils of life those who despoil them.

Complementary Psalm 146

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live;  I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes,  in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth;  on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,  whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth,  the sea, and all that is in them;¹ who keeps faith forever;  who executes justice for the oppressed;  who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;  the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;  the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers;  he upholds the orphan and the widow,  but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,  your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!

¹This passage is found at least three times in the Christian Scriptures. In Acts 4:24 it is part of a prayer in which believers pray for boldness. The prayer is at Acts 4:23-31. Later in Acts (14:15), Paul uses the phrase in responding to the crowds in Lystra, who want to offer sacrifices to him and Barnabas. His speech is at Acts 14:8-18. Finally, in Revelation 10:6, it is part of a speech by an angel holding a small scroll. The speech is at Revelation 10:1-7.

Semi-continuous Psalm 125

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,  which cannot be moved,  but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem,  so the Lord surrounds his people,  from this time on and forevermore. For the scepter of wickedness  shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous,  so that the righteous might not stretch out their hands to do wrong. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,  and to those who are upright in their hearts. But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways  the Lord will lead away with evildoers. Peace be upon Israel!

New Testament Epistle Lesson: James 2:1-17

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”¹ But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,²” also said, “You shall not murder.”³ Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

¹Leviticus 19:18   ²Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18   ³Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17

New Testament Gospel Lesson: Mark 7:24-37

From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.¹

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

¹There is a parallel passage at Matthew 15:21-28, which was the Saturday Gospel reading.

Year B Ordinary 23 Sunday

Selections from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 1995 by the Consultation on Common Texts. Unless otherwise indicated, Bible text is from The New Revised Standard Version, (NRSV) copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All right reserved. Footnotes in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) that show where the passage is used in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) from Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) by David H. Stern, Copyright © 1998 and 2006 by David H. Stern, used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved worldwide. When text is taken from the CJB, the passage ends with (CJB) and the foregoing copyright notice applies. Parallel passages are as indicated in The Holy Bible Modern English Version (MEV), copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When text is taken from the MEV, the passage ends with (MEV) and the foregoing copyright notice applies. Footnotes in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) that show where a passage from the Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament) is used are from The Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. When text is taken from the NIV, the passage ends with (NIV) and the foregoing copyright notice applies. Image Credit: Michael Gilbertson for The Lectionary Company.