#DO YOU NOT RECOGNISE WOMEN LUKE

[towersofviolet]

original post

[gaydoggirll]

This might be a sfth reference

[carlottawllms]

A Million Reasons

Mason Mount x Reader Angst / Fluff

Author’s note: I know some of you don’t like when there’s other girls in the picture and in the beginning, it sounds as if there are, but it’s only for the build-up, so no worries for the rest of the fic!

I’m not too happy with the ending, but we’ll move. As always, feedback is very much appreciated. Enjoy! 🩷

Before yours and Mason’s relationship, you hadn't been friends for years. No years that had prepared you for the baggage that came with his name and profession. No time to cope with everything surrounding his job.

Of course, you’d known he was a footballer and didn't have a nine-to-five job. Just like you had expected that, as soon as you were seen with him, others would be interested in you too. It was kinda normal for his status in society. At a younger age, you’d been a huge fan of several stars too and had wanted to know a lot about them, so you hadn’t been surprised at all.  

But nothing and nobody could’ve prepared you for the intensity of the whole situation and what it would do to you and the way you felt about yourself.

It was a random Tuesday afternoon that you reluctantly clicked on the link a friend of yours had sent you and once the photos popped up, your heart sank in your chest. It was photos of Mason surrounded by several beautiful woman and it didn’t take you long to recognise the location.

It was the pub he’d gone to with Luke and some of the other lads not even three days ago. After a much-needed win, the guys had called your boyfriend and asked him to join them to celebrate the three points for a bit. You’d basically ushered him out the door, telling him to enjoy the time with them as he still wasn’t able to train with them properly yet.

You didn’t bother reading the article as you simply scrolled down and stared at the pictures it included. It didn’t take you long to realise that they weren’t just any women, but quite well-known models and influencers and it made you wonder if, for some reason, they’d been invited for their gathering too.

Staring at the photos felt a bit like having it all playing out right in front of you. Their hands were all over Mason’s shoulders and arms, their coloured lips pulled into bright smiles as they looked up at him whilst he seemed to be in great conversation with them.

Two of those women hanging on his lips had messaged him on Insta before and talked about him regularly on their blog. In the beginning you’d found it a little funny how they were talking about how hot he was when you were the one he came home to and took to bed, but the times in which you didn’t care had ended a while ago.

Completely absorbed in your thoughts, you only realised that Mason had come home when it was already too late. He was standing in front of you, his brows furrowed and his hands in the pockets of his jogging bottoms.

It was a rare sight for him to come home to as normally you were either busy in the kitchen trying a new recipe you’d found or fast asleep on the sofa, treating yourself with a nap. The latter was his favourite as he could just snuggle up to you and rest for a bit too.

But today was different. Today you looked…agitated. “Are you okay baby?”

His voice was quiet and his eyes soft and for some reason it riled you up even more than you already were. “I would be, if it wasn’t for my boyfriend being a ladies’ man and looking cozy with these women here.”, you hissed, turning your phone around so he could look for himself.

Deep down you knew you were over the top and you felt a little sorry when Mason’s face fell, but the anger in your tummy wouldn’t stop bubbling. Not after what you’d been going through lately.

“I thought it had been just you and the lads. Did you just forget to tell me about these women? Or did you deliberately keep that from me?”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t know Mason, you came home that night and told me you had a nice evening with the lads. I don’t recall you mentioning any women and yet here they are.” Your voice was cold as you raised your eyebrow at him, challenging him for an answer.

You weren’t normally like this. Jealous wasn’t a word you’d use to describe yourself and so far, Mason had always made sure to tell and show you how much he loved and appreciated you every single day and there hadn’t really been a reason to be jealous in the first place, but those last weeks, if not months had eaten away at you and worn down the protective walls you’d built around your relationship.

Every tiny insecurity, every worry and every doubt had coalesced into this bubble of anger, pain and fear and the photos tonight had popped the already very thin surface, causing everything to spill out all at once in the process.

“y/n, they just ca-“

“Anything else you didn’t tell me?” You got up from where you were still sat on the sofa, arms crossed in front of your chest in a protective manner. “Have you maybe met them on any of these so called team evenings before?”

“y/n, are you taking the piss or something? What’s gotten into you?”

You could tell that he was getting a little mad at you. His voice no longer had this softness to it, but a rather rough edge and his eyes had gone a little hard as well.

“Into me?”, you laughed in disbelief; your voice a tiny bit high-pitched. “Mason, I’m not the one who went out with random women and decided to lie about it.”

“I didn’t lie and I didn’t go out with them!”, he boomed, his face flushed and contorted in annoyance at the way you seemed to ignore everything he said. “They just came up to us and talked, that’s all. I don’t know why or whatever. I didn’t think any of it and then just forgot about it. It’s ju-”

“Forgot about it or ‘forgot’ about it? Huh? Anything else you forgot to tell me?”

“y/n, what the…are you asking me if I cheated on you? Is that seriously what you’re saying right now?”

There was a flash of hurt washing across his face the second you didn’t deny it straight away, but instead stayed quiet and stared back into his dark eyes. Deep down you knew he hadn’t cheated and most definitely wouldn’t do that to you anyway, but you were at a low, everything hurt, and you couldn’t help but lash out at him in your own pain.   

“No, I…I don’t know, I-“

“You don’t know?”, Mason asked hollowly with raised eyebrows. He felt sick to the stomach. Less than 20 minutes ago, he’d taken shit from his friends because he’d wanted to leave early so he could be back with you, and now he was faced with a version of you, he’d never seen before. A version that accused him of having cheated on you…with women he’d not even spared a second glance.

“I can’t believe this. We’ve spent…I…two years, y/n, two fucking years since I asked you to be my girlfriend and now you’re here saying you can’t be sure I haven’t cheated? Because of some fucking pictures a fucking magazine posted online? Do you hear yourself?”

“They were all over you, Mason! And fucking pretty, like literal models. Basically, every man’s weakness. There’s always some sort of truth behi-”

“Fuck you!”, he spat suddenly, making you flinch slightly. You couldn't remember ever seeing him this angry and it was obvious from a mile off that you’d hurt him a lot, but you couldn’t help it. It was all too much. “For two years, I’ve worshipped the ground you’re walking on and never given you a reason to doubt my loyalty, only for you to throw some photos right into my face, accusing me of being a cheater. Seriously? This is just…I just…fuck you.”

And with that, you watched him turning on his heels and rushing out of the living room. The front door crashing shut being the last sound before it all became deadly silent.  

You simply stood there, staring straight ahead. Paralysed and unable to believe what had just happened, but the moment it all sank in, the pain you felt was unlike anything else before. You felt as if your heart had been ripped out of your chest, leaving you bleeding into the open and the sobs wrecking your body forced you to your knees only minutes after Mason had left.

The realisation that you’d probably lost him for good now hit you like a ton of bricks and whilst you tried your best to keep your breathing steady, you could feel how you became dizzier by the second.

-

Emptiness. That was all Mason felt when he flopped into the driver’s seat of his car and let the door snap close.

Two years of loving you and being the happiest man on earth. Two years down the drain.

He couldn’t believe that a few simple photos had caused his whole life to collapse right in front of his own eyes. Not after he’d spent the most perfect years with you by his side.

You were the love of his life, the one and only he’d wanted to spend his life with and after several broken hearts from previous relationships and encounters, he’d thought that with you he’d found someone who was different.

Obviously, he’d been wrong though. You’d believed some random journalists more than your own boyfriend’s words and the disappointment and hurt he felt? He couldn’t put it into words. And on top of that he was terribly scared. Scared of having lost you for good. Scared of how to go on without you. Scared of making a wrong decision about what to do now.

The thought of leaving you for good was terrifying, but he wasn’t sure if there was still any sense in staying with you after you’d made it very obvious just how little trust you actually put into him and his loyalty.

“FUCK!”, he shouted into the silence of his car. Head all but crashing into the headrest as he slammed his hand on the steering wheel. A few tears of hurt and frustration slipped down his cheeks, but Mason was quick in wiping them away angrily.

The ringtone of his phone eventually broke the silence in the car. A small part of him hoped it was you, but it was Luke's face that greeted him once he’d fumbled the phone out of his pocket, so he rejected the call straight away.

Luke, however, was persistent and rang three more times before Mason gave up and answered anyway.

“I feel personally offended that you rejected my call 4 times, but I forgive you.”, he joked, but Mason wasn’t in the mood to even crack a smile, so he simply huffed in response and Luke seemed to have got the message. “Mate, are you alright?”

“Yeah, yeah, no worries. Just a bit tired actually.”

“Nah, Mase. I’ve known you for years now, you’re not just tired. What’s up?”

Mason rolled his eyes. Couldn’t he just leave him be? All he wanted was to find a hotel he could stay the night in and lay down to figure out what to do. “Nothing, I’m fine.”

“I know it’s not nothing.”, Luke insisted and when his friend sighed deeply on the other side, it was all the confirmation he needed. “What’s wrong?”

“I got into a pretty bad fight with y/n and…I don’t know what it means for our relationship. If it still exists at all that is.”

Less than 15 minutes later Mason was sat on the Shaw’s sofa, a steaming mug of tea in his hands and both, Luke and Anouska, by his side. He’d given them both a quick rundown of what had happened, with both of them having tried to calm him down as best as they could and once he was done talking, a heavy silence fell over the three of them.

Anouska and Luke exchanged a couple of meaningful glances until she eventually was the first to speak up.

“She doesn’t actually think you cheated on her, Mase.”, she said carefully, her hand reaching out to squeeze his knee in reassurance.

“Sounded a lot like it though.”, he huffed. “She said she can’t be sure as there’s always some sort of truth behind those articles. I don’t know how that translates into she doesn’t think I’m cheating Anouska.”

His friend’s wife sighed quietly. She knew Mason wasn’t wrong and that from his perspective it all had painted a terribly bad picture.

“Mase, I…there’s actually more to the story.”, she started to explain softly. She wasn’t particularly ecstatic at the thought of revealing one of your best kept secrets to Mason, but she knew that you and him were endgame and was willing to cross the line a tiny bit in order to get you both back on track. You’d forgive her. And when Mason’s sad eyes looked onto hers, she knew it was the only right thing to do.

“She’s actually been struggling for about a month or two. Some of these influencers messaged you on insta and after you didn’t reply to either of them, they became…bitter I’d say.”

Anouska told him all about how these girls had been talking you down and basically throwing all kind of hate in your direction. Your face, your body, your choice of clothing…In their eyes nothing ever justified you out of all people being with the Mason Mount.

The more she talked about what you’d had to endure those last months, the worse it made Mason feel. He hadn’t known any of this.

He hadn’t known people online were basically stalking you and your friends’ accounts to find photos of you, only to use them against you. Or that they talked about how he’d be better off with them and posted edited photos of them in there with him in comparison to what you looked like next to him.

He hadn’t known how much shit you’d been going through and that it had eaten you alive and his heart broke at the thought of you trying to deal with it all on your own.

“She never…I just…she didn’t tell me. I…I didn’t…” His voice was shaky, laced by emotions and he wasn’t sure for how long he could keep the tears at bay.

“We know, Mase.”, Luke sighed, patting his friend on the shoulder. “I didn’t know until half an hour ago either. y/n told Anouska a week or two ago and made her promise not to say anything to you.”

“She’s one of my best friends, Mase. I couldn’t betray her trust.”

Mason nodded, understanding well where she was coming from. “I thought she was coping well with everything.”, he whispered. He felt incredibly heartbroken and wanted nothing more than to drive home and hug you close, but he wasn’t even sure you’d want him to.

“She was.”, Anouska smiled sadly. “Until it all escalated. I know people will say she could’ve ignored it like she’s ignored everything before that, but pain isn’t an easy thing to ignore and the kind of pain she’s been feeling lately settles deeply and only feeds your own insecurities unlike anything else. I told her she should talk to you, but I think she didn’t want to burden you with that.”

“I feel horrible.”, Mason admitted quietly after running his hands over his face a couple of times. “I never asked if she was okay, I…I should’ve talked to her, but she seemed happy and…god, I’m such an idiot.”  

For him, the realisation that he hadn’t even asked if you were doing okay and instead just assumed you were, hit the deepest. He’d been so lost in his own little world, the worries about failing at the new club and his injury a constant companion in his day-to-day life, that he’d not even thought about the possibility of you keeping something that big from him.

He felt like he’d failed you. Big time. He was your boyfriend; he was supposed to protect you and be there for you and instead he was the reason you’d been feeling like shit lately.

“It’s not your fault, Mase.” Anouska tried to reassure him as best as she could, but her and Luke both could see how Mason was blaming himself for everything. “She hid it incredibly well. I wouldn’t have guessed this either, like I didn’t know she wasn’t feeling great until she told me.”

Mason sighed again. He just wanted to go home, hold you and tell you that you were the most important person in this world. But what if you didn’t want him to?

“Do you think she’ll push me away when I go home now?” His voice was quiet, the question coming out a little hesitant as he was terrified the answer to it could be yes, but Anouska simply shook her head.

“She’d never push you away, Mase. You’re her favourite person.”

“It certainly doesn’t feel like that right now.”, he chuckled sadly. “I’ll make things right, I promise.”

-

Mason didn’t think he’d ever driven home that quickly. He’d probably broken half a dozen rules, but in this moment, he couldn’t care less. He just wanted to be with you, to hold you in his arms and tell you everything will be alright.

All the lights on the ground floor were already off so he didn’t even bother checking all the rooms. He simply jogged upstairs.

And there you were; curled up on his side of the bed. Your delicate body was wrapped up in your favourite hoodie of his, but despite the fabric basically drowning you, it wasn’t difficult to make out your shaking shoulders and quiet sniffling.

He couldn’t even begin to imagine just how heartbroken you had to be and whilst he was still terrified you could push him away, he was quick in lying down next to you.

“You’re leaving me, aren’t you?”

Mason could literally feel his heart being ripped out of his chest at your words. With gentle hands, he turned you around to face him and once your bloodshot eyes, still filled with tears locked on his, he shook his head no. You looked so incredibly sad and broken, so absolutely tired of everything and when Mason pulled you into his chest, you broke down completely.

Hot tears soaked your face as well as Mason’s sweater, sobs wrecking your tired body despite Mason’s tight grip around you and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t get yourself to calm down. It felt as if two months’ worth of tears and emotions were finally finding their way out.

“It’s okay, love. I’m here, I got you.”, Mason mumbled and you knew he tried to reassure you, but his words and the softness and love behind them only made you cry harder.

He hated seeing you like this, so fragile and sad, but he knew you had to let it all out in order to start fresh. Cupping the back of your head, he ran his fingers through your hair in calming motions, whilst his other arms stayed wrapped around your shoulders; effectively keeping you pressed up against his body.

It took you a long while to calm down and only when Mason felt that you’d stopped sobbing did he pull away slightly. He cupped your cheek, thumb wiping at your wet cheeks, and pressed his lips to your forehead.

“I went to see Luke and Anouska. Why didn’t you tell me how you’ve been feeling, love?”, he asked quietly, and you were surprised not to detect an ounce of disappointment or anger in his voice. “You know I’m always here for you.”

“I know.”, you nodded, voice still a little strained from the tears blocking your throat. “It’s just…you…you had so much going on with the injuries and the fact that your start here has been far from being ideal and…I just didn’t want you to carry my burden, too. I just…I wanted you to focus on your career and being in a good headspace, rather than your girlfriend having problems with your fans.”

“Baby.”, he sighed sadly. Tears now brimming in his own eyes. “Sit up for me please.”

You did as he asked. Peeling yourself out of his arms until you were both sat upright. Mason shuffled up the bed a little so he could lean against the headboard and once he was comfortable, he pulled you to straddle his legs.

“We’re in this together, love. The way you care about me is the same way I care about you. You don’t have to do this all on your own, I promise. I always have your back, love. Just let me help you.”

His warm brown eyes locked on yours were full of sorrow and sadness, but compared to earlier, they were back to being incredibly soft and loving as well. You couldn’t believe that after what you’d said, he was here with you.

“I’m sorry, Mase.”, you whispered. “I never thought you cheated. Or would ever do that for the record. It was just…”

“Too much?”, he offered, a small, sympathetic smile playing on his lips when you nodded. “I’m not mad at you, love. Just…next time tell me what’s going on in here, okay?” With his forefinger, he gently tapped your temple before moving a loose strand of hair away from your face. “I just want to help.”

“I know, Mase.”, you smiled sincerely. Wrapping your arms around his shoulders, you buried your fingers in his hair. “I’ve actually been coping well with everything, it’s just…It started a couple of months ago. It wasn’t more than a few digs here and there from these influencers in the beginning, but they kept going and when they messaged you on insta and you didn’t reply, everything went downhill. I knew they were just jealous and bitter, but they kept talking about my appearance and that I wasn’t showing myself with you more. They said you were probably keeping me hidden away cause you were ashamed and just waiting for the moment to end things.”

You could feel Mason tensing beneath your touch, itching to explode, but he knew you the same way you knew him, so he kept quiet and waited for you to go on; fingers gently running through the hair on the back of your head.

“I kept telling myself that you’re with me, that I’m the one you come home to and spend most of your free time with and for a while it worked, but it still ate away at me and slowly, I started asking myself the same questions they did. I wondered why you were still with me when you could do so much better and-“

“I couldn’t do better, y/n.”, Mason interrupted you gently, not able to take it anymore. “There’s a million reasons why you’re the most wonderful person I could’ve ever asked for and every single day, I’m so grateful you keep choosing me out of all people. I know I take you and the things you do for me for granted sometimes and I promise I’ll do better, but I need you to know that I appreciate them all so very much.”

He pressed a soft kiss to the tip of your nose, causing you to giggle softly and that sound alone had his heart leaping in his chest.

“All sorts of people expect me to be all sorts of things, but with you I can be me. Unapologetically so. And that’s worth more than I could ever explain to anyone. You’re my family, y/n. You protect me and fight my corner, you’re so insanely supportive in so many ways and no matter what I do, you never judge me. You’re the person that I know I can rely on even if I feel like the world has turned on me. You stayed with me when things got difficult, you changed me for the better and you’re the person I aspire to be. I want to be better for you every single day so you can feel what I feel when I’m with you.”

“Mase, I-”, you tried, but he simply shook his head with a loving smile on his face as he wiped away the tears rolling down your cheeks.

“And on top of that you’re so fucking beautiful. You take my breath away on every single day and it doesn’t matter if it’s in the morning when you’ve just woken up, when you’re wearing my clothes or are all dressed up for a date. No matter where we are, you’re always the most beautiful person in the room. You’re the most incredible human being I’ve ever met and I’m so grateful I get to be with you.”

“I’m so grateful I get to be with you, too.”, you whispered, your voice still a little shaky. “Thank you, Mase. I’m sorry I let them get to me with what they said and that I made it sound as if I thought you’d cheat on me. I know you’d never do that. And I know you’re with me for a reason and you’ve never done anything to make me feel as if you didn’t love me anymore. It’s just…I was trapped in this downward spiral and couldn't get out of it and...today when I saw those photos…it just all reminded me of what they’d said and-”

“I’m yours, y/n.”, he whispered before he leaned in and kissed you softly. “Two years down the line and I’m still as in love with you as in the very beginning, if not more. I still smile like an idiot when you text me. I still feel the butterflies going mad in my tummy whenever I see you and I’d do anything to hear your voice and see your smile. You know how much I love playing football, but y/n when I leave the house in the morning all I can think of is getting it over with quickly so I can get back home to you and yes, I know how much of a lovesick idiot that makes me.”

A quiet giggle slipped past your lips as it indeed made him sound absolutely whipped. Mason smiled back at you before pressing his lips to your forehead.

“Truth is, there’s not a single part of me, no matter how small, that is not completely consumed by you, y/n. You’re it for me, you’re my person and the only one I want to be with, and I promise you, I’ve never been so sure about someone or something in my entire life. It scares the shit out of me cause I don’t want to fuck it up and lose you, but I love you in a way I’ve never loved someone and if there ever comes a time after you, which I don’t hope, I could never love someone else the way I love you.”  

“Mase.”, you pouted. Your heart was beating out of your chest and even if you’d tried, you wouldn't have been able to explain what you were feeling.

There was this insanely strong feeling of love rushing through your veins as you looked at him. Appreciation for him and how he’d handled the situation. Gratitude towards whoever had decided for him to be yours in this lifetime.

“I love you, too. So very much it scares me, but Mase, I love you so so much.”, you rasped. “Thank you for not giving up on me or pushing me away after I was so awful today. I love you more than I could ever explain.”

And with that, you gently grabbed his cheeks and leaned in for the most perfect and mending kiss you’d ever shared, trying to show rather than tell him how deep your feelings for him ran.

—————

I genuinely hope you enjoyed reading this. You would make my day if you left a little feedback 🩷

[snowblack-charcoalwhite]

The way Condal, Hess and co write certain characters, especially Alicent, just makes them look like some kind of aliens who cannot comprehend the core of human nature and familial bonds (motherly love, sibling dynamic...) . I mean, fine, maybe they aren't parents honestly have no idea about their private lives nor do I want to know ), but that still doesn't justify the atrocious manner in which they have been portraying Alicent's relationship with her children. And I dislike the explanations that come from one part of the fandom (she married against her will, never wanted those children, never felt freedom...) I mean, I don't deny these, but they are not enough to explain or justify her weird (and sudden imo) detachment and dare i say, borderline hatred of her sons. Not to mention that this was the life of westerosi women, basically every one of them. Also, Ryan talked how Alicent and Viserys had "a loving marriage, just weren't in love " and generally holds Viserys in high regard, so he obviously doesn't see him as Alicent's abuser or anything. That's why i cannot understand what is the point of showing her so disgusted by her children and incapable of showing them love. Otto's influence? Maybe, but still not the greatest explanation. And she seems even harsher and distant to her sons this season than Otto ever was to her. She doesn't seem broken over Jaehaerys, she doesn't seem overly upset over Aegon (he's burned alive and is dying ffs and she won't shed a tear), Aemond is apparently an ireedemeable monster in her eyes fur some reason, even before RR... It's so frustrating that there are people who eat it all up and justify it as a genius and subtle storytelling with a lot of details that we "the whiners" refuse or are unable to grasp. Idk, I really liked her in s1 and although she was a bit inconsistent in ep 8 and 9 I hoped it would be retconed. Unfortunately, this season I'm watching a character I don't recognise anymore. And the worst thing is that she doesn't suffer from a lack of screentime like Aemond or Helaena do. Almost everything on tg revolves around her and yet I still have no idea what is her goal or who she is anymore.

Sorry for the rant.

Hello!

I could not agree with you more. Not sure if some kind of personal/family circumstances of HotD writers played a role in them fumbling the Greens family dynamic so badly but I am convinced that their "women good men bad" narrative policy did.

In "Driftmark" Alicent orders for Luke's eye to be cut out (and immediately, in public) - and then attacks Luke and Rhaenyra herself. But a few minutes (in show time) later she repents - and after that, apparently, she is all for "violence is reserved for men" agenda. That's where her disdain for Aemond (in whose name she was about to commit a public act of violence herself) is supposed to come from, I think. It doesn't even feel like she is horrified precisely by the fact that he might have almost killed (deliberately at that) his own brother. Lack of consistency and logic? Yes. Obliviousness at best, hypocrisy at worst (from Alicent, I mean)? Yes. But who cares, right? Alicent does not support the evil deeds of men - and that's what matters.

And her treatment of Aegon looks even more moronic. Girl, you put him on the throne against his will! After her meeting with Rhaenyra she knows it was a result of a misunderstanding (the favourite trick of this show, dammit - but it is a topic for a whole another conversation) but how is Aegon to blame for it?

I can relate to Alicent growing tired of being used and manipulated - but IMO (I agree with you here as well) this is not a good enough excuse for her to fully go into the "fuck yourselves, the lot of you" mode. But for the writers it is, at least it looks like it. They were trying to sell us the bullying of Aemond by Aegon (combined with the former's desire for power) being a sufficient motivation for Aemond to get rid of his brother (during the civil war where they are supposed to be on the same side no less) - and now they are trying to justify whatever Alicent does with her being a child bride and so on and so forth. I have no love for Viserys (or sympathy for Otto - where it comes to him pimping his teenage daughter out to the king) - but turning Alicent into this and expecting everyone to eat it up? Come on. Even some casual viewers are going "WTF" watching Alicent's scenes with her children, never mind those who are familiar with Fire and Blood.

And double yes to the point about the show very heavily focusing on Alicent to the detriment of many other characters (Aemond first of all). It feels like the writers believe that all that audience is supposed to know about Aemond now is that he is a bad guy - and they give him just enough screen time to show that. Meanwhile Alicent has loads of it - just so we could get a really good, really long look at her face and understand just how bad patriarchy failed her.

So, as I see it Alicent is now no more than a means to the end of hammering home the main idea of the show. How does she do that and what happens to her character in the process is unimportant - at least, to the writers and showrunners.

Sorry for the rant as well🙈

[celticseawych]

After a great deal of thought, here is my two cents worth on the allegations about Neil Gaiman.

I have been struggling with this, as, I am sure, many others have.

In my view, these women who are coming forward are genuine, despite it being on a right-wing outlet. My belief is based on NG's admissions of behaviours that, at best, were seriously misjudged. Also, Amanda Palmer's song

https://genius.com/Amanda-palmer-whakanewha-lyrics

It's very, very sad and disappointing, to say the least.

But I don't believe in completely canceling people. And here is why, if you will bear with me.

Protesting, expressing concern, boycotting are all excellent ways of registering opposition. They can bring about change.

Canceling people on the basis that they are irredeemably evil is counter productive. It allows for no debate. It leaves no room for redemption.

And it is also, very much, "casting the first stone".

It's the kind of behaviour favoured by fundamentalists and totalitarians.

It's predicated on a sense of moral superiority.

And it's nearly always focused on perceived sexual transgressions (including but limited to, "immodest" or "loose" women, divorceés but not divorcés, single mothers, women who have had abortions, members of the LGBTQ+ community, rape victims, etc, etc, etc, and, latterly, sexual predators).

Meanwhile, there is nary a whiff of outrage about the grievous offences committed daily in relation to other "sins".

Moral indignation is valid, of course, but, I would argue, needs to be tempered with the understanding that we are all capable of, and probably guilty of, truly reprehensible things. We should be honest enough to recognise this, even as we quite rightly recognise the pain of victims and the transgressions of others.

As a long-time lapsed Catholic, I still believe in the qualities of compassion, forgiveness, empathy and self-examination.

*****

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Matthew 7: 3-5

*****

and

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"

Luke 23: 34

Please, let us always continue to choose love and compassion for everyone, even for those who we might feel don't deserve it.

[sweet-creature101]

Kiwi

Summary: Harry and y/n meet after a long time. Harry sees that y/n’s the same yet also very different from the girl he first set eyes on.

famous!harry ; part one

warnings: mention of alcohol, substances, abuse, sex

Harry felt his heart rip to shreds and break apart as he saw he you leave. Albeit he wasted no time in reminding himself that he shouldn’t feel this way. He kept on chanting things like I don’t like her, I don’t like being around her, she’s obnoxious, her head’s too far up her ass.

The real tragedy was that Harry had dated the most affluent of all women, beautiful models and actresses yet he found himself peering at Sarah’s phone everytime it rang, hoping it would be you.

He would dream of you, consciously and subconsciously. It were as if every fibre in Harry’s body told him that he missed you and how your skin felt next to his, and Harry being as arrogant as possible only brushed off the feeling.

Harry wondered about you, where you were and what your were doing at times. He knew you were touring with 5 Seconds Of Summer. He knew you had helped them write their album, Youngblood. Harry had played that album out of curiosity and immediately recognised your work which consisted of youngblood, want you back and empty wallets.

He had fallen into a new and mudane routine, one of checking everyone’s stories and posts on Instagram. Harry happened to check Luke Hemming’s private account, and he saw Polaroid’s of you.

In one, you were naked lying on your stomach as a white blanket only covered you up to the curve your spine, little modesty but enough to cover your ass. In another, Luke had an arm snaked around your waist with a smile etched on his face as you laughed with a hand covering your face. And in the last polariod, your back was against Luke’s chest, his hands around your waist as you lean towards him. It seemed as if your were about to kiss him.

Harry couldn’t sleep that night.

And that’s how the intial steps of engineering Fine Line took place, with sleepless nights and daydreams of you.

—————————————

Fine Line in a single word was an absolute and utter success. Harry felt as if he had been catapulted straight into intense limelight and scrutiny. Everything he did was placed under a microscope, although he was used to it by now.

Harry hummed the melody of She, one of his favourite songs in the album. The muse, undoubtedly being you. The pencil in his hand bounced up and down. He was going through some last minute tour arrangements. He was excited to say the least, Love On Tour was coming together and that exhilarated him.

“Be quiet I’m calling y/n.” Sarah told him. Harry hadn’t heard from you in a long time. You had phoned him a few months ago, to congratulate him.

“Hello?” Harry spoke into the speaker of his phone.

“Hi Harry.” You spoke. Harry felt his heartbeat go haywire at the sound of your voice.

“Aah, to what do I owe this pleasure y/n?” He tried his best to sound calm and collected, afraid his voice might betray him.

“Just wanted to congratulate you. You’ve done some great work on the album Harry.” You said, your voice soft and sweet.

“Thank you Love. How’s everything going with you?” He needed an excuse to hear your voice.

“Same old stuff. Play this show, play that show, write this song and write that song y’know. Really need a break.” You muttered, huffing out a breath in annoyance.

“How’s everything with you?” You added.

“Good. Even better now actually that I don’t have someone like you up my ass the whole time. Songwriting without you is less stressful.” Harry said chuckling.

You feigned shock, a very dramatic gasp leaving your lips. “And here I was thinking we’ve begun to tolerate each other.”

“I know; I know. You could be a bit more subtle when it comes to telling me how much you like me y/n.”

“Like you?! Seriously Harry?! I can barely even look at you without hurling my guts out.”

“Why are you calling y/n?” Harry asked Sarah.

“Because Mitch and I want her at the party Haz.” Sarah said rolling her eyes.

Every year, Sarah and Mitch host a Halloween party. The kind of party that never goes the way it’s supposed to go. It ends up with at least one person missing for a few days. The last time it happened to be Harry, who found himself in a motel, five hours away from their place after he sobered up. Funky times, he called it.

“Quiet as a mouse.” He said, pretending to zip his lips.

“Y/n! Lovie how are you?” Sarah spoke, her voice warm and a lovely smile on her face as she heard you speak. “That’s great! Are you free this Saturday?” Sarah spoke. Harry wish the phone were on speaker, he wanted to hear your voice again. “Yes…. No! Yes, it’s a Halloween party; well the Halloween party.” Sarah was quiet for a moment, her eyebrows sinched in understanding. Sarah went quiet for a moment, whispering a “I know it’s hard.” Harry wondered what bothered you. “You can’t wear jeans! Well not unless they’re a part of your costume.” Sarah said rolling her eyes. “Listen listen, slow down! You can stay at my place yeah?”

“Oh my god I love you I love you I love you. See you. Mwah.” Sarah squealed after the phone call ended.

“So?” Harry asked her, a smile of anticipation on his face as he looked at Sarah.

“Oh wipe off that smile off your face. You’re insufferable.” Sarah said rolling her eyes.

“M’not!”

“We all know you like her. So you can stop with this charade.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about that look.” Sarah said raising her eyebrows at Harry who looked at her with wide eyes at her statement. “There is no look.” He huffed.

“No there is. It’s a ‘i miss y/n but I don’t like her’ look”

“No there’s not.”

“There is.”

“She’s rude, obnoxious and an unpleasant person.” Harry said crossing his arms.

“Sure sure, that’s why you wrote a whole album about her.”

“It was only a few songs!”

——————————————

The music was blaring and loud. You stood outside Mitch and Sarah’s house, contemplating if you should leave or stay. Truth be told, you were exhausted. You didn’t want to party today, not even in the slightest. You wanted to cocoon yourself and stay away from everyone tonight but Sarah convinced you to come. Even dressing up seemed like a hefty chore.

You got out of the car, muttering a thank you to the driver as you handed him his money. You ran your hands over your dress, a sigh leaving your lips. You had dressed up as a pirate, although it was Vanessa, a good friend of yours who had forced you. You intially planned on dressing up in jeans and a tee shirt.

You push through the crowd, searching for Sarah. You find her near the kitchen island with Mitch and Harry behind her. You feel your heart burn when you set your eyes on Harry. Harry was dressed up as a cowboy clad in hot pink. His arms were bare and he was wearing an open waistcoat, showing off his muscled chest. Sarah spots you and waves you.

“You dressed up!” Sarah says, encasing you in a hug. You hug her back. “Sure did.” You said smiling. Mitch huged you tight and you smile a bit at the gesture.

“That’s the finest pirate booty I’ve laid me eyes on.” Harry said, mimicking a pirate accent. You roll your eyes with a small smile as you hug him. “How’ve you been?” You ask Harry. “Tour is kicking my ass. Excited yet scared y’know.”

“Don’t worry about it you’ll do well.” You said, squeezing his hand lightly as you left the trio to themselves.

Harry noticed something was off. You would’ve retorted back to him. Hell, you would’ve done anything but roll your eyes lazily. He noticed your smile didn’t reach your eyes. You seemed sad and exhausted.

After an hour of talking and drinking Harry decided to look for you. He searched the whole house, up and down and couldn’t find you. He was worried to say the least.

He entered sarahs room, scanned it thoroughly and was about to leave but when he saw you, he felt a tug at his heart. You were in balcony, leaning against the railing with your face in your hands as your body racked with sobs. Harry didn’t know what to do.

“Y/n?” Harry whispered as he entered the balcony. He noticed that you had washed your face bare. There was nothing lining your eyes, only your bare heavy red eyes.

You look at Harry with panic ridden eyes, and immdiately begin to rub away the tears. Harry walks upto you and gently holds your hands in his.

“Hey hey it’s okay.” He shushed you.

“I don’t know why I’m crying. I’m not weak I swear.” You said, your voice heavy and hoarse.

“Never said you were.” Harry replied, holding you in his arms. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“I feel like, I don’t deserve this life. I shouldn’t be here, in the place I am today.” You said. You began to cry once more, feeling your chest become heavy.

Once that first tear broke free, the rest followed in an unbroken stream. You bent forward where you stood on the floor, leaning against the balcony and pressing your palms to your face, as you began to cry with the force of a person vomiting on all fours.

Harry felt his heart break even more at your condition. He wanted to soothe you and would even kiss your tears away if that were the price to see you smile again.

“Why do you feel this way Love?” He asked you, tightening his arms around you.

“Because I’ve left behind people.” You said. You couldn’t control your tears.

“I’ve had to do the same y/n. It’s a part of life.” Harry said, your neck buried in chest. You could heart his heart beat through his care chest.

“No no not like that. I gave up on my mom and dad.” You said, squeezing your eyes shut hard. “I left them Harry. I saw them ruin themselves because of drugs and I left them.”

Harry was unsure of what to say. He never expected to hear such a confession from you and in all honesty, you had no clue as to why you were discussing this with Harry. But it felt right to talk to someone about it, especially if that someone was him

“We can go to my place. It’s much more quiet.”

“Okay.”

You sat down in the passenger seat of Harry’s car, looking outside. You were oddly silent. Harry started humming a song to get your attention. You still said nothing. Harry started to sing now. You still said nothing. Harry began to change songs on the radio quickly, one after the other. You still said nothing.

“You look pretty tonight.” Harry said. You only looked at him and nodded. “But the boots y/n, hideous.” He dramatically sighed. “You’ll cause a hole in the windscreen if you keep staring this hard.”

It were as if Harry was desperatly trying to say play with me. You were silent and that’s when Harry decided to pull out the big guns.

“How’s everything with that guy.. Luke Hemmings right?” Harry tried to act clueless. You only rolled your eyes at him.

“What? Broke up with him because he fucked you missionary style?” Harry said, snickering as he remebered your drunken confession.

“Your ass must be jealous of all the shit that comes out of your mouth.” You grumbled. Harry heard the smile in your voice.

“There’s the y/n I adore.” He said, a smile cracking his face.

“Shut up. You’re making too much noise. I can’t even hear myself losing the will to live.” You said as you closed your eyes and laid your head against the back of the seat.

“Great because we’re home.” Harry said as he got out and opened the car door for you. “M’lady.” He said, extending a hand towards you which you took as he led you up the elevator.

You entered the flat and realised it’s still the same. It still smelt of candles and honey. The yellow bean bags lay mushed in the same way and the coffee tables were still dusty. You look around and remembered all the fights, laughter, song writing and mini concerts that took place here. Nostalgia wasn’t very nice to you tonight.

“It’s still the same.” You said, looking around as you stood in the middle. Harry smiled at you. “Never had the time to change it up.” He walked into his room, bringing with him a tee shirt and a pair of boxers. “Thought you might want to change in something more comfortable.”

“Thank you.” You said as you walked into the washroom. You looked at your reflection and reminded yourself to get your act together. You washed your face and tied your hair up in a ponytail and slipped on the tee shirt not bothering to wear the boxers because the tee shirt was good enough at protecting your modesty.

You step outside to see Harry brewing a cup of coffee. He was dressed in a loose tee shirt and a pair of sweatpants. He smiled at you and handed you the cup.

“I’d much rather have whiskey.” You said. Harry raised his eyebrows in amusement.

“Your wish is my command.” Harry said and went to fetch you a glass. “So…” he trailed off as he brought you the glass and drank some from his.

“It was a moment of weakness. Nothing more nothinh less.” You said as you drank.

One glass multiplied to two, two multiplied to four and four came kept on multiplying until Harry had to literally pry out the glass from your hand.

“You’ll have a headache tomorrow y/n.” He said, keeping the glasses away.

“Good thing I know how to handle handle my liquor then.” You said smiling, your cheeks flush and hinted with pink. You lay down on the sofa with a thud and sigh as you stretch your legs.

“You know, I never told you this but Ive always liked coming here.”

“Really?” Harry asked you, his smile gentle and surprised. “Yeah. It’s a good reminder.”

“A reminder of what?” Harry asked you out of curiosity. “That a place away from home can feel like it.”

“This place feels like home?” He asked you, his eyes gentle and warm. “Yeah. I mean, might be the whiskey talking at this point.” You chuckled as you set the glass down.

“I think you’ve had enough.” Harry said.

“Is that a tattoo gun?” You ask, getting up and fetching the tattoo gun. A mischievous smile on your face. “Yes.” Harry said, his eyes wide in uncertainty. “Give me your hand.” You said, as you plugged in the gun into a power outlet. “I don’t think this is a good idea,”

“Shh Harry I know what I’m doing.”

You didn’t know what you were doing.

“Okay.”

You grab the gun and sit across him, thighs touching. You hold his right hand in yours and begin to tattoo half a heart on the outer part of his little finger. Harry watched you intently, brows sinched, your lower lip encased in your teeth as you carefully drew the heart.

“There.” You said once it was completed. Harry looked at you with an incredulous look, “half a heart?”

“Wait a second fuckface.” You said snorting as you the other half of the heart on your left little finger. “Give me your hand.” You said to him. Harry brought his hand next to yours and there it was, a full heart.

“We have matching tattoos.” You said, “wait, we have matching tattoos.” You repeated with a grievous tone. “HARRY WE HAVE MATCHING TATTOOS!” You exclaimed for the third time, bringing your hands to your face.

“You shouldn’t have let me use the gun.”

“You would’ve done it anyways idiot.” Harry mumbled rolling his eyes. “Besides, they’re not that bad if you look at it from a distance.” He said.

“I am pretty good at this though.” You said smugly, a smirk on your face.

“Yeah yeah wipe the smile off your face.” Harry said makinh a face at you that only made you smile wider.

You raise your hand to flick his nose but he catches your wrist in his hand. The smirk on your face faded and Harry looked at you with raised eyebrows as his hand slowly travelled to your elbow, tugging you close to him until you were almost but not fully in his lap.

“Want to try that again sweetheart?”

Everything happened far too quickly. You had lost the ability to comprehend the fact that you had reached such a juncture. You lean in, brushing your lips against his but not kissing. The fingers of your free hand trail the curve of his jaw and settle down at the base of his neck.

Harry chuckled and said “are you holding back Love?”

You look at him with glassy eyes as you remove his tee shirt. Your hands shaking and fumbling with every move. Harry removes your tee shirt hastily as if he were a hungry man begging on all fours for food. He wraps your legs around his torso and dips your backwards until the springs in the sofa begin to squeak. He cups your face in his hand, his thumbs encasing your face carefully. He kisses you. He kisses you until time topples over and you are sweeped by heavy oblivion.

“If you plan on fucking me, do it right now or else get out so I can make myself come.” You said. Harry smirked.

And then, he fucked you. He fucked you hard against the sofa, claiming you as his his. He buried himself in you again and again. Glorifying in the feel of you, your smell, your taste. He fisted his hand in your hand in your hair, holding you in place. Your legs were wrapped around his waist as sinful noises escaped your lips.

Your hands were wrapped around his hair, tugging harshly as you both felt your core muscles tighten. “Oh shit.” You whisper in his ear as you felt yourself uncoil slowly. Harry lolled his head back in his ecstasy as he reached his climax.

“Fuck, you make missionary feel good.” You said completely breathless. “That’s how you deserve to be fucked.” He said kissing you.

———————————————

“Oh my God you were fucking amazing!” Sarah said squealing as she hugged Harry.

Harry started touring again and this time, the whole world was familiar with him and his work. He was proud, he was proud of himself and his whole team but he couldn’t help missing you.

Harry and you had a certain arrangement for a while but both of you broke it off perhaps three months ago.

“Harry?” you called his name. Harry looked up at you, his eyes laden with a sheen of lust as he looked at you. “Yeah?” He asked you.

“I think we should stop.”

“Stop?”

“Hooking up i mean.” You muttered as you fiddled with the hem of Harry’s tee shirt you wore. Harry raised his eyebrows at your eyebrows at your words and rubbed his eyes.

“Why do you want to stop? I thought things were good.” Harry said, evidently confused with your behaviour. You had always been bold when it came to telling how you felt and what you wanted so seeing you like this, timid and quiet was a surprise to say the least.

“Look at us. Im wearing your tee shirt to bed, we talk all day, we’re always around each other and what not.”

“Are you afraid you’re going to catch feelings?”

“Yes.”

“That’s ridiculous. You know that i’d never do anything to hurt you.”

“Harry. We’re different people. I don’t want to tie myself down to someone. You have your career ahead of you and I have mine.” You reasoned. Truth be told, you had predicted this conversation months ago.

“I think theres something more to this y/n. Talk to me.”

“There’s nothing beyond what I said.”

“There is.”

“No there’s not.”

“Is it Luke?”

“No.”

“Stop with the curt answers and spit it out.”

“Oh fuck you Harry. I can’t deal with this right now.” You spat at him, visibly frustrated.

“It’s Luke isn’t it?”

“No it’s not. We hooked up a few times and that’s it and you shouldn’t even care. Why don’t you go and kiss Kendall’s ass like you always do.”

“What are you even trying to say? It’s impossible to have a conversation with you, Jesus.”

“You want a girlfriend. I can’t be one. You want someone who’ll kiss you out of the blue and cuddle you. I can’t be that person for you Harry so stop wasting your time with me.”

“Y/n listen to me-”

“Goodbye Harry.”

That was the last conversation he shared with you. He felt his heart clench at remembering the conversation that had taken between you two.

Harry saw Sarah rush to the door with a bright smile on her face. She was about to open the door but turned towards Harry after mumbling “oh shit.” under her breath.

“Harry.” She called out his name, drawing it out. “Yeah?”

“Y/n wants to talk to you.”

“Okay.” Harry felt his heart burn and his palms turn clammy.

“She’s outside.”

“What?” He exclaimed.

“Okay bye.” Sarah said rushing out the door.

Harry saw you stand outside the door, you hair loose and falling into straight waves with your eyes lined with your signature liner. You wore a short black dress that was sinched at your waist and fell losely at your hips with a pair or red cowboy boots.

“Hi Harry.” You said, your voice unwavering as you stood in the doorway.

“Y/n, i didn’t expect to hear from you.”

“Before you say anything, I’m sorry. I was afraid and this is all so new to me. I fucked up i know. I was too caught up on being tough and not letting you in and what not…”

“Y/n it’s fine listen,”

“No shut up and listen to me first. I’m sorry and I like you, fuck I think it’s more than that and it’s important I get this off my chest. Okay you can speak now.”

“Fuck, get over here so I can kiss you.”

———————————

a/n: I’m yet to re read this so please excuse any typos. Interact with my work, leave me comments, let me know if you liked it! small interaction goes a long way guys! Love you <3

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

21st November- Fr. Martin's Reflections/Homilies on Today's Mass Readings for:

Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time (Luke 19:41-44): ‘He shed tears over it’.

And For

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Matthew 12:46-50).

Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA) Luke 19:41-44 Jesus sheds tears over the coming fate of Jerusalem.

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said, ‘If you in your turn had only understood on this day the message of peace! But, alas, it is hidden from your eyes! Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all round you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you – and all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it!’

Gospel (USA) Luke 19:41-44 If you only knew what makes for peace.

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Reflections (8)

(i) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

It has been said that to love someone is to have one’s heart broken. When someone we love suffers or dies, our heart breaks, and we give expression to our breaking heart in tears. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem. His tears were tears of love. He loved the people of this city; he wanted what was best for them, as love always wants what is best for the beloved. He wanted them to know the peace which his message could bring them. However, he foresaw that the rejection of his message, of himself, by the leaders of the people would bring suffering and death down upon the whole city. Their leaders failed to see that God was visiting them and speaking to them in and through Jesus, God’s beloved Son. They failed to recognize their opportunity when God offered it, in the words of the gospel reading. The Lord continues to weep today when those whom he loves fail to take the path to peace and happiness that he calls them and prompts them to take. He lived, died and rose from the dead out of love for all men and women, so that they would follow in his way, live by his truth and so find peace, that fullness of life which he so desperately desires for all. The gospel reading suggests that the Lord is often powerless before our refusal to accept his love and allow our lives to be shaped by his love. All he can do is weep. Whenever we find ourselves weeping over situations where violence and suffering prevail, because of people’s refusal to live by the gospel message, it is the Lord who is weeping through us. However, the Lord rejoices over us, declares us blessed, whenever we allow him to work through us to bring the light of his love into the darkness of our world, whenever we create a space, by what we say and do, for the Lord’s fuller coming into our world.

And/Or

(ii) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

Luke presents Jesus in a very emotional state in today’s gospel reading, weeping because the city of Jerusalem did not receive him, and did not recognize that in Jesus God was visiting them. The city will now have to live with the consequences of rejecting Jesus. The tears of Jesus are the tears of a love that has been rejected. Jesus came to reveal and make present God’s hospitable love for all, but many rejected God’s messenger of good news. There is a sense in which Jesus, and God who sent him, was helpless before such rejection. All Jesus can do is weep at human intransigence. Jesus cannot force himself on people; when rejected, he can only move on. He has come to seek and to save the lost, but the lost, and that includes us all, have to be open and responsive to his searching love. He walks with us and wants to enter into communion with us, but, every so often, he needs us to say to him, in the words of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over’.

And/Or

(iii) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

Luke tends to play down the emotions of Jesus in his gospel. Yet, in this morning’s gospel he portrays Jesus weeping over the city of Jerusalem. He weeps because he knows that the city, at least those who rule there, will not recognize him as the visitor from God who brings God’s peace. Jesus will be put to death in the city as God’s rejected prophet, God’s rejected Son. Jesus is helpless before this ill-fated decision that the city will make. All he can do is weep. Earlier in Luke’s gospel Jesus had said of Jerusalem that he had desired to gather her children as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but they were not willing. There is a sense in which the Lord remains helpless before human unwillingness to respond to his longing for us. There is only so much he can do to enter into a loving relationship with us; at some point he will need our willingness, our openness. He needs our free response. Yet, the good news of the gospels is that he remains faithful to us; he waits patiently for our response. Even if it comes at the eleventh hour, he welcomes it. His tears do not make him bitter or close his heart to us; his tears are always tears of love, a faithful love that endures in the face of human resistance.

And/Or

(iv) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

The tears that we shed often speak volumes about the feelings that we have for someone. In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus is described as weeping over the city of Jerusalem. Jesus had a deep love for this city and its people. Earlier in Luke’s gospel he had said that he had wanted to gather its inhabitants to himself as a hen gathers her chicks under her wing. Yet, Jesus must have foreseen that the leaders within the city, the members of the Sanhedrin, would reject him. In fact they would go on to choose a rebel against Rome in his place, Barabbas. It was the choice for rebellion against Rome that would result in the destruction of the city about which Jesus weeps in the gospel reading. Jesus was powerless before the choice that the people of Jerusalem made, or its leaders made on their behalf. Our choices always have consequences for good or ill. The Lord wants us to choose what he would choose, to make our choices in accordance with his will for our lives. He weeps when we fail to do so. The gospel reading suggests that the Lord cannot force himself upon us. He seeks us out but we have to allow ourselves to be found. He offers us a way and provides the means for us to take that way but we have to be willing to take it. Yet, the gospels suggest that the Lord will not give us on us easily. His tears do not make him bitter or close his heart to us; his tears are always tears of love, a faithful love that endures in the face of human resistance.

And/Or

(v) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus announced that God was powerfully reigning in and through his ministry, ‘the kingdom of God is at hand’. God’s life-giving power was at work through Jesus for the healing of the sick, for the forgiving of sinners, for the inclusion of the excluded and for the accepting of the rejected. Yet, today’s gospel reading reminds us that there were limits to this power of God working through Jesus. Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem because its people, especially its leaders, did not recognize the opportunity God was offering everyone in and through his ministry. For all his power, Jesus was powerless before their refusal to recognize that his coming was a visit from God. The power of Jesus was the power of love, the power of a divine love which is stronger than sin and death. All love, even divine love, must be freely received because it is in the nature of love to be a free gift. The tears of Jesus speak volumes about the capacity of human freedom to reject the gift of God’s unconditional love offered to us through his Son. The Lord’s tears could be shed for any of us because we can all fail to recognize the opportunity when God offers us. Yet, the good news, the gospel, is that our failure need never have the last word because God’s love revealed in Jesus is stronger than our failure and it endures in the face of it.

And/Or

(vi) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

One of the most distressing experiences in life is to be rejected by someone we love and care about. This is the kind of sadness that engulfs Jesus at the beginning of today’s gospel reading as he sheds tears over the city of Jerusalem. This city and its people always had a special place in God’s purpose. According to the Jewish Scriptures, it was the place where God had chosen to dwell. Jesus knew that the message of God’s kingdom, God’s reign of love, that he had preached throughout Galilee also had to be preached in Jerusalem, the city that was closest to God’s heart and, therefore, to Jesus’ heart. Yet, unlike Galilee, where Jesus’ message and ministry were often well received, Jerusalem proved to be impervious to his message. It would live up to its darker reputation as a city that kills God’s prophets. The powerful people of the city were soon to reject Jesus in the most violent way. God was visiting the city in love through Jesus and this love was rejected. An opportunity for the city to experience the peace that comes from receiving God’s loving visit was lost, and the gospel reading suggests that this broke Jesus’ heart. Jesus is helpless before people’s refusal to receive his love, God’s love. Jesus’ desire to be in a loving relationship with us is never in doubt, but his desire needs to find an echo in our hearts if it is to come to pass. He respects our freedom to reject his love and the peace it brings, but it continues to break his heart. Yet, he does not give up on us, just as he did not give up on Jerusalem. As risen Lord, the first place he instructed his followers to preach the gospel in was the city of Jerusalem, ‘beginning in Jerusalem’. The Lord continues to wait for our response. Indeed, he works for our response by sending the Holy Spirit in our lives to prompt us and move us.

And/Or

(vi) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

We have all shed tears at some time. Very often, we weep over those we love. We weep at the sickness and death of our loved ones. When we give our heart to someone in love, we know our heart will inevitably break. We accept the suffering that loving someone brings. The alternative is not to love anyone, which is the poorest form of life. Jesus was God’s love in human form. His love for others had a unique quality and the suffering which his love brought him also had a unique quality. Because he loved more than any human being could, he suffered more than any human being could, and that suffering often led him to weep bitter tears. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem. Jesus had earlier said that he had wanted to gather the people of Jerusalem to himself, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they refused his loving outreach to them. The rejection of his loving visitation to them brought him great suffering, which led to his weeping bitter tears over the city. ‘If you had only understood on this day the message of peace’. Their rejection of Jesus’ love would have tragic consequences for the city. Jesus was often powerless before human rejection of his love. We may love others but we cannot force their love for us; we are powerless before the mystery of their freedom to accept or reject our love. The Lord’s love for us is not in doubt. What is in doubt is our willingness to receive his love and to respond to it. One of the most important questions Jesus asks in all four gospels is his question to Peter in John’s gospel, ‘Do you love me?’ It is a question addressed to each one of us personally. We are all invited to make our own Peter’s response to Jesus’ question on that occasion, ‘Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you’.

And/Or

(viii) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

There are two places in the four gospels where Jesus is portrayed as weeping, at the tomb of his friend Lazarus in the gospel of John and just before the enters the city of Jerusalem for the last time in the gospel of Luke, which is today’s gospel reading. His tears at the tomb of Lazarus express his sorrow at the death of a beloved friend and the devastating impact of Lazarus’ death on his sisters, Martha and Mary, who were also friends of Jesus. The tears of Jesus in today’s gospel reading express his sadness over the failure of a city to welcome him as the bringer of God’s peace. Both set of tears spring from love. We weep over those we love and care about. Jesus had a deep love for the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. Earlier in Luke’s gospel he had exclaimed, ‘How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!’ It is a very maternal, motherly, image that Jesus uses of himself. The tears of Jesus in today’s gospel reading are like the tears of a mother who has been rejected by her children. Jesus’ statement, ‘you were not willing’, reminds us that the Lord’s tremendous love for us needs some response from us. At some level, our will needs to be brought into line with his will, our desire needs to correspond in some way to his desire for us. The good news is that, even the smallest of openings, faith the size of a mustard seed, as Jesus once said, is all he needs for his loving purpose for our lives to come to pass.

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

Feast of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel (Except USA) Matthew 12:46-50 My mother and my brothers are anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’

Gospel (USA) Matthew 12:46-50 Stretching out his hands toward his disciples, he said, Here are my mother and my brothers.

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Reflections (7)

(i) Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today’s feast commemorates the presentation of the child Mary in the Temple of Jerusalem by her parents. We seldom think of Mary as a child. All the images of Mary we are familiar with are either of Mary as an adult or of Mary in heavenly glory. Yet, when we are first introduced to Mary in the gospels at the moment of her annunciation, we should probably think of her as a very young woman, no more than a teenager. She must have grown up as a child in a very faith-filled home. Otherwise she would not have emerged as a woman of such strong and generous faith at the time of the annunciation. Today’s feast celebrates the fact that as a very young child Mary’s parents presented her to the Lord in the Temple, gave her over to the Lord’s purpose for her life. It was as if her parents were saying, ‘Lord here is our child. We know that she belongs to you more than she belongs to us’. Mary’s parents were recognizing that her relationship with the Lord was even more significant that her relationship with them. Today’s feast reminds us that the most important relationship in our lives is our relationship with the Lord. Every day we try to present ourselves to the Lord, offering ourselves to him. Every day we pray that God’s purpose for our lives would come to pass and that God’s will would be done in our lives. In the gospel reading Jesus declares that those who do the will of his Father, in whose lives God’s will is done, are his brothers and sisters and mother. It was above all Mary who did the will of Jesus’ heavenly Father. In the prayer that Jesus gave us to pray, the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, ‘Father in heaven, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’. Heaven is that state where God’s kingdom has fully come, where God’s will is fully done. To the extent that we do the will of our heavenly Father here and now, something of heaven comes to earth. When we allow God’s purpose for our lives to shape us, as Mary did, then we create an opening for God’s kingdom to come among us.

And/Or

(ii) Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The feast of Mary’s presentation in the temple in Jerusalem as a child celebrates an important truth about Mary: From the beginning of her life, she was dedicated to God, given over to God’s purposes. Because of her dedication to God from an early age, she was called by God to become a greater temple than the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. If the temple in Jerusalem was the house of God, the place where God was believed to be present in a special way, Mary became the house of the Lord in an even greater way, because she carried the Lord in her womb until she give birth to him. God came to dwell in her, through Jesus, because she was open to God’s presence from the earliest years of her life. She is the prime example of the group that Jesus refers to in this morning’s gospel reading as those ‘who do the will of my Father in heaven’. Today’s feast celebrates the fact that from her childhood Mary did the will of God, and was therefore ready to become the temple of God’s Son at the time of God’s choosing. We too are called to do the will of the Father in heaven so that we too can become temples of the Lord, people who carry the Lord’s presence to others, as Mary did. Writing to the church in Corinth, Paul says, ‘Do you not know that you are God’s temple?’ We ask Mary to pray for us now so that we may always do the will of the Father and so become temples of God as she was.

And/Or

(iii) Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary’s presentation was celebrated in Jerusalem in the sixth century. A church was built there in honour of this mystery. The Eastern Church was more interested in the feast, but it does appear in the West in the 11th century, and in the 16th century it became a feast of the universal Church. The feast stresses an important truth about Mary: From the beginning of her life, she was dedicated to God. She herself became a greater temple than any temple made by hands. God came to dwell in her in a marvellous manner and sanctified her in advance for her unique role in God's saving work. God came to dwell in her, through Jesus, because she was open to God’s presence from the earliest years of her life. She is the prime example of the group that Jesus refers to in this morning’s gospel reading, those ‘who do the will of my Father in heaven’. Today’s feast celebrates the fact that from her childhood Mary did the will of God, and was therefore ready to become the temple of God’s Son at the time of God’s choosing. We too are called to do the will of the Father in heaven and, thereby, to become temples of God, people who carry God’s presence to others. We ask Mary to pray for us now so that we may always be faithful to that calling. 

And/Or

(iv) Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we commemorate the presentation of the child Mary in the temple at Jerusalem. This feast celebrates the consecration of Mary’s life to the Lord. From the beginning of her life, she was dedicated to God by her parents, given over to God’s purposes for her life. According to the gospels of Matthew and Luke, in her teenage years, Mary was called by God to become a greater temple than the magnificent temple in Jerusalem in which she was presented as a child. The temple in Jerusalem was the house of God, the place where God was believed to be present in a special way. God wanted Mary to become the house of the Lord in an even greater way, because she was to carry the Lord in her womb, until she gave birth to him. God came to dwell in her, through Jesus, God’s Son. Because she was open to God’s presence from the earliest years of her life, she said ‘yes’ to this wonderful calling. She gave herself over to God’s will for her life. She is the prime example of the group that Jesus refers to in this morning’s gospel reading as those ‘who do the will of my Father in heaven’. Today’s feast celebrates the fact that from her childhood Mary had always done the will of God, and was therefore ready to become the temple of God’s Son at the time of God’s choosing. In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus declares that this true family are those who do the will of his Father in heaven. We look to Mary to show us what it means to say ‘yes’ to God’s call in our lives. Insofar as we can enter into Mary’s ‘yes’, we too will become temples of the Lord, like her. The Lord will be formed in us and we will offer him to the world by our lives, as she did.

(v) Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

When we hear the word ‘presentation’ in a religious context, we tend to think of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, the fourth joyful mystery of the Rosary. The church celebrates the feast of the presentation of Jesus on the 2nd of February. The church also celebrates the memorial of the presentation of Mary, on this day, 21st November. This memorial has been kept in the church since at least the eight century. It commemorates the consecration of Mary’s life to God. In the first reading today, God calls on the city of Jerusalem, the daughter of Zion, to sing and rejoice because he is coming to dwell in the midst of them. These are words that could easily be addressed to Mary. She too can sing and rejoice because the Lord came to dwell in the midst of her, in her womb. Indeed, according to Luke’s gospel, she did sing and rejoice in response to this good news, in her prayer that has come to be known as the Magnificat. We too can sing and rejoice that the Lord has come to dwell within Mary, because through the Lord’s dwelling within her, he has come to dwell in the midst of us all. It is through Mary that God became Emmanuel, God with us. The Lord was able to dwell within Mary because, in the words of the gospel reading, she was someone who did the will of God the Father in heaven. She was completely given over to doing God’s will, to allowing God to do his will in and through her. This is the aspect of Mary’s life we are celebrating today, her giving over of herself to God and to God’s purposes. Through Mary, God has come to dwell among us in the person of Jesus, now risen Lord. Mary shows us how to respond to that wonderful initiative of God towards us. Like her, we are to give ourselves over to doing God our Father’s will, as that will has been revealed to us by Jesus.

And/Or

(vi) Feast of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

There is no scene in the gospels corresponding to today’s memorial. Yet, there is a presumption that Mary’s parents would have presented her to the Lord in the Temple of Jerusalem when she was a child. Christian tradition has understood that Mary’s presentation to the Lord by her parents symbolized the consecration of her life to the Lord. As her parents presented her to the Lord, Mary as an adult presented herself to the Lord, made herself available for God’s purpose, as expressed in her response to the angel Gabriel, ‘Let what you have said be done to me’. In a similar way, our parents presented us to the Lord on the day of our baptism. As we grow towards adulthood, we then confirm for ourselves what happened for us on the day of our baptism. Our confirmation is our personal confirming of our baptism, which we try to live out every day. Mary’s giving of herself over to God’s purpose for her life did not always come easy to her, because God’s ways are not our ways. In today’s gospel she and other members of her family approached where Jesus was teaching and stood outside anxious to have a word with him. However, rather than just going out to his mother, Jesus sent back word to her that he now had a new family. His disciples, those who did the will of God as Jesus revealed it, were now his brother and sister and mother. Mary had to learn to let go of her son to God’s purpose for his life. When we enter into a personal relationship with God, it is always God who does the leading and we who try to follow. God’s purposes are always greater and more mysterious than ours, and so there is always a letting go to God on our part. That doesn’t come easy to us, no more than it came easy to Mary, but if we allow God to have God’s way in our life, we can be assured that it will be the way of life for us and for all we influence.

And/Or

(vii) Feast of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This feast originated in the Eastern Church. It commemorates the presentation of Mary to God by her parents in the Temple of Jerusalem, when she was a child. It reflects the church’s understanding of Mary’s subsequent grace-filled life as wholly given over to God’s purpose. Today’s gospel reading suggests that there were times when she struggled to understand God’s purpose for her life, especially in relation to her son Jesus. She sets out from Nazareth with other members of Jesus’ family to Capernaum where Jesus was ministering. Perhaps, they wanted him to come home and rest. However, Mary subsequently discovered that this was not God’s purpose for Jesus or for her. Jesus sent word out to Mary and his relatives that they no longer had any claim on him because he was starting a new family of his disciples and from now on they would be his mother and brothers and sisters. There was much here for Mary to ponder. What she wanted for Jesus as a mother was not necessarily what God wanted for him as his heavenly Father. In that sense, Mary’s experience can be very close to our own. Like her, we may want to give ourselves over to God’s purpose, we may want to do God’s will, but, like her, we can struggle to discern what God’s purpose for our lives really is. We sometimes have to come to the painful recognition that what we want for ourselves and for others isn’t always what God wants. We can’t allow ourselves to become too sure of God’s desire for our lives or the lives of others. Like Mary, we have to keep ourselves open to where the Lord is leading us. Like her, we need to keep prayerfully pondering on our life experience, trusting in the Lord’s promise that those who seek will find.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[veeluvss]

SURVIVOR

Chapter Nine

“You need to get back to work goddamnit!” Elle shouted. “Elle, are you not hearing me? I had a panic attack, I can’t just go back!” JJ shouted back.

“I don’t care if you had a panic attack JJ. We need insider information,” “You don’t care that I had a panic attack? Gee, what a supportive girlfriend you are.” 

 Elle sighed and rubbed her brow. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.” “You just said it. You said the words ‘I don’t care-” “JJ, just shut up!” “It’s not like I can go back now anyway, Emily won’t let me near the case.” “Well you butter her up like you always do and get back on the case. We can’t do this without you there, JJ.” “No. I don’t want to be near it.” “No? No. Fuck off, JJ you got us in this mess in the first place - you can’t just back out now.” “I can do whatever the fuck I want, Elle!” The argument grew more heated as JJ got off the kitchen counter. “And right now, I’m going out.” Elle grabbed JJ’s arm as she went to walk past her. “No, you’re not because now I know what that means.” 

“Get off me!” JJ cried and pulled at her arm. “Get your murderous hands off me, you freak!” “Me? Me? Murderous? JJ you’re the killer, not me.” “Shut up, shut up, shut up, Elle!” JJ cried as her head began to hurt again. “JJ, you can’t go out again. Not now.” 

JJ wrung her hands together, “I have to.” Tears filled her eyes and Elle felt the pang in her heart, she hated seeing JJ cry. “No baby, no you don’t.” “I need to, I need- I need to hurt them again.” “You’re just stressed, come on, let's go lie down,” Elle went to hold JJ but she ripped away, scared of the touch. “Jay.” “Stay away from me. Away.” “JJ, I can’t let you keep doing this.” “Then come with me, do it with me. Remember what you said - we were in this together.” 

“That was before I saw what it did to you.”

“It’s the only way to get justice, you know what Emily said - they’re loved and appreciated still - we have to take that away. They don't deserve love!”

Elle knew JJ was right.

Meanwhile at the BAU

The team sat around the round table with the evidence before them. Most victims had died from GHB, no poison or anything like that which leaned towards a male unsub. However the anger shown by the unsub regarding the ‘rapist’ showed a potential female unsub. The team was conflicted.

“It’s possible it could be a male who knew a victim of rape? Perhaps a wife or a sister?” Luke suggested. “Possibly or we could be looking for a woman with combat training - it's less uncommon these days,” Tara added. “Let’s move on to victimology - why these guys?” Emily chimed in. “Well they were all found in alleys except the last one. That could suggest they were found in the act. What if the unsub was stopping these men raping people when they were killed?” “So our unsub is a vigilante,” Tara said. 

“Exactly that. They’re killing the men to save the women - the other victims.” Rossi said. “Garica get their faces of our victims out to the press, don’t mention they’re dead - just say we want anyone who recognises them to come forward.” Emily said. “Yes boss,” Garcia said and began typing away on her computer. “I still don’t understand the latest victim. Found in his home, stabbed and then beaten - the unsub seeked them out, it wasn’t out of chance,” Tara said. “You’re right. The unsub changed their MO but why?” Just then, a local police officer entered their meeting room. “A witness claims to have seen two women leave and enter the last victim’s apartment this morning-” He said. “Two?” “Women?” 

“This changes everything.”

Meanwhile with Elle and JJ

The two climbed out of the car as silently as they could and headed towards the alley where the scream came from. Both their guns were held out in front of them but clearly for protection. JJ’s knuckles were white from her grip and her teeth were clenched so hard it caused the vein to pop out in her head. “FBI, get away from her!” Elle shouted as they approached the two men over the young woman. Both men jumped back immediately but cursed. JJ reached out a hand and helped the girl up, she scurried from the scene and the guns were lowered. The men had their hands up, showing no weapons and JJ kicked first, straight at his private parts. He crippled and fell to the floor. Elle kicked the other and both men began to be beat up by the women. They didn’t fight back, in too much pain from the initial kicks and the threat of the guns. JJ hit hers harder, she stood over him, kicking him repeatedly in any place she could; the face, the ribs, the back, the stomach. Grunts and groans could be heard. Elle brought out her gun and shot hers. “Oi!” JJ screamed suddenly. “He can bleed to death, it’s fine.” “You’re going to cause attention.” “It’s nearly midnight, it’s fine,” Elle rolled her eyes and stood there as JJ grabbed her knife. She carved the name into her rapist’s head. He screamed out in agony and Elle laughed. JJ slapped him. “Shut up, you deserve this,” she hissed. “I wasn’t going to do anything,” the guy groaned, squinting his eyes in pain as the knife dragged across his skin. “Shut up!” JJ screamed and spat at him. Once the word was done, JJ was not. She began stabbing him repeatedly in the chest. Elle was gobsmacked. “JJ!” She cried and tried to grab her girl but JJ didn’t listen. She shoved her off of her and carried on stabbing. “JJ, stop!” Elle screamed and shot her gun to grab the girl's attention. JJ sat panting over the bleeding body. “You’re going to get us caught,” she said through her teeth. “You need to calm down, let’s go.” “I’m not done.” “You fucking are. Come on,” Elle grabbed JJ’s hand and dragged her away from the bleeding bodies. “You get too carried away.” Elle said. The pair got back to the car and JJ put her head against the cold metal, finally letting the bloody knife in her hand fall to the floor. It hit the pavement with a harsh noise and Elle came around the car. She put her hand on her girlfriend’s back and kissed the side of her head. “Let’s get you home.” “I wasn’t done-” JJ whispered. “You did enough today.” “It wasn’t right.” “It’s done now. Come on,” Elle said. She opened the car door and assisted JJ into her seat. She did her seatbelt as JJ was motionless, tears falling freely from her eyes. “I love you,” Elle muttered as she took in the sight of her bloody girlfriend before her. She never should have let her again. 

[holystormfire]

Luke 24:13-35

Easter Wednesday - The Supper at Emmaus

Friend of the Humble (Supper at Emmaus),

Painted by Léon-Augustin L'Hermitte (1824-1925),

Painted in 1892,

Oil on canvas

© Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Gospel Reading

Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.

Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’

Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.

When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’

They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.

Reflection on the painting

Our painting combines today's Gospel story, where Jesus is breaking bread and the onlookers suddenly recognise him, with portraying Jesus as Friend of the Humble, the title of our painting. I do think this is a beautiful, gentle, gripping painting. Three generations of a family are depicted, sharing a meal. Before Léon-Augustin L'Hermitte painted this canvas it would be fair to say that artists always tried to represent Jesus as majestic, full of glory and maybe somewhat distant from normal day-to-day life. Our artist masterfully places Jesus in a contemporary setting of 1892, when this was painted. The painting emphasises that Jesus became human and that he did walk among us.

Vincent van Gogh was one of L'Hermitte's greatest admirers. In one of his letters he wrote: "If every month Le Monde Illustré published one of his compositions... it would be a great pleasure for me to be able to follow it. It is certain that for years I have not seen anything as beautiful as this scene by L'Hermitte... I am too preoccupied by L'Hermitte this evening to be able to talk of other things." Quite the accolade to have Van Gogh write about one's artistry this way.

As the risen Lord approached the two disciples, his first act was to draw them into conversation, asking them to share the nature of their discussion. He sought to hear their tale; a tale filled with sorrow and loss. He wanted to fully engage with them in their moment of grief. He accepted them as they were, demonstrating a profound respect for their current state on their spiritual journey. This is precisely how the Lord presents himself to us: he encounters us in our present circumstances, encouraging us to open our hearts to him, to express our deepest thoughts and feelings. It was only after attentively hearing the disciples' lament that the unrecognized visitor responded. His words cast their despairing narrative in an entirely new light. He made sense of their grief, by placing it in the greater narrative of God's plan - a narrative not concluded by death, but crowned with light and triumph.

by Father Patrick van der Vorst

[wolint]

GODLY INTRODUCTION AND EVIDENCE

GODLY INTRODUCTION AND EVIDENCE

Exodus 3:15.

 

Hello, my name is……! What’s your name? who are you? What do people call you? Introduction! A necessity when we need to be recognised and remembered. Everyone introduces themselves at various points daily, sometimes, several time during the day. An introduction necessary when we meet people for the first time or need to confirm our identity for varying reasons. The Lord our God is not different. He introduces Himself to us daily through various means, wanting to draw us into a closer relationship with Him.

There are sixty-six books and 1189 chapters in the bible packed full of evidence testifying to God’s power and wonder.

A memorial is something that serves as a reminder, a designation of remembrance, that is what the bible is to us, a memorial, a remembrance of events and proof of power, the reminder of who God is and what He is capable of.

The scripture witnesses God’s participation in human history for the salvation of God’s people. Memorials of scriptural events reinforce our faith and provide reassurance for us to hold on to whatever the Lord promises us.

The Bible, though, is always amazingly accurate in its historical and geographical details. For example, biblical evidence indicates that Moses authored the Pentateuch in Exodus 17:14 and Mark 12:26. This is a clear indication that the word of God is absolute truth.

In the book of Acts, Luke, a man just like us, mentions thirty-two countries, fifty-four cities, and nine Mediterranean islands all present and accurate today. He also mentions ninety-five people, sixty-two of whom are not named elsewhere in the New Testament. And his references, where checkable, are always correct.

Imagine a man being this accurate and up to date, how much more where God’s work is concerned.

Well, about the Bible? Does it pass the prophecy test in your estimation? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 clearly states that every word of God is pure, perfect, inspired, profitable, life-changing but unchanging and accurate to all seasons and generations.

Every oracle of God is purified. Everything that God has pronounced, every inspiration which the prophets have received, is pure, without a mixture of error and without dross. Whatever trials it may be exposed to, it’s always like gold: it bears the fire and comes out with the same lustre, purity, and weight.

Let us, therefore, explore the riches of the pages of the bible. It is full of a bursting banquet of delicacies for everyone. Let us be impressed with its fascinating record of divine histories of events, miracles, marriages, wars, parenting and much more. Let us be awed by the privileges and responsibilities that are set forth in the Holy Book for us all to emulate.

The Bible is many things to many people, what is it to you, child of God? Perhaps, it’s one more book you own, sitting on your shelves but if you need to seek and find God, it holds the key to who God is-it is the evidence of Him who the “I AM” is, He will be whomever and whatever you require Him to be but only in the parameters of His word in the bible because He describes, announces, introduces and reveal Himself only through His word in the scriptures according to Exodus 3:14.

Take a deep good look at the scriptures again, acquaint yourself with all the true stories and remember the ones God has done in your life and be thankful for the trail of evidence the Lord left us to build and strengthen our faith in Him. Trust in His word, it never fails. His promises and His word last forever as seen in Joshua 21:45. Open the book and see the evidence for yourself.

PRAYER: Lord, may I always look for way to introduce you to those who don’t know you as you continually introduce and reintroduce yourself to me in varying degrees in Jesus’ name, amen.

Shalom

WOMEN OF LIGHT INTERNATIONAL PRAYER MINISTRIES.

[shadow-laviko]

Tonight I made some weird ass dream??

Like- ok, I don't remember much, but basically, my best friend and I had a bicycle trip planned with Professor Layton (and Luke too I guess (maybe other chatacters as well but I don't remember them))

And, since I live in France, it was in France (and I just checked the city name... It exist, and it's not too far away from where I dreamt it was on the map. Which is actually pretty spooky since I never went there... Heck, I had no idea this city existed!!)

And like, we started biking, but it was already/quickly night, and we lost Layton (that man is FAST, what the duck???)

Mostly because it wass too dark to see much, and we (best friend and I) almost got hit by a car. So I took a few seconds to pull out my phone, turn on the flashlight and place it on the bike so it would not fall. But I was like "Maaan, I know there's a little light thingy at the back of my bike so I can be seen, and one at the front so I can see people and the road..." but I struggled to find it.

With my phone now lighting the way, we continued for a while until I had an Eureka moment and remembered how to turn on the lights on my bike. Which I did after we stopped.

Later on, mu best friend and I were... ... In a train station? Maybe? Uh, well, in a place with a lot of people and a phone and all, and which was not outside.

We went to phone thingy which was on the wall, but we had to pay to use it. So my best friends took out coins from her purse and placed them in the phone thingy (I say thingy because it was not really a phone booth). But it did not work, because we missed 1 cent (price was 2.02€)

So I rummaged through my purse (well the correct term would be 'I just flipped it upside down and let everything inside fall down' but ehh) and found our missing 1 cent! But we had to put the full price again because we took too long. So that's what we did. And when we did, my best friend tried to do something (can't remember what) and I noticed a compartment opening on the left side of the phone thingy.

I called to her and we investigated the thing... It was actually how we could talk with Layton! But... neither of us had his phone number...

Then I noticed a woman entering a room next to us... It was a woman from one of the games! So I opened the door and guess what? More Layton folks! (Well, mostly if not only women. I couldn't quite tell you their name but I recognised them. For example there was the little girl from Folsense who likes candies)

I asked them if any of them had Layton's number, they all said no, and one even told us to 'Say hi' to him.

Now, that was a bad situation to find ourselves in... but then I noticed the phone thingy had letters and not only numbers. So I wrote down 'Hershel Layton' and a map appeared on the screen of the phone thingy (it had a screen so you can make video calls too), and it showed the map of the place we were going to, as well as showing the name of the town, name and number of the city, as well as the name of the owner of the phone we were calling (by the way, can we talk about this? People (studies? I can’t remember) say it's not possible to read when you dream, but like, I've read so many times while dreaming??)

And it turned out calling for 'Hershel Layton' gave us the number of an old lady (uhh I think she looked like the human/real version of the old lady from the hotel in Lost Future). And of course like every old people, she had the phone WAY too close to her face...

And my best friend was like 'Crap, that's not Layton' while I tried talking to the old lady. Then, in the background, although the voice was different because of this crappy phone, I heard a voice I thought I recognised. I turned the volume on, and there he was! Layton talking to Luke in the background! (And Clive too I think <3)

And I nudged my best friend and I was like "Listen! That's him! That's Layton!"

Then we shouted his name and he took the phone, we talked with him (also, wtf, the city we were heading too is over one day by bike, but we had only lost Layton like one hour ago???)

And that's the part I don't remember much, but basically Layton was like "Ok, see you soon :)" and me and my best friend jumped back on our bikes and started heading for the city (after writing down Layton's number) while complaining that we would probably have to bike all night long, and saying that we would be tired as hell... But we still were happy to know we would reunite with Layton in the end

But man, Layton is not that much of a gentleman, don't let yourselves be fooled! He did not even try to come get us (by bike nor car) nor anything!!

[faith-fragments-with-ian-greig]

Image credit: Unsplash

Freedom is not needing to prove your identity or position

There is a human desire for identity. We show which tribe we belong to by a dress code and, increasingly, by tattoos.

It might be subtleties of fashion — or it might be overt or even confrontational, like the present-day Orthodox Jews or the hijab of Muslim women.

A recognisable uniform can be useful in a hospital or rescue team setting, where identification is important. And Christian church leaders in the more formal traditions may feel the need to present themselves as ministers.

But the exaggerated priestly collar and black shirt of high church or Catholic-leaning clergy seems more like virtue signalling — or a demand for respect.

Jesus taught the folly of titles, tassels and trumpery. "And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and He is in heaven. "Beware of the teachers of the law…

… They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets." Matthew 23:9, Luke 20:46 NIV

And Paul, writing to Christians in first century Galatia, warned those of Jewish background against this religious spirit.

They were putting a false expectation on other believers — the men at least — that they should signal their belonging in the traditional Jewish way of circumcision:

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free… The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love." Romans 5: 1 and 6

Those who have truly submitted to Jesus show it in changed, renewed lives. Accepting His self-sacrifice for us brings a freedom from sin and guilt we couldn't achieve by any amount of religious devotion or other 'good works'.

Paul says that this new freedom is its own signal. To need a particular title or dress style or other distinction is returning to the old covenant style of religion, not the faith and freedom of the new covenant in Jesus.

Religious rules and distinctives build exclusivity rather than growing the reach of a church.

Jesus did not come to set up exclusive and competing clubs, but a movement and mission where He is present with His people.

+++++++

[nogoodsheepstealing-greatgrandma]

@spacerockfloater Were you also furious on Jeyne's behalf when her shitty male relatives attempted to usurp her? Did you think she was asslicking when she recognised the wider ramifications for female succession, for her own rule, if the Greens succeeded? Do you think it might have been in her own damn interest for the Greens to fail? Why do you think GRRM included the detail that she'd already seen 3 attempts to usurp her by the time of the Dance - just as a little extra dressing? Or a key motivation behind her support for her female relative?

Add in the context that female inheritance at that point had been under attack ever since the Grand Council at Harrenhal. The longstanding tradition of the Andals and the First Men - that though a son may come before a daughter, a daughter comes before an uncle - was ignored by the lords assembled there. Rhaenys had been the rightful queen by all laws and traditions. Vaemond had then used the precedent set by the Grand Council to put himself forward as heir to Driftmark ahead of Baela and Rhaena (who at that point had been betrothed to Jace and Luke since infancy, an arrangement that was Laena's idea to help her friend and brother out, so no, Rhaenyra was not usurping her stepdaughters - Vaemond was essentially usurping Rhaena by contesting her betrothed).

So with that context, it's no wonder Jeyne Arryn backed Rhaenyra. It's no wonder that Lady Tyrell also sent this iconic 'fuck you' as an excuse not to send any aid to the Greens:

Little Lord Tyrell’s mother wrote to say that she had reason to doubt the loyalty of her son’s bannermen, and “being a mere woman, am not myself fit to lead a host to war.”

Icon.

"B-But what about Rosby and Stokeworth?" Here's my breakdown on Rosby and Stokeworth - in sum, no, Rhaenyra was not in a position to roll out any alienating radical reforms in the middle of a civil war.

Rhaenyra allied with Dalton Greyjoy did she? The Greens tried that too! And in the end they allied with the Triarchy - that other group of pirates with a long history of kidnap and enslavement.

"B-But what about Nettles?" As my name probably suggests, I am a Nettles girlie. I care very deeply about Nettles (I touch on her and Rhaenyra's treatment of her here). I don't think Jeyne Arryn cares about Nettles anymore than Rhaenyra, or most of the nobility on Rhaenyra's council (except for Corlys, Gerardys and Jace), or any of the Greens - because that's the point of Nettle's character.

The fact is, Rhaenyra doesn't have to be a radical intersectional third wave feminist to gain the support of other highborns who also aren't radical intersectional third wave femininsts. That simply isn't the standard by which Jeyne Arryn is judging Rhaenyra - the precedent of a woman ruling is enough.

Insist all you like that Rhaenyra hypocritically only thought of herself as the exception, that she didn't care about other women. It doesn't change the fact that the Greens are shitty to women too (including to Jaehaera!). It doesn't change the fact that Rhaenyra's ascension would have been a STEP. At worst, Rhaenyra was just the same as the Greens - but with the added bonus that her ascension would have set a new precedent. It would have redressed the damaging precedent set by the Grand Council.

Add in the general culture of loyalty to the King and taboo of oathbreaking - and no, support for the King's chosen heir isn't actually that controversial in Westeros. This is a world in which the Mad King cooked Rickard Stark alive in his own armour and strangled Brandon Stark while he watched - and Eddard Stark's reaction to the Kingsguard knight who killed Aerys is to denounce him as a Kingslayer. The writers thought they were being clever with that 'stale oaths' line last season - but honour is actually culturally important.

Especially considering Rhaenyra had been heir since she was 8, had made a royal progress that went a whole lot better than the one depicted on HOTD, and the lords had years to get used to her as heir - hence why half the realm did actually support her. The Grand Council had also already set the precedent that tradition can be overturned to crown a man, so why not to crown a woman? Especially when the Greens had dishonourably concealed the King's corpse for 10 days, leaving it to rot while plotting a coup, all to crown a man widely known as being a lazy glutton at best. So yeah, the Greens didn't exactly endear themselves from the start.

As for endangering Jeyne Arryn... literally every house that declares for either side is in danger by this measure. It is logistically impossible for either side to grant every ally a dragon. Add that in the book, the promise of a dragon, and the sending of Tyraxes, was a promise made and followed up on by a 14-year-old boy, not Rhaenyra lol. Rhaenyra at that point in the book is generally agreed to have been absent from her council out of grief - this was a point in the story where a young Jace was trying to step up as heir until his mother recovered. As teenage stumbles go it's better than the mess Daeron makes of Tumbleton.

As for the Supposed Grudge Against Targs...

What is this obsession with insisting that the other noble houses must hold a grudge against the evil colonist Targaryens? While they somehow don't hold a grudge against the Hightower Targaryens and their apparently nice not evil dragons? Is it because you think the Greens are more Westerosi? And the Black's familial ties to House Arryn, House Strong, House Baratheon etc don't count?

The Conquerors weren't doing anything that the lords of Westeros weren't already doing. Their entire involvement in Westeros began when Argilac Durrandon asked for their aid in defeating Harren Hoare, and offered them buffer lands between the riverlands and the stormlands. They decided it wasn't in their political interests to get caught up in the constant cycle of land conquests by rivalling kingdoms - but they decided to play the same game the Kings of Westeros were already playing anyway, only better.

The feelings of the noble houses towards the Targaryens actually varies depending on their unique histories with the Targaryens, including their unique experiences during the conquest. House Tyrell owes their status to the Targaryens, House Hightower is probably still shitty that they weren't made wardens of the Reach instead (maybe that's why Lady Tyrell is so iconic in her fuck you to the Hightowers?). House Tully also owe their position to the Targaryens - and the other riverlords remember who liberated them from Harren Hoare.

House Arryn had a bloodless takeover - albeit with the implied threat of violence. Though it is mostly remembered as the time a Targaryen Queen took an excited little boy for a ride on her dragon. And when that little boy was murdered and usurped by a kinslayer, it was House Targaryen who delivered justice - a justice that the Valemen fully approved of, due to the cultural hatred of kinslayers.

And Then We Get To House Stark-

-Who you also think should hold a grudge against House Targaryen at this point in history. Show Cregan Stark certainly seems shitty, claiming "at least you didn't threaten me with your dragon". I mean we could make a distinction between someone actively threatening you with a dragon and an implied threat - Torrhen Stark simply saw the dragons and that was enough. But implied violence is still coercion, true. The Starks had their fair share of both actual violence and the implied threat of violence, like every other damn house in this feudal world with an army.

Show Cregan also seemed to forget that his ancestor Alaric Stark had already addressed this grudge. With Good Queen Alysanne. You know, wife to Jaehaerys the Conciliator? Those Targaryens who Conciliated? Who used soft power and built roads and overturned the first night and did a bunch of other stuff to fix the wounds left by Maegor the Cruel? The North in particular, especially the smallfolk, have generally positive memories of Good Queen Alysanne - the Queen who strengthened the Night's Watch with the New Gift. She had towns and castles named after her.

Of course, the north is not a monolith. Alaric's son Ellard Stark was less concerned with strengthening the Night's Watch, and resented the transfer of land. It is speculated by Maester Yandel that this grudge caused him to vote against Jaehaerys' choice of heir in the Grand Council, voting for Rhaenys instead. But Jaehaerys was never as popular in the north as Good Queen Alysanne. It's also possible that Ellard Stark voted for Rhaenys because a) the north generally love Good Queen Alysanne b) Alysanne always supported Rhaenys as heir c) Rhaenys was the rightful queen and d)the North have only positive experiences with Targaryen Queens at this point.

Either way, considering Show Cregan's concern with manning the Wall, it didn't quite make sense for him to not mention Good Queen Alysanne. But I imagine Book Cregan had it in mind.

I imagine Book Cregan also had the fact that he was also almost usurped in mind when he supported Rhaenyra over the Greens. Hey would you look at that, both Cregan and Jeyne, the 'asslickers' as you call them, have personal experiences that factor into their decision to back Rhaenyra beyond simply being asslickers!

Cregan was only 13 when his father died, and his uncle took over as his regent. His uncle refused to relinquish power when Cregan turned 16. The fact that Cregan had to have his uncle and cousins imprisoned strongly suggests that they were never going to relinquish control. Cregan was betrayed by his own family. So not only did the Greens probably remind him of his uncle, but Cregan was acutely aware of the political ramifications of allowing coups to go unchallenged.

Because guess what, the North isn't actually a homogenous icescape of isolationist brexiteers like the Show suggests. The Night's Watch sends missives to every King they can during the War of the Five Kings for a reason - the question of who sits the Iron Throne actually impacts the aid and resources they receive. Barba Bolton goes south to beg for food aid for a reason - because even the most pro-independence northerner can recognise that total isolation is unfeasible.

Cregan also had a little brother who died when he was 11, and had recently lost his wife and childhood best friend. I'm sure he and Jace probably bonded over his own very recent loss. Jace also reportedly reminded him of his little brother. Cregan, like Jeyne, had both political and personal reasons to support the Blacks.

But sure, it's great that the political and the personal was excised from the story for the far superior purpose of insisting that TARGS ARE BAD. Show Cregan and Show Jeyne aren't characters, they aren't compelling, they aren't interesting - they are just mouthpieces for the tiresome agenda of TARGS ARE BAD. For the ridiculous insistence that Targs are particularly more violent and more classist, that the violence and classism of the rest of the nobility is somehow more legitimate.

Book Jeyne Arryn, fresh from the latest attempt by male relatives to usurp her: "She remains our rightful queen, and mine own blood besides, an Arryn on her mother's side. In this world of men, we women must band together. The Vale and its knights shall stand with her".

vs

Show Jeyne Arryn: I don't have time to consider familial ties, solidarity from shared experiences or the wider ramifications for female succession, where the fuck is my dragon?

Rhaena: Should have read the fine print bitch.

Tyraxes: I was bigger in the book 🙁

[carlottawllms]

Ok, I'm finally here, I missed your mase🥺🩷

But nothing and nobody could’ve prepared you for the intensity of the whole situation and what it would do to you and the way you felt about yourself. OH WHAT HAPPENED TO MY GIRL?

It was a random Tuesday afternoon that you reluctantly clicked on the link a friend of yours had sent you and once the photos popped up, your heart sank in your chest. It was photos of Mason surrounded by several beautiful woman and it didn’t take you long to recognise the location. OH NO OH NO OH NO NO NO NO

You didn’t bother reading the article as you simply scrolled down and stared at the pictures it included. It didn’t take you long to realise that they weren’t just any women, but quite well-known models and influencers and it made you wonder if, for some reason, they’d been invited for their gathering too. OMG I FEEL SO BAD FOR HER

Two of those women hanging on his lips had messaged him on Insta before and talked about him regularly on their blog. In the beginning you’d found it a little funny how they were talking about how hot he was when you were the one he came home to and took to bed, but the times in which you didn’t care had ended a while ago. OH NO, I DONT LIKE THIS

But today was different. Today you looked…agitated. “Are you okay baby?” OH BUT I LOVE HOW HE IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING WAS OFF

His voice was quiet and his eyes soft and for some reason it riled you up even more than you already were. “I would be, if it wasn’t for my boyfriend being a ladies’ man and looking cozy with these women here.”, you hissed, turning your phone around so he could look for himself. OPS🤭🤭

Every tiny insecurity, every worry and every doubt had coalesced into this bubble of anger, pain and fear and the photos tonight had popped the already very thin surface, causing everything to spill out all at once in the process. OH GIRLY😭

“Into me?”, you laughed in disbelief; your voice a tiny bit high-pitched. “Mason, I’m not the one who went out with random women and decided to lie about it.” I UNDERSTAND HER BEING MAD BUT I DONT LIKE THE FACT THAT SHE ISN'T LETTING HIM TALK AND EXPLAIN

“Forgot about it or ‘forgot’ about it? Huh? Anything else you forgot to tell me?” THAT WAS MEAN, I LOVE HER😂

“You don’t know?”, Mason asked hollowly with raised eyebrows. He felt sick to the stomach. Less than 20 minutes ago, he’d taken shit from his friends because he’d wanted to leave early so he could be back with you, and now he was faced with a version of you, he’d never seen before. A version that accused him of having cheated on you…with women he’d not even spared a second glance. OMG BABY BOY😭😭😭

“I can’t believe this. We’ve spent…I…two years, y/n, two fucking years since I asked you to be my girlfriend and now you’re here saying you can’t be sure I haven’t cheated? Because of some fucking pictures a fucking magazine posted online? Do you hear yourself?” THIS HURT

And with that, you watched him turning on his heels and rushing out of the living room. The front door crashing shut being the last sound before it all became deadly silent.  HE LEFT COME BACKKKKKK WE NEED YOUUUU, WHERE ARE YOUUU, GO TO LUKE😉

Emptiness. That was all Mason felt when he flopped into the driver’s seat of his car and let the door snap close. OMG HIS POVVV I LOVE YOU CARLOTTA

Obviously, he’d been wrong though. You’d believed some random journalists more than your own boyfriend’s words and the disappointment and hurt he felt? He couldn’t put it into words. And on top of that he was terribly scared. Scared of having lost you for good. Scared of how to go on without you. Scared of making a wrong decision about what to do now. OH BOY😭

“FUCK!”, he shouted into the silence of his car. Head all but crashing into the headrest as he slammed his hand on the steering wheel. A few tears of hurt and frustration slipped down his cheeks, but Mason was quick in wiping them away angrily. OH NO, I NEED TO HUG HIM

Luke, however, was persistent and rang three more times before Mason gave up and answered anyway. MMM HE KNOWS SOMETHING 🤔

Less than 15 minutes later Mason was sat on the Shaw’s sofa, a steaming mug of tea in his hands and both, Luke and Anouska, by his side. He’d given them both a quick rundown of what had happened, with both of them having tried to calm him down as best as they could and once he was done talking, a heavy silence fell over the three of them. HE IS WITH MUM AND DAD, ALL GOOD😌

“She doesn’t actually think you cheated on her, Mase.”, she said carefully, her hand reaching out to squeeze his knee in reassurance. OH THEY KNOWWW

“She’s actually been struggling for about a month or two. Some of these influencers messaged you on insta and after you didn’t reply to either of them, they became…bitter I’d say.” I'M AMGRY NOW😒 STUPID GIRLS

The more she talked about what you’d had to endure those last months, the worse it made Mason feel. He hadn’t known any of this. OH BABY😔

Mason nodded, understanding well where she was coming from. “I thought she was coping well with everything.”, he whispered. He felt incredibly heartbroken and wanted nothing more than to drive home and hug you close, but he wasn’t even sure you’d want him to. OBVIOUSLY SHE WANTS YOU

“I feel horrible.”, Mason admitted quietly after running his hands over his face a couple of times. “I never asked if she was okay, I…I should’ve talked to her, but she seemed happy and…god, I’m such an idiot.”  NO YOURE NOT😌 SHE JIST WAS GOOD AT NOT MAKING YOU KNOW

“Do you think she’ll push me away when I go home now?” His voice was quiet, the question coming out a little hesitant as he was terrified the answer to it could be yes, but Anouska simply shook her head. NOPE SHE LOVES YOU

He couldn’t even begin to imagine just how heartbroken you had to be and whilst he was still terrified you could push him away, he was quick in lying down next to you. THEY ARE TOGETHER EVERYTHING WILL BE OK

“It’s okay, love. I’m here, I got you.”, Mason mumbled and you knew he tried to reassure you, but his words and the softness and love behind them only made you cry harder. YAYYY

“I know.”, you nodded, voice still a little strained from the tears blocking your throat. “It’s just…you…you had so much going on with the injuries and the fact that your start here has been far from being ideal and…I just didn’t want you to carry my burden, too. I just…I wanted you to focus on your career and being in a good headspace, rather than your girlfriend having problems with your fans.” OH GIRL, BUT YOURE HIS PRIORITY

“Too much?”, he offered, a small, sympathetic smile playing on his lips when you nodded. “I’m not mad at you, love. Just…next time tell me what’s going on in here, okay?” With his forefinger, he gently tapped your temple before moving a loose strand of hair away from your face. “I just want to help.” HE IS MY BOY

“I couldn’t do better, y/n.”, Mason interrupted you gently, not able to take it anymore. “There’s a million reasons why you’re the most wonderful person I could’ve ever asked for and every single day, I’m so grateful you keep choosing me out of all people. I know I take you and the things you do for me for granted sometimes and I promise I’ll do better, but I need you to know that I appreciate them all so very much.” THATS THE CUTEST THING EVER😭😭😭

“All sorts of people expect me to be all sorts of things, but with you I can be me. Unapologetically so. And that’s worth more than I could ever explain to anyone. You’re my family, y/n. You protect me and fight my corner, you’re so insanely supportive in so many ways and no matter what I do, you never judge me. You’re the person that I know I can rely on even if I feel like the world has turned on me. You stayed with me when things got difficult, you changed me for the better and you’re the person I aspire to be. I want to be better for you every single day so you can feel what I feel when I’m with you.” OMG I'M CRYING THAT'S PURE LOVE

“Truth is, there’s not a single part of me, no matter how small, that is not completely consumed by you, y/n. You’re it for me, you’re my person and the only one I want to be with, and I promise you, I’ve never been so sure about someone or something in my entire life. It scares the shit out of me cause I don’t want to fuck it up and lose you, but I love you in a way I’ve never loved someone and if there ever comes a time after you, which I don’t hope, I could never love someone else the way I love you.”   CARLOTTA YOU'RE MELTING ME

CARLOTTAAAAA

THAT WAS SO CUTEEEE

OMG AT THE BEGINNING I HATED HIM A LITTLE BIT, LIKE WHY WERE THEY TOUCHING YOU STUPID BOY??? AND THEN I WAS MAD AT HER CAUSE HE WANTED TO EXPLAIN BUT SHE WASN'T LETTING HIM

THEN I WAS HURT CAUSE THEY WERE SO HURT AND WHEN HE LEFT MY HEART BROKE

I LOVE HOW YOU CHANGED THE POV AND PUT IN THIS SOME MASON POV

LUKE AND ANOUSKA MY FAVOURITE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD 😌

I LOVED HOW HE RUN HOME TO HER TO APOLOGISE AND TELL HER THAT HE LOVES HER

AND HIS LOVE CONFESSION KILLED ME HONESTLY, LIKE THIS WAS SO CUTE AND SOFT AND SWEET OMG

HOW MUCH DID I MISS CARLOTTA' CODED ANGST??? YOU CANT IMAGINE 😭

THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH FOR THIS, YOU JUST MADE MY DAY

LOVE YOU AND YOUR MASTERPIECES SO MUCH🩷😌

Bestie 🥺🩷

I’m so glad you loved it 🫶🏼 I felt so bad writing it bc I felt so sorry for our Masey 😭 but also for girlie 😭😭

Love you very much 🩷 thank you for this 🫶🏼

[optimizche]

Missing (Part 2) [Aemond Targaryen x Reader]

Author's note: This is a long one, almost 3k words! Your encouragement really put me into the writing rhythm 😁 Please do let me know how you liked this chapter!

"Princess Rhaenyra, Prince Daemon, I don't think it is wise for me to accompany your party to King's Landing."

It has been six years since the now husband and wife had taken you in as their ward at Dragonstone, the day after the incident with the Velaryon boys, Prince Daemon's daughters and Prince Aemond. You had received the news of your own father's unfortunate passing a year after you had left the service of King Viserys. The new family you had found yourself with at Dragonstone helped you grieve and find peace and for that, you would forever be indebted to them.

In the years that had passed, you had grown into a comely young woman. With a lithe form and slender, elegant limbs from training in combat, your soft curves and delicate features made you one of the most beautiful women at Dragonstone.

"Why not?" Prince Daemon asked, a frown on his brow, yet concern for your well-being ever present in his eyes. "We shall introduce you by a different name, ensuring that no one at court shall recognise you."

"We need you there, little one," Princess Rhaenyra spoke, gently yet firmly. You knew she was worried about the petitions regarding the succession of Driftmark and the challenges that were going to be posed to Prince Lucerys' claim. "You know what those vipers did the last time we were facing them," she said, running a finger over the ghost of the scar left behind by the dagger Queen Alicent had wielded that night.

You nodded, considering the fact that being left to your own devices at Dragonstone would leave you quite lonely. Especially considering how close you now were with Jacaerys, Lucerys, Rhaena and Baela. Little Joffrey followed you around like a shadow as you spent most of your days training in combat with Jace and Luke, while your evenings were spent studying with Rhaena and Baela in the extensive library of Dragonstone with Maester Gerardys.

You had grown very attached to little Aegon and Viserys as well, looking after their needs along with their parents.

"Shall I darken my hair with some Tyroshi wash, Princess?" you asked, nervously, eliciting a smile from the Princess, taking your answer as a yes.

Prince Daemon chuckled heartily. "Believe me, little one. In the six years you've spent here, you've blossomed into an unrecognisable woman. The men at King's Landing will be all too preoccupied with admiring your beauty instead of determining your true identity," he reassured.

You bowed your head, hoping that his words would ring true.

----------

It felt nauseating, the stench within the King's bedchambers, disguised by the smoke of the incense burning in the corner.

You felt your heart catch in your throat, looking upon the King's face, half of it seeming to have rotten away, his eye lost to his infection, covered by bandages. He had grown so frail, you thought, seeing the gaping, weeping wounds running all across his exposed skin, right up under his silken tunic.

Jacaerys immediately sensed your guilt, seeing your face fall upon witnessing the worsened condition of the King, the man you were once responsible for healing. Now, the illness had spread far beyond the scope of your healing abilities and his days were numbered. You hid your tears against Jace's shoulder, shuddering quietly even as he wrapped a solacing arm around you.

The King had to be given the Milk of the Poppy every half hour to numb his pain, keeping his mind clouded. When it had been you around Viserys, he was at the prime of his health.

Had the Hightowers truly allowed his condition to become so bad as they warmed his throne for him?

Speaking of them, Alicent and Otto Hightower showed absolutely no sign of recognising you, given that earlier you had been a close companion of the Queen's children.

A quick wink from Prince Daemon bolstered your confidence that perhaps no one would detect your true identity.

If you could get away with a false identity before the King, Queen and the Hand...

"Come on," Jace said, tugging at your hand. "Let's see the rest of the Keep."

---------

It appalled you, the changes in the palace, the removal of traditional Targaryen heraldry, all to be replaced by the Seven Pointed Star, a symbol of the Faith of the Seven. No doubt the Hightowers were behind this.

"You don't need to be nervous, Luke," you said, brushing your arm with his hand comfortingly as you walked beside him, flanked by Jace on your other side as you entered the Red Keep courtyard.

"It is smaller than I remember," Lucerys commented on the size of the training ground that was flooded with members of the nobility watching a fight take place in the middle of the yard.

"It looks exactly the same," Jace commented, nonchalantly, perfectly content with ignoring the stares of the nobles around you three. Luke looked perturbed and you opened your mouth to encourage him only to be distracted by the sounds of swordfighting in the yard.

You turned to see Ser Criston Cole, battling against a tall, lithe figure, holding up a shield, his snowy hair reaching down his shoulders.

Perhaps it is Aegon, you dismissed the thought that had suddenly caused your throat to go dry. That hair color only belongs to a Targaryen-

With the swiftness of a leopard, the agile male, dressed entirely in black leather, disarmed Cole with ease.

Cole grinned and remarked, "Well done, my Prince. You'll be winning tourneys in no time."

"I don't give a shit about tourneys," the Prince said, sheathing his sword and the sound of his voice sent your blood running cold.

He turned and your palms suddenly began to feel clammy.

The patch on his eye only confirmed your worst suspicion. This wasn't Aegon after all...

"Nephews, have you come to train?" he asked Jace and Luke with the same arrogance you had known for as long as you had lived.

When the dark haired princes beside you remained silent, his one eye fell to you.

You swallowed the lump in your throat, seeing his eye run across your form until it met your own gaze.

Despite half of his face being maimed, he had grown into a rather handsome man. His long, silver hair, high cheekbones and thin mouth set into a severe line gave him the god-like appearance Targaryens were famous for. He wore his scars with ease, the slight jut of his chin and elegance of his posture exuding regality.

Aemond Targaryen.

Turning on your heel, you immediately made haste, rushing back into the walls of the palace, your heart hammering against your ribs so hard, you felt like it might burst out of you.

You ran until you were safely ensconced in a secluded corridor, shutting your eyes as you took deep, fortifying breaths to steady yourself.

"Gods, aren't you a beauty," a voice remarked, making your eyes shoot open to see a couple walking before you.

With the same silvery hair as Aemond, you knew this could only be Prince Aegon and his sister-wife Princess Helaena. Their twin children walked in tow, their maid accompanying them.

Aegon gave you a lecherous stare as he passed, while Helaena's expression was one of frank curiosity. You turned away immediately, feeling bitterness rise in your heart at the remembrance of Aemond's confession.

He loved Helaena.

Not you. Never you.

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

The welcoming feast that night was excruciating. After witnessing the death of Vaemond Velaryon in court you had almost wanted to feign an illness to excuse yourself from the affair, but Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon would have none of it. They wanted their ward to attend and that was that.

Getting dressed in your black Lyseni silk gown, you allowed your handmaiden to braid your hair into an intricate style away from your face. As much as you craved the comfort of the safety blanket of your long hair to hide behind, the hairstyle afforded none of it.

It was at this moment you were most envious of little toddler Joffrey and babies Aegon and Viserys, slumbering peacefully in their beds and cots. Not being old enough to attend this dinner.

Seated at the vast table beside Prince Daemon, you felt extremely jittery, picking at the foods on your plate. Just looking at the array of meats, cheeses, breads and cakes before you made you feel sick to your stomach.

The cause of your growing unease was Prince Aemond, seated right across from you, his one eye seemingly fixated upon your face, finger drumming against the table as toasts were being made left, right and centre. Even after the King had been carried away by his servants, the toasts continued.

To health, to goodwill, to graciousness, to peace...

You drank to each of them, the rich Dornish red and the sweet, light Arbor gold wines giving you a pleasant sense of tranquility as you consumed them on an almost empty stomach.

Until Aegon stood to his feet. Well in his cups, he raised a shaky goblet in your direction.

"I'd like to raise a toast to the ward of Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon. My Lady, you are one of the most exquisite beauties I've ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on," Aegon spoke, his lascivious gaze fixed on you. "Gods, if I weren't already married I'd certainly ask for your hand-"

His toast was interrupted by his mother, Queen Alicent, clearing her throat loudly, signalling him to sit down with her baleful eyes.

You turned away in disgust, to converse with Luke who was sitting beside you, a smile warming your lips as you saw Jace rise to his feet and quietly approach Princess Helaena for a dance. She gratefully accepted, taking his hand in her own.

That'll show Aegon how to treat a lady, you grinned, laughing merrily with Luke and Rhaena, sipping at your wine.

Until an outstretched hand was in your own line of sight. You looked up at the owner of the proffered hand, clearly asking you for a dance and were met with the face of the one person you were hoping to avoid all evening at any cost.

"May I have this dance, My Lady?" Aemond asked, sending ice through your veins.

With reluctance, you accepted, knowing it would be incredibly impolite to refuse the King's son a dance in his own home.

As you went to the open floor where Jace and Helaena were already dancing happily, you allowed Aemond to draw you into his arms.

The two of you swayed and moved in time to the music, your mind almost marveling at the sinew of his arms beneath your hands, hardened from years of training and dragon riding. This was not the scrawny boy you once knew, who wielded wooden practice swords.

Yet, it was the scent of him that tugged at your heartstrings, the spiced musk that reminded you of your childhood. Of the boy you had once so foolishly given your heart to.

Of the boy who had who had chosen a dragon over you, crushing your innocence with his greed for power.

You glanced at Jacaerys who was looking at you with concern, giving him a reassuring smile when Aemond suddenly leaned in and whispered in your ear.

"I may be half blinded, but I can still see, My Lady."

Blood running cold, you made to release yourself from his embrace, but he remained unyielding, the smirk on his face unnerving you.

"Don't..." you breathed, hating how your voice broke.

"Do you realise I spent years looking for you?" he asked. "I implored Father to send envoys to all of the seven realms in search of you."

You scoffed. "You chose Helaena. You chose Vhagar. There was no need for me in your life any more."

His eye widened with hurt, something akin to anguish etching into his features. "Is that what you think?"

"It is something that I know," you said, finally releasing yourself from his grip as your words had stunned him into silence. "You have Helaena and her children bear a striking resemblance to their uncle, don't think I haven't noticed. You have Vhagar, the most powerful dragon in the seven realms. You never needed me the way I needed you. And I refuse to accept being your second choice."

And with that, having said your piece, you walked away from him, yet again. Tears blurring your vision, you were hurrying to reach the comfort of your bedchambers before the onslaught of old and distant memories consumed your nights as it had done countless times before.

----------

It had been only moments since you had changed from the black silken dress to linen smallclothes and were hoping to climb into bed for a restful night's sleep that you hear a knock on the door of your chambers.

"Who is it?" you ask, fearing the worst.

"My Lady, I bring some lavender tea," came the timid voice of a serving girl.

Sighing in relief, you walked to open the door, letting the girl in despite knowing full well that you had asked for no drinks to be served to you at this late hour.

Once she bowed and departed, you lifted the tea carafe in order to pour yourself a cup, only to find a note hidden underneath it.

Meet me in the godswood. Please. You owe our friendship this courtesy.

- A.T.

Even without the initials undersigning the note, you would have recognised that elegant penmanship anywhere.

You owe our friendship this courtesy. One of the last ever words you had spoken to Aemond before your abrupt departure, six years ago. You were surprised that he even remembered.

There was a reason why he had called you to the godswood, despite it being well past midnight. The wood had been an almost sacred part of your friendship, the two of you having spent most of your time there together, savouring each other's company.

Mulling over the decision to actually make the trip to the great weirwood tree, you made your way to the great glass window that gave you a direct view to the woods from your designated chambers.

In the moonlight, you caught a glimpse of shining silver hair in the darkness, Aemond's figure almost unmistakable as he sat near the roots of the weirwood tree.

Waiting for you.

You almost felt bad for him, seeing the way he sat, staring down at his own interlaced fingers.

Perhaps he wanted to say his piece too.

But hadn't he already said more than enough on that night at Driftmark? Did you honestly need any more pain and humiliation embittering your heart?

Closing your eyes and letting out a tired breath, you reached for your dressing robes, fastening them around yourself as you walked out of your chambers.

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

Aemond heard your approaching footsteps long before he saw you. It was a sound all too familiar to his ears that once brought him immense peace.

But now, he was filled with trepidation as you stood before him. Beautiful as ever, with your hair undone around your shoulders, dressed in a simple cream robe.

Your full mouth was set into a severe line, eyebrows raised as you remained quiet, waiting for him to speak.

The silence stretched out for what felt like an eternity before he spoke.

"You left me."

A derisive laugh left your lips. "You chose Helaena, you chose the power of a dragon right when I was about to-"

"About to what?" he challenged, stepping closer.

"About to tell you that I loved you!" you cried out, the dam you had built around your feelings for him bursting open without warning.

Aemond's eye grew wide at your confession and he moved to touch your arm but you smacked it away angrily.

"For all those years, I loved you Aemond Targaryen. And you loved someone else," you said, voice catching in your throat as angry tears flooded in your eyes. "The children, the twins. Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. You've fathered them, have you not?"

"I could have you imprisoned in the dungeons for your accusation-" he began indignantly.

"Are they your children?" you asked sharply, having none of his empty threats.

"You could have stayed with me! You could have healed me! I wouldn't have been half blind if you had only been there with me!"

"Are. They. Your. Children?"

"Gods be good, yes!" he almost shouted, giving in to your stubborn line of questioning.

You stepped back, almost reeling from the shock of a truth you had already suspected for quite some time.

"Yes, they're my-"

Without a hint, your hand swung at him, landing a resounding slap across his face. So hard that you could see his skin reddening when you withdrew your hand.

Aemond, a seasoned warrior, almost flinched from the suddenness of the blow, an incredible anguish cutting through his heart as he took a step back.

"This conversation is at an end. You've made your choices. As did I," you said, your tone ringing with a finality that impressed you, considering how utterly broken you felt on the inside. "Being anyone's option is not enough for me."

And with that, you turned and swiftly walked away, ignoring his pleading calls of your name, muffling your own sobs by covering your mouth with a shaky hand.

Just as you were making your way back to your chambers, you ran into a dark haired figure, almost collapsing in his arms before you caught yourself.

"What happened?" Jace asked, worry about your state shining in his dark eyes. "Did he hurt you?"

You shook your head, unable to speak another word, letting out only a sniffle, your puffy and red eyes staring at the floor.

"I'm going to kill him," Jace said, stiffening, hands clenching into fists.

"No, please, Jace," you said instead, throwing your own arms around the young prince. A hug was all that you needed at the moment.

"Its alright, sweet one," he replied, returning your embrace just as desperately. "Come, you must tell me everything."

You nodded against his chest, before letting him take you by the hand and lead you into your chambers, unaware of the silver haired, one-eyed Targaryen prince watching the two of you through the shadows of the firelit corridor.

Part 3

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

23rd November >> Fr. Martin's Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Luke 19:41-44 for Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time: ‘You did recognise your opportunity when God offered it’.

Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA) Luke 19:41-44 Jesus sheds tears over the coming fate of Jerusalem.

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said, ‘If you in your turn had only understood on this day the message of peace! But, alas, it is hidden from your eyes! Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all round you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you – and all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it!’

Gospel (USA) Luke 19:41-44 If you only knew what makes for peace.

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Reflections (5)

(i) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

It has been said that to love someone is to have one’s heart broken. When someone we love suffers or dies, our heart breaks, and we give expression to our breaking heart in tears. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem. His tears were tears of love. He loved the people of this city; he wanted what was best for them, as love always wants what is best for the beloved. He wanted them to know the peace which his message could bring them. However, he foresaw that the rejection of his message, of himself, by the leaders of the people would bring suffering and death down upon the whole city. Their leaders failed to recognize that God was visiting them and speaking to them in and through Jesus, God’s beloved Son. They failed to recognize their opportunity when God offered it, in the words of the gospel reading. The Lord continues to weep today when those whom he loves fail to take the path to peace and happiness that he calls them and prompts them to take. He lived, died and rose from the dead out of love for all men and women, so that they would follow in his way, live by his truth and so find peace, that fullness of life which he so desperately desires for all. The gospel reading suggests that the Lord is often powerless before our refusal to accept his love and allow our lives to be shaped by his love. All he can do is weep. Whenever we find ourselves weeping over situations where violence and suffering prevail, because of people’s refusal to live by the gospel message, it is the Lord who is weeping through us. However, the Lord rejoices over us, declares us blessed, whenever we allow him to work through us to bring the light of his love into the darkness of our world, whenever we create a space, by what we say and do, for the Lord’s fuller coming into our world. 

And/Or

(ii) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

Luke presents Jesus in a very emotional state in today’s gospel reading, weeping because the city of Jerusalem did not receive him, and did not recognize that in Jesus God was visiting them. The city will now have to live with the consequences of rejecting Jesus. The tears of Jesus are the tears of a love that has been rejected. Jesus came to reveal and make present God’s hospitable love for all, but many rejected God’s messenger of good news. There is a sense in which Jesus, and God who sent him, was helpless before such rejection. All Jesus can do is weep at human intransigence. Jesus cannot force himself on people; when rejected, he can only move on. He has come to seek and to save the lost, but the lost, and that includes us all, have to be open and responsive to his searching love. He walks with us and wants to enter into communion with us, but, every so often, he needs us to say to him, in the words of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over’.

And/Or

(iii) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

Luke tends to play down the emotions of Jesus in his gospel. Yet, in this morning’s gospel he portrays Jesus weeping over the city of Jerusalem. He weeps because he knows that the city, at least those who rule there, will not recognize him as the visitor from God who brings God’s peace. Jesus will be put to death in the city as God’s rejected prophet, God’s rejected Son. Jesus is helpless before this ill-fated decision that the city will make. All he can do is weep. Earlier in Luke’s gospel Jesus had said of Jerusalem that he had desired to gather her children as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but they were not willing. There is a sense in which the Lord remains helpless before human unwillingness to respond to his longing for us. There is only so much he can do to enter into a loving relationship with us; at some point he will need our willingness, our openness. He needs our free response. Yet, the good news of the gospels is that he remains faithful to us; he waits patiently for our response. Even if it comes at the eleventh hour, he welcomes it. His tears do not make him bitter or close his heart to us; his tears are always tears of love, a faithful love that endures in the face of human resistance.

And/Or

(iv) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

The tears that we shed often speak volumes about the feelings that we have for someone. In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus is described as weeping over the city of Jerusalem. Jesus had a deep love for this city and its people. Earlier in Luke’s gospel he had said that he had wanted to gather its inhabitants to himself as a hen gathers her chicks under her wing. Yet, Jesus must have foreseen that the leaders within the city, the members of the Sanhedrin, would reject him. In fact they would go on to choose a rebel against Rome in his place, Barabbas. It was the choice for rebellion against Rome that would result in the destruction of the city about which Jesus weeps in the gospel reading. Jesus was powerless before the choice that the people of Jerusalem made, or its leaders made on their behalf. Our choices always have consequences for good or ill. The Lord wants us to choose what he would choose, to make our choices in accordance with his will for our lives. He weeps when we fail to do so. The gospel reading suggests that the Lord cannot force himself upon us. He seeks us out but we have to allow ourselves to be found. He offers us a way and provides the means for us to take that way but we have to be willing to take it. Yet, the gospels suggest that the Lord will not give us on us easily. His tears do not make him bitter or close his heart to us; his tears are always tears of love, a faithful love that endures in the face of human resistance.

And/Or

(v) Thursday, Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus announced that God was powerfully reigning in and through his ministry, ‘the kingdom of God is at hand’. God’s life-giving power was at work through Jesus for the healing of the sick, for the forgiving of sinners, for the inclusion of the excluded and for the accepting of the rejected. Yet, today’s gospel reading reminds us that there were limits to this power of God working through Jesus. Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem because its people, especially its leaders, did not recognize the opportunity God was offering everyone in and through the person of Jesus. For all his power, Jesus was powerless before their refusal to recognize that his coming was a visit from God. The power of Jesus was the power of love, the power of a divine love which is stronger than sin and death. All love, even divine love, must be freely received because it is in the nature of love to be a free gift. The tears of Jesus speak volumes about the capacity of human freedom to reject the gift of God’s unconditional love offered to us through his Son. The Lord’s tears could be shed for any of us because we can all fail to recognize the opportunity when God offers it. Yet, the good news, the gospel, is that our failure need never have the last word because God’s love revealed in Jesus is stronger than our failure and it endures in the face of it.

Fr. Martin Hogan.