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asktheriftwalkers · 6 years ago

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Chronicle 7; New Bonds

The house was hard to navigate. Well... everything was hard to navigate right now.

Eloi itched at the bandages over his eyes. He wanted to take them off, desperately. The only way he knew whether it was night or day was by the difference of the sun on his face, or the night air breezing over his skin. He could barely navigate around the room he was placed in, though it was getting easier.

Ishani had been an interesting person to have in his room. Her voice was- rather calm. Soothing. She never pushed him, never asked him questions. She just let him do what he pleased, and offered him trinkets to touch and feel. It helped. Truly, it did.

Eva was- different. She was blind, herself, at least- kind of. She explained it once; she was blind, but the visor she wore allowed her to see, at least a bit. He didn’t know what the visor looked like, but he knew every time she spoke of it, her tone changed a bit. It was more tense, almost- nervous. So he didn’t talk about it.

Jace didn’t frequent his room. He suspected he had spent some time in there when he was asleep, but he traded off shortly after Eloi had woken up. He could smell wood oils and fresh sawdust when Jace left, and he could hear the scraping of a knife against wood when he’d first woken. Eloi suspected he was carving something.

Iolar-... he didn’t talk whenever he was in the room. He didn’t try to hold conversation with Eloi, especially not after talking to him about the Rift and the gauntlet when he first woke, nearly... a week ago? Eloi wasn’t sure he could blame him for not wanting to talk after that. It wasn’t an easy conversation for either of them. But somehow, when Iolar lingered, Eloi always felt a bit safer, listening to the pages turn of whatever book he was reading. He did wish he spoke. His voice was calming, even if he knew it could turn harsh sometimes.

All in all... he didn’t know what to think of everyone. They were gentle in changing his bandages. They brought him food, and even asked him what he liked.

Eva’s cooking was always easy to pinpoint. Her dishes were often hearty, Italian in nature, but there was one time she made him a personal shepherd's pie, and that was-... absolutely delicious. The only thing he’d tasted that Jace had made was a chili, but it was warm. Iolar’s food was always more varied, but perfectly cooked and seasoned. One time, he made a traditional Indian chicken curry, and Eloi had nearly broke down crying when he tasted it. It-... tasted like home.

Eloi didn’t-... want to lose this place.

This was the first time they’d left him alone for longer than about twenty minutes. Eva was sleeping, and Ishani had left for the day. Iolar had been with him, but Jace had come into the room. The carpenter sounded almost panicked, speaking in a hushed tone to Iolar, before the two left with a ‘be right back’.

He didn’t want to run off again.

Fletcher-... he scared Eloi. The voices he heard scared him too. But everyone here-... they understood.

One of the only times Iolar had spoken while staying with him is when he noticed Eloi tense up from some of the things the voices said. The words cut him deep, and he wanted to run, to retreat away from them. Iolar had stepped up to the bed and spoken to him, calmly and collectedly. As though... as though he knew exactly how terrifying it was. Eloi suspected he did. Both him and Ishani.

Eloi slipped off his bed, wrapping his arms around himself. He was still sore, but he could move without pain now. He bumped into a box as he walked, stumbling. He squeaked softly, catching himself with a hand on the foot of the bed. He took a deep breath, slowly moving around the box and using the bed to walk.

He knew where the door was, but-.... Eloi swallowed his fear, his hands hovering a bit as he shuffled across the open expanse. He ran into the door. Eloi squeaked again, tensing up. He took a few deep breaths, patting the door until he found the doorknob.

Slipping out, he listened outside the door. He could hear voices, distantly.

“Brother, what’s goin’ on? You got it?”

“Jace, shut up.”

Eloi tilted his head. He wrapped his arms around himself again to feel more secure, before slipping down the hallway. He brushed his shoulder against the wall to make sure he wasn’t going to run into anything.

He got closer, and stepped over to the door frame, holding onto it gingerly as he listened.

Something was rustling in the ceiling. Weight shifted, a weight that sounded a lot like Iolar. Jace stood below, shifting his weight between his feet. He seemed to be anxious, and with every creak of the floorboards, he could hear a metallic shifting. Like... a cage? Why would they need a cage?

A sudden shift happened in the ceiling. A loud, animistic screeching left Eloi flinching as scuffling sounded. Iolar seemed to shift in the ceiling, stepping closer to- a hole?

“You got it? You got it!” Jace sounded like he was beaming. “What is it?”

Iolar grunted from effort. “Jace, hand me the bloody cage.”

“Righ’, righ’.” Jace grabbed the metallic sounding thing, the cage, and held it up to him. Iolar grabbed the cage, the screeching never ceasing. He shoved the screeching creature into the cage and slammed the door shut. It stopped screeching as loudly, but gave loud chirps of displeasure.

“... Raccoon.” Iolar grumbled. “Handing it down.”

Jace took the cage and set it on the ground again. “... Cute bugger. Evil, but cute.”

It was then that Iolar seemed to catch sight of Eloi, clinging to the doorway.

“Ah-... er-... Eloi.” Iolar cleared his throat, before hopping down from the ceiling with a thud.

“Hey kiddo, sorry, did we bother ya?” Jace sounded like he had a nervous smile. “Had an unexpected visitor before we could seal up the ceiling.”

Eloi shook his head a bit, clinging to the door frame a bit tighter. His words died in his throat.

“... I can finish up here, Jace. The ceiling might need to wait until tomorrow, but I think everything else is set.” Iolar patted Jace on the shoulder, directing his attention to Eloi. “... Eloi, I think your room is about ready. Provided you don’t mind us finishing up the ceiling tomorrow.”

The young teen tensed, before shaking his head. “I-... I don’t-... mind.” He mumbled quietly.

He could hear the smile in Jace’s voice as he spoke. “... Well, we’ll get it fixed up here quick.” The raccoon bashed against the side of the cage. “... Er-... I’d better get Skippy here out to- somewhere. You sure you’re okay to finish, brother? Some of that furniture ain’t light.”

“... Jace.” Iolar’s voice turned a bit tight, almost annoyed, but Eloi detected a bit of-... was that warmth? “... I’ll be fine.”

“Alrigh’, alrigh’!” Jace chuckled, taking the cage in hand. He walked toward the door, patting Eloi on the shoulder as he slipped out. Eloi flinched, but Jace only seemed to smile. “... I’ll see you tomorrow, kiddo. Don’t let Gypsy be too hard on you.”

Eloi listened to him wander down the stairs and exit the house. Iolar brushed his shirt and pants of dust, before grunting as he stretched. “... How are you doing, Eloi?”

“... I’m-... fine.” He spoke softly, nervously looking away.

“... Good.”

Silence fell between them, before Iolar cleared his throat a little, slipping past Eloi. “... You can- follow me, if you want.”

Eloi blinked. “... I can? You-... don’t want me to return to the room?”

Iolar’s shirt shifted- was that a shrug? Yeah, that sounded right. Regardless, the elder man started to walk down the stairs. “... If you wanted to run, you would’ve run already. So-... why not?”

The teen had no answer. He held himself as he walked after Iolar, bumping into the railing when he reached the stairs. The rail creaked threateningly. Iolar stopped short on the step he was on, shifting to turn toward Eloi. The teen gasped in shock, jumping back a little. He willed his heart to slow down, shuffling to hold the railing as he started down the stairs. He didn’t know the layout of the house, and it was- rather intimidating.

“How are your bandages?” Iolar spoke as he walked. Eloi followed as best he could, bumping into a couple things along the way.

“... Itchy.”

Iolar hummed faintly, almost thoughtful. “... Want to take them off? I think your wounds have healed enough to take off at least most of them.”

Eloi looked toward Iolar, feeling a bit of his tension fade. They could take off the bandages?

“... Come over to me, there’s a chair you can sit on.”

He complied, and Iolar tapped the seat of the chair almost effortlessly. It-... helped, to know where the seat truly was. He sat, fidgeting. At Iolar’s first touch to the bandages at his face, he flinched. It only served to make him touch him gentler, working at the bandages.

Iolar unwrapped the bandages fully. Eloi felt a bit of a chill at the lack of warmth. The elder man ghosted his fingertips over the scabbed over wounds. Some places had started to scar, but others still were healing.

“... Eloi, can you open your eyes?”

He hesitated, but tried. His eyes were sealed shut.

Another hum came from Iolar. “... One second.”

The thief walked away, talking as he did. “Eloi, you’re-... probably not going to see the same way you used to.” Eloi heard water running. “It’s probably going to be dark, but- you’ll see- auras.”

“Auras?” Eloi questioned, nervous.

“Souls.” Iolar walked back over to him. “... People’s souls.”

“... Will I see-... things like chairs?” He rested his hand on the table next to the chair, fidgeting with it a little. “... Or tables?”

“... I don’t think so. But Eva can help teach you to navigate. And- I’ll be here too. I’m not leaving anytime soon. Turn your head up.” When Eloi complied, Iolar passed a soft, warm cloth over his eyes. It was lightly damp, and felt-... so soothing.

Eloi instinctively relaxed as Iolar started to gently rub at his eyes with the cloth. Despite his gruff demeanor, Eloi could sense-... gentleness. It was in the way he changed his bandages, in the way he spoke when it was something Eloi felt uncomfortable with, in the way he’d ensured there were enough blankets on the bed he’d been sleeping on.

No... it was small things. Not loud, boisterous things. He never talked about it or sought acclaim, like Fletcher. Iolar-... was quiet in his gentleness. He was hard on the outside, but gentle when it mattered.

His eyes felt-... better. Iolar pulled the cloth away from his eyes. Eloi winced a little, but managed to open his eyes.

At first, darkness greeted him. Eloi felt his hopes deflate a little, before he saw- swirls of color. He blinked a few times, staring at the intricate colors.

“... I-... wow.” The teen breathed softly, blinking again.

Iolar hesitated. “... What-... do you see?”

“... Color. Really-... bright color.” Eloi blinked, raising one hand to gently rub his eye before refocusing in on Iolar-... Iolar’s soul. “... It’s- purple. And green, and blue.” He tilted his head. “... Why are there darker portions? Like-.” He reached up toward the aura’s shoulder, only to have Iolar catch his hand before it contacted. He was startled at first, but his shock was quickly overruled by the fact where Iolar’s hand held his wasn’t where he expected his hand to be. Like the soul wasn’t exactly where Iolar was.

And-... he couldn’t see his own- soul. He couldn’t see his hand. He looked down, trying to see if he could see- anything. But no. It was just darkness.

“... Why can’t I see my own soul?”

Iolar hesitated, but let out a breath. “I’m not sure. I’ve never been- able to see my own.”

“We can only see other people’s?”

“I suppose so.” Iolar straightened, letting go of Eloi’s hand. “If you feel well enough, this should help you follow me a bit easier as I set up your room.”

Eloi blinked again, nodding. He stood, a bit shakily with not being able to see. He could- but not truly. He felt-... relieved. He could at least see something. The young teen followed Iolar.

“Stand over there, please. There will be some boxes on your left.” Iolar directed him, and Eloi followed the instruction. He stopped when he felt the boxes with his fingertips. Iolar took hold of- something rather large. Judging from where he held and how he carried it- it looked like a headboard to Eloi. Iolar grunted faintly from effort, but made his way toward the stairs.

Eloi followed at a distance, but silence fell between them as Iolar worked. He would bring the pieces to the room they were working on, then walk back downstairs to get another piece, including the mattress. Then he moved on to what Iolar could only assume was an end table, and a dresser. The dresser, he struggled with a little, but he managed. The final trip was a load of crinkling plastic bags that Eloi couldn’t pinpoint. They weren’t that heavy, that much he could tell for certain.

The teen leaned against a wall inside his-... new room as Iolar set them down. He held himself, chewing his lip a little as he heard Iolar start to shift some of the bed pieces. “... Are those-... new? I-... I really didn’t need-....”

“Jace insisted.” Iolar grunted, starting to work at putting the frame together.

“He-... he made it?”

“Jace made pretty much everything that’s going in your room. And he already has some thoughts on a desk and desk chair for you. He was going to talk to you about it, but he wasn’t sure if there was anything specific you wanted to the design.”

Eloi hesitated. “I-... I-... uhm-... I don’t need anything- fancy.”

Iolar scoffed lightly, seeming to talk around a couple fasteners he held in his lips. “... Try telling that to Jace. He wants you to have the best, and he’ll make it himself.”

The teen fell silent. Jace-... really cared that much? He’d just met him. Eloi fidgeted, looking anywhere but Iolar’s soul. Yet again, Iolar was the one- making his bed for him. Literally putting it together. Iolar finally managed to finish putting it together, and shifted the mattress to flop inside the frame. He went to one of the plastic bags, and pulled something out.

Eloi heard fabric, before hearing Iolar start to put a sheet on the bed. A- brand new sheet set. He opened his mouth to speak, but his words caught in his throat. No... Iolar seemed- stubborn.

“... Eloi, where do you want the bed and nightstand?” Iolar asked him as he finished, turning to face him.

Hesitating, Eloi stepped a bit closer, nervous. He could feel a window, the fading sun on his face. He-... kind of wanted that close to his bed, for when he woke up. “... Where- would the sun fall in the morning?”

Iolar pointed. “... Over there. You want it to hit your face, or?”

Eloi shook his head. “... No, just-... somewhere. The warmth- feels nice in the morning.”

The thief nodded, seeming to think for a moment, before sliding the bed over to the wall. It settled in a corner, leaving one side open, but the other pressed to the wall. Iolar then moved the end table beside it.

“... There, and then you have the rest of the room to do- whatever you want with it. Why don’t you test out the bed?”

Eloi blinked, staring owlishly at Iolar for a moment before nodding, shifting to the edge of the bed. He sat, nervously, and holding his hands in his lap. “... I can-... really do anything with it?”

“Of course. Jace is even willing to make whatever furniture you want. A desk, chair, bookshelf, whatever you want.” Iolar paused, staring at the dresser. “... Where do you want your dresser?”

“... Uhm-... down- down there?” He pointed toward the end of the bed, on the other wall. “... But- Jace is busy enough, he can’t possibly have time t-to-....”

Iolar scoffed again, pushing the dresser into place. “Jace would probably take it as an small insult to buy things off the shelf, Eloi. He may be busy, but if he knows you want to do something with your room, he’ll make the time.”

“... And-... and what about you?”

“What do you mean?”

Eloi looked down, fidgeting with his hands. With the gauntlet. The artifact was still so new. “... You said you weren’t-... leaving anytime soon.”

“And I’m not.” Iolar sighed, leaning against the dresser. “... It’s clear with you and Ishani that we need a haven for Rift Walkers. A headquarters, of sorts. So, I need to spend time to set it up properly.” He shrugged. “You are a priority. This is the first room that Jace and I renovated of the whole building. And there are things both I and Ishani can teach you, that we both had to learn the hard way. So... yes, I’m not leaving anytime soon, and whatever you need, I’m here.”

The teen didn’t look up, chewing his lip. He could hear Iolar sigh again, walking up to him. Eloi tensed on instinct when he felt Iolar sit on the bed, the mattress pressing down. He felt his stomach clench, feeling nausea wash up, but Iolar just-... sat there.

He smelled of drywall dust, wood, and various chemicals. And- sweat. Iolar hesitantly patted Eloi’s shoulder, seeming almost awkward in doing so.

“... You-... have a home here, Eloi.”

Eloi didn’t look up. fidgeting. “... That’s-... not my- my name, you know....”

“I’m aware. ‘Iolar’ isn’t mine.” He paused. “... Do you prefer ‘Eloi’?”

“... A bit. But-... my-... name is Kylian.”

The teen could hear a-... faint smile in Iolar’s voice. “... Well, good to meet you, Kylian. But if you prefer, I’ll continue calling you ‘Eloi’.”

“... I would prefer that.” Eloi glanced to him out of the corner of his eye. “.. But- you prefer ‘Iolar’?”

“Vastly.”

“... Then-... thank you, Iolar.”

Iolar stood, stalking over to the plastic bags and taking them in his hands. He brought them back over to Eloi, resting them at his feet. “... I’ll go grab your blankets, but why don’t you start going through these?”

“Oh-... o-okay.” Eloi bit his lip as Iolar stalked out of the room. He reached into the bag, sifting through. It felt like- fabric. He pulled out something, feeling over it. A-... a t-shirt? And it felt to be his size too, and-... brand new. He tensed, flushing as Iolar came back. “... I-Iolar, I can’t-.”

“You can, and you will, Eloi. Anything you don’t like or doesn’t fit, leave in the bags and we’ll return them for things you want.” Iolar dropped the blankets on Eloi’s bed. “... But I’ll let you go through them. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.” Iolar gave a wave over his shoulder as he stalked back out.

“But-.” Eloi hesitated, swallowing. ... Well... Iolar didn’t leave him much of a choice, now did he?

The teen slowly started to go through the clothing, enjoying the- quiet. The room smelled of construction, but- he liked it. The light faded, and Eloi continued going through the clothes, sorting them out easily enough. Eventually, he started yawning, his eyes drooping. He could see Iolar moving about downstairs, his soul distant, but still there.

Eloi shifted back into his bed, pulling his blankets and pillows up as he curled up. Watching Iolar’s soul move, and eventually Eva’s as well, he drifted off to sleep rather peacefully.

He was-... home.

#chronicle #original writing #writing #writeblr #eloiprose #eloi #iolar #jace #;w;

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alexconkleton · 6 years ago

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Memories & Inspirations of Templarism: Rouen

During a holiday to Rouen in France I noted the reference to an old temple place on the city centre map in our rented apartment. Knowing that names historically bearing the word temple are all referencing an ancient link to Templarism, I made visiting the location a priority of my stay.

I expected to find some evidence of perhaps a what could have been an ancient Templar castle or keep, likely long ruined or unrecognisable, particularly because of the French King’s determination to eradicate the legacy of the Templars.

I was surprised and very impressed to find a fully intact temple, Temple Saint Eloi.

A church was built on a island in the Seine from approximately July 5th 1228

The 5th of July is the birthday date of Mayan ruler Ahkal Mo' Naab' I in the year 465 and perhaps an early indication of an ancient heritage to the location. It is also a date associated with the celebration of St Modwenna, who founded Burton Abbey in Staffordshire in England in the 7th century.

St Modwenna’s legacy is intriuging and mystical, shrouded in myth perfect for an older association with the beliefs and knowledge that inspired Templarism and Gnosticism. St Modwenna is believed to have lived to 130 years old and raised Saint Oswyth, daughter of Wilburga, daughter of the pagan King Penda of Mercia. A medieval Anglo-Norman text tells of how Alfred the Great personally knew St Modwenna, although he reigned some 200 years later, supporting the belief of her extended life or perhaps that she shared knowledge that lead to a transference of her spirit.

St Oswyth’s mother, Wilburg was the daughter of King Penda, a son of Pybba of Mercia and said to be an Icling, with a lineage purportedly extending back to pre-Christian, pre-Roman, Norse mythological God Wōden. Perhaps this lineage, associations and miracles support further the understanding and sharing of great knowledge and power which has been overshadowed by doctrine, Christianity and the regal establishments crusade for unchallenged power.

The miracle that most caught my attention was perhaps the application of this ancient family power, tutored under the direction of St Modwenna in that after her execution St Oswyth stood up, picking up her head like Saint Denis in Paris, and other cephalophoric martyrs and walked with it in her hands, to the door of a local convent, before collapsing there. The legends of cephalophores miraculously walking with their heads in their hands may be related to the Celtic cult of heads.

The discovery of the temple is started with a view of the a great West window with a clearly marked great heptagram, with a heptagram at its centre.

The central heptagram resembles a star at the centre of a sun, perhaps a child within a God.

Within the heptagram is a flower, representative of femininity and lining the perimeter are hearts to indicate love and the sacred heart.

The dedication of the temple to Saint Eloi is perhaps most poignant as he is predominantly recognised as the patron saint of goldsmiths and this could indicate that this temple, close to the banks of the Seine in an important river shipping city, was perfectly placed for moving Templar wealth in and out of Paris. This may even have been a location for the evacuation of Templar gold and treasure just prior to the issue of the arrest warrant.

On the North side of the temple is another beautiful window featuring hearts and flames appearing to grow from the structure of the window frame and in the wood paneled door below a subtle hexagram, the star of creation in Christianity. The Seal of Soloman is representative of the path to higher spirituality.

Further indication of the influence and inspiration of Templarism is the decorative stone features, including the long reaching gargoyles and the flying buttresses, somewhat reminiscent of other inspired works of stonemasonry of the same period and influence, namely Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland.

The work is signed on the West facing wall by ‘Barbe’, a family of glass painters whose legacy became legendary in Rouen, it is likely that these windows were completed later in the Temple’s life most likely when it was rebuilt in the 16th century.

Further evidence of the influence of the Templars on Rouen can be found on Rue du Gros Horloge. Les Gros Horloge is one of the oldest in France and although it was constructed in 1389, there are a significant number of Templar inspired features.

It is so much more than a timepiece, it also indicates the phase of the moon by the representation at its top and the days of the week in the dial at its base.

More significantly below this in the peak of the arch is an interesting combination of symbols.

The red heart is representative of the heart of Jesus or the love of Jesus and there is a direct relationship between this and the secret knowledge or powers that inspired Templarism.

The sheep represents spiritual living, community or followers and being inside the heart this would represent the followers or community of Jesus. It also represents Jesus as the lamb of God, the self sacrifice of faith.

The sheep has a halo of the Templar cross and carries a cross with a banner hung from it, representing the religious crusade of the Templars and their protection of Christianity through battle and occupation of Holy sites, which ultimately contributed to their understanding or a great and secret knowledge.

The baby cherubs as humans are representative of humanity and the original meaning of a cherub was for the protection of the Garden of Eden a symbol of the garden of human and religious origin and the interconnective balance of humans and nature.

This depiction is beautifully sculptured in the stone beneath the clocktowers arch. A haloed shepherd, almost desperately hanging onto their staff with one hand is reaching down to feed a sheep grain from the open palm of their other.

The detail is superb, the shepherd features a whistle hanging around their neck.

The shepherd and their flock are in front of a detailed woodland, including even the detail of their secondary branches. They are at one within their natural surroundings.

The quality of the workmanship is reminiscent of the masterpieces of stonemasonary associated with the inspirations of Templarism and gnostic beliefs such as Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland.

The inscription reads ‘animam suam dat pro ovibus suis’ which translates as ‘gives his life for his sheep’.This comes from the Gospel of John, and reads: Ego sum pastor bonus. Bonus pastor animam suam dat pro ovibus suis, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep." It is interesting that the piece ‘Bonus pastor’, ‘Good Shepherd’ is missing, perhaps deliberately as a message of perhaps this is a lost piece of the sculpture.

In the lower portion of the frieze there is further incredible detail in the township, complete with chateaux, a mill and a cottage in the woods. The trees of the landscape feature, natural flows of branches and foliage. The human working township, sheep, trees and undergrowth, all depicting the joint balance of life.

Master craftsmanship of stone masonary and art continue to surprise you as you are drawn to look closer and find new images within the undergrowth. Below you can see a close up of what could be a leaping hare or rabbit beside what appears to be the painted head of a rabbit, with even the downturned mouth. Does this indicate that this frieze was once decoratively painted, alive with colour?

Elsewhere there is what appears to a a distant perspective of a person either following a horse as it rears up on its hind legs or is the figure reaching upwards to stave off a rampant dragon?

It is interesting that the sheep at the base of the sculpture look very different to the others, their legs, long necks and snouts, even the way one scratches its ear with its hind leg, they almost resemble more like wolfs than sheep. Is there a deeper message here of the wolves that hunt the sheep or of the balance and co-existence that resides in nature?

#templar #templarism #rouen #sainteloi #groshorloge

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ian-iain · 4 years ago

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Who Does Jesus Say Is the Only True God: His Father or the Holy Trinity? Part Two

(Part one is posted below part two.)

Additionally, Jesus makes it clear in other Gospel passages that he is not God:

"Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me."

— John 14:1 ASV

If Jesus is God, wouldn't believing in God be the same thing as believing in him? Clearly, both Jesus and the New Testament saints viewed him as someone other than God:

"And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, *My God, my God,* why hast thou forsaken me?"

— Mark 15:34 ASV

"Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and *my God* and your God."

— John 20:17 ASV

"Blessed be *the God* and Father *of our Lord Jesus Christ,* who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."

— Ephesians 1:3 ASV

"That *the God* of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him."

— Ephesians 1:17 ASV

Jesus provides other clues that he is not God:

"Immediately aware that power gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, :Who touched my clothes?" And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, 'Who touched me? '" He looked all around to see who had done it."

— Mark 5:30-32 NRSV

Jesus was not omniscient. He did not know all things. As we see, here, he did not know who it was who had touched him. Or is Mark attempting to deceive his readers into thinking that Jesus didn't know when he actually did? "He looked all around to see who had done it"? Why doesn't Mark say, "He turned and looked directly at her who did it?" Because, even if Jesus had known who it was, he clearly didn't know WHERE she was.

"But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but *the Father only.*"

— Matthew 24:36 ASV

"But of that day or that hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in heaven, neither the Son, *but the Father.*"

— Mark 13:32 ASV

Not only does Jesus not know the day or the hour, but notice who else that Jesus seems to say doesn't know: The Holy Spirit. *Only the Father* knows, according to Jesus. Thus, it does not seem likely that either Christ or the Holy Spirit are persons of the Godhead, for God has never lacked any knowledge or wisdom.

Indeed, not only did Jesus not know all things, he was not even all wise (at least not always); nor was he without the need to learn:

"And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

— Luke 2:52 ASV

Jesus advanced in wisdom. Not only wisdom, though. He also advanced in favor with God. If Jesus is God; how could he have advanced in favor with God? Can God actually favor himself more than he does?

"Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation; named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek."

— Hebrews 5:7-10 ASV

And how is it, if Jesus was God, that he learned obedience? How is it that be "became" perfect? If Jesus is God, wouldn't obedience be part of his character? Wouldn't he have been immaculate by nature?

Moreover, rather than asserting that he is equal with the Father, and that his Father's will and his will are entirely identical, Jesus sometimes indicated that his Father has prerogatives that are not his, and that his will was not always precisely the same as the Father's.

"He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father."

— Matthew 20:23 ASV

While Jesus may not have desired anything different from the Father, in this instance (and certainly in many others), here, he acknowledges that he does not have power to do as the woman had asked of him, that only the Father has this authority. Thus, it would appear that his Almightiness isn't quite equall to that of the Father.

"I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

— John 5:30 ASV

Jesus denies the *ability* to do anything on his own. If he is God, then this would seem to have been a lie. Choosing not to use power, in submission to another, is not the same as being unable.

Jesus implied that his will and the Father's was not identical. If his will and the Father's will, at this time, was identical, then it would have been deceitful, at worst, and pointless at best, for Jesus to say "I seek not mine own will"; the mere assertion that he sought the will of the Father would have been more accurate.

"For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

— John 6:38 ASV

Again, if Jesus will was precisely the same as the Father's will, then it would have been more to the point to just say that he had come to do the Father's will.

"And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, *My Father,* if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, *not as I will,* but as thou wilt."

— Matthew 26:39 ASV

"[Jesus was] saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless *not my will,* but thine, be done."

— Luke 22:42 ASV

Clearly, at this point, Jesus' will was to go on living. But, thank God, he submitted to the Father in this matter.

"Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner."

— John 5:19 ASV

"I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

— John 5:30 ASV

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works."

— John 14:10 ASV

Clearly, Jesus does not view himself, here, quite as Almighty," as his Father. If Jesus could not do anything of himself, at that time, then he was not "the almighty" at that time. But, God has always been truly, and in all connections, the Almighty. If Jesus is God, then it would have been closer to the truth for him to have said, "I will not do anything in my own power," rather than to deny that he is God and capable of doing whatsoever he pleases in his own power.

Jesus asserts that the only things he *can* do are those things that he sees the Father doing, and that he does those things in the pattern of how the Father does them; there is nothing, therefore, that is truly original with the son; while everything the Father does *is* truly original. Moreover, Jesus says that it is actually the Father in him that is doing the Father's works, just as it is God in the believer that works (Philippians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).

Again, Jesus was not shy about declaring that his Father is greater than him. And, in so doing, as is common when he talks about his God, Jesus says nothing at all about the Holy Spirit in this connection. Does Jesus sound like "the Almighty" in relationship to his Father, when he says:

"My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."

— John 10:29 ASV

"Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for *the Father is greater than I.*"

— John 14:28 ASV

If the Father is greater than Jesus, then Jesus can be the Almighty only in the sense that Joseph was almighty in Egypt (Genesis 41:40). But, no one would suggest that Pharaoh and Joseph were essentially the same: a duo in all essential respects. For Pharaoh came from a long line of Phraohs, while Joseph was an untouchable shepherd who was not even an Egyptian.

Again, Jesus is depitcted as praying to his Father. He does not pray to the Holy Spirit. He does not pray to himself. Neither are we told that the Father or the Holy Spirit prayed to Jesus or to each other.

"And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, *My Father,* if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."

— Matthew 26:39 ASV

"So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, *Father,* I thank thee that thou heardest me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me."

— John 11:41-42 ASV

"Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, *Father,* art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me."

— John 17:20-23 ASV

In praying to the Father, Jesus acknowledges that it is his Father who has authority over him. But, if the Father has authority over him, he is not Almighty in relationship to his Father; he can be Almighty only in relationship to the creation over which the Father has granted him all authority. Jesus is resolved to do the Father's will, not to insist upon his own will (and his own will is clearly stated: He did not want to die). He is thankful to the Father for hearing him. And he prays that his followers would be in "us" (he and the Father) in the same way that he is in the Father and the Father is in him. If Jesus is God, will we who are in the Father and the Son be God, too? Indeed, if Jesus can speak of the Father and himself as "us," is it wrong for Trinitarians to speak of their god as "them"?

Clearly the early disciples saw Jesus and God as being two different beings:

"But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God."

— Acts 7:55-56 ASV

Trinitarians are often fond of saying that finite sins against an ifinite God require the death of one who is infinite; that, *even if he were to be sinsless,* a finite person can atone for the sins of only one other person. But, the Scriptures don't actually say such things. In fact, they speak quite to the contrary:

"But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the *one man,* Jesus Christ, abound unto the many."

— Romans 5:15 ASV

"For since by man came death, *by man* came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.

— 1 Corinthians 15:21-25 ASV

"For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, *himself man,* Christ Jesus."

— 1 Timothy 2:5 ASV

"And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the *body* of Jesus Christ once for all."

— Hebrews 10:10 NRSV

There is no notion, here, of a God dying for our sins; rather, the only thing that seems to matter in the issue of atonement, justification, forgiveness, and sanctification, is that an unblemished *man* died; that his *body* was sacrificed.

None of this is to deny that it is the Father working in Christ who grants us grace, raises us from the dead, and reconciles us to himself. Nor is it to suggest that Christ is not worthy of our worship (i.e., honor, service, obedience); he is, after all, the exact image of God, the one to whom all authority has been given, whom the Father has *made* King of kings and Lord of lords, the firstborn of creation, the firstborn from the dead, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the Almighty.

Jesus is the Almighty representatively; his Father is still greater than him. Many Christians think that his reign as King of kings and Lord of lords will be "forever and ever." But, the Scriptures teaches that, not only is Jesus the Almighty in relationship only to the creation (because someone greater than him gave it to him to be the Almighty over the creation), but that the day will come when Jesus will be subjected to the one who gave it to him to be the Almighty over the creation:

"And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all."

— 1 Corinthians 15:28 ASV

By ”God," the apostle means the Father, and not the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Because, when all things have been subjected to Christ, and prior to Christ being *subjected* to the Father, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit will *already* be all in all. But, that's not enough! The son must present his kingdom to the Father, that He, the only true God, may be all in all.

Going back to the gospels, Matthew clearly seemed to understand that Jesus was not God:

"But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority *unto men.*"

— Matthew 9:8 ASV

Matthew does not say, "But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, because *they saw* that He had given such authority unto men." So, it *may* be that the words, "who had given such authority unto men" are Matthew's comment, in just the same way as "who knoweth the heart" is Peter's comment in the following verse:

"And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us."

— Acts 15:8

Either way, Matthew agrees that God had *given* such authority to *men.*

Jesus often refered to himself as the Son of God, as well as calling himself the Son of Man. But, while Jesus *never* explicitly refered to himself simply as God, he did refer to himself simply, and in the most unambiguous of terms, as a *man*:

"But now ye seek to kill me, *a man* that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham."

— John 8:40 ASV

That Jesus is a man is something that continued to be affirmed by the early church, and only once do we find a statement nearly as clear that he is "God" (and i will get to that):

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, *a man* approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs *which God did by him* in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know."

— Acts 2:22 ASV

"Inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the *man* whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

— Acts 17:31 ASV

John tells us that the Word was with God; Peter says that God was with Jesus:

"Even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

— Acts 10:38 ASV

Again, you cannot be the thing that is with you; nor can that which is with you be you *except* representatively (e.g., a photo, or a sculpture, or a drawing).

Often, when pointing out illogical theology, Christians will quote passages they don't really understand, in order to silence opposition. The following are two such verses:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

— Isaiah 55:8-9 ASV

"All things are possible with God."

— Matthew 19:26 & Mark 10:27 ASV

I'm sure you know, there are some things God cannot do, and that Jesus cannot be speaking quite literally; for, the Scriptures tell us some things that God cannot do (Job 34:10; Hebrews 6:18; James 1:13). Additionally, God cannot do other things of which the Scriptures are silent (he cannot make a rock so big that he cannot pick it up, he cannot make a square circle, etc.).

Most people who quote Isaiah 55:8-9 fail to consider that God inspired at least 35 people to document many of his thoughts in 66 "books" of the Scriptures, and that those books were imperfectly translated into the Bibles we use.

"Are we to just believe nonsensical statements in Scripture because we read them in a less than perfect translation of one of the 66 books of holy Scripture? In some cases, yes; in others, we're waranted in looking for another way of understanding what is written than the seeming nonsense that a cursory reading might give us. After all, the same writer who tells us that God's thoughts are not our thoughts also told us that God has said:

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah."

Isaiah 1:18

And so, let us use reason, here, and acknowledge that it makes no sense to identify Christ as God if he's with God *except* to understand that he is God the way the Lincoln Monument is Abraham Lincoln. There are no things that are made that make a devine trinity clearly seen:

"For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse."

— Romans 1:20

If there is, why did no prophet of the Hebrew Scriptures ever declare it?

Jesus is frequently regarded in the Scriptures as the servant of God, and as one who was sent by God:

"Behold, *my servant* whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles."

— Matthew 12:18 ASV

"The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his *Servant* Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him."

— Acts 3:13 ASV

"Unto you first God, having raised up his *Servant,* sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

— Acts 3:26 ASV

"For of a truth in this city against thy holy *Servant* Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together."

— Acts 4:27 ASV

"While thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy *Servant* Jesus."

— Acts 4:30 ASV

"He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that *sent* me."

— Matthew 10:40 ASV

"But he answered and said, I was not *sent* but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

— Matthew 15:24 ASV

"Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that *sent* me."

— Mark 9:37

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised."

— Luke 4:18

"For God *sent* not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him."

— John 3:17

"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that *sent* me, and to accomplish his work."

— John 4:34

A servant is quite different from the Lord of the Servant, and one sent is not as great at the one who sends him, as even Jesus admits:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, a servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him."

— John 13:16 ASV

The primary difference between a servant and the one he serves is that whatever authority a servant has is GIVEN to him BY THE ONE HE SERVES, and is not his by nature. The Lord of that servant has authority over the servant just by virtue of being able to enforce his will over that servant. Likewise, he who commissions another to go and do his will has authority by which to send the man that the man himself does not have.

Even Jesus' very life was given to him by the Father:

"For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself."

— John 5:26 ASV

"Life was not someting Jesus had always posessed. It was given to him. Jesus does not indicate that he has always had life in himself; rather, he says that the Father gave it to him to have life in himserlf. If something is given, there must be a point in time when it is given. Thus, Christ has not always had life within himself. If Christ has been given to have life within himself, he cannot be eternal (although, he is now indestructible), and thus he cannot be God.

Even his right to judge the world and to command obedience was not Christ's by virtue of his nature. Rather, these, too, were given to him by God. If they were given to him, then they were not always his; something given happens in a place and time. Eternity does not give to eternity; it simply is. But this is not the case with our Lord's authority:

"And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth."

— Matthew 28:18 ASV

"Moreover, there is a reason that is intimately linked to temporality why God gave this authority to Jesus. It was not because Jesus has always existed as God:

and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man."

— John 5:27 ASV

But, although Jesus is the Almighty, he's not the Almighty in the sense that there is no one mightier than him:

"For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him."

— 1 Corinthians 15:27 ASV

"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."

— 1 Corinthians 11:3 ASV

"And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all."

— 1 Corinthians 15:28 ASV

Bill, elsewhere you said to me, in connection to this issue, "Jesus said,"I am the first and the last." In Isaiah 44:6 and Isaiah 48:12, 13, Jehovah says he is the first and the last. Since there can be only one first and one last, Jesus is either a bald faced liar, a deranged lunatic, or he is Jehovah."

Again, you seem to want to argue against the many plain statements of the New Testament that state that God and Christ are two, not one; that they are only one in the sense that Christ prayed for the disciples to be one and desired them to be one with he and his Father.

Jesus is indeed the first and the last among men; the expression does not mean that Jesus is chronologically before all things, and chronologically last of all things; for the righteous will inherit imortality; this is the hope of our faith! Among immortals, there can be no last, chronologically speaking. So, saying that he is First and Last is just another way of saying that he has been given all authority over creation, that he has primacy. But, as Scripture tells us, He is exempted from this authority who gave it to him.

And, yet again, Bill, you wrote: "You seem to be intent on sealing your own doom, and for that my heart is broken. At the same time, I am also heart broken seeing your enmity against the Almighty God and Savior Jesus Christ and your zeal in leading others to Hell with you. (Not believing in Hell makes it no less real)."

I appreciate you concern. But, i just think it's absurd to fear monger based on a failure to believe an arcane doctrine, which many who defend it acknowledge is nowhere directly taught. As for hell; that's another discussion. But, just because you believe in it doesn't make it real, either.

Finally, I don't argue too strongly that the holy spirit is not God, because I believe the Scriptures teach that, in a sense the Spirit is God; but, in the same way that my hand is me. Even if I were blind and deaf, and the only way you could talk to me was to tap messages into my hand, you would not be talking to my hand; you'd be talking to me. If you honored or praised my hand you would be honoring and praising it for *my* sake, not for my hand's sake. But, my hands and feet don't form a pentagon with me; nor does the Holy Spirit form a trinity with the only true God and his son.

#trinity #holy trinity #doctrine of the trinity #trinity doctrine #is jesus god #is jesus god?

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myattorneyusa · 6 years ago

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EOIR Swears in 46 New Immigration Judges in Largest Ever Investiture Ceremony

Introduction

On September 28, 2018, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced that it had completed its largest ever immigration judge investiture, swearing in 46 new members of the immigration bench [PDF version]. The investiture of 46 new immigration judges in the September 28, 2018 announcement followed the investiture of 23 immigration judges announced on August 16, 2018 [see blog]. This uptick in immigration judge hiring has brought the size of the immigration judge corps to 395. The news release states that the EOIR plans to announce two more classes of immigration judges in the final months of 2018.

In this post, we will briefly examine the new resumes of each of the 46 new immigration judges, sorted by the immigration courts on which they will serve. In the conclusion, we will discuss trends from the latest class of immigration judges. The information on the new immigration judges is extracted from an EOIR news release on their hiring [PDF version]. To see an index of our previous posts on new immigration hires, please see our full article on the issue [see index].

The following are the immigration courts on which the new immigration judges will serve:

Arlington Immigration Court

Atlanta Immigration Court

Bloomington Immigration Court

Boston Immigration Court

Eloy Immigration Court

Falls Church Immigration Adjudication Center

Forth Worth Immigration Adjudication Center

Houston Immigration Court

Imperial Immigration Court

LaSalle Immigration Court

Los Angeles Immigration Court

Newark Immigration Court

New York City Immigration Court

Omaha Immigration Court

Otero Immigration Court

San Francisco Immigration Court

Stewart Immigration Court

Tacoma Immigration Court

York Immigration Court

New Immigration Judges

The following is the list of 46 new immigration judges sorted by their court of service.

Arlington Immigration Court

The Arlington Immigration Court is located in Arlington, Virginia.

Immigration Judge Paul A. McCloskey

Immigration Judge Paul A. McCloskey began hearing cases at the Arlington Immigration Court in October 2018. Before becoming an immigration judge, he served in a variety of positions for the ICE Office of Principal Legal Advisor from 2002 to 2018. These included associate deputy principal advisor for Field Legal Operations (2016-2018); deputy chief of the Criminal Law division (2010-2014); associate legal director in the Enforcement Law division (2010-2014); and assistant chief counsel in Baltimore (2002-2008). From 2008 to 2010, he served on a detail as a trial attorney in the Domestic Security Section of the Department of Justice. He has a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Immigration Judge Francisco Mendez

Immigration Judge Francisco Mendez began hearing cases at the Arlington Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2011 to 2018, Judge Mendez was an administrative judge for the Department of Defense's Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals, after serving as a trial attorney for the Department of Defense from 2003 to 2011. He also previously served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force from 1996 to 2016, with six years of that period being in active duty status and fourteen in the reserves. He has a law degree from Fordham Law School.

Immigration Judge Vince H. Spath

Immigration Judge Vince H. Spath began hearing cases at the Arlington Immigration Court in October 2018. Prior to his appointment, he served as an attorney and judge with the U.S. Air Force from 1993 to 2018. He has a law degree from Quinnipiac University and a master of laws degree from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School.

Immigration Judge Cynthia Shepherd Torg

Immigration Judge Cynthia Shepherd Torg began hearing cases at the Arlington Immigration Court in October 2018. Prior to becoming an immigration judge, she accrued two decades of experience as a senior trial attorney with the Department of Justice in Washington D.C after serving as a local prosecutor in Virginia from 1993 to 1998. She clerked for Judge Tommy E. Miller of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Judge Torg has a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Atlanta Immigration Court

The Atlanta Immigration Court is located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Sirce E. Owen

Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Sirce E. Owen was appointed to begin supervisory duties at the Atlanta Immigration Court and hearing cases in October 2018. She will oversee the Atlanta, Charlotte, and Stewart Immigration Courts. Before her appointment, she was a deputy chief counsel in the Office of Legal Counsel, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, ICE in Atlanta. She served in a similar capacity for ICE in Atlanta from 2008 to 2016. Judge Owen has a law degree from Georgia State University.

Bloomington Immigration Court

The Bloomington Immigration Court is located in Fort Snelling, Minnesota.

Immigration Judge M. Audrey Carr

Immigration Judge M. Audrey Carr began hearing cases at the Bloomington Immigration Court in October 2018. Prior to her appointment, she was the director of immigration and special programs with Legal Services NYC. She had previously worked in the area of immigration defense with various organizations in New York and Minnesota. She has a law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law.

Boston Immigration Court

The Boston Immigration Court is located in Boston, Massachusetts.

Immigration Judge Todd A. Masters

Immigration Judge Todd A. Masters began hearing cases at the Boston Immigration Court in October 2018. Immediately prior to beginning his service on the immigration bench, Judge Masters was an assistant chief counsel and deputy chief counsel for ICE in Boston from 2008 to 2018. From 2005 to 2008, he worked as a local prosecutor in Boston. From 1992 to 2002, he served in the U.S. Navy after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. Judge Masters has a law degree from Boston College Law School.

Eloy Immigration Court

The Eloy Immigration Court is located in Eloy, Arizona.

Immigration Judge Julian Castaneda

Immigration Judge Julian Castaneda began hearing cases at the Eloy Immigration Court in October 2018. Judge Castaneda had previously served as a prosecutor, most recently for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas from 2016-2018, and prior to that as an assistant district attorney with various local district attorneys offices in Texas. Judge Castaneda has a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law.

Immigration Judge Hye Y. Chon

Immigration Judge Hye Y. Chon began hearing cases at the Eloy Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2006 to 2018, she was an assistant chief counsel with ICE in Los Angeles. She also has experience from that period as an assistant U.S. Attorney. From 2002 thru 2006, she was an attorney with the California Supreme Court. Judge Chon has a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in San Francisco.

Falls Church Immigration Adjudication Center

The Falls Church Immigration Adjudication Center is located in Falls Church, Virginia. It hears cases via video teleconference.

Immigration Judge Audra R. Behné

Immigration Judge Behné began hearing cases at the Falls Church Immigration Adjudication Center in October 2018. Prior to her appointment, she worked as an attorney in private practice, including as senior pro bono coordinating attorney for Kids in Need of Defense in Los Angeles . She has a law degree from the Southwestern University School of Law.

Immigration Judge Emily N. Farrar-Crockett

Immigration Judge Emily N. Farrar-Crockett began hearing cases at the Falls Church Adjudication Center in October 2018. From 2013-2018, she worked as an immigration attorney. From 2001-2013, Judge Farrar-Crockett was an attorney with the Louisville Metro Public Defender Office. She has a law degree from Tulane Law School.

Forth Worth Immigration Adjudication Center

The Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center is located in Fort Worth, Texas. It hears cases via video teleconference.

Immigration Judge Eric C. Bales

Immigration Judge Eric C. Bales began hearing cases at the Fort Worth Adjudication Center in October 2018. Prior to his appointment, he served as a lawyer in various capacities with the Department of Homeland Security's immigration components from 2008-2018, and was most recently an assistant chief counsel for ICE in Dallas from 2016-2018. He has also been a judge advocate for the Texas Army National Guard since 2014. Judge Bales has a law degree from Ave Maria School of Law.

Immigration Judge Monica Thompson Guidry

Immigration Judge Monica Thompson Guidry began hearing cases at the Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center in October 2018. Prior to her appointment, Judge Guidry was a deputy chief counsel with ICE in Houston from 2009 to 2018. She served in similar capacities for ICE in Houston and Los Angeles from 2002 to 2009. From 1998 to 2000, Judge Guidry was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Labor in Kansas City, Missouri. She has a law degree from South Texas College of Law.

Immigration Judge Brandon L. Hart

Immigration Judge Brandon L. Hart began hearing cases at the Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center in October 2018. From 1996 to 2018, Judge Hart was a judge advocate with the U.S. Air Force. He has a law degree from the University of Utah and a master of laws degree from McGill University.

Immigration Judge Richard C. Jacobs

Immigration Judge Richard C. Jacobs began hearing cases at the Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center in October 2018. From 2008 to 2018, he was an assistant chief counsel and then deputy chief counsel for ICE in Miami and Orlando. During that period, he also served as a special assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida from 2010 to 2012. He served as a state attorney in Florida from 2000 to 2008. Judge Jacobs has a law degree from the University of Miami Law School.

Immigration Judge Joseph T. Leonard

Immigration Judge Joseph T. Leonard began hearing cases at the Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center in October 2018. His experience prior to beginning his service on the immigration bench came as a prosecutor. From 2008 to 2018, Judge Leonard was an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas. From 2002 to 2008, he was an assistant district attorney in three different district attorney's offices in Texas. He has a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

Immigration Judge Hugo R. Martinez

Immigration Judge Hugo R. Martinez began hearing cases at the Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center in October 2018. His legal experience comes primarily from his career as a prosecutor. From 2010 to 2018, Judge Martinez was an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas. From 2005 to 2010, he was an assistant district attorney for the Tarrant County (Dallas) District Attorney's Office. Judge Martinez has a law degree from Texas A&M University School of Law.

Immigration Judge Jennifer A. May

Immigration Judge Jennifer A. May began hearing cases at the Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center in October 2018. Prior to being hired as an immigration judge, she served as an assistant chief counsel for ICE in Kansas City, Missouri, from 2006 to 2018. She had previously worked for a decade as a local prosecutor. Judge May has a law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

Houston Immigration Court

The Houston Immigration Court is located in Houston, Texas.

Assistant Chief Immigration Judge James Doolittle

Assistant Chief Immigration Judge James Doolittle was appointed to begin supervisory duties at the Houston Immigration Court and hearing cases in October 2018. Judge Doolittle served as a judge advocate for the U.S. Army from 2004-2017, retiring as a colonel. Prior to serving as a judge advocate, he worked in various capacities as a lawyer for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service from 1994-2004. Judge Doolittle has a law degree from the Washburn University School of Law.

Imperial Immigration Court

The Imperial Immigration Court is located in Imperial, California.

Immigration Judge Jaime Jasso

Immigration Judge Jaime Jasso began hearing cases at the Imperial Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2001 to 2018, Judge Jasso worked in private practice. He has a law degree from Whittier Law School.

LaSalle Immigration Court

The LaSalle Immigration Court is located in Jenna, Louisiana.

Immigration Judge Grady A. Crooks

Immigration Judge Grady A. Crooks began hearing cases at the LaSalle Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2005 to 2016, Judge Crooks was an attorney with the U.S. Air Force. In 2017, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana. He has a law degree from North Dakota State University.

Immigration Judge Steven B. Fuller

Immigration Judge Steven B. Fuller began hearing cases at the LaSalle Immigration Court in October 2018. Judge Fuller was an assistant chief counsel with ICE from 2016 to 2018 and from 2008 to 2009, both stints in Lumpkin, Georgia. From 2009 to 2014, Judge Fuller was an assistant center counsel with the U.S Army at Fort Hood. From 2001 to 2008, he was an attorney with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He has a law degree from Regent University School of Law.

Immigration Judge Brent H. Landis

Immigration Judge Brent H. Landis began hearing cases at the LaSalle Immigration Court in October 2018. Judge Landis was a senior attorney for ICE in Phoenix from 2000 to 2018. From 1989 to 2011, he was an attorney with the Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force. He has a law degree from DePaul University.

Immigration Judge Cassie A. Thogersen

Immigration Judge Cassie A. Thogersen began hearing cases at the LaSalle Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2008 to 2018, she served as an assistant chief counsel and then as a deputy chief counsel for ICE in Oakdale, Louisiana. From 2001 to 2008, she was an attorney with the Department of Health and Human Services. Judge Thogersen has a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Los Angeles Immigration Court

The Los Angeles Immigration Court is located in Los Angeles, California.

Immigration Judge Janette L. Allen

Immigration Judge Janette L. Allen began hearing cases at the Los Angeles Immigration Court in October 2018. Prior to her appointment, she served as senior litigation counsel for the Office of Immigration Litigation at the Department of Justice from 2016-2018, and a trial attorney for the same office from 2008 to 2016. She has a law degree from American University.

Immigration Judge Leon J. Francis

Immigration Judge Leon J. Francis began hearing cases at the Los Angeles Immigration Court in October 2018. Prior to his appointment, he served as a judge advocate with the U.S. Marine Corps for over two decades, from 1996 to 2018. From 2012 to 2018, he was a military judge. Judge Francis has a law degree from the Gonzaga University School of Law and a Master of Laws degree from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School.

Immigration Judge Marni Guerrero

Immigration Judge Marni Guerrero began hearing cases at the Los Angeles Immigration Court in October 2018. Immediately prior to her appointment, she served as an assistant chief counsel with ICE from 2017 to 2018. From 2010 to 2013, she was an assistant U.S. attorney with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona. Before and after her stint as a U.S. attorney, she was in private practice. Judge Guerrero has a law degree from Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.

Immigration Judge Carlos R. Juelle

Immigration Judge Carlos R. Juelle began hearing cases at the Los Angeles Immigration Court in October 2018. From 1997 to 2018, Judge Juelle was an attorney in private practice. He has a law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law.

Immigration Judge Nicholas A. Martz

Immigration Judge Nicholas A. Martz began hearing cases at the Los Angeles Immigration Court in October 2018. Prior to becoming an immigration judge, he was a Marine officer from 1998 to 2018 and served as a Judge Advocate from 2007 to 2018. He has a law degree from Florida State University and a Master of Laws degree from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School.

Immigration Judge Jeffrey S. Miller

Immigration Judge Jeffrey S. Miller began hearing cases at the Los Angeles Immigration Court in October 2018. Before beginning his stint on the immigration bench, Judge Miller was an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas from 2010 to 2018. Since 2005, he has served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves Legal Services Command. Judge Miller has a law degree from the Florida Coastal School of Law.

Immigration Judge Sebastian T. Patti

Immigration Judge Sebastian T. Patti began hearing cases at the Los Angeles Immigration Court in October 2018. From 1995 to 2018, Judge Patti served as a judge in various capacities in Cook County, Illinois, both administrative and appellate. From 1979 to 1995, he was a regional counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago. Judge Patti has a law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Immigration Judge Anne Kristina Perry

Immigration Judge Anne Kristina Perry began hearing cases at the Los Angeles Immigration Court in October 2018. From 1987 to 2018, she served as an assistant U.S. attorney, first in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada and section for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California. During that time, she also served as a volunteer judge pro tempore for the San Diego Superior Court from 2007 to 2018. She was a state and local prosecutor in Nevada prior to becoming a federal prosecutor. Judge Perry has a law degree from the Loyola Law School.

Immigration Judge Anita L. Simons

Immigration Judge Anita L. Simons began hearing cases at the Los Angeles Immigration Court in October 2018. Before becoming an immigration judge, she served as an administrative law judge (2013-2018) and a local prosecutor (2007-2013) in Arizona. She has a law degree from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.

Newark Immigration Court

The Newark Immigration Court is located in Newark, New Jersey.

Immigration Judge Arya S. Ranasinghe

Immigration Judge Arya S. Ranasinghe began hearing cases at the Newark Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2008 to 2018, she was an assistant chief counsel for ICE in Newark. Judge Ranasinghe has a law degree from the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center.

New York City Immigration Court

The New York City Immigration Court is located in Manhattan, New York.

Immigration Judge Samuel M. Factor

Immigration Judge Samuel M. Factor began hearing cases at the New York City Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2010 to 2018, Judge Factor was an administrative law judge with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance for the state of New York. He has a law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Immigration Judge Brian T. Palmer

Immigration Judge Brian T. Palmer began hearing cases at the New York Immigration Court in October 2018. Before becoming an immigration judge, Judge Palmer compiled over three decades of experience as an attorney, judge, and commanding officer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1987 to 2018. He has a law degree from the Western New England College School of law and a masters of law degree from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School.

Immigration Judge Oshea Denise Spencer

Immigration Judge Oshea Denise Spencer began hearing cases at the New York City Immigration Court in October 2018. Her prior experience came primarily as a municipal court judge in Texas from 2005 to 2018. Judge Spencer was a local prosecutor in Richmond, Texas (2003-2013) and in the Bronx, New York (1998-2000). She has a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

Omaha Immigration Court

The Omaha Immigration Court is located in Omaha, Nebraska.

Immigration Judge Abby L. Meyer

Immigration Judge Abby L. Meyer began hearing cases at the Omaha Immigration Court in October 2018. Before beginning her service, Judge Meyer was an assistant chief counsel for ICE in Omaha and Atlanta, Georgia, from 2010 to 2018. From 2007 to 2010, she was an immigration service officer for the USCIS in Fairfax, Virginia. She has a law degree from the University of Nebraska School of Law.

Otero Immigration Court

The Otero Immigration Court is located in Chaparral, New Mexico.

Immigration Judge Lorely Ramirez Fernandez

Immigration Judge Fernandez began hearing cases on the Otero Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2007 to 2018, she served as an attorney for ICE, most recently as a senior attorney with the Office of Legal Advisor in El Paso, Texas, from 2016 to 2018. Judge Fernandez has a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

Immigration Judge Brock E. Taylor

Immigration Judge Brock E. Taylor began hearing cases at the Otero Immigration Court in October 2018. Before becoming an immigration judge, he was an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico, after having served as an attorney-advisor for the Department of Justice's National Security Division from 2010 to 2012. Judge Taylor served as a law clerk for Judge Robert C. Brack of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico and for Judge Eugene E. Siler, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Judge Taylor has a law degree from Harvard Law School.

San Francisco Immigration Court

The San Francisco Immigration Court is located in San Francisco, California.

Immigration Judge Laura C. Figueroa

Immigration Judge Laura C. Figueroa began hearing cases at the San Francisco Immigration Court in October 2018. Prior to her appointment, she worked as an attorney in private practice in San Antonio, Texas. She has a law degree from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Immigration Judge Dion A. Morwood

Immigration Judge Dion A. Morwood began hearing cases at the San Francisco Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2014 to 2018, he had served as a deputy chief counsel for ICE in Adelanto, California, after serving as an assistant chief counsel with the ICE Office of Principal Legal Advisor in Adelanto and Florence, Arizona from 2009 to 2014. He has a law degree from Brigham Young University.

Immigration Judge Shadee M. Star

Immigration Judge Shadee M. Starr began hearing cases at the San Francisco Immigration Court in October 2018. Before beginning service on the immigration bench, Judge Starr was a senior attorney for ICE in Los Angeles (2010-2018) and an assistant chief counsel for ICE in Los Angeles (2003-2010). She has a law degree from Stetson University School of Law.

Stewart Immigration Court

The Stewart Immigration Court is located in Lumpkin, Georgia.

Immigration Judge Jeffery R. Nance

Immigration Judge Jeffery R. Nance began hearing cases at the Stewart Immigration Court in October 2018. Before becoming an immigration judge, Judge Nance was an attorney, circuit judge, and chief circuit judge with the U.S. Army from 1998 to 2018. He has a law degree from the J. Reuben Clarke School of Law at Brigham Young University and a master of laws degree from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School.

Tacoma Immigration Court

The Tacoma Immigration Court is located in Tacoma, Washington.

Immigration Judge Charles Neil Floyd

Immigration Judge Floyd began hearing cases at the Tacoma Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2009 to 2018, Judge Floyd was an assistant chief counsel with ICE at Tacoma. From 2004 to 2009, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Washington D.C. From 1998 to 2004, Judge Floyd was a judge advocate with the U.S. Army. He has a law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

York Immigration Court

The York Immigration Court is located in York, Pennsylvania.

Immigration Judge Alice Song Hartye

Immigration Judge Alice Song Haryte began hearing cases at the York Immigration Court in October 2018. From 2006 to 2018, she was an assistant chief counsel with ICE in both York and Phoenix, Arizona. She served two stints as a special assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. attorney's office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania during that period. She has a law degree from Pennsylvania State University.

Conclusion

Several immigration courts received significant numbers of new immigration judges. The Los Angeles Immigration Court led the way with nine judges, bringing the size of its bench to 34. The Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center received seven new judges, bringing its total to nine. The four new immigration judges of the LaSalle Immigration Court bring the size of that bench to five. Several other larger immigration courts received multiple judges. Furthermore, it is worth noting that two courts received supervisory immigration judges.

In terms of experience, a significant number of the new judges have prosecutorial experience, experience with ICE, or experience as military judges and lawyers. 19 of the new immigration judges worked in some capacity for ICE and sixteen with the Department of Justice. Nine served as military lawyers, including for the U.S. Coast Guard and National Guard.

We wish the new immigration judges the best of luck in their new positions.

Please visit the nyc immigration lawyers website for further information. The Law Offices of Grinberg & Segal, PLLC focuses vast segment of its practice on immigration law. This steadfast dedication has resulted in thousands of immigrants throughout the United States.

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#immigration #immigrants #US immigration

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almightyandroid · 2 years ago

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🐏SHEPHERD Update!🐏

Eloi is back to being confused and sad after a three week break but like at what cost. Read here!

Also, as a side note, SHEPHERD will now be updating once every two weeks instead of every week! Trying to keep up with a queue with doing one page a week was exhausting. Thank you for understanding.

#my art #SHEPHERD comic #webcomic #webcomics

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catholicwatertown · 8 years ago

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Pope Francis in Fatima: homily of Card. Parolin at vigil Mass

(Vatican Radio) The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, celebrated Mass for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered in the great open plaza of the Marian shrine in Fatima on Friday evening, following the recitation of the Holy Rosary with Pope Francis, who is on pilgrimage to the shrine to mark the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady there. Below, please find the full text of the homily Cardinal Parolin prepared for the occasion, in their official English translation...

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Homily of Cardinal Pietro Parolin Vigil Mass, Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima 12 May 2017

Dear Pilgrims to Fatima,

With joy and gratitude, we have gathered at this Shrine that commemorates the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherd children. We join the throngs of pilgrims who in these hundred years have come here to show their trust in the Mother of Heaven. We are celebrating this Eucharist in honour of her Immaculate Heart. In the first reading, we heard the people exclaim: “You averted our ruin, walking in the straight path before our God” (Jdt 13:20). These words of praise and gratitude were addressed by the city of Bethulia to Judith, their champion, whom “the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth… guided to cut off the head of the leader of our enemies” (Jdt 13:18). But they take on their full meaning in the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Thanks to her offspring – Christ the Lord – she was able to “crush the head” (cf. Gen 3:15) of the “ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world”. He, in turn, “was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 12:9.17).

As a Mother concerned for the trials of her children, Mary appeared here with a message of consolation and hope for a world at war and for the Church in travail: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph” (Apparition of July, 1917). In other words: “Trust! In the end, love and peace will triumph, because God’s mercy is stronger than the power of evil. What seems impossible to men is possible to God”. Our Lady also asks us to join in this battle of her divine Son, particularly by the daily recitation of the Rosary for peace in the world. Even though everything depends on God and his grace, we still need to act as if everything depended on us, by asking the Virgin Mary that the hearts of individuals, the homes of families, the history of peoples and the fraternal soul of all humanity be consecrated to her and placed under her protection and guidance. She wants people who entrust themselves to her! “If they do what I tell you, many souls will be saved and have peace” (Apparition of July, 1917). In the end, what will win the war is a heart: the Heart of the Mother will obtain the victory, at the head of millions of her sons and daughters.

This evening, we offer thanks and praise to the Most Holy Trinity for the commitment of so many men and women to this mission of peace entrusted to the Virgin Mother. From East to West, the love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary has won a place in the heart of peoples as a source of hope and consolation. The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council met in order to renew the face of the Church, and presented itself essentially as the Council of love. The faithful, the bishops, the Pope did not fail to heed the requests of the Mother of God and of man: the whole world was consecrated to her. Everywhere groups and communities of believers continue to grow. Awakening from yesterday’s apathy, they now work to show to the world the true face of Christianity.

“If they do what I tell you, they will have peace”. A hundred years after the apparitions, it is true that, as Pope Francis has observed, “for many people today, peace appears as a blessing to be taken for granted, for all intents an acquired right to which not much thought is given, yet for all too many others, peace remains merely a distant dream. Millions of people still live in the midst of senseless conflicts. Even in places once considered safe, a general sense of fear is felt. We are frequently overwhelmed by images of death, by the pain of innocent men, women and children who plead for help and consolation, by the grief of those mourning the loss of a dear one due to hatred and violence, and by the drama of refugees fleeing war and migrants meeting tragic deaths” (Address to the Diplomatic Corps, 9 January 2017). In the midst of great concern and uncertainty about the future, what does Fatima ask of us? Perseverance in the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, shown daily by the recitation of the Rosary. And what if, despite our prayers, wars continue? Even though immediate results may not be evident, let us persevere in prayer. Prayer is never useless. Sooner or later, it will bear fruit. Prayer is capital in the hands of God; he turns it to good account in his own times and ways, which are very different from our own.

Our responsorial psalm was the Canticle of the Magnificat, with its sharp contrast between the “great” story of the nations and their conflicts, the story of the great and powerful with its own chronology and geography of power, and the “little” history of the poor, the humble and the powerless. The latter are called to work for peace with another force, with other seemingly useless or ineffective means, such as conversion, reparation, and trust. They are asked to halt the advance of evil by plunging into the ocean of divine Love as resistance – not surrender – to the banality and the inevitability of evil.

What must we do? Let me explain with an example(cf. Eloy Bueno de la Fuente, A Mensagem de Fátima. A misericórdia de Deus: o triunfo do amor nos dramas da história, 22014, 235-237). If someone passes us a counterfeit banknote, a spontaneous and even logical reaction could be to pass it on to somebody else. This shows us how ready we are to fall into a perverse logic that takes over and makes us spread evil. If I act according to this logic, my situation changes. I was an innocent victim when I received the counterfeit banknote, a victim of the evil of others. But once I decide to pass the counterfeit notes to someone else, I am innocent no longer. I have been won over by the seductive power of evil, creating a new victim. I have become an agent of evil, now responsible and guilty. The alternative is to halt the advance of evil, but that happens only by paying a price, by keeping the counterfeit banknote and thus freeing others from the advance of evil.

This is the only reaction that can stop evil and prevail over it. Human beings win this victory when they are capable of a sacrifice that becomes reparation. Christ carries it out, thus showing that his way of loving is mercy. This excess of love can be seen in the cross of Jesus. He takes on the full weight of the hatred and violence that rain down on him, without responding with insults or threatening revenge. Instead, he forgives, and thus shows that there is a greater love. Only he can do this, taking on – as it were – the “counterfeit banknote”. His death was a victory over the evil unleashed by his tormentors, which all of us are. Jesus, crucified and risen, is our peace and reconciliation (cf. Eph 2:14; 2 Cor 5:18).

“You averted our ruin, walking in the straight path before our God”. Let us pray at this evening vigil as a great pilgrim people, following in the footsteps of the risen Jesus, enlightening one another and helping one another to advance, based on our faith in Christ Jesus. The Fathers of the Church tell us that Mary conceived Jesus first in faith and then in the flesh, when she said “Yes” to God’s call to her through the angel. But what took place in a singular way in the Virgin Mother takes place spiritually in us whenever we hear the word of God and put it into practice, as the Gospel says (cf. Lk 11:28). Imitating Mary’s generosity and courage, let us present our bodies to Jesus so that he can continue to dwell in our midst. Let us offer him our hands to caress the little ones and the poor, our feet to draw near to our brothers and sisters, our arms to shore up the weak and to work in the Lord’s vineyard, our minds to think and plan in the light of the Gospel, and above all, our hearts to love and make decisions in accordance with God’s will.

In this way, may the Virgin Mother shape us, pressing us to her Immaculate Heart, as she did with Lucia, Blessed Francisco and Blessed Jacinta. On this centenary of the apparitions, with gratitude for the gift which the event, the message and the shrine of Fatima have been throughout the past century, let us join our voices to that of the Virgin Mary: “My soul magnifies the Lord… for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant… his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation” (Lk 1:46-50).

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