#and yet the heavens declare his glory

[queenlucythevaliant]

And yet!

God has been waiting billions of years for a lifeform to be able to study atoms and quarks and quantum entanglement to really appreciate how much painfully intricate effort he took to make the universe. Humans are finally there, but they think it’s all evidence that God must not be real.

[aspirant1598]

[semperreformanda]

the God I serve is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is enthroned in the heavens, who is so glorious that the train of His robe fills the temple; who laughs at His enemies and makes them a footstool for His feet; who is sovereign over every single thing on His earth (His earth!); and the majesty of the heavens declare His glory (His glory!) and yet what do I do?? be anxious about silly things that He already promised me He will provide me with? GIRL be so for real

[rex3o]

The Eternal Enigma

A/N: The Eternal Enigma is deeply inspired by the movie of La Belle et la Bête which I watched recently so I put two and two together and yh here we go. Also this story does NOT follow the jujutsu kaisen plot. But I hope u lot enjoy it as much as I do as I post more out lol.

Summary: In a cursed kingdom ruled by the fearsome Ryomen Sukuna, a former general turned demon king, Y/n—a noblewoman whose family fell victim to Sukuna’s wrath—is delivered to his ominous fortress. Expecting to be treated harshly, Y/n is instead met with Sukuna’s cold indifference and an outrageous demand: she must fall in love with him. When Y/n protests, Sukuna’s fury erupts, and he declares her forbidden from leaving his domain. As Sukuna storms out, Y/n is left to navigate the treacherous path of her new, dark reality.

Ryomen Sukuna X Reader

>> chp 2 / chp3

In the waning light of dusk, the land lay cloaked in a somber silence, broken only by the mournful whispers of the wind through twisted, barren trees. Once a flourishing realm of beauty and grace, the landscape now bore the scars of darkness—a kingdom lost to the curse of an ancient power.

At the heart of this cursed domain stood a fortress of eerie majesty, its blackened spires reaching toward the heavens like the gnarled fingers of a dark deity. This was the domain of the Eternal Enigma—a being whose name was whispered in fear and awe: Ryomen Sukuna. His fortress, a towering edifice of obsidian and bone, loomed over the land, casting long shadows that seemed to swallow the light itself.

The tale of Sukuna’s darkness began long before his rise to power. Born into a world already steeped in suffering, Sukuna resided in the womb of his starving mother alongside his twin. As the days of deprivation wore on, the infant Sukuna, driven by a primal instinct for survival, consumed his sibling. Even then, his existence was marked by a monstrous hunger.

As he grew, Sukuna’s insatiable drive for dominance and power led him to become a general of unmatched bravery. His prowess on the battlefield earned him great acclaim, yet it was his ambition that ultimately led him astray. Driven by a desire for eternal glory, Sukuna made a fateful pact with forces beyond mortal comprehension. In his quest for immortality, he sacrificed not only his humanity but the very soul of his kingdom, sealing his fate in a curse that bound him to a grotesque and eternal imprisonment.

Now, his form was a grotesque mockery of the noble warrior he once was: the size of a grizzly beast, with four monstrous clawed arms and four eyes glowing red with a cold, malevolent light that reflected the torment of his eternal punishment.

The people of the land spoke of him in hushed tones, recounting tales of his cruelty and the legion of cursed spirits and demons he commanded. The once-vibrant courts of the kingdom had become hollow echoes of their former splendor, their power and beauty overshadowed by the darkness that reigned supreme. Those who dared to speak of Sukuna’s name faced his wrath, for the curse that bound him extended to all who crossed his path.

On a fateful night, as the moon hung heavy in the sky, a young woman was delivered to the fortress gates. Y/n, a noblewoman of grace and beauty, arrived with a heart full of trepidation and hope. Her family, once powerful and respected, had been destroyed in a failed attempt to defy Sukuna’s dominion. Now, she was a mere pawn in a game she scarcely understood—a gift offered to the overlord in a desperate bid to placate his anger and prevent further bloodshed.

The carriage rocked as it trundled along the forest path, its wheels grinding against the overgrown roots of ancient trees. Y/n sat in silence, her pale hands folded neatly in her lap, her heart heavy with the weight of her fate. Beyond the veil covering her face, she looked upon the thick mist outside, Sukuna's fortress looming—a twisted silhouette against the blood-red sky. Her thoughts were abruptly cut short.

"They say no one returns from there," whispered the old servant who sat beside her, his voice quivering. "Once you enter the Demon King's domain, you are lost."

Y/n stared ahead, her face expressionless, though her heart pounded with fear. She had heard the rumors—stories of a man turned into a beast, cursed by the gods to rule over cursed spirits and demons. Sukuna's cruelty was legendary, but no one could explain why he had demanded her as a tribute.

The gates of the fortress creaked open, and a cold wind swept through the air as the carriage crossed into Sukuna’s domain. The once-proud noblewoman took a deep breath, knowing that her life would never be the same again.

As the carriage came to a halt, and she stepped out into the foreboding realm. The cold air bit at her skin, and the eerie silence of the fortress seemed to swallow her every step. The gates behind her loomed after her, ancient and imposing, their iron bars etched with dark symbols that whispered of forgotten sorcery.

Y/n’s eyes met those of the gatekeeper, who regarded her with a mixture of pity and apprehension. “Welcome, my lady,” he intoned, his voice trembling with the weight of unspoken fears. “May the gods have mercy on you.”

The doors creaked open, and a footman greeted Y/n as she stepped into the darkness beyond, her old servant closely following behind. Her heart pounded with a blend of fear and curiosity. She had heard the tales of the cursed king—of the monstrous being who ruled with an iron fist and a heart of darkness. But what lay beyond the shadows of his fortress remained a mystery, one she was now bound to unravel.

The footman led her through the foreboding halls of the fortress, her senses overwhelmed by the oppressive gloom that pervaded every corner. The walls seemed to whisper secrets long forgotten, and the flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows that danced like specters in the dark. The halls were deathly quiet, with servants passing in complete silence as they moved through their tasks.

In the dim glow of a grand chamber, Sukuna awaited her. His form, though majestic in its own right, was a stark contrast to the splendor of the once-great fortress. He sat on his dark and imposing throne, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality. His presence was both mesmerizing and terrifying, a paradox of beauty and horror.

As the footman and Y/n approached, her heart raced with a mixture of dread and anticipation. The Eternal Enigma, the cursed king, awaited her presence, and with it, the unfolding of a tale that would intertwine their fates in ways neither could have imagined.

As Y/n entered the grand chamber, her eyes were immediately drawn to the imposing figure seated on the dark throne. Sukuna’s presence was both mesmerizing and terrifying. The throne room was dimly lit by flickering torches that cast eerie shadows on the walls, making the scene even more surreal.

Sukuna looked down upon Y/n with an indifferent gaze, his four red eyes glowing like smoldering embers. Despite his fearsome appearance, he seemed almost disinterested in her arrival. He gestured lazily for her to come closer, his monstrous form shifting slightly as he leaned back against his throne.

Y/n approached cautiously, her heart pounding with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. She had braced herself for harsh treatment or some form of ritualistic cruelty, but Sukuna’s demeanor was unexpectedly nonchalant. He could hear her heart racing and noticed her trembling form, almost chuckling at her fear. Yet, for Y/n, the lack of immediate threats or displays of malevolence only heightened her unease.

"Well, you’re here," Sukuna said, his voice a deep, resonant rumble that filled the chamber. “You remember me, yes? Your family was obedient, but your useless father had to mess things up. Such a pity he’s dead.” Sukuna smirked, his gaze disdainful as he looked down at her. To him, her father was a mere annoyance, a fly in his grand plans. “To shorten this meeting, brat—you’re staying here, in my palace.” His attention wandered, as if Y/n were a trivial matter.

Y/n blinked, trying to process his words. “You insult my dead father and then order me to stay? As a prisoner, you mean?”

Sukuna replied with a sneer, “And what will you do about it? You’re as useless as him. Whatever you do can’t surpass me, so I suggest you listen and comply.” He grinned evilly. “Prisoner? If that’s how you want to see yourself, fine. But for me, you are to be my future wife.”

Y/n stared at him, her mouth slightly agape. “You sick, cruel man… You can’t expect me to fall in love with you. You have loyal consorts who would force their daughters to kneel and beg to marry you. What you ask of me is insane!”

Sukuna’s eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. The casual indifference that had marked his demeanor vanished, replaced by a storm of anger. His massive form tensed, and with a violent motion, he flipped his throne, sending it crashing to the ground with a thunderous roar. The force of his rage shook the entire chamber, and the walls trembled under the impact.

“You dare to defy me?” Sukuna bellowed, his voice echoing through the chamber. He stormed over to her, his build overshadowing her as he gripped her face with his hand. His face, marked with deep black ink-like scars, was a terrifying visage of fury. His four demonic eyes burned into her face as he spoke, “You are forbidden from leaving my domain! You will stay here until you fulfill your obligation!” He shoved her away, causing her to fall onto the floor. Her face was scratched by the sharp ends of his nails, blood trickling down her skin.

The entire fortress reverberated with Sukuna’s fury as he stormed out of the grand chamber, his footsteps causing the ground to rumble. The echoes of his anger reverberated through the halls, shaking the very foundations of the once-majestic fortress.

Y/n lays there, stunned by the sheer force of Sukuna’s wrath. The reality of her situation crashed down on her like a wave. She had been thrust into a world of darkness and cruelty, with a cursed king who demanded the impossible.

As the echoes of Sukuna’s fury faded, Y/n was left in the cold silence of the chamber, her mind racing with fear, confusion, and a burgeoning sense of helplessness. The task before her seemed daunting and absurd, but she knew she had no choice but to navigate the treacherous path that lay ahead.

A/N: YOOOO hope u liked it lol I'll make another part soon shorly after this.

[usagiumiko3]

hey guys🌌💕 i’ve been diving into emily brontë’s "the night is darkening round me" and while reading I made some connections between some poems and the lnds characters. here are some of my picks that I think resonate the best.

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» the prisoner «

in the dungeon-crypts, idly did i stray,

reckless of the lives wasting there away;

'draw the ponderous bars! open, warder stern!'

he dared not say me nay - the hingers harshly turn.

'our guests are darkly lodged,' i whisper'd, gazing through

the vault, whose grated eye showed heaven more grey than blue;

(this was when glad spring laughed in awaking pride;)

'aye, darkly lodged enough!' returned my sullen guide.

then, god forgive my youth; forgive my careless tongue;

i scoffed, as chill chains on the damp flag-stones rung:

'confined in triple walls, art thou so much to fear,

that we must bind thee down and clench thy fetters here?'

the captive raised her face, it was as soft and mild

as sculptured marble saint, or slumbering unwean'd child;

it was so soft and mild, it was so sweet and fair,

pain could not trace a line, nor grief a shadow there!

the captive raised her hand and pressed it to her brow;

'i have been struck,' she said, 'and i am suffering now;

yet these are little worth, your bolts and irons strong,

and, were they forged in steel, they could not hold me long.'

hoarse laughed the jailer grim: 'shall i be won to hear;

dost think, fond, dreaming wretch, that i shall grant thy prayer?

or, better still, wilt melt my master's heart with groans?

ah! sooner might the sun thaw down these granite stones.

'my master's voice is low, his aspect bland and kind,

but hard as hardest flint, the soul that lurks behind;

and i am rough and rude, yet not more rough to see

than is the hidden ghost that has its home in me.'

about her lips there played a smile of almost scorn,

'my friend,' she gently said, 'you have not heard me mourn;

when you my kindred's lives, my lost life, can restore,

then may i weep and sue, - but never, friend, before!

(.....)

'oh, dreadful is the check - intense the agony -

when the ear begins to hear, and the eye begins to see;

when the pulse begins to throb, the brain to think again,

the soul to feel the flesh, and the flesh to feel the chain.

'yet i would lose no sting, would wish no torture less,

the more that anguish racks, the earlier it will bless;

and robed in fires of hell, or bright with heavenly shine,

if it but herald death, the vision is divine!'

she ceased to speak, and we, unanswering, turned to go -

we had no further power to work the captive woe:

her cheek, her gleaming eye, declared that man had given

a sentence, unapproved, and overruled by heaven.

» ‘no coward soul is mine’ «

no coward soul is mine

no trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere

i see heaven's glories shine

and faith shines equal arming me from fear

o god within my breast

almighty ever-present deity

life, that in me hast rest

as i undying life, have power in thee

vain are the thousand creeds

that move men's hearts, unutterably vain,

worthless as withered weeds

or idlest froth amid the boundless main

to waken doubt in one

holding so fast by thy infinity

so surely anchored on

the steadfast rock of immortality

with wide-embracing love

thy spirit animates eternal years

pervades and broods above,

changes, sustains, dissolves, creates and rears

though earth and moon were gone

and suns and universes ceased to be

and thou wert left alone

every existence would exist in thee

there is not room for death

nor atom that his might could render void

since thou art being and breath

and what thou art may never be destroyed

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» remembrance «

cold in the earth - and the deep snow piled above thee,

far, far, removed, cold in the dreary grave!

have i forgot, my only love, to love thee,

severed at last by time's all-severing wave?

now, when alone, do my thoughts no longer hover

over the mountains, on that northern shore,

resting their wings where heath and fern-leaves cover

thy noble heart for ever, ever more?

cold in the earth - and fifteen wild decembers,

from those brown hills, have melted into spring:

faithful, indeed, is the spirit that remembers

after such years of change and suffering!

sweet love of youth, forgive, if i forget thee,

while the world's tide is bearing me along;

other desires and other hopes beset me,

hopes which obscure, but cannot do thee wrong!

no later light has lightened up my heaven,

no second morn has ever shone for me;

all my life's bliss from thy dear life was given,

all my life's bliss is in the grave with thee.

but, when the days of golden dreams had perished,

and even despair was powerless to destroy;

then did i learn how existence could be cherished,

strengthened, and fed without the aid of joy.

then did i check the tears of useless passion -

weaned my young soul from yearning after thine;

sternly denied its burning wish to hasten

down to that tomb already more than mine.

and, even yet, i dare not let it languish,

dare not indulge in memory's rapturous pain;

once drinking deep of that divinest anguish,

how could i seek the empty world again?

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» stars «

ah! why, because the dazzling sun

restored our earth to joy,

have you departed, every one,

and left a desert sky?

all through the night, your glorious eyes

were gazing down in mine,

and with a full heart's thankful sighs,

i blessed that watch divine.

i was at peace, and drank your beams

as they were life to me;

and revelled in my changeful dreams,

like petrel on the sea.

thought followed thought, star followed star,

through boundless regions, on;

while one sweet influence, near and far,

thrilled through, and proved us one!

why did the morning dawn to break

so great, so pure, a spell;

and scorch with fire, the tranquil cheek,

where your cool radiance fell?

blood-red, he rose, and, arrow-straight,

his fierce beams struck my brow;

the soul of nature, sprang, elate,

but mine sank sad and low!

my lids closed down, yet through their veil,

i saw him, blazing, still,

and steep in gold the misty dale,

and flash upon the hill.

i turned me to the pillow, then,

to call back night, and see

your worlds of solemn light, again,

throb with my heart, and me!

it would not do - the pillow glowed,

and glowed both roof and floor;

and birds sang loudly in the wood,

and fresh winds shook the door;

the curtains waved, the wakened flies

were murmuring round my room,

imprisoned there, till i should rise,

and give them leave to roam.

oh, stars, and dreams, and gentle night;

oh, night and stars return!

and hide me from the hostile light,

that does not warm, but burn;

that drains the blood of suffering men;

drinks tears, instead of dew;

let me sleep through his blinding reign,

and only wake with you!

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» anticipation «

how beautiful the earth is still,

to thee - how full of happiness!

how little fraught with real ill,

or unreal phantoms of distress!

how spring can bring thee glory, yet,

and summer win thee to forget

december's sullen time!

why dost thou hold the treasure fast,

of youth's delight, when youth is past,

and thou art near thy prime?

when those who were thy own compeers,

equals in fortune and in years,

have seen their morning melt in tears,

to clouded, smileless day;

blest, had they died untried and young,

before their hearts went wandering wrong,

poor slaves, subdued by passions strong,

a weak and helpless prey!

‘because, i hoped while they enjoyed,

and, by fulfilment, hope destroyed;

as children hope, with trustful breast,

i waited bliss - and cherished rest.

a thoughtful spirit taught me, soon,

that we must long till life be done;

that every phase of earthly joy

must always fade, and always cloy:

‘this i foresaw - and would not chase

the fleeting treacheries;

but, with firm foot and tranquil face,

held backward from that tempting race,

gazed o'er the sands the waves efface,

to the enduring seas -

there cast my anchor of desire

deep in unknown eternity;

nor ever let my spirit tire,

with looking for what is to be!

'it is hope's spell that glorifies,

like youth, to my maturer eyes,

all nature's million mysteries,

the fearful and the fair -

hope soothes me in the griefs i know;

she lulls my pain for others' woe,

and makes me strong to undergo

what i am born to bear.

'glad comforter! will i not brave,

unawed, the darkness of the grave?

nay, smile to hear death's billows rave -

sustained, my guide, by thee?

the more unjust seems present fate,

the more my spirit swells elate,

strong, in thy strength, to anticipate

rewarding destiny!'

» self-interrogation «

(….)

‘time stands before the door of death,

upbraiding bitterly;

and conscience, with exhaustless breath,

pours black reproach on me:

‘and though i've said that conscience lies,

and time should fate condemn;

still, sad repentance clouds my eyes,

and makes me yield to them!'

‘then art thou glad to seek repose?

art glad to leave the sea,

and anchor all thy weary woes

in calm eternity?

'nothing regrets to see thee go -

not one voice sobs "farewell",

and where thy heart has suffered so,

canst thou desire to dwell?'

‘alas! the countless links are strong

that bind us to our clay;

the loving spirit lingers long,

and would not pass away!

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» ‘the night is darkening round me’ «

the night is darkening round me

the wild winds coldly blow

but a tyrant spell has bound me

and i cannot cannot go

the giant trees are bending

their bare boughs weighed with snow and

the storm is fast descending

and yet i cannot go

clouds beyond clouds above me

wastes beyond wastes below

but nothing drear can move me

i will not cannot go

- - -

i'll come when thou art saddest

laid alone in the darkened room

when the mad day's mirth has vanished

and the smile of joy is banished

from evening's chilly gloom

i'll come when the heart's [real feeling

has entire unbiased sway

and my influence o'er thee stealing

grief deepening joy congealing

shall bear thy soul away

listen 'tis just the hour

the awful time for thee

dost thou not feel upon thy soul

a flood of strange sensations roll

forerunners of a sterner power

heralds of me

- - -

i would have touched the heavenly key

that spoke alike of bliss and thee

i would have woke the entrancing song

but its words died upon my tongue

and then i knew that hallowed strain

could never speak of joy again

and then i felt

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» death «

death! that struck when i was most confiding

in my certain faith of joy to be -

strike again, time's withered branch dividing

from the fresh root of eternity!

leaves, upon time's branch, were growing brightly,

full of sap, and full of silver dew;

birds beneath its shelter gathered nightly;

daily round its flowers the wild bees flew.

sorrow passed, and plucked the golden blossom;

guilt stripped off the foliage in its pride;

but, within its parent's kindly bosom,

flowed for ever life's restoring tide.

little mourned i for the parted gladness,

for the vacant nest and silent song -

hope was there, and laughed me out of sadness;

whispering, 'winter will not linger long!'

and, behold! with tenfold increase blessing,

spring adorned the beauty-burdened spray;

wind and rain and fervent heat, caressing,

lavished glory on that second may!

high it rose - no winged grief could sweep it;

sin was scared to distance with its shine;

love, and its own life, had power to keep it

from all wrong - from every blight but thine!

cruel death! the young leaves droop and languish;

evening's gentle air may still restore -

no! the morning sunshine mocks my anguish -

time, for me, must never blossom more!

strike it down, that other boughs may flourish

where that perished sapling used to be;

thus, at least, its mouldering corpse will nourish

that from which it sprung - eternity.

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» faith and despondency «

‘the winter wind is loud and wild,

come close to me, my darling child;

forsake thy books, and mateless play;

and, while the night is gathering grey,

we'll talk its pensive hours away; -

‘iernë, round our sheltered hall

november's gusts unheeded call;

not one faint breath can enter here

enough to wave my daughter's hair,

and i am glad to watch the blaze

glance from her eyes, with mimic rays;

to feel her cheek so softly pressed,

in happy quiet on my breast.

‘but, yet, even this tranquillity

brings bitter, restless thoughts to me;

and, in the red fire's cheerful glow,

i think of deep glens, blocked with snow;

i dream of moor, and misty hill,

where evening closes dark and chill;

for, lone, among the mountains cold,

lie those that i have loved of old.

and my heart aches, in hopeless pain

exhausted with repinings vain,

that i shall greet them ne'er again!'

» honour's martyr «

the moon is full this winter night;

the stars are clear, though few;

and every window glistens bright,

with leaves of frozen dew.

the sweet moon through your lattice gleams

and lights your room like day;

and there you pass, in happy dreams,

the peaceful hours away!

while i, with effort hardly quelling

the anguish in my breast,

wander about the silent dwelling,

and cannot think of rest.

the old clock in the gloomy hall

ticks on, from hour to hour;

and every time its measured call

seems lingering slow and slower:

and oh, how slow that keen-eyed star

has tracked the chilly grey!

what, watching yet! how very far

the morning lies away!

without your chamber door i stand;

love, are you slumbering still?

my cold heart, underneath my hand,

has almost ceased to thrill.

bleak, bleak the east wind sobs and sighs,

and drowns the turret bell,

whose sad note, undistinguished, dies

unheard, like my farewell!

tomorrow, scorn will blight my name,

and hate will trample me,

will load me with a coward's shame -

a traitor's perjury.

☆ ⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂✦ ⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

» the old stoic «

riches i hold in light esteem;

and love i laugh to scorn;

and lust of fame was but a dream

that vanished with the morn:

and if i pray, the only prayer

that moves my lips for me

is, 'leave the heart that now i bear,

and give me liberty!'

yes, as my swift days near their goal,

‘tis all that i implore;

in life and death, a chainless soul,

with courage to endure.

» self-interrogation «

(….)

‘and rest is sweet, when laurelled fame

will crown the soldier's crest;

but, a brave heart, with a tarnished name,

would rather fight than rest.'

'well, thou hast fought for many a year,

hast fought thy whole life through,

hast humbled falsehood, trampled fear;

what is there left to do?'

‘tis true, this arm has hotly striven,

has dared what few would dare;

much have i done, and freely given,

but little learnt to bear!’

[saltoftheearth5x2]

Luke 9

Over the 24 days leading up to Christmas, I'm going to be posting a chapter of Luke every day. I encourage you to read through Luke's gospel and reflect on Jesus's time here on earth. Perhaps you'll find something new.

Masterlist

Luke 9 (NIV)

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. 9 But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”

13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.”

They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About five thousand men were there.)

But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Jesus Predicts His Death

21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

The Transfiguration

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

41 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

49 “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Samaritan Opposition

51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.

The Cost of Following Jesus

57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family."

62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

....

All of this was taken from the Bible Gateway, which is an online Bible that you can easily search up. For those of you who do not have Bibles of your own, I encourage you to use online resources like Bible Gateway to read God's word.

Happy Holidays!

If you have any questions regarding the Christian faith, please ask me in my ask box. I am not a perfect person, but I will try and answer your questions as best as I can. We all have much more to learn, myself included. So please, do not be shy.

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

17th November >> Fr. Martin's Homilies/Reflections on Today's Mass Readings for The Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) (Mark 13:24-32): ‘My words will not pass away’.

Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Gospel (Except USA) Mark 13:24-32 The stars will fall from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In those days, after the time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven. ‘Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that he is near, at the very gates. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ‘But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.’

Gospel (USA) Mark 13:24���32 He will gather his elect from the four winds.

Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation

the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

“And then they will see the ‘Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. “Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Homilies (4)

(i) Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

We can all be very distressed by the state of the world. We are worried by all the wars, especially in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and other places. We are aware that all is not well in our own country, including our own area. Many can be distressed for various reasons. There can be a mood of doom and gloom about. Some people find November an especially gloomy month.

The readings this Sunday seem to reflect this gloomy mood we can all be prone to. Both the first reading and the gospel reading speak of a ‘time of distress’. In the gospel reading, Jesus uses very imaginative language to speak of coming days that will be especially disturbing, the darkening of the sun, the moon losing its brightness, stars falling from heaven, the powers in the heaven shaken. It is as if he wants to clearly name the darkness that lies ahead, not just a personal darkness, but a communal and cosmic darkness. Yet, he doesn’t just leave us in the darkness. Against this dark backdrop, he speaks of the coming of the Son of Man with great power and glory, sending his messengers to gather from the ends of the earth all who believe in him. Jesus seems to be saying that even if all grows dark, the world will not be without light, the light of his presence. Because of the Lord’s presence, we are never without the light of hope. The hope of the Lord’s presence is stronger than the dark events that can easily make us gloomy. I have always found that verse at the very beginning of John’s gospel very reassuring, ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it’. The Lord’s light is stronger than the darkness, because his light will endure whereas the darkness will pass. He declares in the gospel reading, ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away’. His words will not pass away, because he himself, who is the Light of the World, will not pass away.

We are all conscious of how much passes away in life, especially the older we get. Nothing remains the same. We constantly have to deal with loss in some form, within our own personal lives, within our family, our community, our church. We can be easily disturbed by just how much passes away. In midst of change and loss, we need to know that something, or better, someone, doesn’t pass away. In today’s gospel reading Jesus declares himself to be the one who never passes away. The Book of Revelation, refers to him as ‘the first and the last, the beginning and the end’, the one ‘who is and who was and who is to come’. The light of the Lord’s presence, the light of his love, never passes away; it continues to shine upon us, even when all seems dark, because as Saint Paul says, ‘Love never ends’. Because the Lord in his love never passes away, we will never pass away either, if we open ourselves up to his daily coming and the light of his presence. In the poetic language of the first reading, we ‘will shine as brightly as the vault of heaven… as bright as the stars for all eternity’. The Lord will gather us to himself at the great banquet of eternal life.

Our relationship with the Lord who never passes away not only means that we will endure beyond this earthly life, but also that here and now we will have a sure foundation for our lives. When everything seems to be falling apart for us, he is the one who endures, the centre that holds, drawing us to himself. In times of disturbing change, we can rely on the Lord as the one who will always be there before us, coming towards us with great power and glory. In distressing times when we can feel like a ship tossed about in a storm, the Lord will be our anchor. In the words of the letter to the Hebrews, ‘we have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul’. The Lord, the one who never passes away, journeys with us to prevent us from being blown off course by the distress and suffering of life. He journeyed with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, bringing light into the darkness of their distress. There is an image here of how he journeys with us all. Looking back on that moment, the two disciples could day, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us, while he was talking to us on the road’. The Lord journeys with us to fan into flame the divine light we carry deep with us. Even in the darkest of times, we have that light within us, because of our baptism. If we allow the Lord to keep that light alive within us, by turning to him as he comes to us, we will be able to radiate his light to others in their times of distress. We will be beacons of hope for others. That will be a little foretaste in the here and now of our heavenly destiny to shine as brightly as the vault of heaven.

And/Or

(ii) Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Most of us find endings difficult to deal with. We can find it hard to move on from something, especially if we have been reasonably happy where we have been. We can find transitions from one situation to a very different one difficult to manage, especially as we get older. We make ourselves a home somewhere and we struggle to move on from that. Yet, we know from our experience that endings are an inevitable part of life. We cannot avoid change, including traumatic change. The best we can do is to try and manage change and the distress that change often brings us.

Some experiences of change are most distressing than others. There can be times in our lives when our whole world seems to change. This can be brought about by the onset of sudden illness or the death of a loved one or some event that forces us to literally change worlds. There can be huge distress involved in this for ourselves and for others. For a while we do not know where we are. We struggle to get our bearings.

It is this kind of cataclysmic change that the readings of today’s Mass seem to put before us. They speak of such a change not just as an individual experience but as a communal, indeed a cosmic, experience. We hear of the darkening of the sun and the shaking of the heavens, of a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. The readings seem to speak of an experience of ending that affects everybody in the most profound way. The language in which this profound and traumatic change is expressed is that of symbol and image - the language of the imagination.

Whenever we experience profound change that shakes the foundations of our world and that of others, we feel the need for some form of stability, something firm and fixed by which we can begin to navigate the strange territory in which we suddenly find ourselves. For most people such a solid point of reference will often take the form of another human being. A loved one, a friend, a family member who walks with us through the trauma, can keep us steady, enables us to negotiate the difficult journey on which we find ourselves. Whatever personal resources we have built up over our lives will stand to us in such times. Good hobbies, gifts that we have cultivated in ourselves, sound habits that are life-giving – all can help to keep us going at such times.

The readings of today’s Mass remind us that our faith, our relationship with the Lord, can be an indispensable resource at such times. In the gospel reading, Jesus declares that ‘heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away’. The Lord’s words to us remain a constant in the midst of even the most traumatic and world shattering experience of change. What is the Lord’s word to us, in today’s gospel reading? It is a word that assures us that the ending of the world, the ending of our own world, whatever form that might take, will always be accompanied by the coming of the Lord to us in power. The shaking of the heavens and the earth signals the Lord’s coming to us with great power and glory. According to the gospel reading, he comes to gather his chosen ones those who call on him in their need. The Lord asks us to believe that he is present to us in the midst of the chaos that threatens to engulf us, and he asks us to trust that if we are open to his coming, to his presence, it is he who will gather us and not the chaos.

The gospel reading speaks of the Lord’s coming using two quite different images. It says that he will come in the clouds with great power and glory and also that he is near, at the very gates. There is something of a contrast between the ‘clouds’ and the ‘gates’. The ‘clouds’ suggest the otherness and the power of the Lord; the ‘gates’ suggest his nearness and his accessibility. In other words, the Lord’s powerful coming at those moments of great trauma will not overwhelm us; it will be like meeting a good friend at the gate of our home. The only Irish saying comes to mind, ‘God’s help is nearer than the door’.

Many people have found that their faith in the Lord has helped to keep them going at times when they were suddenly thrust into strange and frightening territory. The sentiment of that powerful hymn written by John Henry Newman comes to mind, ‘Change and decay in all around I see. Oh Thou who changest not, abide with me’. In the midst of traumatic change, we need someone who is constant and enduring; such a person is the Lord. The person who originally prayed today’s responsorial psalm knew this from experience, ‘I keep the Lord ever in my sight; since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm’. We try to keep the Lord ever in our sight, the one who, according to today’s second reading, offered one single sacrifice for our sins and who is working even now to achieve our eternal perfection.

When life is on an even keel, we have the opportunity to put in place resources that will stand to us when our world falls apart. In that sense, today, the day in which we find ourselves, is always the most important day of our lives. How we live today, what we value now, how we relate to the Lord and to other people in the present moment, is all laying a foundation for how we manage those earth shaking moments that come to us all.

And/Or

(iii) Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some weeks ago the front gates of the church were taken away to be worked on by a professional company. They are very old gates and they were no longer hanging properly. When you tried to open or close them, they scraped along the concrete. Standing near the gates of the church is a good place to meet people as they enter or leave the church. This is why collectors stand at the gates of the church, and, I suppose, why coming up to an election politicians stand outside the gates of the church. Gates have traditionally been places where people gather. This was especially true in times past when towns and cities were surrounded by a wall, perhaps not so much in Ireland but certainly in the land of Jesus. In a walled city or town, the gate was the only point where people can enter or leave. It was the place to meet people. If you wanted to address the largest number of people possible, the gate of the city or town was the place to go. In the Jewish Scriptures there is a figure called Wisdom, a female figure. She has a message that she wants as many people as possible to hear. The Book of Proverbs states, ‘Beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance to the portals, she cries out’ She obviously wanted to reach as many people as possible, and so she went to the gates of the town.

That image of the gates is in the gospel reading this morning. Jesus speaks there of the coming of the Son of Man, clearly a reverence to himself, and he declares, ‘know that he is near, at the very gates’. Jesus’ uses that image of his presence at ‘the very gates’ to suggest his nearness to us. He will be present where people gather, not in some remote place, but at the very place where the largest number of people come and go. His presence at the gates is a reassuring presence. He had just used the reassuring image of the fig tree that had been bare for the winter and whose twigs suddenly begin to grow supple and whose leaves begin to emerge into the light. When people see this they know that winter is passing and summer is approaching. The image of Jesus at the gates is meant to be a similarly reassuring image. Some kind of reassurance was needed because Jesus had just been painting a disturbing picture of great cosmic changes and in the passage just prior to our gospel reading he had spoken of the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple and the persecution of his followers. It was a rather grim and dark picture of what lay ahead. Jesus did not shy away from facing and naming the harsh realities of life, the suffering which lay ahead for himself and his followers and, indeed, for the whole of creation. We can really only begin to deal with the darker side of life when we name it for what it is and face into it as best we can. The gospels suggest that Jesus was better at this than his disciples, who were inclined to change the subject when Jesus spoke about these matters to them.

Yet, while acknowledging and naming the darker side of reality, Jesus also pointed to a light in that darkness. He assures his disciples that when the world as they know it appears to be collapsing, he will be coming with great power and glory to gather those who remain faithful to him. He will be the reassuring presence at the very gates of their city, their town, their household, their lives. The message of today’s gospel reading is essentially one of hope. Hope is not wishful thinking; it is not pretending that things are better than they are. Hope is the conviction that God’s light shines in the awful darkness and that the darkness will not ultimately overcome it. Jesus is acknowledging in the gospel reading that everything as we know is passing away. All of created reality is destined to pass away. Nothing of this world will endure. As Jesus says, ‘heaven and earth will pass away’. The term ‘heaven and earth’ was a way of referring to everything created that exists. Jesus immediately goes on to say, ‘my words will not pass away’. His words will not pass away because he himself will not pass away. In our darkness moments when our world appears to be collapsing, when what we cherish most has been taken from us, he will be at the gates of our lives as a light in our darkness, as a companion on our way. In the Book of Revelation, the risen Lord uses an image that is very similar to the one in today’s gospel reading, ‘I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me’. The Lord moves from the gate or the door to the table where he invites us to enter into communion with him and draw life from him, and then go forth as his hope filled messengers in our world.

And/Or

(iv) Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Most of us find endings difficult to deal with. We can find it hard to move on from something, especially if we have been reasonably happy where we have been. We can find transitions from one situation to a very different one difficult to manage, especially as we get older. We make ourselves a home somewhere and we struggle to move on from that. Yet, we know from our experience that endings are an inevitable part of life. We cannot avoid change, including traumatic change. The best we can do is to try and manage change and the distress that change often brings us.

Some experiences of change are most distressing than others. There can be times in our lives when our whole world seems to change. This loss of a job, the onset of sudden illness, the death of a loved one or some event can force us to literally change worlds. There can be huge distress involved in this for ourselves and for others. For a while we do not know where we are. We struggle to get our bearings.

It is this kind of cataclysmic change that the readings of today’s Mass seem to put before us. They speak of such a change not just as an individual experience but as a communal, indeed a cosmic, experience. We hear of the darkening of the sun and the shaking of the heavens, of a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. The readings seem to speak of an experience of ending that affects everybody in the most profound way. The language in which this profound and traumatic change is expressed is that of symbol and image - the language of the imagination.

Whenever we experience profound change that shakes the foundations of our world and that of others, we feel the need for some form of stability, something firm and fixed by which we can begin to navigate the strange territory in which we suddenly find ourselves. Such a solid point of reference will often take the form of another human being. A loved one, a friend, a family member who walks with us through the trauma, can keep us steady and enable us to negotiate the difficult journey on which we find ourselves. The readings of today’s Mass remind us that our faith, our relationship with the Lord, can be an indispensable resource at such times. In the gospel reading, Jesus declares that ‘heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away’. The Lord’s words to us remain a constant in the midst of even the most traumatic and world shattering experience of change. His words will never lose their life-giving power.

What is the Lord’s word to us, in today’s gospel reading? It is a word that assures us that the ending of the world, the ending of our own world, whatever form that might take, will always be accompanied by the coming of the Lord to us in power. According to the gospel reading, the shaking of the heavens and the earth signals the Lord’s coming to us with great power and glory, not to judge but to gather all those who call on him in their need. The Lord asks us to believe that he is coming towards us, present to us in the midst of the chaos that threatens to engulf us. He asks us to trust that if we are open to his coming, to his presence, it is he who will gather us and not the chaos.

The gospel reading speaks of the Lord’s coming using two quite different images. It says that he will come in the clouds with great power and glory but also that he is near, at the very gates. There is something of a contrast between the ‘clouds’ and the ‘gates’. The ‘clouds’ suggest the otherness and the power of the Lord; the ‘gates’ suggest his nearness and his accessibility. In other words, the Lord’s powerful coming at those moments of great trauma will not overwhelm us; it will be like meeting a good friend at the gate of our home. The only Irish saying comes to mind, ‘God’s help is nearer than the door’.

Many people have found that their relationship with the Lord has helped to keep them going at times when they were suddenly thrust into strange and frightening territory. The sentiment of that powerful hymn, ‘Abide with me’, written by John Henry Newman comes to mind, ‘Change and decay in all around I see. Oh Thou who changest not, abide with me’. In the midst of traumatic change, we need someone who is constant and enduring; such a person is the Lord. The person who originally prayed today’s responsorial psalm drew strength from the Lord’s enduring presence, ‘I keep the Lord ever in my sight; since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm’. We try to keep the Lord ever in our sight, the one who, according to today’s second reading, offered one single sacrifice for our sins and who is working even now to achieve our eternal perfection.

Both the first reading and the gospel reading speak of a time of great distress. We have all known great distress. It can be triggered by many things. The good news to be heard in today’s readings is that no trial need ever destroy us because the Lord is near, at the very gates.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[hiswordsarekisses]

Isaiah 48 reveals that Judah was full of people who claimed to follow and worship God,

but that in reality they had broken their covenant with him.

They had rejected the truth of his Word and were living in rebellion against him…

They did not carry His heart within them.

They had a form of religion, yet they denied God his rightful place in their lives.

“…having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.…” 2nd Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬

The Bible is very clear of the markings of a true Christian. The number one being love. If we are not walking in love, we are walking in rebellion against God Himself.

If we do not examine ourselves along side of the Word of God, we will be deceived. Not we “might” be deceived - we “WILL” be deceived. A hard heart will color everything we see and filter everything we hear. The Bible says we “deceive ourselves.”

Isaiah 48:

“Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the Lord and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right. For they call themselves after the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel; the Lord of hosts is his name. “The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass, I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, ‘My idol did them, my carved image and my metal image commanded them.’ “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. They are created now, not long ago; before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’ You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel. “For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. “Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together. “Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The Lord loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken and called him; I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way. Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there.” And now the Lord God has sent me, and his Spirit. Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.” Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, “The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob!” They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out. “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Bowen's Daily Meditations

by Rev. George Bowen

"God is faithful, by whom we were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." – 1 Corinthians 1:9

Called unto the fellowship of Christ, seems to mean, called unto a community of interest and of destiny with Christ. One Spirit is to be common to the believer and Christ; to each there is one life of humiliation, one eternity of glory; to each the hatred of the world. Christ’s peace and joy are the believer’s; the same love of the Father is given to each; there is to each a resurrection and ascension. But he that is called to a part is called to the whole. If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him; not otherwise. He is indeed the Captain of our salvation; and the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Though crucified with him, yet there were sacrificial sorrows of his which we know not.

Of course it will be thought a sublime thing in the last day, to sit down with Jesus on his throne, and participate a glory that shall light up the universe. But only he shall sit there who is now cordially associated with Christ in the midst of a gainsaying and perverse generation. The marvel is that, with the certainty of such an exalted destiny in reserve, there should be so little readiness to pursue the path that leads to it. Is it thought that God is not faithful, and that after enduring countless humiliations for the name of Christ, the reward will be withheld? But God is not only faithful, he is faithfulness itself; he must cease to be himself before he can be unfaithful. Faithfulness in God is simply acting in accordance with his own character, simply having his own way. In order to induce a man to be faithful, we labor to make him go out of himself, - control his own inclinations and tendencies; it is almost like asking a barque driven with the wind and tossed, to remain motionless on the bosom of the agitated waters. But God is a rock; and a strange spectacle it would indeed be, if he should vacillate and be thrown from his native steadfastness. He knew our nature perfectly before he took that nature in hand to redeem it. He cannot be taken by surprise at any developments in us. It was not because he believed us somewhat corrupt, that he undertook our redemption; he knew us to be what we are only gradually discovering ourselves to be, utterly corrupt. Heaven and earth then may pass away, but He will remain faithful to his own declared purpose, and present us to the scrutiny of the universe, holy, unblemished, unblameable.

[hieromonkcharbel]

Blessed is the man in whom the fear of God rests, for the Holy Spirit declares him blessed, saying, "Blessed be the man who fears the Lord."

Blessed is the man in whom the fear of God rests, because he carries God within him.

God is love, and he who dwells in love dwells in God.

Blessed is he who has achieved perseverance, because a long-suffering man is full of knowledge.

Blessed is the man who is a stranger to annoyance and anger, because anger does not give birth to a man of the truth of God.

Blessed is the man who loves meekness, by the word of the Lord, blessed are the meek.

Blessed is the man who has achieved true obedience, because such a man imitates the obedience to death of the Lord our Savior.

Blessed is the man who does not know envy or strife, because it was through envy that death entered the world.

Blessed is the man who does not pollute his tongue with slander, because a slanderer's heart is filled with all manner of pollution.

Blessed is the man who has achieved abstinence, because this single virtue is a support for all the others.

Blessed is the man who is generous to the poor, because he will discover many to defend him at the judgment.

Blessed is the man who has a lofty life yet keeps a humble disposition.

He imitates Christ and he will sit with Him in glory.

Blessed is the man who compels himself to do all forms of good works, because the violent will obtain the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed is the man walking the straight way, because he will go into heaven wearing a crown.

Blessed are all these people, because they will stand fearlessly in front of the Judge and obtain a divine reward from his hands.

​❦

St. Ephraim the Syrian

[biblequotes24]

The heavens declare the glory of God;the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,their words to the ends of the world.In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

Psalm 19:1-4

[emilija04acer]

So um... I wrote Greek Myth fanfiction about Ares and Aphrodite (Areia)

Summary:

In an age where gods walked among mortals, the battlefield was their canvas, and war was the art of the divine. Amidst the clash of steel and the cries of warriors, two deities found themselves locked in a duel that transcended the mere conflict of armies. Ares, the fierce god of war, with a sword that sang of battle’s glory, faced Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who revealed her seldom-seen warrior’s heart.

This is an excuse for me to try to write a fight scene! Also to indulge in my special interests. Epic the Musical is why this exists... I'm obsessed. (I was reading greek myths before anyway, can't blame the amazing musical for this.)

I'd love to write a retelling of their love story.

Chapter 1:

Amidst a battlefield veiled in the dust of relentless conflict, two figures of divine presence stood as beacons within the chaos of clashing armies. One, donned in armor that carried the deep crimson of innumerable battles, brandished a sword that gleamed with a zealous longing for combat. Facing him, a counterpart adorned in armor that shone with the glow of dawn's first light, grasped a spear, its point mirroring the intensity of her concentrated stare.

Their gazes locked, and the tumultuous world around them seemed to still, the clamor of battle fading to a distant whisper. The warrior in crimson armor, with a smile that told tales of myriad triumphs, stepped forward, his blade cutting through the air with a desire to test the fortitude of his adversary. The warrior clad in golden armor responded with the haft of her spear, her actions a deadly ballet, a symphony of power and grace.

The crimson warrior was relentless, his attacks a whirlwind of steel and wrath, each blow more forceful than the one before. Yet, the golden warrior remained resolute, her spear a constant barrier between them, her counterattacks swift and accurate. They moved with a harmony that contradicted the ferocity of their battle, a ballet of destruction choreographed by destiny.

As the sun began to fall, stretching shadows over the battle-scarred land, their confrontation climaxed. The warrior in crimson, with a roar, launched a barrage of strikes, all skillfully blocked by the warrior in gold, who countered with a lunge that sent her opponent reeling. It was then that the crimson warrior saw it—a glint of respect in her eyes, an acknowledgment of valor from one formidable fighter to another.

In a moment of lucidity, the crimson warrior lowered his blade, a silent ovation to the golden warrior's strength. She, in turn, halted her offensive, the tip of her spear resting upon the ground. There, on the battlefield, they stood, not as foes, but as equals, their initial encounter a testament to the dual nature of their existence—conflict and affection, inextricably linked.

With a nod of mutual recognition, the crimson warrior spoke, his voice resonating over the remnants of battle, "Well met, warrior. Your skill is as formidable as your presence is captivating." The golden warrior, with a smile that promised both ardor and challenge, replied, "And you, warrior, engage with a fervor that honors the essence of combat. May our next meeting be as... enlightening."

As the veil of night began to claim the heavens, they parted ways, their legendary meeting destined to become a mythic narrative—a story of a sword and spear, and the day when conflict encountered affection on the field of war.

Only as they departed from the blood-soiled grounds did they reveal their true names to one another, a final gift of respect. "I am Ares," declared the crimson warrior, his voice echoing with the power of war. "And I am Aphrodite," proclaimed the golden warrior, her words imbued with the promise of love. And so, the tale would be told, of the day Ares met Aphrodite on the battlefield.

[walkswithmyfather]

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭8:1‭-‬9‬ ‭(ESV‬‬). “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

“Waiting with Joy” Advent Devotional - Day 2 — “Look At The Stars” By Words of Hope:

“When I look at your heavens . . . the moon and the stars . . . what is man that you are mindful of him? (vv. 3-4)”

“We caught fish all day on the river, then camped for the night along the shore. It was a clear, cool night, and there was only a sliver of moon. Gazing up at the heavens, a billion diamonds scattered on black velvet, I became dizzyingly conscious of God’s enormity and my insignificance. I couldn’t help but think, “Who am I, compared to all this?” “When I look at your heavens,” says the psalmist, “the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars . . . what is man that you are mindful of him?” And yet God is mindful of us. Indeed, the psalmist proclaims, we are just a little lower than the angels, and we are given dominion over creation. The mind reels.

Surely one of the most salutary activities of life is to go outdoors after dark and gaze up into the heavens. The same God who flung those stars into space at the dawn of creation is your loving heavenly Father. What problem of yours is greater than him? What anxiety can he not calm?

“The heavens declare the glory of God,” says the psalmist, “and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (19:1). Go outside and see for yourself.

Today’s Activity: Go out after dark and look up at the stars. Share a little starlight wonder by cutting out and decorating a star to hang in your window. Find a printable template on Words of Hope’s website.”

[This is actually the devotional for December 2nd, but it's too good to wait another year to share it. I'll share the December 17th devotional a little later on. If you want to read and download the whole inspirational advent calendar, go to the Words of Hope website.]

[theprayerfulword]

October 01

Haggai 2:4 "Be strong, all you people of the land,” declares the Lord, “and work. For I am with you,” declares the Lord Almighty.

Isaiah 10:1-2 Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, 2 to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 14 And do everything with love.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Ephesians 5:27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

May you call upon the Lord without ceasing, giving Him no rest till He establishes His kingdom in His people, that He will receive the praise from all the earth for what He has done in our lives. Isaiah 62

May you joyfully participate in the work the Lord sets before you, gladly following the leading of His Spirit, for though the assignments are humbling and the effort required is hard, the Lord brings a reward of comfort and a recompense of peace with Him; you will receive the honor and beauty which holiness brings and you will be admired, beloved and sought after as the redeemed of the Lord, for He will not forsake those He has sanctified. Isaiah 62

May you stand with the Lord and tell of His kindnesses, sharing the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for you, according to His compassion and abundance of steadfast love, for though, in the day of His vengeance, He tramples down the spiritual forces that stand against His will and pours out His wrath against the people who willingly follow His enemies, He will bring the year of His redemption to those who gladly seek His face. Isaiah 63

May you know that God is your Father, though Abraham does not know you nor could Israel recognize you, yet from the beginning has the Lord been your Father, for your Redeemer has always been His name. Isaiah 63

May you remember the ways of God and gladly do what is right as you wait for Him, for the Lord will come to your help and, acting on your behalf, do awesome things that you did not expect, by which you can make His name known to those who do not know Him. Isaiah 64

May you be willing to be the clay which is shaped at the hand, and by the will, of the Potter, the Lord, your Father, for there is no greater joy than to be accepted, shaped, and used by God to His glory. Isaiah 64

May you seek the Lord, and desire to serve Him, for He will keep you in His care; His servants will eat, but those who forsake Him will go hungry; you will drink, but they will thirst; you will rejoice, but they will be shamed; you will sing with heartfelt joy, but they will cry with heartfelt anguish; you will receive a new name, but their name will become a curse. Isaiah 65

My child, does the earth hold anything that you desire above Me? Is there anyone in heaven you hold more dear than Me? Is there any counsel you value more than Mine? Think long on these questions, My called-out one, before you answer, for truth is sometimes obscured by ready answers. For whom do you lay up delicacies in your heart, and with whom do you choose to share the fruits you have prepared from the garden of your soul? The one to whom you turn in your leisure must be the same one you seek in your need, for you cannot serve two masters, and no double-minded follower can expect to receive anything from Me. Guard your heart, My love, and do not be distracted from your appointed task. I am returning for you soon, My cherished one; make yourself ready to welcome Me in the purity and holiness I desire. I do not speak of the stains you have from defending the defenseless, nor the spatters that cling as you feed the hungry, for those are badges of honor and jewels of value. I speak of the taint of self-indulgence and the smear of undisciplined living; those are the stains that besmirch the name I give you, and bring dishonor to the One who has engrafted you into the family of God. There is time if you turn to Me, wholly and unreservedly. Why would you yearn after and reach out for that which is perishing even as you watch? Let My love fill your heart again; you shall be clean and your eye shall be single. Do not wait, My precious one, for the time to gather you to Me is approaching quickly.

May you be glad and rejoice in what the Lord creates, for He will make His people to be a joy and His dwelling place to be a delight, creating new heavens with a new earth and causing the past troubles to be forgotten, hidden from His eyes, for the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind, and the sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more. Isaiah 65

May you be grateful at being accepted of the Lord, for the days of His people will be as the days of a tree, blessed by the Lord, both you and your descendants, for you will long enjoy the works of your hands since you will not toil in vain, and before you call, the Lord will answer, for He will hear while you are still speaking. Isaiah 65

May you rejoice in the Lord as you worship by the Spirit of God, glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh, for He will protect you from those who do evil. Philippians 3

May you be pure in heart before God, not envying the arrogant when you see the prosperity of the wicked, for though they appear carefree without effort, their final destiny will be sudden destruction without remedy. Psalm 73

May you desire nothing earth has as much as God, for He is always with you, holding you by the hand, guiding you with His counsel, escorting you into glory; though your flesh and heart may fail, His is the strength of your heart and your portion forever. Psalm 73

May you make the Sovereign Lord your refuge, telling of all His deeds, for those whose hearts have turned far from God will perish, and He destroys all who are unfaithful to Him, but because you have made Him the desire of your heart, you find how good it is to be near to the Lord. Psalm 73

May you find wisdom from God, for it will be a hope for you that will not be cut off. Proverbs 24:14

[nonsensicalsensicalnonsense]

Dante’s Theology through Mythology, Science, and Love in Paradiso - A Literary Analysis (2021)

Beatrice and Dante Rising to the Fifth Heaven by Gustave Doré

Although not as immediately exciting as the fiery pits of hell or the rough tribulations of Mount Purgatory, the picture of heaven that Dante describes in his Paradiso makes this third canticle the most fascinating to mull over. It is essential to delve deeper into the different style and message of this installation in order to fully appreciate Dante’s amalgamation of poetry and theocratic thought. Dante uses poetic elements to speculate about what heaven is like, and though he goes into great detail about the specific look of and events that take place in Paradise, he is careful not to cross the sacred line between his human limitations and the elevated realm of the divine. He employs mythological allusion, visual imagery infused with scientific discussion, and the character of his true love to convey the magnitude of Paradise. 

Dante begins the canticle by declaring the glory of God as the supreme theme of his work. He then invokes the aid of Apollo so that he may write what is accurate and divinely ordained. It may strike the reader as bizarre that Dante so quickly calls upon a Pagan Roman god to aid him in his explanation of Christian Paradise, but the qualities of Apollo that Dante alludes to help him quickly explain the grand insufficiency of human words. Dante writes,

“Oh good Apollo, for this last task, I pray you make me such a vessel of your powers as you deem worthy to be crowned with bay” (1.13-15).

Apollo is the god of the sun, commonly associated with music and divination. He is a being that embodies what most picture when the thought of heaven comes to mind, yet Dante is not calling upon him for these ethereal qualities. In his article “Prologue II: The Poetics of Paradiso,” author Massimo Verdicchio dissects exactly what Dante calls upon Apollo for. Verdicchio explains that the purpose of “the god of antiquity” (Verdicchio) here is purely poetic, not theological. He recalls the story of Apollo and Daphne, in which Daphne is turned into a laurel tree in order to avoid Apollo’s relentless pursuit. Apollo as a failed suitor acts as Dante’s “’vas d’elezione’ [Chosen Vessel]” (Verdicchio) through which he explains his failure to accurately represent Paradise in human words. Just as Apollo cannot fulfill his desire to have Daphne,

“Poetry… is made possible through the realization of the impossibility of fulfilling one’s desires.” (Verdicchio).

I find this to be a very fascinating perspective on poetry, and truly fitting to what Dante is doing throughout Paradiso. He is very aware that no amount of flowery language can truly capture what he speculates heaven to be like, and this very acceptance of his unworthiness is what makes the poetry so beautiful. Dante then references another story about Apollo, in which a man named Marsyas challenges him to a music contest. Upon losing, Marsyas is flayed alive by the god, paying the ultimate price for his pride. This story is contrasted to the first example of Apollo as it conveys what happens when one believes they can understand matters on a heavenly level, while the former reinforces the idea of simply accepting one’s inferior humanity. The story of Marsyas,

“serves to show what happens when, blinded by desire, one attempts to reach beyond the human” (Verdicchio).

 By referencing this tale, Dante is warning the reader of the dangers of believing that human language is sufficient enough to describe the miraculous images of paradise. I find this to be a rather intense warning about a matter I have never before considered. While it may be impossible to fully describe the heavens with earthly terms, I would have never imagined attempting to do so in the wrong way could bring about consequences. To Dante, however, there is clearly a particular way in which he must approach the topic in order to avoid divine wrath. This makes me wonder where exactly the line between harmless theological speculation and prideful arrogance lies. How does Dante know that he is not straying too far into the hypothetical realm? I propose that in his very writing of the Paradiso, Dante is behaving a bit like Marsyas. He has given himself the authority to imagine the inner workings of something that is far bigger than him. Simply guessing about what happens to believers after death could bring harm to himself and to readers who may take his speculation as fact. Though Dante repeatedly claims he is not capable of doing justice to the real Paradise, it is interesting to see how far in depth he dares to go with his imagery, especially with his incorporation of scientific ideas.

The descriptions found in Paradiso are breath-taking. Dante exempts nothing while describing the sights of Paradise that he envisions, and these depictions are very important to interpret. The discussion of the moon in Canto II is especially enlightening, as Dante is not simply imagining the look of the realm, but also going into the science behind its formation and appearance. His willingness to include scientific reasoning in a tale about Christian Paradise is incredibly daring, and greatly contributes to the intriguing style of his poetry. Upon arriving at the moon, Dante describes him and Beatrice being,

“received into the elements of the eternal pearl as water takes light to itself, with no change in its substance” (2.34-36).

Their passage into the moon entails no physical shift, but rather a simple absorption of their beings into its form. This is a rather advanced application of the physical properties of water to the human spirit. By imagining their ascent in this way, Dante is making a statement on how he views heaven itself and the fate of one’s physicality. He is speculating that one’s form does not enter Paradise, but rather becomes a part of it. This is an incredibly beautiful theory, yet if it is in fact what Dante is proposing then I find myself wondering how rooted in Christianity the interpretation truly is. From here, Dante segues into Beatrice’s long explanation of the moon’s markings. She is gently correcting Dante’s theory about density, explaining how only a Divine Power could form a terrestrial body in the way that the moon was created. She incorporates many concepts such as light and reflection that bring her to concluding with the idea that,

“as the soul within your mortal clay is spread through different organs…in the same way the high angelic Intelligence spreads its goodness diversified through all the many stars while yet revolving ever in its Oneness” (2.133-138).

This statement further reinforces the theory that Dante is proposing - how humans are incorporated into Paradise itself. Though there are many different bodies, they were all created by the same divine hand and are therefore connected as one. The allusion to Apollo in Canto I and the science-riddled imagery found in Canto II are quite important, but the inclusion of Beatrice’s being is the real key to Dante’s theological and metaphysical mindset.

There is no doubting the intensity of Dante’s feelings for his beloved Beatrice. She is his muse, and the very thought of seeing her again in Paradise is what pulls Dante through the final fiery trial of Mount Purgatory. It cannot be forgotten, however, that he was unfaithful to her after her death. Their reunification in Paradise and her forgiveness of his misdeeds represent Dante’s understanding of divine forgiveness and the system of heaven. This idea is exemplified in Canto VIII, when Dante and Beatrice find themselves in the sphere of Venus and encounter the souls of the Amorous. Dante wishes to ask them questions, and they offer to provide him with the information he seeks, but he first waits for approval from Beatrice. He writes,

“I raised my eyes to the holy radiance that was my lady, and only after she had given them her comfort and assurance, did I turn to the radiance that had made such promises” (8.40-44).

This small detail of asking for Beatrice’s permission before conversing with the souls of the lovers shows how Dante interprets the forgiveness of God in Paradise. The lovers found in Venus could have succumbed to their earthly love but were instead saved by God and now rejoice in the heavenly love of the Lord. This is similar to how Dante betrayed his Beatrice but was brought back to the righteous path by seeing her again in Paradise. Furthermore, Dante is not primarily channeling the guilt of his earthly affair, but rather his betrayal of Beatrice in favor of Lady Philosophy. Author Robert Hollander reinforces this theory in his article, “Dante’s ‘Paradiso’ as Philosophical Poetry.” He writes, 

“To say that…Dante rejects philosophy in favor of theology would be on the right track, in my opinion, but would also be a gross overstatement. What Dante is now rejecting is his own wrong turn to Lady Philosophy as a replacement for Beatrice” (Hollander).

His rejection of Lady Philosophy is evident in his repeated elevation and respect of Beatrice, who represents not only pure love but also all things divine and theological. He has realized that philosophy is, “an intellectual construct that leads only to a partial truth, at best” (Hollander). This revelation is as shocking to me as it must have been to Dante. I find facing the reality that philosophy cannot bring one to true enlightenment as only theology can to be very difficult, but by looking through Dante’s eyes it becomes easier. Though some readers may still interpret Dante’s figurative speech and imaginative details as philosophical elements, “What we see is that it almost entirely coincides with what we call 'theology,' not 'philosophy.'" (Hollander). Dante has culminated all of his knowledge, secular and spiritual, in order to create a representation of what he perceives to be Paradise. For one to regard Dante as “the most ‘orthodox’ of thinkers…does not take into account the violence done to every system of thought that he incorporates in his own” (Hollander). This observation expertly explains Dante in no way I have seen before. Dante brings forth new ideas and methodology to all that he encounters, and the speculation of what Paradise consists of is no exception.

Through his inclusion of the poetic elements of allusion, imagery, and characterization, Dante develops a beautiful representation of his theological opinions. His incorporation of mythological figures and astrology do give the impression that his words are more philosophically driven than all else, but Paradiso is truly his return to the spiritual world. It is evident here, in the termination of his fantastic Commedia, that he has learned how to merge all different facets of life together to point to the ultimate purpose of man: living entirely for and by God.

C. Ker, 2021. Love All, Serve All.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

Works Cited 

Alighieri, D. (1970). The Paradiso: Dante's ultimate vision of universal harmony and eternal salvation (1337527827 980677351 J. Ciardi, Trans.). New York: The New American Library.

Hollander, R. (2009). Dante's "Paradiso" as Philosophical Poetry. Italica, 86(4), 571-582. Retrieved April 26, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20750652

Verdicchio, M. (2010). Prologue II: The Poetics of Paradiso. In The Poetics of Dante's Paradiso (pp. 12-22). Toronto; Buffalo; London: University of Toronto Press.  Retrieved April 26, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3138/9781442696693.7

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

5th November >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Tuesday, Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time 

or

Saint Martin de Porres, Religious.

Tuesday, Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time 

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

Readings at Mass

First Reading Philippians 2:5-11 Christ humbled himself but God raised him high.

In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus:

His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 21(22):26-32

R/ You are my praise, O Lord, in the great assembly.

My vows I will pay before those who fear the Lord. The poor shall eat and shall have their fill. They shall praise the Lord, those who seek him. May their hearts live for ever and ever!

R/ You are my praise, O Lord, in the great assembly.

All the earth shall remember and return to the Lord, all families of the nations worship before him; for the kingdom is the Lord’s, he is ruler of the nations. They shall worship him, all the mighty of the earth.

R/ You are my praise, O Lord, in the great assembly.

And my soul shall live for him, my children serve him. They shall tell of the Lord to generations yet to come, declare his faithfulness to peoples yet unborn: ‘These things the Lord has done.’

R/ You are my praise, O Lord, in the great assembly.

Gospel Acclamation cf. Ephesians 1:17,18

Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us. Alleluia!

Or: Matthew 11:28

Alleluia, alleluia! Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Alleluia!

Gospel Luke 14:15-24 'Not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet'.

One of those gathered round the table said to Jesus, ‘Happy the man who will be at the feast in the kingdom of God!’ But he said to him, ‘There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come along: everything is ready now.” But all alike started to make excuses. The first said, “I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.” Yet another said, “I have just got married and so am unable to come.” ‘The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir” said the servant “your orders have been carried out and there is still room.” Then the master said to his servant, “Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and force people to come in to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet.”’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint Martin de Porres, Religious 

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

(Readings for the memorial)

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

First Reading Philippians 4:4-9 If there is anything you need, pray for it.

I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near. There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 130(131)

R/ Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

O Lord, my heart is not proud nor haughty my eyes. I have not gone after things too great nor marvels beyond me.

R/ Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

Truly I have set my soul in silence and peace. A weaned child on its mother’s breast, even so is my soul.

R/ Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

O Israel, hope in the Lord both now and forever.

R/ Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation John 13:34

Alleluia, alleluia! I give you a new commandment: love one another just as I have loved you, says the Lord. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 22:34-40 The commandments of love.

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.