#and John and Paul looking suspiciously good at this

[fkajohnlennon]

Play me another, boys

[undying-love]

Paul: If I'm going to see a face in a painting, it's highly likely to be his [John].

Interviewer: Do you think of him during the day? Or is this an unusual thing?

Paul: I think of John a lot...because....we were such good friends for so long...

[hellogoodbyegirl]

Squeeze

[vintagegeekculture]

The 1970s progressive pop band Klaatu was known not just for their futuristic iconography, with songs like "Calling Occupant of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day)" but for a very, very strange rumor in the mid-70s, that Klaatu were secretly the Beatles (or at least some of the Beatles), who reunited in disguise.

Why did people think this? Well Klaatu's name is a Day the Earth Stood Still reference, a movie the Beatles themselves referenced in songs like "Goodnight Vienna." It was also on EMI, which was the Beatles' label. The sun-symbol on their albums is reminiscent of Abby Road.

And most surprisingly of all, there were, suspiciously, no existing photographs of Klaatu at all, so nobody knew what they looked like. In reality, the reason there were no photographs was actually because Klaatu were just a random bunch of guys from Toronto, and there was no reason to include their images when they wanted the music to speak for itself.

The absence of photographs of the band isn't the entire reason people thought Klaatu were secretly the Beatles, though. Klaatu also sounded like many think the Beatles would, if they had continued making music, with a sort of surreal Electric Light Orchestra acid pop vibe, synth mixed with instruments like harpsichord. If you close your eyes and listen to "Sub Rosa Highway," the vocals are shockingly similar to Paul McCartney. On several occasions during the 1970s, John Lennon was asked what the Beatles would sound like if they stayed together, and the answer was something very much like the Electric Light Orchestra...and Klaatu sounds more like ELO than any other band.

When Klaatu got a sales bump because of the rumors they were the Beatles, their solution was extremely savvy: they initially refused to deny it. Ultimately, though, the band believes the rumors did them "more harm than good," as how could they live up to those expectations of being the Beatles?

[gardenschedule]

Perceptions of Paul as calculating & John's paranoia

“McCartney’s mistake, which he now admits, was to seem invulnerable. […] And yet, he says, the contrast between himself and Lennon, so assiduously cultivated by journalists, was a fabrication. “I wasn’t brilliant at school. I was trouble, just like John. I got caned practically every day, and the only exam I ever passed was Spanish. John and I weren’t black and white, although people took John, for all his aggression, to be the good guy, because he showed his warts. I’ve only just realized, after all this time, that people like to see warts. It makes them sympathetic. I’d always though that, in order to be liked, you had to be unwarty.””

Living with The Beatles’ legacy, the smears that Lennon left behind… and the battle to win my babies back, The Times Newspaper, Monday January 4, 1982.

Paul was the easiest to talk to. He had such energy and such keenness and, unlike John, enjoyed being liked, at least most of the time. I don't see this as a criticism; John himself could be very cruel about Paul's puppy dog eagerness to please. The irony was, and still is, that John's awfulness to people, his rudeness and cruelty, made people like him more, whereas Paul's genuine niceness made many people suspicious, accusing him of being calculating. Paul does look ahead, seeing what might happen, working out the effect of certain actions, but he often ends up tying himself in knots, not necessarily getting what he thought he wanted. I think there is some insecurity in Paul's nature, which makes him try so hard, work so hard. It also means he can be easily hurt by criticism, which was something that just washed over John.

Hunter Davies, Western Mail: The Beatles. (April 9th, 2004)

Even Paul’s immaculate manners could not thaw her. ‘Oh, yes, he was well-mannered–too well-mannered. He was what we call in Liverpool “talking posh” and I thought he was taking the mickey out of me. I thought “He’s a snake-charmer all right,” John’s little friend, Mr Charming. I wasn’t falling for it. After he’d gone, I said to John, “What are you doing with him? He’s younger than you… and he’s from Speke!”’ After that, when Paul appeared, she would always tell John sarcastically that his ‘little friend’ was here. ‘I used to tease John by saying “chalk and cheese”, meaning how different they were,’ she remembered, ‘and John would start hurling himself around the room like a wild dervish shouting “Chalkandcheese! Chalkandcheese!” with this stupid grin on his face.’

Philip Norman, Paul McCartney: The Life. (2016)

“He always suspected me. He accused me of scheming to buy over Northern Songs without telling him. I was thinking of something to invest in, and Peter Brown said what about Northern Songs, invest in yourself, so I bought a few shares, about 1,000 I think. John went mad, suspecting some plot. Then he bought some himself. He was always thinking I was cunning and devious. That’s my reputation, someone who’s charming, but a clever lad. “It happened the other day at Ringo’s wedding. I was saying to Cilia [Black] that I liked Bobby [her husband]. That’s all I said. Bobby’s a nice bloke. Ah, but what do you REALLY think Paul? You don’t mean that, do you, you’re getting at something? I was being absolutely straight. But she couldn’t believe it. No one ever does. They think I’m calculating all the time.

Paul and Hunter Davies, 1981

In the wake of his death you didn’t tour for most of the ‘80s. People suggested that you were scared to go on the road. Was that true? No. People speculate about anything. They always credit me with motives I haven’t even dreamed of. It’s interesting, the way they sort of perceive my life and analyse it for me. In that case, I never thought about touring much. People used to say, “Oh, it’s 10 years since you’ve toured.” I’d go, “Is it? Y’know, I’m not counting.” That’s all that was, really. I don’t know why. Maybe I didn’t fancy it.

The Q Interview, 2007

Astrid in Germany was always a bit suspicious of Paul at first, though his relationship with Stu was also bound up in this. 'It used to frighten me that someone could be so nice all the time. Which is silly. It's ridiculous to feel at home with nasty people, just because you feel that at least you know where you are with them. It's silly to be wary of nice people.'

The Beatles (Updated Edition) (Hunter Davies)

Paul is the easiest to get to know for an outsider, but in the end he is the hardest to get to know. There is a feeling that he is holding things back, that he is one jump ahead, aware of the impression he is giving. He is self-conscious, which the others are not. John doesn't care, either way, what people think. Ringo is too adult to think about such things, and George in many ways isn't conscious. He is above it all.

The Beatles (Updated Edition) (Hunter Davies)

Paul today is still the public Beatle, giving interviews at fairly regular intervals, being open and honest about himself and his past, his worries and his pleasures. Naturally, as ever, there are people who suspect his motives, putting him down for being too charming. Paul may be a bit of an actor, acting the part of Paul McCartney, the charming superstar, still loved by every mum, which can make him sound rather prissy at times, but I believe he does tell the truth about himself.

The Beatles (Updated Edition) (Hunter Davies)

“My problem is to me, I come over as this very together guy, always got his finger on top of everything: the man with no problems. School – a doddle, got all the exams. This is the sort of image of me. Actually, I had murder getting through exams, like I was saying about being on tour during my GCEs. I was like the kid who was getting the cane. Just like John was, but he [Phillip Norman] makes me the very shrewd, always-going-to-succeed guy, and John is the kind of cute, working-class hero. In actual fact though, John was just as shrewd and ambitious as I was. What does me in is he adds to this image I’ve got; I resent that, because I know I’m not that, and I know I’ve never been that.

Paul McCartney’s thoughts from 1983 on Phillip Norman’s ‘Shout!’

The funny thing is, when Apple [started], everything was laid out on the table, it’s like a Monopoly game. We saw who had what. I suddenly had more Northern Song shares than anybody, and it was like, oops, sorry. John was like, “You bastard, you’ve been buying behind my back.” John saw everything like a Harold Robbins movie, you know, which it was. He’s not incorrect. I couldn’t get over the fact that we were really involved in all this. I think to this day, he’ll not understand. I don’t think he would accept right now, my naïveté in it. I think he still suspects me of trying to take over Apple. He still suspects that when I offered the Eastmans as [managers] instead of Allen Klein, he naturally assumed that I would be taken care of better than the others, and that the Eastmans could never be moral enough to be equal in their judgment and do the Beatles’ thing rather than Paul’s thing. I think they still suspect to this day.

The point I was trying to illustrate is that it wasn’t so much John being a bastard as it was his being suspicious towards me, always being suspicious towards me. There was Northern Song shares. And I swear on any holy book you want, I know he won’t believe it, but I know for sure that I didn’t buy them with the view to— If I was really trying to do it, I could have bought an awful lot more. So it does hurt a little bit that there’s someone who still thinks, like, I’m out to get them, or that I always was. That’s one of the nice things about it— It’s a pity [I never said to John, “Fuck off, I’m not trying to do it”—and never was]. But he knows I was kind of— We were behind the scenes, and we did a few little [things] that we had to do, and our ambitions, and it was never a kind of terrifying skeletons in the closet. It was always just normal—but, uh, they …

All You Need Is Love – Peter Brown & Steven Gaines

SG: Were the other Beatles anti-Linda? PMcC: Uh, yeah. I should think so. Like we were anti-Yoko. But you know John and Yoko, you can see it now, the way to get their friendship is to do everything the way they require it. To do anything else is how to not get their friendship. This is still how it is with John and Yoko. I know that if I absolutely lie down on the ground and just do everything like they say and laugh at all their jokes and don’t expect my jokes to ever get laughed at, and don’t expect any of my opinions ever to carry any weight whatsoever, if I’m willing to do all that, then we can be friends. But if I have an opinion that differs from theirs, then I’m a sort of an enemy. And naturally, paint myself a villain with a big mustache on, because to the ends of the earth, that’s how they both see me. They’re very suspicious people [John and Yoko], and one of the things that hurt me out of the whole affair, was that we’d come all that way together, and out of either a fault in my character, or out of lack of understanding in their character, I’d still never managed to impress upon them that I wasn’t trying to screw them. I don’t think that I have to this day.

All You Need Is Love – Peter Brown & Steven Gaines

I was never out to screw him, never. He could be a maneuvering swine, which no one ever realized. Now since the death he’s became Martin Luther Lennon. But that really wasn’t him either. He wasn’t some sort of holy saint. He was still really a debunker. “For ten years together he took my songs apart. He was paranoiac about my songs. We have great screaming sessions about them.

Paul and Hunter Davies, 1981

SALEWICZ: Oh, he was presumably very paranoid. PAUL: I think so. I mean, he warned me off Yoko once. You know, “Look, this is my chick!” ’Cause he knew my reputation. I mean, we knew each other rather well. And um, I felt… I just said, “Yeah, no problem.” But I did sort of feel he ought to have known I wouldn’t, but. You know, he was going through “I’m just a jealous guy”. He was a paranoid guy. And he was into drugs. Heavy.

September, 1986 (MPL Communications, London)

Miles says, “I think Jane was always a bit irritated by John. Because he was so acerbic and difficult to get on with. And paranoid. He didn’t make life easy. I suppose it’s a sort of rapier wit, but it was usually just plain ordinary rudeness. There was nothing special about it.”

Paul McCartney profile for FAME Magazine (March 1990)

“They [Lennon & McCartney] saw each other again in 1977. The Lennons and McCartneys ate dinner together at Le Cirque, Paul’s favourite French restaurant in New York. John regretted going; it was a loathsome night. Paul and Linda blathered on and on about how perfect their lives were, how they had everything they’d ever wanted, and how they were as happy as they’d ever been. Something very paranoid suddenly occurred to John. Maybe Lorraine Boyle was spying on him for the McCartneys! He woke up the next morning still feeling disturbed; he consulted the Oracle. Swan assured him that Paul and Linda were frustrated and unsatisfied. Their marriage was in trouble, he said, predicting it would break up within the year. Lately Swan’s visions had been astonishingly accurate. Relieved, John began composing a song—a little ditty, really, that would never be released—in praise of the Oracle’s powers. But he still couldn’t understand why Paul and Linda had been together for as long as they had. There appeared to be a psychic connection between John and Paul. Every time McCartney was in town, John would hear Paul’s music in his head.”

Robert Rosen, Nowhere Man: The Final Days of John Lennon, (2000)

JOHN: […..] And he’s (Jagger) goin’ on about “he never calls. Do you think he ever calls? He never calls me. And he keeps changing his phone number all the time… And he’s hiding behind the kid.” I was hurt by it! You know… The fact that… A, I never call anybody. It’s not pride, it’s just that I never, ever have. REPORTER: Why? JOHN: I never call the other Beatles, I never call anybody. They always call me. REPORTER: Why? JOHN: Cos I’m self-involved! I’m paranoid, too. I don’t like phones… There’s nobody on this earth ever got a call from me that isn’t related, probably. Or a very old friend…

Sept 1980 – John

“Yoko was an extremist and was even more intense than John taking any idea or comment of his to the limit. If, for example, he complained about any of his fellow Beatles she would hint that that Beatle had always been an enemy implying that John should never deal with that person again. Her extreme positions fascinated John and help him take his mind off himself but when she became self-involved and paranoid herself -her paranoia usually dealt with her career, her fame and the fact that even though she had always been famous everyone conspired to keep her from getting even more famous- he had no place to turn. His insecurity about his solo career, his childhood, his relationships with the other Beatles, the way the public perceived Yoko overwhelmed him and he became more and more involved with drugs.”

May Pang, Loving John (1984)

John was lucky. He got all his hurt out. I’m a different sort of a personality. There’s still a lot inside me that’s trying to work it out. And that’s why it’s good to see that wedding-funeral bit, because I started to think, ‘Wait a minute, this is someone who’s going over the top. This is paranoia manifesting itself.’ And so my feeling is just like it was at the time, which is like, He’s my buddy, I don’t really want to do anything to hurt him, or his memory, or anything. I don’t want to hurt Yoko. But, at the same time, it doesn’t mean that I understand what went down.

Paul McCartney: An Innocent Man? (October, 1986)

Some three year later, during the making of Abbey Road, Lennon installed a twin bed in the studio so that Yoko, recuperating from a car crash, could survey proceedings and pass comment though a mike he had suspended over her. The other Beatles positioned themselves around the room as best they could. Yoko would later tell Paul that if, for any reason, he’d seemed to be standing too close to her, all hell would break loose when John got her home. Lennon, she said, was ‘very paranoid’ like that.

McCartney by Chris Sandford

But we were actually quite supportive. Not supportive enough, you know; it would have been nice to have been really supportive because then we could look back and say, “Weren’t we really terrific?” But looking back on it, I think we were okay. We were never really that mean to them. But I think a lot of the time John suspected meanness where it wasn’t really there.

Paul McCartney, interview w/ Chris Salewicz for Musician: Tug of war – Paul McCartney wants to lay his demons to rest. (October, 1986)

I just read about this thing that’s going on sale at Sotheby’s – this Apple booklet with John’s comments in the margins in his own handwriting. It is so bitter. Like, there’s a picture of Paul and Linda’s wedding – and John’s crossed out “wedding” and written in “funeral.” I think it starts to tell there. Another caption says, “Paul goes to Hollywood” – and then he’s apparently written in the margin, “To cut Yoko and John out of the film.” He often thought that we were tryin’ to cut Yoko out of things, to cut her out of Let It Be. I suppose we were, in some degree; because she wasn’t in the Beatles, and it was a Beatles film, and it wasn’t absolutely necessary to have long footage of her in there. She certainly was in there, but obviously they felt she should be in there a little more. I bent over backward trying to see John’s point of view. I still bend over backward trying to not malign him.”

Paul McCartney, Rolling Stone, September 11th, 1986

[m1ssunderstanding]

Get Back Rewatch 55 Years On: Day Four

"Lennon's late again" says Paul, as he walks in late. And sweet Ringo just gently, "between ten and eleven is the time" Which means: "Chill babe. He'll be here."

One thing that always gob smacks me is how bored George and Ringo are watching Paul pull Get Back out of the ether. They literally see him do this shit all the time which is insane to me.

His voice is so so so pretty!!! And he's just so completely in his own world. The hunched shoulders. The twitching. The gibberish. The tapping. The twisting.

Obviously this is a song with the original central feeling being let's go back to before everything went wrong but he wants to make it into a meaningless song with both story bits and almost walrus-esque bits. But why is the first lyric he comes up with about gender? Thinking of @scurators posts on Paul and gender.

Ringo's customary quiet really does add significance to his voice, so him singing along with this so quickly says something I think about his support for the song and for Paul in general.

When John walks in he's greeted with a little cocky nod and smile like "look what I've just done while you were late." And then Paul sings "get back to where you once belonged" directly at him before breaking the eye contact. It's one of those heartbreaking Lennon/McCartney miscommunications because Paul is doing this to get John back, but actually it's scaring him away, you know? Paul thinks he has to prove to John how good he is, but John's exhausted with how good Paul is.

STFU Michael Lindsay Hogg

Paul really does love the idea of being forced out of parliament by cops and honestly so do I. Would've been iconic and might've kept them together.

John's so quiet today and also Yoko is not here. Correlation or causation I wonder.

"They say don't they say charity begins at home?" I love you forever, George. His humor is always so well-placed and so dry (even though he's clearly cracking himself up here). And it steers the conversation away from a direction he was not happy with without poking any bears. In fact, everyone's laughing. Clever boy.

"I've decided that the whole point of it is communication. And to be on TV is communication and we've got a chance to smile at people like all you need is love or something so that's me incentive for doing it." Wise, egalitarian John making a lovely appearance.

And then there's Paul. "I'm here cause I wanna do a show." Lol I love them.

Why do they say "Mr Epstein?" Is it because they're on camera and they want people to know who they're talking about? Does it have something to do with the maharishi telling them certain ways to talk about Brian? Does anyone have any thoughts about that?

Okay so you know how I just said last time how emotionally mature George was? I still think it's generally more true of him than the others, but this right here? This is not it. "I don't want to do any of my songs in the show because they'll all just turn out shitty." Man has issues.

I think it's important to recognize that George and Paul have both said the literal word "divorce" and it's NBD. But when John does it, Paul takes it as "the groups really over and I have to go into hiding and not get out of bed and maybe od who knows." Why? There's another puzzle piece here that we're missing.

"Should we leave you for a while?" "YES!"

On the one hand I'm like "working on Maxwell is the last thing you guys should be doing with this time alone." But on the other thing maybe it's the only thing they can do at this point.

"Mal? You should get a hammer. And an anvil." As he's walking away. Main character in a contrived mad genius biopic. Except it's real.

"Joan" sounding suspiciously like "John" ... And then he goes "fool, Maxwell fool." Aka one of their ~special words~ New theory. John hates Maxwell because he dies in it. And Paul's the killer.

"Take it away Johnny." Even though it was George and John whistling before wasn't it? Did George get cut from the whistle chorus? Another straw on the camel's back.

I LOVE that John just does not know any of his own songs. Across the Universe my beloved!

On the glyn/Paul moment featured below, I have three thoughts. 1. Whore. 2. John Lennon villain origin story. 3. The fact that glyn didn't just tell John is striking.

"I wish it fucking would". "Cause I'm down." This lyric going from a self-soothing reassurance that his people aren't going to leave him that he'll always have this beautiful dream he's created with them. To this? I hate it here.

So there is a big emotional and energy difference between their Beatlemania selves singing "Rock and Roll Music" and their current selves. And part of it is due to the fact that they're just not as happy as they were then. But I think most of it is really just that they thrive when they're performing for an audience.

[toasttt11]

calls

May 10, 2024

Lucia was ringing out her hair having just stepped out of the shower after her first official game for Worlds and US lost 2-5 to Sweden.

“Hughesy!” Brady yelled from the locker room seeing Lucia’s phone ringing.

Lucia furrowed her brows walking back into the locker room seeing Brady holding out her phone towards her and her phone was ringing.

Lucia’s eyes widen grabbing her phone quickly knowing exactly who is calling her and answered the call holding her phone up to her ear.

“Hi.” Lucia breathed out happily smiling to herself as she walked to her stall and started packing up to head back to the hotel so she could facetime her John.

“Hi Luce.” John smiled warmly as he heard her voice through the call, he was now sitting out on the dock by the lake having been watching her game from inside.

“You played good.” John softly complimented her, he may of been pouting a bit as they were only calling and he didn’t get to see her face.

“Yeah?” Lucia teased softly chuckling as she put her airpods in and slipped her slides on and grabbed her backpack slinging it over her shoulder and heading out of the locker room not even paying attention to the looks she was getting.

Brady and Cole shared a suspicious look immediately noticing the smile on her face and how much softer she was speaking to whoever she was speaking to. They have never seen Lucia ever act that way with anyone and they shared another look deciding to pay closer attention to Lucia during the tournament.

“Hi.” Lucia greeted her partner again as she clicked the call to FaceTime the second she stepped outside of the locker room.

“There’s my beautiful girl.” John softly cooed his smile widened seeing her beautiful face. He chuckled softly seeing her blushing and her glaring at the phone.

“Sorry.” John playfully apologized still laughing softly.

Lucia hummed disbelieving rolling her eyes fondly as she stepped outside the arena and let out a sigh of relief not seeing any fans because she really just wanted to talk to John without any interruptions.

“How was your morning?” Lucia asked softly looking at the screen to stare at John and frowned slightly missing John a lot.

Lucia smiled contently as she listened to John talk about his morning, she walked through the door of the hotel building and walked to the elevator and clicking the button for her floor.

“Hi Pauly.” Lucia smiled waving at the screen seeing Paul walking in the background.

Paul turned his head hearing his name being called and saw John turn his phone and saw Lucia waving on the screen, he beamed, “Lucia.”

Paul only waved back to her not walking over, wanting to let John have alone time with Lucia especially as he knows how much John misses her.

Lucia opened the door to her hotel room tossing her backpack on the floor and took her slides off, she set her phone of the desk taking her airpods out and grabbing John’s hoodie pulling it on.

Lucia grabbed her phone smiling at John as she listened to him talk as she pulled her covers back and got under her covers laying on her pillow.

John smiled admiring Lucia as she got all cozy in her bed and he could tell she was tired and her eyes were drooping.

“Go to sleep i’ll be here.” John softly promised making Lucia look at him and reluctantly nod as with them being in different time zones they haven’t got much time to talk, she shifted over and plugged her phone in. She set her phone up against a pillow and snuggled more under her blankets.

“Read to me?” Lucia sleepily asked her eyes fluttering open and close, she knows John has a book near him he always does.

“Of course.” John smiled softly grabbing the book that he set next to him when he can outside and opened it and started reading out loud.

Lucia fell asleep quickly to the sound of John reading to her.

[droogiesanddiscourse]

Father Paul NSFT Headcannons

Pairing: Father Paul | Monsignor John Pruitt x reader (Midnight Mass)

A/N: I am literally insane, and I am literally feral. No thoughts, only Father Paul and Hamish Linklater. I am going to hell and you are all coming down with me. Writing this made me literally dizzy. Dedicated to the very lovely @jacknives who helped flesh out many of these HCs in unhinged twitter convos <3 I would not be back writing without you

Warnings: Sexual content, 18+ ONLY, minors DNI. Millie, who's Millie? Reader is written as gn! but also includes talks of menstruation (if it doesn't apply to you, or makes you uncomfortable just ignore! there are tw before the HCs including blood), blood kink, this is incredibly sexual. Feedback is always appreciated, trying to really get the feel for this character.

✧ He asks you to pray with him before the act. The irony is not lost on you -- almost like this will cancel out the evenings sins. Both your knees on the wooden floor beside his bed, hands clasps together. Your heartbeat roaring in your ears. Quietly mumbling under his breath, his wooden rosary wrapped around his fingers. The same ones that will be inside you in due time.

✧ Obsessive about making you feel comfortable and gets genuinely upset if you demean yourself. If you attempt to cover yourself up, or ask for the lights off Paul will insist for you to reconsider. He has a serpents tongue for such a holy man.

✧ "God has made you in His perfect image. Meticulously crafted from dust. I want to see you as He intended. To deny yourself is to deny God, is that what you really want? Show me. Show me all of you. And I will show you all of me."

✧ The kindest, sweetest, most affectionate lover that has ever graced the face of this Earth. He sees you as his own personal deity; and angel sent directly from God to reward him for years of devotion. The Catholic guilt eats at him from time to time, constantly there in the back of his head. But, the way your bodies intertwine perfectly together, how his cock deliciously stretches you out like it was made for you and you alone. It could never feel like a sin to him. And if God Himself made pleasures this strong, who is Paul to deny it?

✧ You have to be reasonably quiet. God knows that if anything sounds off or suspicious Bev will rear her nosy head into your private life. He'll use his mouth to quiet moans threatening to escape from you.

✧ Paul is a quiet lover to begin with. His noises consisting mostly of flushed, broken moans that get caught in his throat. He is quite talkative though. His mouth on yours, panting in between hushed praises.

"You can take it, just a few more inches. I got you. You're so strong for me. My good angel..."

"Look at me, please. I - oh god - I want you to look at me when you cum."

"I-I can't control myself when you touch me like that. Don't stop."

"Can you feel me inside of you? How deep I am? You take me so well."

"Tell me what you want from me. Tell me where you need me the most."

✧ Enjoys giving more than receiving oral; for Adam was also tempted by the delicious apple betwixt Eve's thighs. What he lacks in skill he certainly makes up for enthusiasm. He uses the flat part of his tongue to drink from you, your taste the holiest of nectars. He loves your reactions to his ministrations too. How your thighs squeeze around his head, your nails digging into his scalp. You can feel the heat radiating off of his ears, flushed pink. Paul especially loves when you pull on his thick, black locks. The perfect combination of pleasure and pain.

✧ The way he looks when he hovers over you, member thrusting into your hot core is almost indescribable. Sweat starts to curl his neatly styled hair, pieces becoming unruly and sticking to his forehead. The way his eyebrows furrow together in concentration, eyes half lidded in bliss. He will often forget his own strength. The angel blood which courses inside his veins has not only returned his youth, but given him a whole slew of other newfound abilities. His knuckles turn white as he holds onto the headboard of the bed, snapping the wood beneath his hand.

✧ Other times it manifests itself in bruises across your body - a bite too rough, a grab too strong. Being the sweetheart he is, Paul will profusely apologize for them when the post coital bliss had dissipated. But you love them, because they are proof that he was there. That you were in his bed. That his hands, his mouth, his body touched your skin. That he belongs to you, and you alone. Even if no one else knows.

✧ Loves it when you take the reins too. How his baritone register reaches up to a whine, breathy and high pitched moans as you edge him. And how delicious it will be later, smirking to yourself at mass while thinking about how easily you make him come undone. Watching this confident man deliver his sermon, know that he will be on his knees begging you to bring him the sweet release he craves just hours from now. If only the town knew...

✧ [tw // blood mention] It takes every ounce of his being to not give in to his most primal urges during sex. The mixture of pheromones and your natural scent makes his eyes glaze over, almost putting him into a trance. He'll bury his face into the side of your neck, leaving fresh bruises created by his mouth in his wake. How easy it would be to sink his canines into the soft flesh there, finding your pulse point. The sickeningly sweet concoction of iron and honey across his tongue, how he'd imagine your blood to taste.

This is your body, broken for the forgiveness of sin.

✧ [tw // blood mention] He will break this rule only sometimes. If you are someone who menstruates, he will have a strong fascination with period sex. As long as you are comfortable with it, of course. The disgusting need to see you covered with blood immediately makes his pants tighten just at the thought. While eating you out, the combination of your unique taste mixed with the tang of blood turns him into something you barely see. Your soft spoken pastor becomes an insatiable lust-driven demon.

✧ [tw: blood mention] Drinking the angel's blood straight from the cruet while taking you from behind, his thrusts sloppy and erratic. Blood running down the side of his mouth, his eyes wild. Your head looking over your shoulder, mouth agape as he pours the remaining contents directly onto the curvature of your back. He is an animal, and this satisfies the craving inside him as he licks it off of you.

✧ Once you are both fully spend and fucked out, he doesn't want to separate from you. He lets you catch your breath, both your hearts returning in sync. His large hand, pushing stray hairs off of your face and grazing his thumb against your cheek. You can still feel his heartbeat inside of you.

"Don't move, I want to stay like this."

✧ His cock still buried deep inside you, arms wrapped around your waist as you both drift off. Warmth. Comfort. Protection. Together you are one until the morning light. In which this perfect solitude will be once again washed away. From lovers back to secrecy in the blink of an eye.

Paradise lost.

[meljwrites]

For Hollyoaks 3, 17 for both Dillion and Lucas

3. NOTP?

Tbh there are so many, like excluding abusive relationships like Frankie and JJ, I guess John Paul and Carter, like that is one I see a lot of people shipping but as someone who experienced Lucas's storyline before their relationship, and obviously after Carter losing his mind, I feel like John Paul should have known better. Like the scene where he's like, something suspicious is going on between my ex who has tried to practice conversion therapy on me and one of the teenage boys who seems to be struggling with his queerness. guess I'll make out with him.

But also I get that was kind of the point, and then there was the scene in the pub where everyone was like john paul you have to be joking you were doing what with that guy???

I'd be curious to know what other ships people have spicy opinions of 👀

17. What's a book, movie, or show you think Dillon and Lucas would like?

Oooooh good question. I feel like Lucas would enjoy the scott pilgrim comics/movie/show, that's like one of the only things I could picture him reading. He would also enjoy gritty fantasy like six of crows, daughter of smoke and bone, cemetery boys, and the starless sea, but he is also very much the brand of teenage boy who calls reading lame, so maybe when he's older/dillon influences him into being a better person.

He'd also love other edgar wright films, like cornetto trilogy.

I feel like Dillon would like Holly Black books, like he would eat up coldest girl in coldtown and cruel prince. Also Casey McQuiston, like One Last Stop would be one he rereads a lot. He's also definitely a heartstopper enjoyer. And the graphic novel Laura Dean Keeps Breaking up with me.

Dillon seems like the type to enjoy sappy romances like Notting Hill and Red White and Royal Blue and probably a bunch of obscure indie films like Jongens, and he'd show Lucas and Lucas would end up sobbing. Also Dillon likes anime, like look at him you know I'm right.

[fr-martin-gospel-reflections]

11th June - ‘Proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’ Reflection on the readings for the feast of Saint Barnabas (Matthew 10:7-13)

11th June, Feast of Saint Barnabas

In the gospel reading, Jesus sends out the twelve apostles on mission within Galilee, to proclaim the good news that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. In the first reading, the church of Antioch send out Paul and Barnabas on mission to places far beyond Antioch, to Cyprus and parts of modern-day Turkey. Paul and Barnabas were leading lights of the church in Antioch and yet the members of the church were happy to share these two leaders with others, far beyond their shores. Of the two, Paul is better known to us because of his extraordinary missionary journeys and the many letters that have come down to us from him. Yet, Barnabas was very significant in another way. It was Barnabas who created an opening in the early church for Paul, when others were still suspicious of him because of his past persecution of the church. As today’s first reading says, it was Barnabas who went looking for Paul in Tarsus, his native city, and brought him to Antioch because Barnabas saw that there was a great opening for Paul’s gifts in this city where the gospel had been preached to pagans for the first time. Barnabas was what we can today an ‘enabler’. It is not surprising that his nickname in the early church, according to the Acts of the Apostles, was ‘son of encouragement’. That role of enabler or encourager remains a vital role in the church today. We all have the capacity to create openings where the gifts of someone else can flourish for the service of the whole church. It takes a certain humility to create a space where others can flourish to their potential in the service of the Lord. It is the attitude of John the Baptist expressed in his comment with regard to Jesus, ‘He must increase, but I must decrease’. The feast of Barnabas invites us to ask, ‘What can I do for someone so that Jesus may increase today?’

[dumspirovaniloquor]

Malcolm: So. Who broke it? I'm not mad, I just wanna know.

Paul: ...I did. I broke it.

Malcolm: No. No you didn't. John?

John: Don't look at me. Look at Steve.

Steve: What? I didn't break it.

John: Huh, that's weird. How'd you even know it was broken?

Steve: Because it's sitting right in front of us and it's broken.

John: Suspicious.

Steve: No it's not!

Sid: If it matters, probably not, but Glen was the last one to use it.

Glen: Liar! I don't even drink that crap!

Sid: Oh really? Then what were you doing by the coffee cart earlier?

Glen: I use the wooden stirrers to push back my cuticles. Everyone knows that, Sid!

Paul: Okay, let's not fight. I broke it. Let me pay for it, Malcolm.

Malcolm: No! Who broke it?

Steve: Malcolm... Nancy's been awfully quiet.

Nancy: REALLY?

[Everyone starts arguing.]

Malcolm: I broke it. I burned my hand so I punched it. I predict 10 minutes from now they'll be at each other's throats with warpaint on their faces and a pig head on a stick. Good. It was getting a little chummy around here.

[freetheshit-outofyou]

Spoken like a true product of academia. Mr. Golarz, you do understand, or at least you should understand that the Bill of Rights and the Constitution as a whole are not there to provide Rights to the government but put the government on notice of the Rights we as Free Citizens have already. It further lays out in the text the governments responsibility to protect our Rights, both individual and as a group. Our Rights preempt the Government, our Rights exist without the Government thus the GOOBERMENT cannot remove a Right, nor can they curb a Right for the convenience of the Government. "As a veteran, father, grandfather, and citizen I say the AR-15-style rifle must be outlawed in every corner of this country." and? Me too. Short rant: I am tired of Veteran's saying "I'm a Veteran" so my opinion is more weighted on a given subject. Bring a Veteran gives you no special secret squirrel insight into freedom beyond the fact that you have paid the bill for yours. I spent more than 20 Years in the Service, I am no more qualified dole out freedom as I see fit than I am to give freedom. BUT, (And there is always a but.) as an educated individual I understand that a Right is something you have from birth, no man or government get's to determine your level of participation in that Right, that is up to the individual. Also, I become suspicious of any Veteran who first advocated for the remove of Rights and freedoms, this flies in the face of our Oath. As a Veteran I do not get to cherry pick what Rights I like or what Rights I will defend. I have to defend them all. Case in Point: I do not think burning the flag in protest is ok. I don't think the flag should be made in to Underroos (dating myself there.) or swimwear, or any number of other novity items the flag is used for. With that said I will standby and defend a persons right to do just that because 1A says it is protected. I don't get to look past that protection provided by the Constitution just because I find it distasteful. In short, the Veteran qualifier means very little to me unless that qualifier is being use to show you have direct first hand knowledge over a subject. (I.E., A special forced operator knowing hoe to eat snakes better, and Infantry member knowing how to conduct ambush operations better, a combat engineer knowing how to blow shit up better. But the general blanket of "I'm a Veteran" so I have a more profound understanding of Rights is horseshit. I quickly discount Veterans who say shit like "The most Alice in Wonderland aspect of this gun controversy is the allowance, ownership, and use of automatic weapons of war — pure insanity." Mr. Golarz, the bulk of privately owned firearm's in the United States are not automatic. That was stopped in 1934, and further curtailed in 1986, The fact is, about 99.5% of all automatic firearms in the U.S. today are controlled and used by federal and state governments, no the citizenry of the U.S. When a person, any person, regardless of qualification advocates for the government to not only remove a Right but make it a punishable crime after "a brief period of time" draws an extra level of scrutiny and skepticism from me, more so when they try to qualify that with the phrase "I'm a Veteran." End side rant. "Former Chief Justice Warren Burger summarized the action of the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller as, “one of the greatest pieces of fraud ever perpetrated on the American people.” Years later Justice John Paul Stephens declared that the decision in Heller was the worst decision ever rendered by a Supreme Court." Why would you try to use Justice Stephens ridiculous quote when the SCOTUS has actual ruling that are so much worse in some cases still "good law", here are a few examples. (side note: Heller was not a bad ruling, it was a correct ruling.) First and foremost, Dred Scott v. Stanford (1857).

In one ruling the SCOTUS said Black folks could not be considered American Citizens ever. It did not matter if the person in question was a freed slave in a state of territory that allowed them rights and privilege's such as voting they were still mostly slaves and thus sub-human.

Buck v. Bell (1927).

This case that is still "Good law" says that forced sterilization of those with "intellectual disabilities" in the care of the state either through forced "in males by vasectomy and in females by salpingectomy".

"Three generations of imbeciles are enough." Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in his delivered opinion to the court.

Eugenics much?

Korematsu v. United States (1944).

SCOTUS ruled that people could be interned into prisons, all their money and possession taken based on how they looked and fear. (Yes, that is simplifying the case but that is what it boiled down to.) The court ruled that individual American Citizens Rights were out weighed by the Governments fear of their Citizens based exclusively on racial background.

Of course there are other turds like:

Bowers v. Hardwick (1986), that Justice harry Blackmun called "an almost obsessive focus on homosexual activity." and Citizens United v. FEC (2010) that made donations to super PAC's protected under the 1st Amendment. I have been trying to post this for half the day. I had to remove all the source links, post the article first then reopen it and past in my part in, then repost it.

[trail-mx]

Prompt is courtesy of @writing-prompt-s:

"You are a werewolf and everyone in the village knows. When its nearing the full moon they all help you baricade yourself in your home since you are the only wheat farmer in town. Everything was fine until some self righteous lord takes over and demands not only your land but your home as well."

. . . . . . .

"Allen killed his first deer yesterday - he wants you to have it."

I look up from my tea, surprised. "I hadn't realized he was old enough to go hunting yet. How big are we talking?"

"Oh, nothing much. It's just a full-grown buck, weighing shy of 270 pounds with an 8-point rack."

"270!" I sputter, tea almost coming out of my nose. The bastard timed that bit of information too well. "Paulie, I can't accept that. Winter is coming. His family will - "

"His family has already agreed to give it to you." Paulie - or 'Little Paul' as he's called by the folks in the village - interrupts what's gearing up to be a fully reasoned argument as to why I cannot accept such a fine offering. "Mary considers it a good omen that he got it right before the moon."

I look down towards my tea again. I'm not one to believe in omens, but even I find the timing of a 12 year old killing a full-grown buck on his first hunting trip now of all times to be suspicious. Allen's family has been very kind to me since I came out about my 'Moonly Issues', and I would be a fool to turn away such a thoughtful gift. Mary would probably tan my hide and put it in the entryway of their home as a warning to others about accepting the kindness of your neighbors.

However, I've never been one to give in easily. "Tell them I'll pay them the full value after the moon."

Paulie's blue eyes dance with restrained laughter. "You're welcome to tell them that yourself. I'd rather avoid the lecture."

He takes a long sip of his warmed cider, his preferred drink during autumn. This year, the season seems to be rushing towards winter faster than anyone wants. Being this close to the Full Moon makes me more susceptible to the cold, so I've wrapped my hands around my own tea and desperately wish to bury myself in about four thick blankets.

"Cold?" Paulie asks, a look of understanding crosses his face as I reluctantly nod. "This weather is miserable. I'll get with the twins to make sure you have extra blankets when you wake up tomorrow."

I sigh. The twins will probably make sure I have every blanket in town if they have their way. "Please try to temper their enthusiasm. You know how they get."

"I know. Cara and I will supply the blankets. That should ensure you only have to deal with a small mound of covers rather than an avalanche."

I laugh. "Thanks, Paulie. What would I do without you?"

"Mmm... you'd survive. We're just happy to look after you. Mark is just glad you're making use of the old property. He's willing to sell it to you for a fair price."

I shake my head. "I have no need for two properties. My little homestead is just fine. It's just a little..."

Paulie scratches his scruffy beard while he hums in understanding. "You know how Tall John installed those new iron-bound wooden doors to both your home and this house? All the reading he and Jacob have done says that should be enough to keep you locked in during the change, but I respect your desire to keep a healthy distance from the town."

"It's not that I don't appreciate their research," I say while looking around the sparsly furnished room. I don't need much this time of the month and had been forced to spend more time than I thought I would arguing with Mark that, no, I didn't need a better bed. I'd probably just destroy it. "It's just that I don't want to risk anyone. You've all been very kind."

"Of course we are!" He grins. "If it wasn't for you, Suzi might not have made it through last winter. Plus, the grain you stored away kept the whole village fed when the meat ran out. We're just returning the favor."

I look down to hide my blush. I had only been doing what was right. There was no reason to hoard all that extra grain when it would feed the village. As for Suzi - Paulie's youngest - she had been ill off and on all winter, and it seemed that fresh meat helped. It hadn't been that much of a hardship to get as far from civilization as possible during the Full and hunt.

Taking care of the Pack is instinct for the Wolf, after all.

"It was nothing, Paulie." I say. "I was happy to help."

"And we're happy to look after you." Paulie replies. "Now, do you need anything before I go and tell Allen the good news?"

I think about it a moment. The town always makes sure that there is plenty of tea to drink and books for me to read while I wait for moonrise. I prefer to lock myself away the whole day of the Full Moon - not because I'm dangerous the whole day, but because I'm always so blasted cold even during the height of summer and it makes my joints ache something fierce.

Others with my affliction say it's different for everyone - some are more sensitive to the chilled pull of the moon than others. Many say it's a sign of strength, with the more spiritual saying that the moon blesses her chosen to sense her power even during the day so that they can pull on it if the need arises.

I just find it to be entirely uncomfortable. So, I hide away in the cabin, downing cups of near scalding tea while wrapped in the warmest sweater I own in an attempt to stave off the chill.

"Another blanket if you don't mind. Oh, and if you can ask Big Paul to place something heavy in front of the door after you're done bringing things over, that would be great."

Paulie doesn't roll his eyes, but I can tell he's considering it as he stands. I have always found it ironic that the town calls Paulie 'Little Paul' despite being 6 feet tall and 250-odd pounds. Then again, 'Big Paul' is 5 inches taller and at least 50 pounds heavier.

"Don't I always? I already planned on speaking with Paul anyway. I'll need his help to bring the buck over. Sucker is heavy."

"You do know they invented this new device. I've heard it's called a wagon. Means you don't have to drag the beast all the way here." I tease.

"I'm familiar." He drawls, standing in the doorway. "However, would you like to bring that beast in here yourself?"

"No, thank you!" I rush to say. No way would I be able to bring that inside. Plus, that would mean going outside where it is cold.

"Then hush. I'll be back in a while."

. . . . . . . .

"Oh dear. Why do you always insist on sleeping on the floor? I have it on good authority that even dogs enjoy sleeping on the bed."

I roll over and open my eyes, squinting them in the light. I feel vaguely hungover and my body aches some. The change last night must not have been as awful as it could have been. I've had better ones, but on average, this one wasn't terrible. Lonely, but not painful.

"Bed is awkward when you're 7 feet of gangly Wolf limbs." I reply to the voice. "Floor is easier."

"Hmph. Sure it is! Maybe we'll just have to make you a bigger bed then!"

"Ugh, no." I roll over to face the voice, almost rolling into a pool of blood. I almost panic for a second - did someone get in? - when I remember the deer. That would explain the mess and why I only feel like I drank too much last night rather than like I'm recovering from a terrible illness.

"No? Don't tell me this is some sort of 'Punishment' thing! Just because some idiots think that your illness is some sort of 'Divine Retribution' for whatever sin your ancestors committed doesn't mean you don't deserve to be comfortable." Eva - one half of the brown eyed, brown haired Harrison twins - is looking down at me with a look of mild disappointment.

"No. It's practical." I say, sitting up. At some point, one of them must have put 3 blankets over me. I'm thankful and wrap myself in one. Not that there is any shame in my naked form, and the twins would scold me if I even considered it, but it takes a couple hours for the moon's chill to recede. "I'll just tear at a mattress with my claws trying to get comfortable."

"Hmm..." she squints at me. She doesn't buy it, but isn't going to argue with the only Werewolf she knows over the matter. Especially when there are more important issues. "Are you hungry?"

"I could eat."

"Hah! You sure? You certainly gorged yourself last night!" Eva gestures to the bloodied mass on the floor next to me.

I shrug self-consciously. The Wolf is always such a messy eater. "Transformation takes a lot out of you."

"Well, Lacey will get something fried up for you. Won't you, Lace?" Eva looks over to the small kitchenette in the corner where her twin is standing by the stove, eyebrow arched in challenge.

Lacey doesn't rise to the bait, which is odd. If there is anything that the twins enjoy more than hovering over me after the full moon, it's arguing with each other. They will argue over anything and everything. They find it to be good fun - everyone else just finds it bewildering.

Eva is also disconcerted by the lack. "Lacey! Won't you start breakfast for our dear doggy pal here? I'd do it, but I'm cleaning up deer viscera."

"What? Oh, sure! What sounds good, dear?" Lacey seems to be trying to shake off whatever is distracting her with limited success, considering she - with her well-known sensitive disposition - doesn't even acknowledge the mention of deer guts on the floor.

"Now I know something is wrong. What's gotten into you?" Eva almost sounds concerned rather than irritated, but only just.

"Oh, it's that notice on the community board. The one about the Lord."

"What notice?" I ask, gathering my blanket around me while standing up and making my way to the little table. The aches are easing - I'll have to come up with something nice to give to Allen if he won't accept payment for the buck.

"The one they put up today about how our village is being given to some Lord or another." Eva says, tone unimpressed and hands covered in gore. "All that means is our taxes fill a different coffer is all."

"That's not what Marcie is saying! She's heard of this Lord Ransom. Apparently, he was given ownership over another village and he either bought out the villagers' homes or harrassed them into leaving."

"Lace, I know you like the girl, but where would Marcie have heard anything about a Lord? She barely leaves her house!" Eva exclaims in disbelief, hands flying up.

I flinch back as some blood lands on my face. I'm sure my face is already a bloody mess, but I don't desire to make it any worse.

"Watch it, you fool! You're getting blood everywhere!" Lacey scowls, coming over with a wet towel to wipe my face. "And if you must know - she heard it from her cousin. She does write to her extended family fairly often. Just because you never mastered the proper social graces doesn't mean the rest of us didn't."

Eva rolls her eyes but does keep the gestures to a minimum. "And this supposed 'cousin' of hers knows this Lord Ransom?"

"I'm given to understand that he knows him well enough, even if they're not exactly bosom buddies."

"Hmm..." Eva hums, then uncharacteristically changes the subject while turning to face me. "Would you mind if I took some of this antler? My boy has gotten it in his head that he'd like to take up carving and has been asking for antlers. Don't know how long his interest will last, but I figure 'why not?'"

"Take the whole carcass, or what's left of it. I have no need of it. Just ask him to let me know if he makes something he's proud of and wants to sell. I'd like to get a chance to look at it first." There - that takes care of both dealing with the deer and gives me the opportunity to get my debt to Allen's family cleared if they won't accept my money.

"Delightful. I'll be sure to ask. Thank you."

I just nod and look over at Lacey for a moment while Eva begins to clean and wrap up the deer. She's looking distracted again while frying up the bacon.

I clear my throat. It's going to be a bit sore from the howling for a day or two. "You know, Eva is probably right about that Lord Ransom, but I've got some contacts myself within the Werewolf community. I'll send out some letters over the next couple of days. What did the notice say? Anything about a meeting?"

"Yes, there's to be a meeting with both the Tax Collector and the Lord in two weeks at the tavern. All adults are encouraged to attend." Lacey looks over her shoulder. "And thank you, dear. I appreciate you looking into it."

"Well, now that those issues are being looked into and your worries are settled," Eva wanders over after washing up outside. The carcass was wrapped up and placed in their wagon presumably. "Maybe you can focus on breakfast. The bacon is about to burn."

"Oh, bother!"

. . . . . . . . .

"This is highway robbery! We can't afford those taxes! We're barely making enough to cover the current rate as is!"

"I don't like it either, Mark, but what can we do?" Paulie yells over the angry din of the tavern. "The new Lord has the right to set the tax rate. We'll just have to adjust!"

"Adjust!" Mark yells, grey mustache quivering. "You can't drain blood from a stone! There's no adjusting to such!"

I wince at the volume, thankful that the moon is dark in the sky. Closer to the Full, I'd be practically whimpering under the table. I cannot say I disagree with the man, however. It is an unfair amount, especially for a town that is constantly walking far too close to famine each winter.

I look around the table. The whole tavern is full, but seated with me are those who help me the most often during the moon. There's Paulie, local busybody/my friend; Cara, Paulie's wife and the schoolteacher with intense green eyes; Mark, the village blacksmith and carpenter; Jacob, Mark's eldest son and the villages pharmacist; Mary and Charles, Allen's parents and owners of the only other farm in town outside of my own; and the twins Eva and Lacey who, when they're not caring for a tired Werewolf post moon, run the tavern and small inn.

"Maybe we can discuss it further with him. He said that he'd be in town the next couple of weeks." Mary says while brushing her blonde hair out of her face. "If we can get the figures together, maybe we can help him see. He's not familiar with the area - he admitted to that much. He might not realize that we simply can't afford what he's asking for. "

"No, I know the type." Charles massages his knuckles while he speaks. The chill of autumn is hard on his arthritis, or maybe he's imagining punching that swarmy Tax Collector on the nose. I certainly am. "He 'earned' his money on the backs of the people. He'll break us first before he'll compromise."

"Well, it doesn't hurt to try, right?" Eva points out, her expression sour, but not just because of the topic. The person to deliver the Lord Ransom's 'most generous and gracious tax plan' was the Tax Collector, otherwise known as her ex... something or other. No one has ever really said for certain, except to say that their falling out was more like a nasty explosion that rocked the town. "He just wants money - maybe he'll take installments instead of one lump sum at the end of the year."

"I'm not sure we could even afford that," Lacey looks over at me, eyebrows knitted in concern. "What did your contacts say?"

The table goes quiet, and everyone looks towards me. They have all been curious about my network of Werewolf contacts. I tried to explain that we were all just people who happened to have a pretty major, life-altering condition in common - one that is fairly demonized and greatly misunderstood by a good majority of the population. It makes sense to have a network, even if to only be sure we didn't settle in an area where people would kill us. It isn't anything different than keeping up with some extended family.

Considering how focused everyone at the table is on me, I don't believe it sunk in.

"He's rich, powerful, and well connected. The rumors Marcie's cousin heard are true - he has been buying up towns and villages. Most of my better connected friends are confused as to why - it makes more sense to keep the village intact and collect taxes. What they do know is that all the places he bought out were old mining towns. Some still are in operation, but most haven't been used in years."

"So he's after the mines, then." Jacob speaks up for the first time that night, swirling his drink in his glass. "At least we know that much."

"What mines?"

"There's nothing in those mines. They were stripped ages ago."

I look over to Paulie, who had spoken when I did. I raise an eyebrow.

"The silver mines. They lay just outside the village. Been blocked off for years once they were stripped of anything of value at the time. They closed when I was a kid." Paulie nods at me, then gives me a quelling look when I notice the play on words.

Not the whole story, then - something to discuss later.

"Regardless of his reasons, the tax issue must be addressed." Mark presses.

We all agree on that much.

. . . . . . . . .

"I kept my peace, but I want to know what you mean by 'at the time.'"

Paulie looks over to Jacob. "You're the one who brought it to my attention. You explain it."

Jacob never looks comfortable. Tonight, sitting at my table, he looks less so. He's accepting of my furry problem, but he's heard too many horror stories to ever be completely at ease in my home.

It's just the three of us. Paulie wouldn't say why, but I knew he wanted to keep this quiet, so I invited him for late night tea. The village is used to us meeting up that no one will think too much about Paulie inviting his pal Jacob along.

Jacob clears his throat. "You're not the only one who has been exchanging letters with others outside of town. I've got an uncle up north who is really into new science innovations, and he's been all excited about a new mineral that has been discovered that has some rather explosive properties if bonded with other elements. Apparently, kingdoms are clamoring for it to continue their wars and are willing to pay handsomely for it."

"Let me guess: this miracle mineral is found in silver mines."

"It appears so. The problem is that if you want this mineral for its explosive properties, it has to be processed a certain way almost immediately after being removed from the earth, or else it's just a pretty, if useless, rock."

"That's why he's scooping up the land around the mines. He needs the space." Paulie muses.

Jacob nods. "He would need both a place to store the mineral before and after the processing as well as space for treatment."

"Okay, now that we've answered that, here's the real question: Why?" I look at them both.

"Why what?"Jacob asks.

"Why the pretense? Why pretend he's interested in the village's taxes when what he really wants is the land itself?"

Paulie, as always, follows my thinking. "Because the King doesn't know. The King gave him the right to collect taxation, not to kick the townsfolk out of their homes and reopen the mines. What do you want to bet he isn't giving the King his fair percentage?"

"I'm not taking that bet." I reply with a grin.

"Nor I, but this is all merely speculation. We don't have proof of such things." Jacob cuts in. "What are we going to tell everyone else?"

I think about it. Jacob is right. We have no proof of wrongdoing, just buckets of speculation. "Regaredless of his reasons, there's only one clear path: We must not sell him our homes."

"With these taxation rates, many won't have a choice but to move," Paulie looks to be thinking it over. "But if those who are better off help out the others..."

"Then the bastard will get his money and won't have a choice but to leave us alone." Jacob says triumphantly. Then his expression turns sober. "That only leaves the rumors of his harassment campaign. He might not go away quietly."

"We'll handle when it comes up." I say, and if my smile is a little sharp, you can always blame the Wolf.

. . . . . . . .

"I hate that man! I hate him and his stupid cane! Jules didn't deserve that!"

I look over to Allen, but I can't bring myself to chastise him. I also hate the Lord Ransom. A week out from the Full and each night I get steadily colder and the Wolf inside begins to bay for blood. This would be manageable - I've been doing it for years - if it wasn't for that damned man.

The offers started last week when no one packed up immediately to avoid his high taxes. The gossip chain (the Marcie-Lacey-Eva-Mary-Cara-Paulie version anyway) spoke of the high amounts of money being offered. A couple of families had taken the deal, and no one could begrudge them that, but most of the town held firm.

This is our home, and we aren't going to be bought out.

This week, the harassment campaign began. Big men, saying they spoke on behalf of the 'Good Lord Ransom', went to random homes and offered larger sums of money. If those families refused the offer, then they were threatened. A few of them had rocks thrown in their windows.

Eva's home had gotten a visit, and she blistered the goons ears for the attempt. Who did they think they were threatening her? What would their mothers say?

They didn't take kindly to the scolding. In retaliation, that night, they threw a burning bottle of liquid through her son's window while he slept. He will survive, but the flames weren't kind.

The house, however, is lost.

"I know. I'm worried about Jules, too." I say. We're sitting on my porch while Mary and Charlie get Eva settled at her sister's place. Eva is furious and out for blood. The two of them are the only ones capable of restraining her - everyone else wants to help her or hide the body.

I can't say I blame them, either.

Maybe I'll let Eva get her pound of flesh and put what's left of him in the pig pen. Saves time on hiding the body, not that I think anyone would look that hard for it based on his reputation.

"I hate that man! Mom says he's greedy and is gonna get what's coming to him. Do you think so?" Allen looks up at me from his angry brooding. He's clutching his fists in his lap tight enough to see the whites of his knuckles.

I look down at him. "Men like that always get their due."

. . . . . . . . .

"Nice farm you have here."

I look up from my work. Harvesting the last of the wheat and preparing the grounds for the frosts to come must have been consuming my attention. Normally, 3 days out, I'm hyper aware of my surroundings. I should've heard him approach a hundred feet or so ago.

The Lord Ransom is not a handsome man despite the quality attire he wears. Prematurely balding with beady brown eyes hiding behind thick spectacles, I imagine there are few hearts that flutter at the mention of him if either his title or money aren't mentioned in the same sentence. He carries himself like he knows he deserves better than being in a place where his new leather shoes might get mud on them, but he is willing to suffer the indignities to suffer us.

Or maybe I'm too close to the Full and his very presence is irritating me, but I know how to play nice when the situation calls for it.

"Good afternoon, my Lord. It's not much, but it's home."

His resulting laugh is high and boisterous - and very false. "And what a fine home it is! I was actually hoping to talk to you about it."

Ah. I'd been wondering what was taking him so long. Everyone else in town had gotten offers and threats over the past couple of weeks. I had wondered if my 'Moon Problem' had been shared with him and he was avoiding me. Ideal, considering I can't stand the fool, but it would be so very annoying if he hired someone to 'take care' of me.

There's no reason to play dumb. "I hear you're buying up land."

"I am, but if I was only interested in that, I would've sent one of my associates to talk with you." Somehow, his smile is more false than his laugh.

"I've heard you've spoken to everyone in town yourself before outsourcing the... negotiations to your associates. Is there a reason you would not offer me the same courtesy?"

"Not at all!" He proclaims loudly. He certainly likes the sound of his own voice. "I'm just a busy man and grow weary of the slog of negotiating."

If this man is weary of anything, it's probably being denied what he wants. I know the type well enough.

"You are asking a lot of these people. Some of these homes have been in their family for generations. That kind of thing is priceless." I reply lightly, leaning on skills I haven't needed in years and slipping into that old, highborn accent.

He was not the only one taught by a Governess, after all.

He may be unattractive, but he's not a fool. He catches on quickly. "You are not from around these parts, are you?"

"No. I was raised somewhere more like those places you prefer to be - with their high vaulted ceilings, crystal goblets, and gentle manners. I wanted something different, and I found it here."

It's almost too easy to slip into that role of misplaced noble. Just a person of gentle birth who wanted to step away for a while - rough it with the common folk - but with the right offer, they would be willing to be swept back into that glittering world.

Not that I want to go back, of course, but this man only respects those of his own rank and, by rights, I'm that and more. A common person won't get through to him, but someone from his world? He might give them their due consideration.

The Lord Ransom assesses me. I know he's unmarried, and I know that there are circles closed to him because of that. I can see the calculations going on in his head and the plans that he discards based on this development.

"You own this farm outright? No debt to the town?"

"The property is mine, yes."

He laughs, incredulous. This laugh is genuine, at least. "I suppose that you work the land yourself then? No hired hands to help?"

I look at him blandly, as I had been raised to do. "I believe that would defeat the purpose."

"And what purpose would that be?" He leans in, expression curious. I imagine he couldn't ever imagine himself willingly working in the dirt for all the gold in the King's vault.

"To make something of my own. To watch it grow from seed, to plant, to grain, and into bread from my own effort. To toil and reap the rewards from what I've sewn."

"Yes," He muses, "I can see that."

A moment of silence. I can see him come to a conclusion.

"You'll do." He says almost too softly to hear, but I'm no longer distracted by grain and soil.

"I'm sorry, my Lord?"

"I originally came here to offer to buy your land. However, in the place of what I thought was a young widow, I find a Lady of gentle birth toiling in the dirt. A soul who understands the value of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice! I have been long put off by the vapid nature of the common High-born and therefore put off marriage. I had even accepted that I might never be married - that it wasn't my role in this life."

He steps forward, a fevered gleam in his eyes. I can almost see his grand scheme play out in them.

"Then, I meet you. Now, I see that I was looking for a proper union in all the wrong places! I needed a bride who was forged from hardship and unafraid of doing what needed to be done."

He bows deeply before me.

"Allow me to court you, my Lady."

I stare at him and blink. That's... interesting. I hope my expression is still coming across as bland curiosity and not sickened shock. "This is very sudden, my Lord. You don't know me or anything about - "

"That's because I don't need to! I already know you're the one I've been waiting for!" He moves forward and grabs my hands. I keep from pulling back in revulsion. "I don't care about your past or where you're from. I want you! I'd marry you right here... right now! However, you are rightfully cautious. I'm willing to wait."

"I... don't know what to say."

"How about I give you time to think about it. I know I have had my own worldview changed. Just say you're willing to consider it?"

I look at him, and then I see it. The way forward.

The solution.

I breathe in and resign myself to the inevitable. "Dinner."

"What?"

"In 3 days. Dinner. I have another property north of here. Quiet and secluded. If you're seen here again, there will be unwelcome rumors, things neither of us can afford. However, few know that I own that property. If you were to stop by in the evening..."

"No one would suspect. Beautiful and brilliant, my Lady." He puts him lips to the back of my hand and looks up, a knowing look in his eyes.

If only he knew.

. . . . . . . . .

"I thought you gave up all these jewels and dresses and things."

"I thought I did, too." I look in the mirror back at Cara's worried expression. She's pulling my hair back in the classic braided style down my back. Nothing as fancy as I would've worn to Court, but nicer than I've worn in ages. Thankfully, the gown fits well, its color bringing out the full intensity of my eyes.

Or maybe it's just that moonrise is mere hours away.

"I know you're cold, but I found this velvet shawl in my things. It'll keep you warmer." Cara says as she wraps the shawl around my shoulders with a small smile. The black velvet adds a certain dignity to the outfit.

I try to smile back, but it stalls out halfway. "I..."

She nods in sympathy and understanding. "No one wants this for you. We can come up with another way. We can - "

"No," I cut in, speaking around the lump in my throat. "I... I'll be okay. It's just..."

Cara doesn't say anything. She just leans in and gives me a hug as I cry and shiver into the warmth.

I said I would take care of the problem and I will.

The Wolf protects the Pack.

But like this?

I didn't want this. I was running from this, but here I am, despite everything.

After too short of a moment, I lean forward and dry my eyes. "You have to go. He'll be here soon."

Cara looks around the cabin. It's been made up nicer than I prefer, with fine silver utensils and linen on the table. The bed, which I'm spending most of my time trying not to look at, has been fitted with the nice silk sheets I had packed up when I left home. It had been something to remind me of where I came from, and then I had hid it away because it reminded me of what I'd left behind.

"It looks like a proper Lady's home now. I'm sure he'll appreciate the effort." Cara looks at me and grins. The smile dims when she looks closer at my expression. "You don't have to do this."

"You should go, Cara." I say, my smile - as strained as it is - hopefully taking the sting out of the words. "Tell Paulie I said not to forget his promise."

Her smile is small, and her eyes are sad. "I will, but he won't. He has never once forgotten his promises to you."

. . . . . . . . .

"Simply ravishing, my dear."

"Do come in, my Lord Ransom. Welcome to my home." I curtsey before him exactly the way I was taught. Some things really are ingrained.

He takes my hand in his. I can hear his pulse beginning to quicken as he takes in the low neckline of my gown. "Van, please. I thought you were beautiful out in the field, but in here, you are radiant. These common folk don't know what beauty has been gracing them."

"Thank you, my L - Van. You are too kind." I murmur, looking down demurely. I focus on breathing through my mouth. Breathe in, hold for 4, and breathe out.

"I must say, my Lady, despite how quaint this cabin is, you do manage to bring some class to it." He says as he looks around the room. "Do you stay here often?"

I look up to see he's practically staring at the bed. I don't need to meet his gaze to know that he's thinking about my low-cut gown and how he wants this night to end.

"Not often. I was gifted this cabin by an Aunt. I try to keep my birth a secret from the town."

"Yes." He looks at me and winks. "You like to rough it with the riff-raff."

I focus on my breathing. "They are good folk."

"I'm sure they are, but you have to admit they're rather dull."

"They have their charm." I say with a little smile. I can see the mocking laughter in his eyes. "Would you like to eat? Maybe tell me more about why you're buying up the town?"

Asking a Lord to talk about himself and his plans will usually save one from any discomfort when it comes to smalltalk. The Lord Ransom is no different.

"What do you know of mining, my dear?" He asks as he sits down at the table, putting a napkin in his lap.

I make my way to the wine bottle first before sitting. A Lady always offers to pour their guests' drink first. "Wine, my Lord? And not much, I'm afraid. I know that metal comes from the ground, and it is backbreaking work, but that's all."

"Yes, please. And please, do call me Van. It sounds lovely when you say it." He pauses while I pour, focused intently on me. His eyes meet mine, and I can see the desire in them. I finish pouring both our glasses and hold his gaze while I sit across from him, pulling my shawl tighter around me. I try to keep my breathing even.

"Well, you know the basics, then. However, what you may not be aware of is that certain metals tend to be grouped up underground with other minerals. It turns out a particular mineral that has high value in warfare forms near silver. Now, most silver mines around here were stripped of their fine metals years ago, but with the discovery of this material, these mines can be reopened and lost jobs restored!"

I take a sip of the fine wine. It's not what I want. I focus on my words. "That's fascinating, but I'm confused as to why you can't just open the mine without buying out the villages? They formed around the mines, right?"

"You know your history, my dear! Yes, the villages and towns sprung up around the mines as the miners and their families needed places to stay nearby, but silver doesn't need any special processing when it's mined, so the miner's homes could be closer. However, this mineral does need special treatment. I need the land around the mine as well for such things."

"Ah, I see. Do you plan on founding a new town then? Outside the blocked off area, I mean?"

"I do. I don't know how far the mines go, so I don't know where the bounds will be, but eventually, there will be. After all, the workers need a place to sleep!"

"Surely forcing others to leave their homes is rather crass, isn't it?" I focus on my plate, taking extra time to cut my chicken into smaller pieces. Ones small enough for a Lady.

"Yes, some might think that, but much is sacrificed for progress! What's one home, or even a dozen, in the face of that?"

"And money, of course."

"Of course, my Lady." He says with a wink. "No one said you couldn't make money from progress - you just can't stop it!"

The conversation dies for a moment. The only sounds that fill the cabin are the clank and scrape of silver on porcelain - the only sounds I allow myself to notice, anyway. I focus on the chicken - dry. Then the vegetables - I force them down. I take gulps of wine that are borderline unladylike - the taste is wrong and the alcohol does little to warm me.

"I was thinking we should discuss our future." The Lord breaks the silence, placing his utensils down. It appears he had no trouble eating.

"Our Courtship, you mean?"

He nods. "And beyond."

I let out a pained laugh that I hope he reads as simply incredulous. "Beyond? Awfully presumptuous of you, my Lord."

"Van, my dear, and is it?" He looks at me, raising an eyebrow and speaking slowly as if to a child. "You invited me into your home without a chaperone for dinner, skipping several steps of the process. A home you specifically invited me to because no one was around to question your honor. You have been playing coy, and I do enjoy that in a woman, but let's not lie to ourselves."

His gaze burns as he looks at me.

"You know how this night ends."

I look out the window to see the sky darkening, the first stars starting to peek through the twilight. There is a heavy thunk from the door that startles the Lord into looking away as his head swivels towards the source of the noise.

I shudder from the sudden chill I feel all the way down into my bones.

It's time. I take a deep breath in.

The Lord turns back towards me, his eyes widening in horror as I feel the Moon's pull. He smells of our dinner, sweat, and no small amount of fear.

Good.

I feel my bones break and shift, my body elongating, and nails turning into claws. The gown tears from my body as I stand, the shawl dropping from my shoulders. The pain is intense, but my eyes never leave his as he backs away and then tries to get through the door before sliding down it.

It's locked and blocked until morning - a promise Paulie always keeps.

I didn't want this. I ran from this. Here I am.

"Yes, Van," the words pull from me in a growl as I get on all fours and stalk towards him. "I imagine we both know how this night ends."

[primefan15]

Chapter 3: Doubt

John 4:1-6 

Test the spirits

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefor speak from the viewpoints of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Up to this point, Paul has been suspiciously alert with the events happening in our house and our yard. 

Many nights my two daughters would stare out the window, eventually, at certain times, they would see strange lights as if they were stars or planes. 

Only these "stars" moved,

disappeared, 

reappeared,

changed color, such as neon purple/pink, blue, red, white, and a whole slew of a variety of colors.

They would also either blink these colors rapidly, or in a pattern.

And then, what started on the outside began happening on the inside.

Meaning, whatever weird, unnatural, or abnormal sightings we were witnessing out in the night sky, started to happen in our house. 

My two daughters and I started seeing shadows and lights on the ceilings and walls.

To list some events, for example: at night I was using our downstairs bathroom. And underneath the door I saw a shadow go by as if someone walked past the door. But since the door was closed, I didn't completely know who it was that walked past.

But, as I went upstairs to go back to bed, I noticed everybody in our house were fast asleep, including our cat.

And after that, my two daughters came to me about witnessing the same event around the same time at night.  Also, hearing footsteps in the hallway upstairs. A pacing that would happen every night.

They would also tell me about seeing shadows go from left to right or seeing things like cloud-like objects or white figures out of the corner of their eye.  Objects would fly off of shelves or across the room.

Most encounters we got happened at night, sometimes different events during the day. At first, we thought maybe we were losing our minds. 

Paul comes up to me and says one day "Have you been noticing anything weird happening in the house?" 

I reply, "Weird like how?" 

Paul says "Feel like things are watching you, or you think you see shadows but when you look, you don't see anything. Because I hear weird tapping on the wall, water bottles being scrunched up like someone's squeezing them, gusts of wind in the house. And the strangest of all is the weird sensations like you're on a boat." 

I reply with "We were waiting for you to say something." 

He looked stunned, like he now knew that we were experiencing the same things.

One by one, we all couldn't wait to tell our stories that we have experienced, seen, and heard.

We all had individual experiences that we couldn't wait to tell because finally we could share them.

We didn't think Paul would take this information to be true, so we had kept it to ourselves for weeks up until he had said something.

Paul was blown away; he didn't know what to say.

"Are these things good or bad?" He asks.

We didn't even know what we're dealing with yet.

I proceeded to tell Paul a story that I had kept from him for awhile.

I was in the laundry room, sorting the many piles of clothes, when a very large hand wrapped around my whole right ankle, just for 2 or 3 seconds, then let go.

I almost jumped out of my skin at that very moment it happened.

Funny thing is, I've had a problem with the same ankle for a while. My ankle would lock up out of nowhere and cause me to fall.

Shortly after the hybrid issue, my ankle had begun to lock up so bad while I was in the yard, I damn near broke my leg, falling to the ground.

After those hands grabbed my ankle, not only did it not lock up anymore, but it made my ankle stronger. I have not had a problem since.

I've caught my cat Gideon getting what appeared to be a neck rub from Roy.

"Giddy" as we call him, was purring loudly, his head tilted to the side, getting what looked like a neck rub while sitting on my dresser. In the room, you can only see what to me looks like a cloud by the dresser, it looks white and sparkly, like a round aura. 

Whatever this was has passed the Giddy test, as he is highly suspicious of anyone who comes in our house. Giddy trusted whatever this was.

Whatever this thing was that was petting Giddy really likes cats. 

Any one of us could've been hurt at any time but instead we are being guarded and healed.

I do not mind this entity; I just want to know why they are here in our house?  What is their purpose, just to protect us from an evil Lizard like man creature? For so much activity and encounters, it seemed unlikely it was here simply just to guard us from something. We were about to find out their sole purpose to humanity and their connections to the spiritual realm.

One night, there was a constant tapping on my shelf that held posters and various books, including the Bible. A paper from a previous Bible study flew off the shelf onto the floor. This paper was tucked away into the shelf as it was to be added to in a future study.

The paper read:

Doctrine of Imminency

Believers are taught to expect the Savior from Heaven at any moment.

Phillipians 3:20

This was confirmation to us that they were good. 

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

11th June ->> Fr. Martin's Reflections / Homilies for the Feast of Saint Barnabas, Apostle (Inc. Matthew 10:7-13): ‘Proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’.

Feast of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

Gospel (Except USA) Matthew 10:7-13 You received without charge: give without charge.

Jesus said to his apostles, ‘As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge. Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with a few coppers for your purses, with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the workman deserves his keep. ‘Whatever town or village you go into, ask for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave. As you enter his house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, let your peace descend upon it; if it does not, let your peace come back to you.’

Gospel (USA) Matthew 10:7-13 Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.

Jesus said to the Twelve: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.”

Reflections (5)

(i) Feast of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

In the gospel reading, Jesus sends out the twelve apostles on mission within Galilee, to proclaim the good news that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. In the first reading, the church of Antioch send out Paul and Barnabas on mission to places far beyond Antioch, to Cyprus and parts of modern-day Turkey. Paul and Barnabas were leading lights of the church in Antioch and yet the members of the church were happy to share these two leaders with others, far beyond their shores. Of the two, Paul is better known to us because of his extraordinary missionary journeys and the many letters that have come down to us from him. Yet, Barnabas was very significant in another way. It was Barnabas who created an opening in the early church for Paul, when others were still suspicious of him because of his past persecution of the church. As today’s first reading says, it was Barnabas who went looking for Paul in Tarsus, his native city, and brought him to Antioch because Barnabas saw that there was a great opening for Paul’s gifts in this city where the gospel had been preached to pagans for the first time. Barnabas was what we can today an ‘enabler’. It is not surprising that his nickname in the early church, according to the Acts of the Apostles, was ‘son of encouragement’. That role of enabler or encourager remains a vital role in the church today. We all have the capacity to create openings where the gifts of someone else can flourish for the service of the whole church. It takes a certain humility to create a space where others can flourish to their potential in the service of the Lord. It is the attitude of John the Baptist expressed in his comment with regard to Jesus, ‘He must increase, but I must decrease’. The feast of Barnabas invites us to ask, ‘What can I do for someone so that Jesus may increase today?’

And/Or

(ii) Feast of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

Barnabas was known in the early church as the ‘son of encouragement’, according to the Acts of the Apostles. As nicknames go, it is one of the nicer ones. It was clearly a term that reflected the nature of the man. He had that marvelous ability to recognize the good qualities in people and to draw them out so that they could be placed at the service of the church. We find two examples of this in this morning’s first reading. The first community of believers was all Jewish, but in Antioch there emerged a community of believers that comprised Jews and non-Jews. When Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem to investigate this new development, he was delighted with what he saw and ‘he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion’. Then, sometime later Barnabas recognized that Saul, the former persecutor of the church, could make a wonderful contribution to this mixed church in Antioch and so he set out all the way to Tarsus to find Paul and bring him to Antioch. Paul went on to become a leading member of the church in Antioch. Recognizing the gifts of others, and creating openings for those gifts to flourish – this was the strength of Barnabas. We all have it in us to be a Barnabas within the church and within the wider community. We may not have the gift for a particular task, but we can have the ability to recognize that gift in others and to create a space for their gift to flourish. This is one of the ways that we can all respond to the Lord’s call in today’s gospel reading to go out and proclaim that the kingdom of God is close at hand.

And/Or

(iii) Feast of St Barnabas, Apostle

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Barnabas. He was born in Cyprus and became a leading member of the church in Jerusalem. He had a reputation in the early church for giving encouragement to others. Indeed Barnabas is a kind of nickname which means ‘son of encouragement’. We see him engaged in that ministry of encouragement in this morning’s first reading. There was something new happening in the church of Antioch. The gospel had been preached to pagans as well as Jews for the first time. A new kind of church was emerging there, a church which was a mixture of Jews and non-Jews. Barnabas was sent down to take a look at what was happening and he immediately recognized it as the work of the Lord and gave great encouragement to this new development. He was right; it was the work of the Lord. The Lord is always at work in new and creative ways among us and it is a great gift to be able to recognize the work of the Lord wherever it is to be found, and to celebrate and encourage that work. Barnabas had this gift of noticing where the Lord was a work because as that first reading says he was filled with the Holy Spirit. We need to be open to the Spirit, to be filled with the Spirit, to recognize the work of the Spirit. As Saint Paul says in one of his letter, spiritual things are discerned spiritually.

And/Or

(iv) Feast of St Barnabas, Apostle

According to an earlier verse in the Acts of the Apostles, Barnabas’ real name was Joseph, but he was given the name Barnabas, which means ‘son of encouragement’, as a kind of a nick name by the apostles. In this morning’s first reading we can see Barnabas living up to his nick name. News reached Jerusalem of a new development in Antioch. The gospel had been preached to non-Jews for the first time, resulting in the formation of a mixed church of Jewish and Gentile Christians. When the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on this, he saw immediately that this new development was God’s doing and he encouraged all involved. He went further and he encouraged Paul to come from Tarsus and to get involved in this new departure. As a result, Paul made a great contribution to the life of this mixed church of Antioch, and this church, in turn, became a spiritual home for Paul and a base for his missionary work. You could say that Barnabas was a facilitator, an enabler; he supported the good that people were doing and he opened doors for people’s gifts. We always need people like Barnabas around and we can all become a Barnabas for others. The ministry of encouragement is one in which we can all share, and it is one of the most needed ministries today. On this his feast day, we pray for something of the spirit of Barnabas in our own lives and in the life of our church.

And/Or

(v) Feast of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

Barnabas does not feature in the gospels but he is a significant presence in the Acts of the Apostles, Luke’s story of the early years of the church. He was originally a leading member of the church in Jerusalem. According to today’s first reading he was instrumental in encouraging a new development that took place in the city of Antioch, where the gospel was preached to pagans for the first time. He clearly saw the hand of the Lord in this new phenomenon. According to our reading, Barnabas encouraged Saul or Paul to leave the church in Tarsus, Paul’s home city, and to come to the church in Antioch because he recognized that Antioch would be an ideal location for this great apostle to the pagans. Barnabas himself seems to have become a leading member of the church of Antioch. He worked alongside Paul there and together they were sent out on mission by the church of Antioch, travelling to Cyprus and beyond. Barnabas is portrayed in the Acts of the Apostles as an enabler, an encourager. What he enabled and encouraged others to do turned out to be just as significant as what he did himself. In the gospel reading, Jesus says to his followers, ‘You received without charge, give without charge’. One of the ways we give is by creating a space for others to give and to grow. This is where Barnabas comes into his own. He recognized and encouraged the workings of the Spirit in the lives of others. He didn’t try to do everything himself; he stepped back and allowed the Lord to work through others. That takes a certain generosity of spirit, a willingness to rejoice in the gifts of others and allow them to find expression. We can all learn from Barnabas that delicate art of creating space for others to flourish.

Fr. Martin Hogan.