#but marcus had me suffering fr | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

thembosupreme · 18 days ago

Text

arcane act 2 blubbering

spoilers ahead

pAINT THE TOWN BLUE

slay forever i hope caitlyn is losing so much sleep

ew more lesbian cops

jinx playing monsters with isha 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 SHES THE BIG SISTER NOW

omg its the rift herald and the scuttle bug

THEYRE PLAYING BUGS!!!

ISHA NONVERBAL JINX HYPERVERBAL

no seriously she’s adorable as a big sister and isha wanting to be just like her i’m gonna cry

THEY HAVE A HANDSHAKE?!?!?!! S t O P

Sevika mom™️

“Jinx is dead.” mhm i’ve said that too lmao

Nooooo goat man! rip dude u looked dope as hell

lmao suffer ambessa idk girl

times like these i miss silco a lot ya know.

blue hair cult blue hair cult blue hair cult

bLUE HAIR BLUE HAIR (we should deffo look closer at that. make the blue hair pronouns thing go crazy.)

YA JINX (ISHA OH MY GOD!)

“I’d know it anywhere” bitch get a grip.

she’s a fascist but she’s not completely stupid (i hate caitlyn) not her now being like “uwu violence bad” bitch u committed WAR CRIMES AND ALMOST MURDERED BUT CERTAINLY ENDANGERED A CHILD

suffer pilties *patooie*

lmao viktor jesus rumors real

SEVIKAAAAAAA and her butch fuck ass bob ✨✨✨

HAHA FINGER JOKE HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA Im CACKLING

isha powder lemmie fix it eyes oh nooooo

not her talking to his chair i’m actually gonna throw up. “maybe that’s what i was like for you” stop sobbing crying im so sorry jinxie id did have to happen tho ur the best thing to happen to Zaun and him 💖😭 i need to hug her.

mohawk you better not i stg. shut up. SHUT UP.

Isha!

MOHAWK NO!

omg hi doc.

Jinxers!!

let’s go!!!!!!! Sevika one handing!!!oh- oh shit NO!

Doc….. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

awe the fort JINX U GOTTA RUN!

“they got her.” EXACTLY

it’s on.

AH- hi silco mwah kisses- NOT NOW!

go gettem Jinx.

awe signed weird smelly uncle :3

WARWICK TIME BABEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YESSS!!!!!!

Every time sevika and jinx duo i get so excited lmao

LMAO GIRL JINX BITCH ME TOO THE FUCK it’s okay they don’t understand fashion. ur clown pants are slay

AH- Shes so slay

JINX IN DISGUISE! ITS THE LORE!! THE LORE!!!! she’s an actor

Oh. OH oh shit that’s CRAZY!

ZAPPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HERE WE GOOOOOOO!!!!!

how tf are the braids in the helmet as someone who has that wig there is no way in hell it’s all fitting under there.

jinx and her own lil gang she got by doing what had to be done i hope this helps her feel a lil better

NICE TOUCH!!! THEYRE NOT MAD!! THEY SEE U BABY GIRL!! THE WAY SILCO DID TOO!!!! wether he knew it or not at the time. you’re the blue flare! a wrench in the works and - ah- oh we’re fighting ambessa

YES WARWICK V AMBESSA LETS GO!

and i’m crying again

lmao singed going “i’m good. yall have fun tho. my dogs gonna come pick me up.”

AH-

AH!! JINX NO!

AAHHHHHH JINX MODE!!!!

silco would be so fucking proud of u jinx im so serious holy fucking shit.

yAY THE BIG GUARD DIED!! by ah- unstoppable killing machine

JINX NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GET SLIPNSLIDAL AGAIN!

oh- oh shit he knows…. he can see powder holy fuck! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

Blisters and Bedrock

wow cait u look like garbage. i hope that keeps up and you keep suffering 🖤✨

walk em around uncle doctor singed

oh hi! mel! things have gone crazy! ur moms nuts balls. she’s manipulating the narrative girl u gotta get o u t!!

mmm the mirroring marcus and silco makes me not trust this man.

OH! It’s ur brother! Yay! Still don’t know if i trust him.

great now let’s “what the fuck is mom into????”

oh my god the mural 🥺

get a grip vi.

seriously stop. do u need a shot or a bottle or something stop.

JINX DO NOT. Girl! this is NOT HOW SILCO RAISED YOU. DO NOT LICK CAVE WALLS

oh yes! this is good! fight! yes! talk it out!

BITCH MITTENS! Get her ass! Yay!!!! smack her!!

lmao me and my siblings fr lmaooooooooo- oh oh no.

“still got all your insides?” i can see silco saying it bro STOP!

i still think jinx should get to break vi’s nose again. but i’m glad we got that out of our systems in a safer environment without an audience (isha doesn’t count she’s the baby sibling)

WOAH YOUNG SILCO HOLY SHIT JUMPSCARW I WILL Cry

holy FUCK AAAAAA those gifs are gonna be great. vander knew silco was alive the whole time. how else would he have that image im just sayin.

mel u have a touch of the arcane baby. we been done knew but still

oh did she give u up kino? lol

ah still don’t trust him. i think this might be an interrogation. mel u and him have different dads look at yourself. you’re magic and probably the next chosen of the wolf.

CAITLYN EAT SHIT! I’m sorry. i hate her so much.

he tried to bring back his daughter huh…

Dr. Reveik!!! I’m still sayin Jinx and Sico called him “doc” and “the doctor” respectively

oriana????!?!? ORIANNA!!!???????!! ooo almost Orianna 👀

MEL WILD RUNES READER!

he isn’t real! knew it.

WOAH-

LE BLANC

SISTER!!!! SHES A LE BLANC!? AAAAAAAA

THE OLD HIDEOUT HOLY SHIt! Silco’s first coat 🥺🖤 and it’s stupid buttons 🥹 i miss my wife tails.

“when she died”? sir?????

BLISTERS AND BEDROCK IM GONNA THROW UP.

silco never looked back…. vander knew he was alive somewhere and didn’t look. oh yeah. they broke up for sure. and over a girl. lmao the throuple that killed the lanes

vi learning not to punch is gonna save them

- *gay thoughts*

the gif makers are gonna have a FIELD DAY!! AND I CANT WAIT

he has a MAN BUN!??!????!? I hate him (i’d die for him)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ajsnxkwkdjd

ITS THEIR MOM

hOLY SH I T! im gonna kms he’s so cute stop. THEYRE NOT A THROUPLE? Are we sure????

oh my GOD! I’m GONNA CRY!!!! THEY RAISED HER BABIES AND THEY’RE THE HOPE OF ZAUN!

VANDER NAMED HER??!! AAAAAAAAAA

zaun would always be their inheritance 🖤

i’m actually sobbing oh my god

oh shit lmao and now the gays and their divorce.

it isn’t gay divorce unless there’s a body count once again.

holy shit this show is a roller coaster

viktor is literally magic now??? tbh he deserves it

caitlyn getting noxus 101 and facism 102 at the same time

cult 101: “we’re a family here.” (multi appplicable )

The Herald™️

oh lord this won’t end well.

awe it’s a nice lookin cult at least.

lmao his peekaboo bleach job aight count fagula

VICTOR AND JINX INTERACTION

Metal Fortune Cookie is his name now.

naur destroying is fun ✨🦋

The Machine Herald™️ is nonbinary fact.

i just kept crying for a while

i love therapy ✨✨

i hope sevika uniting zaun or starting glasctech industries is going well i miss her.

this is all alot

did vi get top surgery???

slay is so.

isha no isha be careful isha no no no no baby no no oo baby please

n o

no no no

im sobbing 😭😭

that is so fucked up holy shit.

#im watching it alone #and i don’t wanna talk to myself 🧍‍♂️ so im doing this #arcane #arcane season 2

0 notes

riverdamien · 9 months ago

Text

The Straight Cross

"Sloughing Towards Galilee-

"Practicing the Cross"!

THE CROSS AS A STAKE!

There are so many images of the cross, and today we wear silver and gold, the cross has become a part of our everyday lives. We fail so often, very often to seek to struggle with its meaning.

There is another Greek translation of the word cross, stauros. The word is used 74 times in the New Testament to describe the way Jesus died. Stauros simply means an upright pole or stake, like a fence post. It reminds me of the fence post upon which Matthew Shepherd died.

I want simply to reflect upon the stretched-out body of Jesus. This posture reveals to us the shock and brutality of the cross. It reminds me of the brutality of young and old I have seen lying on the street, waiting for the corner, after being knifed or beaten to death. Happens every day. The Latin words mean simply to torment or torture.

The word stauros in the New Testament, is a torture stake, an instrument of imperial power, a stake that marks the territory of empire.

We recoil in thinking about it, but throughout history, the "stauros" has been applied over and over continually now applied daily, hourly, and every minute.

The whole structure of systematic injustice, the terror raised by oppressive states. Jesus wasn't killed by a mob. He was killed by a political state and religious tradition to carry out state-sanctioned torture. When we stare at the stauros the truth is clear. The thick black line of history is not subtle. It has been deployed over history as a form of torture by the state.

Ultimately stauros is the worst form of torture. It is about us. The stauros is the quest for power and control through state violence wherever that manifests itself. It marks the territory, the state. It marks the territory of abortion, race, creed, etc, it marks the territory of free speech for whatever side one is on.

We are surrounded by contemporary Calvaries we often justify, and we are tempted toward complicity with Calvary.

That is one of the great questions of our faith--on which side of the stauros are you standing? Will we look away? Will we witness grief and pain?

Or will we erect the stake, nail the victims, and light the pyre?

Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, remind us that:

In the first century of Christianity, the cross represented execution by the empire, only the empire crucified, and then for only one crime: denial of imperial authority. The cross had not become a generalized symbol for suffering as it sometimes is today when one's illness or other hardship can be spoken of as "the cross I've been given to bear." Rather it meant imperial retribution."

So the question we ask is do we stand with Jesus, the Crucified One, who opens his arms to everyone, who cares for each one of us, regardless of what state or country we belong to; our age; our ethnic background; our religious or non-religious preference; or will we march with "imperial retribution?"? Will we march to destroy or stand to heal? There is no neutrality, no standing around and theorizing but Jesus faces us and says: "Follow me!" or "Follow evil!" Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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

Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration

October 5, 2024

6:00 p.m.

Victor's Piazza pm Polk

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

(Temenos and Fr. River seek to remain accessible to everyone. We do not endorse particular causes, political parties, or candidates, or take part in public controversies, whether religious, political or social--Our pastoral ministry is to everyone!

Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

www.temenos.org

snap chat: riodamien2

415-305-2124

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

We will be having our Annual Good Friday Remembrance of The Haunting!" on Good Friday, March 8, 2024 beginning at 11:30 a.m. If you would like to participate by reading one of the Stations please let me know!

0 notes

independentzaun · 1 year ago

Text

“Before he strikes again…” It was a strange thought at best this idea of working together with Caitlyn. It practically made Jinx’s skin crawl if she was honest, but at the same time she wasn’t entirely sure she could disagree with the other woman. Maybe not about the “better chance”, but certainly that it’d be faster. After all look at how Caitlyn had moved though Zaun alongside Vi sister-stealing cunt should cut her pretty little flapping tongue out and managed to disrupt so much her fault it was her fault in the process. Jaw tightening for a moment Jinx had been about to just walk away from Caitlyn, but than the mother arrived.

The truth of the matter was Jinx never even considered doing what Caitlyn did. To her a dead body wasn’t the person who had been there a moment before. It was just a lifeless chunk of meat, and would rot and decay like anything else. Why did it matter if you wrapped it up covering it, and handing it over nicely? It was a doll made of flesh, and whatever it might look like it wasn’t the same as the person who had been running it around. At the same time though she did agree that family deserved to be with family, and so although she might not have considered the respect of a covering over meat it made sense to her that the mother would want the newly made doll. After all it needed to be handled correctly. Dolls were precious. They weren’t just trash to toss aside and ignore. Maybe that meant dressing, and taking care of them. Maybe it meant disposing of them in a specific way like burning. Regardless just leaving it in the middle of the street to get kicked about, and for rats to burrow into would have been a waste at best.

“I don’t trust you. I don’t think I’d trust you even with a pinky promise.” Raising a hand Jinx tilted it just a touch as though asking Caitlyn to let her finish. “However, two things. One is that you aren’t an Enforcer anymore. If you were I’d spit in your face, and walk away. The second, is that I do trust that you don’t want to see another child die.” For once there was no judgment in her voice. No criticism, or derision. Besides Silco would have been outraged about this.

The sons and daughters of Zaun deserve better.

You’re perfect.

Lips tightening for a second she thought about once again reminding Caitlyn that she didn’t need the former enforcer, but it seemed a bit redundant so she dropped her hand and nodded. “I want this copycat taken care of, and to suffer. And,” there was a faint annoyed sound somewhere between a sigh and a growl from Jinx, “finding him will go faster if we work together on it.” Taking a breath Jinx closed her eyes as her hands closed for a second into fists before she forced herself to relax. As much as she hated Caitlyn sometimes you had to work with people you hated. Just look at Silco, and Marcus. Although that’d been less working with, and more Silco telling Marcus what to do but close enough.

“While we work together on this. I hate saying that so much. I, will not… be a danger to you. But if you turn on me you had better kill me because if you don’t I will burn down everything around you that I possibly can.” There was nothing in Jinx’s voice, or otherwise except sincerity. Glancing around the scene she nodded. “Now I need a minute to look over all this, but I can tell you were all the materials came from or pretty close to it.”

Turning away from Caitlyn she paused for just a moment giving the other woman a perfect chance at her back before moving to go examine the various bits, and pieces and paint and everything left behind. She would indeed be able to tell Caitlyn were most of it came from, and also recognize that a lot of it was from the same places that the ingredients used for the last attack had been sourced from. A lot of it from different scavenging spots in Zaun that she knew quite well, but a few things had been either purchased or stolen from a couple of specific vendors. There were only so many places in Zaun to get certain paints, or high enough quality gunpowder or springs after all.

Caitlyn knew this was a calculated risk, to even be this close. All it would take is one snap of her hand and Jinx could have it around her throat. Yet, she felt like something had changed, just for a brief second. Something that reached out. Every inch of her hated Jinx, what she had done to her, how she brought out this prey-like fear in her heart and made her skin crawl. And yet, here she was feeling emotions she never thought Jinx capable of and hoped that perhaps it meant there was something inside of her that would help. Perhaps not for her benefit, no, but indirectly would benefit the people and Zaun. Her quiet voice at least accepted her word. Eyes scanned over the body, looking at the shrapnel, nails, and pieces of glass as it sicken her stomach, the nail to her throat was the killing blow. It hit the artery that would have made her bleed out slowly, suffering underneath it.

The sudden jerk of emotions caused Caitlyn to flinch as she immediately pulled up the wall to protect her mind. The unpredictable shift was too much for her to handle, as she glanced sideways at her speaking under her breath but said nothing. Instead, she turned to look around the cafe. The same motifs. A monkey with X's for eyes, Jinx marked across the walls, wild marks all trying to pin this on one person.

"I do," Caitlyn said, as she rested her arms on her knees and looked at her. "doesn't change the fact of what I said," There was no word yet, she wasn't sure what Jinx would decide.

Of course, she would, but Caitlyn still preferred the other way. He needed to go to prison for his crimes, but she also knew the dark secret of Stillwater. Standing up, she moved along, picking up some pieces of another grenade, noticing how some of it was different once again. Close, but not perfect. "You've mentioned that before, but I still think we might have a better chance working together. We could stop him before he strikes again," That's what she had learned, it was a man. One of the witnesses had spotted him, just briefly. A male-shaped figure with dark black hair was the only two detail she had. A soft sigh left her lips, as she glanced over to Jinx but before she could speak she swiveled her head to look at the woman.

A mother and her grief were tangible. Caitlyn twisted around, finding what looked like a tattered cloth, covered in soot and burned on the edge, but still useful. Moving back over, she folded out the blanket and reached over toward the young lifeless body. She picked her up, careful to move her, and laid her on the table cloth and then carefully wrapped up the body, covering her body, face, and all over so only the mold of the child could be seen. She shifted her bloody hands underneath the cloth, under the legs and neck, and moved over toward her. "Here, she deserves to be with her family," Caitlyn said, as she carefully placed the girl in the crying woman's arms after having her daughter. "I'm sorry, and we'll find who did this. I promise," Caitlyn said, as she touched her shoulder, as the woman nodded her head, tears streaking her cheeks before walking off.

"Because I'm more concerned about catching this guy than you right now. He just killed 11 people in four days, and he's probably going to continue to do so. I've learned of Zaun's lifestyle thrives in violence, down to even a child imitating the same. But this, this is senseless," Caitlyn said as she turned back around to let her arms down to her side. "He's my priority, I don't want to see another child die," Caitlyn looked down at her hands, the blood streaking across her gloves and her fingers, silver-tipped nails now stained in red. "he's not going to have a third chance,"

#warpaiint #copycatproblems #postarcane #child death cw #violence cw

11 notes · View notes

orthodoxydaily · 4 years ago

Text

Saints&Reading: Mon., Mar., 8, 2021

Commemorated on February 23_by the new CAlendar

Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna (167)

Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, was born about the year 80 and lived in Asia Minor in the city of Smyrna. He was left an orphan at an early age, but through the direction of an Angel, he was raised by the pious widow Kallista. After the death of his adoptive mother, Polycarp gave away his possessions and began to lead a chaste life, caring for the sick and the infirm. He was very fond of and close to the holy bishop of Smyrna Bukolos (Comm. 6 February). He ordained Polycarp as deacon, entrusting to him to preach the Word of God in church. At this time the holy Apostle John the Theologian was still alive. Saint Polycarp was especially close to Saint John the Theologian, whom he accompanied on his apostolic wanderings. Saint Bukolos ordained Saint Polycarp presbyter, and shortly before his death expressed last wishes that he be made bishop upon the Smyrna cathedral. When the ordination of Saint Polycarp to bishop was accomplished, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him. Saint Polycarp guided his flock with apostolic zeal. He was also greatly loved among the clergy. With great warmth did Saint Ignatios the God-Bearer regard him. Setting out to Rome where execution awaited him (he was torn asunder by wild beasts), he wrote to Saint Polycarp: "Just as the winds and turbulence require the rudder – for coming ashore, so likewise are the present times necessary, in order to reach God".

The emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) came upon the Roman throne and started up a most fierce persecution against christians. The pagans demanded that the judge seek out Saint Polycarp – "the father of all the christians" and "the seducer of all Asia". During this while Saint Polycarp, at the persistent urging of his flock, stayed at a small village not far from Smyrna. When the soldiers came for him, he went out to them and led them in to eat, and at this time he began to pray, having prepared himself for the deed of martyrdom. His suffering and death are recorded in "An Epistle of the Christians of the Church of Smyrna to the other Churches" – one of the most ancient memorials of Christian literature. Having been brought to trial, Saint Polycarp firmly confessed his faith in Christ and was condemned to burning. The executioners wanted to tie him to a post, but he calmly told them that the bon-fire would not work, and they could merely tie him with ropes. The flames encircled the saint but did not touch him, coming all together over his head. Seeing that the fire did him no harm, the throng of pagans demanded that he be killed with a sword. When they inflicted the wound upon Saint Polycarp, there flowed from it so much blood, that it extinguished the flames. The body of the priestmartyr Polycarp was then committed to flame. The Christians of Smyrna reverently gathered up his venerable remains, honouring his memory as sacred. A story has been preserved about Saint Polycarp by his disciple, Saint Ireneius of Lyons, which Eusebios cites in his "Ecclesiastical History" (V, 20): "I was still very young when I saw thee in Asia Minor at Polycarp's, – writes Saint Ireneius to his friend Florinus, – ...but I would still be able to point out the place where Blessed Polycarp sat and conversed, – be able to depict his walk, his mannerisms in life, his outward appearance, his speaking to people, his companionable wandering with John, and how he himself related, together with other eye-witnesses of the Lord, – those things that he remembered from the words of others and in turn told what he heard from them about the Lord, His teachings and miracles ... Through the mercy of God to me, I then already listened attentively to Polycarp and wrote down his words not on tablets, but in the depths of my heart ... Wherefore, I am able to witness before God, that if this blessed and apostolic elder heard something similar to thy fallacy, he would immediately stop up his ears and express his indignation with his usual phrase: 'Good God! That Thou hast permitted me to be alive at such a time!' ". During his life the saint bishop wrote several Epistles to the flock and letters to various individuals. There has survived to the present his Epistle to the Philippians which, on the testimony of Blessed Jerome, was read in the churches of Asia Minor at Divine-services. It was written by the saint in response to the request of the Philippians to send them a letter of the Priest Martyr Ignatius, which had been preserved by Saint Polycarp.

The Monk Alexander, Founder of the "Unceasing Vigilance" Monastery (430)

The Monk Alexander, Founder of the "Unceasing Vigilance" Monastery, was born in Asia and received his education at Constantinople. He spent some time in military service but, sensing a calling to other service, he left the world and accepted monastic vows in one of the wilderness monasteries near Antioch under the guidance of hegumen Elias. Having advanced bit by bit through the degrees of monastic obedience, he received blessing from the hegumen to dwell in the wilderness. The monk pursued asceticism in the wilderness with but the Holy Gospel, which alone he took with him. Afterwards, the Lord summoned him to preach to pagans. He converted to the faith the local city-head Rabbul, who afterwards prospered in the service of the Church, being granted the dignity of bishop and for all of 30 years he occupied the bishop's cathedra (chair) at the city of Edessa. Finally, the monk Alexander settled not far from the Euphrates River. Monks gathered around him, attracted by the loftiness of his prayerful asceticism and spiritual experience. A monastery arose numbering 400 monks. Then the holy hegumen in his prayerful zeal decided to make at the monastery both by day and by night never-ceasing praise to the Lord. For three years the holy abba prayed, that God might reveal to him, whether it should be pleasing to Him to establish such a monastic rule. And by a Divine revelation it was brought about in the following manner: all the monks were divided by him into 24 watches of prayer. Changing shifts each hour, they sang in two choirs both day and night the holy psalms, with the exceptions when Divine-services were celebrated in church. Hence the name "Monastery of Unceasing Vigilance", since unceasing song was offered up by the ascetics to God. The monk Alexander guided the monastery on the Euphrates for twelve years. Thereafter, having left as its hegumen the experienced elder Trophymos, he set off with some chosen brethren through the cities bordering on Persia, to preach the Gospel and conversion to spiritual life. Having arrived at Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine empire, he also established there a monastery with his favoured ustav (rule) of "unceasing vigilance". The monastic abba died in extreme old age after fifty years of incessant monastic striving. His death occurred in the year 430. The commemoration of the Monk Alexander is also celebrated on 3 July.

3 John 1:1-14

1The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7 because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

#orthodoxy #orthodoxchristian #ancientchristianity #originofchristianity #spirituality #holyscriptures #gospel #sacredtexts #wisdom

2 notes · View notes

oliivverwood · 5 years ago

Text

retweet

marcus/oliver + social media for @rlversongs

LONG POST- idk how to put the keep reading from my phone sorry

marcus flint for NBA @marcflintofficial

Are you ready for thrilling Raptors vs Bucks Eastern Conference Final game 5? Tune in on YouTube 2nite aftergame for play by play analysis + predictions. Watch for live tweets. #NBA #Basketball

12:00 PM 2,340 likes 1,226 retweets

montyyyyy @grahamcracker

yo @casswarr five dollas on raps making history. wood has been straight sniping this year. bucks have no chance with that offense. #rapsin5

12:48 PM 5 likes 3 retweets

cassius ;) @casswarr

@grahamcracker ur fuckin insane if u think its gonna be easy for the raps. diggory's been an absolute wall this szn. he'll block potter's nasty dunks easy

1:05 PM 4 likes 1 retweets

oliver wood #0 @oliverw00dofficial

Game 5. Tonight. Air Canada Arena. #WeTheNorth

4:00 PM 1,904 likes 837 retweets

marcus flint for NBA @marcflintofficial

5 into 1st quarter, Wood from the Raps with the filthy cross on Malfoy, ballhandling like a dream. #NBA #NBAGame5 #Basketball

8:43 PM 734 likes 437 retweets

pants park (marky flints cuzzy) @panzyparkkk

@marcflintofficial im sure handling his balls is your dream ;))

8:50 PM 523 likes 277 retweets

marcus flint for NBA (@marcflintofficial) blocked pants park (marky flints cuzzy) (@panzyparkkk)

marcus flint for NBA @marcflintofficial

Potter steals from Diggory, lobs it to Weasley, throws it up to Wood for a dunk on Bole. The Raptors chemistry is off the charts this game. #NBA #NBAGame5 #Basketball

9:22 PM 256 likes 153 retweets

mclaggen the frat god @nolaggingmclaggen

yo why the fuck is flint being so nice about the raps rn. i don't want wood favouritism, i miss asshole flint. talk shit about bole's shitty defense, please.

10:00 PM 333 likes 457 retweets

oliver wood #0 (@oliverw00dofficial) liked a tweet by mclaggen the frat god (@nolaggingmclaggen)

oliver wood #0 @oliverw00dofficial

Eastern Conference dubs, absolutely ecstatic. See you against the Warriors for NBA finals. #WeTheNorth

11:54 PM 937 likes 765 retweets

HARRY POTTER #3 @harrypottter

to the finalsssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!! #WeTheNorth

11:56 PM 832 likes 655 retweets

YouTube

NBA by Marcus Flint

1,267,457 subscribers

Recent Posts:

*Blurry picture of two male figures, seemingly joined by the hand. One of them is brunette, the other black haired. Both tall. One is dressed in a grey tracksuit and clunky basketball shoes, the other in a pressed white shirt and black pants, tie looseness. They are smiling - the photo is too blurry to specify exactly who it is.

marcusflintbae this is obviously marcus flint and oliver wood, that's the tea. im so jealous of wood ugh.

Posted 1 hour ago

Liked by ginnywheeze, percyweasley, panspark, terhiggs, adrianpuc3y, k8iebell, hazzapotter, fredwheeze and 2943 others

Private Chat between Oliver Wood and Marcus Flint

oliver wood: marcus ur an idiot

marcus flint: how is this my fault

oliver wood: u were too nice to me on highlight analysis

oliver wood: and u forgot to tell parkinson that we're not public yet

marcus flint: well u should be happy u wanted to go public like six months ago

oliver wood: nOT LIKE THIS

oliver wood: let's announce it on twitter we've let them suffer long enough

marcus flint: don't use the photo that im wearing the purple tie in

marcus flint: it's ugly

oliver wood: you are in no position to be making demands

oliver wood: im not going to use a photo, i love you, I'll call you later

marcus flint: love u too babe

marcus flint for NBA @marcflintofficial

I'm dating Oliver Wood. I'm not biased to the raptors at all, don't tell him but I actually bet on the Warriors. #NBAFinals

9:03 PM 608,767 likes 438,898 retweets

oliver wood #0 @oliverw00dofficial

Marcus Flint and I have BEEN dating. Keep up. He fr didn't bet on us. If you stop watching him I'll request a trade. Joking. Not really. #NBAFinals

9:06 PM 453,738 likes 234,725 retweets

69 notes · View notes

pamphletstoinspire · 5 years ago

Photo

Story about Saint Polycarp, Bishop And Martyr - Feast Day - January 26th - Latin Calendar

The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp by St. Alphonsus di Liguori

St. Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle St. John, and was born about the seventieth year of the Christian era. He was a Christian from his infancy, and on account of his extraordinary piety was greatly beloved by the apostles, his teachers. St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, writes that he had had the good fortune, when young, to know our saint, who was then far advanced in years, and remark show strongly impressed on his mind were the instructions which he had received from him, and with what delight he remembered having heard him recount his conversations with St. John and others who had seen the Redeemer.

St. Polycarp was consecrated Bishop of Smyrna by St. John himself before this apostle's banishment to the Island of Patmos. It is looked upon as certain that our saint was the angel, or Bishop of Smyrna, commended by the Lord in the Apocalypse: And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write . . . I know thy tribulation and thy poverty; but thou art rich. . . . Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life (Apoc. ii. 9).

Our saint governed the church of Smyrna seventy years, according to Fleury (Hist. eccl. l. 3, n. 48), with so much prudence and approbation that he was regarded as the principal of the Asiatic bishops, on account of the great veneration in which he was held. When eighty years of age, he went to Rome to consult with Pope Anicetus on some points of discipline, particularly regarding the time at which Easter should be celebrated. St. Polycarp's delay in Rome was very useful to the faithful, as it afforded him an opportunity of confuting the heresies of that period. Meeting the heresiarch Marcion, who inquired of the holy bishop whether he knew him; “Yes,” answered the saint, ” I know thee to be the first-born of the devil.”

On his return to Asia, he suffered much in the persecution which the Emperor Marcus Aurelius raised against the Church, and which was particularly felt at Smyrna, where the proconsul, Statius Quadratus, was exercising the most barbarous cruelty against the faithful. Amongst other acts of persecution, he caused twelve Christians, who were brought from Philadelphia, to be devoured by wild beasts. Excited by this bloodshed, the pagans were loud in their demands for the slaughter of the Christians, particularly of Polycarp, who failed not on his part to encourage his flock to the most heroic proofs of constancy, in suffering torments and death for Jesus Christ. Notwithstanding the continual clamor raised against him, the saint wished to remain in the city for the discharge of his pastoral duties, but was obliged, by the importunity of the faithful, to retire to a house without the city, where, during his stay, he occupied the entire night and day in holy prayer.

After a short time, however, he was discovered. Three days previouly to his arrest, he saw in a vision his pillow in flames, from which he knew that the martyrdom reserved for him was that of fire, and, turning to his companions, told them that he would be burned alive. The Christians, aware that the soldiers were in pursuit of him, removed him to another house; but a young servant, overawed by the fear of torture, revealed the place of his concealment. The saint was informed of this, but refused to retreat any farther, saying, with holy resignation: “The will of God be done.” Full of heroic zeal, he offered himself to God as a victim destined for his honor, besought him to accept the sacrifice of his life, and joyfully delivered himself up to his pursuers. He received them into his house, ordered them a handsome supper, and desired only some time for prayer, which being granted, he was for two hours absorbed in meditation.

The captain and the soldiers were filled with confusion at the sight of the venerable bishop; and unwillingly executing their commission, departed with him at break of day. As the journey to Smyrna was long, they set him on an ass, and were conducting him to the city, when they met on the road two superior officers, called Herod and Nicetas, who took him into their chariot, and endeavored to persuade him to obey the imperial edict, saying, among other things: “What harm is there in sacrificing to the gods in order to save your life?” The saint answered with fortitude that he would rather suffer every torture, even death itself, than consent to what they advised. Upon this resolute answer they turned away in anger, regarding him as a man lost through his obstinacy, and pushed him from the chariot with such violence that his leg was bruised, or, according to Fleury, broken by the fall.

The saint nevertheless, with undisturbed tranquillity of mind, proceeded to the amphitheatre, where he was about to sacrifice his life. Upon entering it he heard a voice from heaven, saying: “Be courageous, Polycarp; act manfully.” He was presented to the proconsul, who endeavored to shake his resolution, saying: “Polycarp, thou art old, and should free thyself from torments which thou hast not strength to bear; swear, therefore, by the fortune of Caesar, and exclaim with the people, ‘Be the impious exterminated!'” The saint immediately replied: “Yes! be the impious exterminated–but by the impious I mean the idolaters.” The proconsul, thinking that he had gained him over, said: “Now blaspheme Jesus Christ, and I will discharge thee.” The saint rejoined: “I have served Jesus Christ these fourscore and six years; he never did me harm, but much good; how can I blaspheme him? How can I blaspheme my Creator and my Saviour, who is also my judge, and who justly punishes those who deny him?” The tyrant, still continuing to tempt him to deny Jesus Christ, Polycarp replied that he was a Christian, and considered it a glory to die for Christ.

The proconsul threatened him with wild beasts. “Call for them quickly,” replied the saint; “I cannot change from good to evil; the beasts will help me to pass from mortal suffering to the glory of heaven.” “Then,” said the tyrant, “thou shalt be burned alive.” The saint answered: “Thy fire only lasts a. moment; there is another fire which is eternal, and of that I am afraid. Why dost thou delay to execute thy threats?” This he said with so much intrepidity, that the tyrant himself was struck with admiration; he ordered, however, a crier to make public proclamation that Polycarp had avowed himself a Christian; whereupon the entire multitude of pagans cried out: “Let this destroyer of our gods die!” The public shows having terminated, it was resolved that he should be burned alive, instead of being devoured by wild beasts.

The pile was prepared by the pagans, and also by the Jews, who were particularly active in offering themselves as executioners. Polycarp put off his garments, and seeing they were about to fasten him to the stake, said: “Leave aside these nails: He who gives me fortitude to undergo this fire, will enable me to stand Still without them.” They therefore contented themselves with tying his hands behind his back, and placed him upon the pile, whence raising his eyes to heaven, the saint prayed after the following manner:

“I bless Thee, O God, for having vouchsafed to make me a partaker in the Passion of Jesus Christ Thy Son, by rendering me worthy to offer myself as a sacrifice for Thy honor, that I may be enabled to praise Thee in heaven, and to bless Thee for all eternity.”

The pile was set on fire, yet the flames did not touch the body of the saint, but formed, as it were, an arch around him, while his flesh exhaled a most fragrant odor. The pagans, exasperated to see that the fire had no effect, transfixed him with a spear, and such a quantity of blood issued from the wound as extinguished the flames.

Thus did St. Polycarp terminate his triumph, as is recorded in the celebrated epistle of the Church of Smyrna, which may be seen in “Ruinart's Collection of the Acts of the Martyrs.” His martyrdom took place about the year 160. (1,2)

Practical Reflections by Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger

“For eighty-six years have I served Christ, and He has done me no wrong : how can I, then, deny or insult Him now?” This is an answer worthy to be written in golden letters. Impress it deeply upon your heart, remembering God Himself asks: ” O, my people what have I done to thee, or in what have I molested thee? Answer thou me.”

What canst thou answer, whilst thy conscience convinces thee of the truth that God never did thee an injury, but, on the contrary conferred on thee countless benefits for body and soul? How canst thou, then, have the heart to offend Him, and that so often and grievously? What astonishing iniquity and damnable ingratitude it is to offend maliciously so great a benefactor! Were a man, to whom you have done much good, to repay you by repeated insults, what would you say? “Oh!” you would cry, “how have I deserved this from him? For all my benefits I receive nothing but injuries at his hands. How despicable is his ingratitude!” But tell me, what has God deserved at thy hands? Has He done thee less good than thou didst to that man? Oh! weep bitterly over thy ingratitude, and resolve not to continue in it. Do not in future offend thy greatest benefactor, but love and praise Him for His benefits. Answer the evil spirit, when he tempts thee to sin: “My God has done me no injury, but only good: how can I, then, offend Him?”

St. Polycarp did not fear the fire of the tyrant, which could burn only for a time, and then had an end; but he feared the fire which is prepared for the wicked and burns forever. Think often of the inextinguishable fire of hell, and, through fear of that God who can punish thee with it, abstain from sin. Certainly you would not sin for any gain or pleasure, if you were sure that, after sin,”your hand would have to burn in a fire, were it but for a quarter of an hour. How blind and foolhardy, then, is it not to sin on account of some momentary pleasure or gain, when you must expect eternal fire on that account. Such are the thoughts of St. Augustine, who wrote: “Hell fire will not be like an earthly fire. Yet, were you forced to put your hand in earthly fire, you would do all that was demanded by him who threatens you. God threatens you with eternal fire, and will you not do good? Will you not avoid sin?”

#st polycarp

6 notes · View notes

thecinemadrew-blog · 8 years ago

Text

An Analysis of Martin Scorsese’s “Silence”

There has been multiple speculations, reviews, commentaries, and pure condemnation regarding Scorsese’s new film, “Silence”. Anger has ensued amongst Catholic viewers over this film. Many Catholic critics are taking the film to be an attack on Catholicism, for the film seems to portray Jesus telling “Padre” Rodrigues (played by Andrew Garfield) that it is okay to commit apostasy because it is just formality. The act was to step on an image of Christ. To be brutally honest, it is easy for us Catholics to hate this film because we hate looking into a mirror. It is a heretical teaching that apostasy can, in some cases, be “ok”. For, love of Christ must exceed all other loves. We must not love other people or objects above God. This is the first commandment God gave to us, “have no other gods before me”. The source of all sin is pride, since pride tells us “we are better than God” or “we know more than God”. Pride is also the most difficult vice for us Catholics to burn out of our soul. The devil, in his ultimate deceptiveness, can make “holy” men be prideful of their holiness. The greatest deception is turning holy things into a source of temptation. The movie touches upon multiple abuses within the Church, present then, and present now. The most prominent theme being, love of ministry over love of God. As hard as it is to admit, this is one of the largest issues I see in our modern day Church. The first example I could think of was the incident regarding Fr. Frank Pavone in the days leading up to the U.S presidential election. There, on a Facebook video, Fr. Pavone placed an aborted child on an altar, and expressed the urgent need of voting pro-life in the upcoming election. The local ordinary, Bishop Patrick J. Zurek of the diocese of Amarillo in Texas made a statement regarding the events. He stated, “Father Frank Pavone has posted a video on his Facebook page of the body of an aborted fetus, which is against the dignity of human life and is a desecration of the altar. We believe that no one who is pro-life can exploit a human body for any reason, especially the body of a fetus.” (https://amarillodiocese.org/news/statement-from-bishop-patrick-j-zurek) Though the Bishop could not take any disciplinary action upon Fr. Pavone, the event still highlights an important understanding of the current state of the Church. By his actions, Fr. Pavone has put the needs of the unborn above our Eucharistic Lord. Now I, nor anyone else, can judge Fr. Pavone’s heart, but the principal of his action leads to such a conclusion. In the film, when the priests go to find Fr. Ferreira in Japan, and come across villages filled with Christians in desperate need of a priest, Fr. Rodrigues says he has found “purpose” in being needed. Now it is important to understand the role of the Jesuits in the Church, they were THE evangelists. Men joined the order to be missionaries, and win souls over for Christ. In my favorite film, Ridley Scott’s “The Gladiator”, I remember a very keen scene that applies to the principal I want to discuss. Emperor Marcus Aurelius (played by Richard Harris) says to Maximus (played by Russell Crowe), “…when a man sees his end, he wants to know there was purpose to his life” (The Gladiator). This principal can be applied to the two Jesuits, particularly Fr. Rodrigues. As missionaries, they found their sense of “purpose” administering the sacraments and being available to the christians in Japan. They’re role as priests for Christ was morphing (if it was not already morphed) as being priests for the people. They wanted to find purpose for their lives, and found that purpose in what other people saw in them, and not in what they could give to Christ. Pride was their ultimate enemy. The temptation of pride was a very dangerous one. The Japanese government said over and over again that these christians are dying for the priests. For awhile though, Fr. Rodrigues fights this temptation as best he can. His partner, Fr. Garupe (played Adam Driver) seemed to let this thought get the best of him early on. However, the moment where I believe Fr. Rodrigues embraces this pride is when he is arrested and the “Inquisitor”, Inoue (played by Issei Ogata) says to Rodrigues, “The price for your glory is their suffering!” (Silence). This is the most dangerous thought and temptation planted in Rodrigues’ mind, and the one he does not deny. We do not see him say “no, not my glory” or anything. We see, in his face and actions, defeat. From this point on, Rodrigues personally takes responsibility for the suffering of the Christians in Japan. He did not deny Christ by stepping on the image of Christ, he denied Him long before. When Fr. Rodrigues commits his public act of apostasy, the film packs a lot of questions in a few minutes. The big question being, was it the voice of Jesus who told Rodrigues to step on him? Theologically speaking, it could not have been. But the question is not asking what the truthful answer is, but what the filmmakers intended. There’s a few reasons why I do not believe so. One, Rodrigues denied Christ before this event took place. Two, when he steps on the image we hear a cock crow, a sign that he denied Christ. Three, the actions that followed this denial are not consistent with what he was searching for… peace. Would Rodrigues not have found peace in Christ from making this decision? His actions for the rest of the film tell us that he can not find peace. He does not look happy at all with what he is doing, neither does Fr. Ferreira. Also, why would Rodrigues stop practicing Christianity? At the end of the film, we see Rodrigues being buried and the camera goes into the coffin where we see him holding onto a crucifix. This hints that he had a private christian life, which is what the Japanese government wanted (Bishop Barron explains this in more detail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Th7Tiz1cEk). But this contradicts Christ’s entire ministry here on earth. Did Christ tell Peter it was “ok” to deny Him three times? Didn’t Christ say that we, Christians, will be persecuted? Of course he did, so I would wager that it was not the voice of Jesus that Rodrigues heard. So, who’s voice was it? It sounded an awful lot like Fr. Ferreira’s voice, though I could not be certain. Could it have been the devil? No, I think it was Rodrigues’ own imagination, and he imagined Christ’s voice to sound like…Fr. Ferreira’s. Why? Well, we learn very early on how important Fr. Ferreira is to both Rodrigues and Garupe. Their admiration of Ferreira is what leads them to Japan in the first place. They would not, and could not accept that Ferreira committed apostasy. It was after Rodrigues finally meets Ferreira again, with a Japanese name and a Japanese wife, where we see any last drop of hope in Rodrigues…die. Again, instead of centering everything on Christ, he puts his trust in mortal beings. Pride is the hidden but driving theme in this film. We often like to believe that we have everything in order, that we are “good Catholics”, but we can not compare ourselves to Hitler. While “Silence” is very dangerous, and poses very heretical ideas, how can we as Catholics view this piece? Do we hate it because it makes the Catholic Church bad? Or, do we hate it because it forces us to look into a mirror?

#Catholic catholicism moviereview Silence Scorsese

0 notes

orthodoxydaily · 4 years ago

Text

Saints&Reading: Tue., Aug. 18, 2020

Commemorated on August 5_Julian Calendar

The Martyr Pontius (267)

The Martyr Pontius lived during the III Century, the son of a pagan Roman senator named Marcus and his wife Julia. While with child, Julia had gone with her husband to the pagan temple of Jupiter. The devil, inhabiting the temple, shouted from the lips of the pagan priest that the boy in Julia's womb would destroy Jupiter and his pagan temple. When the boy was born, his mother wanted to kill him out of fear of the prediction, but his father opposed this and the child was left to live. He was named Pontius, and he grew up sharp of mind and keen for study. On his way to the pagan school Pontius happened to go past an house, where Christians were making the morning Divine-services. Hearing the words of the psalm which the Christians were singing: "pagan idols be silver and gold, the works of the hands of men..." (Ps. 113: 12 [115: 4]). Pontius became very interested in this verse and he paused at the gate. Pope Pontian, who was making the service, invited Pontius and his companion Valerian to come in. After the service, the pope talked for a long while with the youths, revealing to them the Gospel teachings, and after a certain while he baptised them. Saint Pontius in turn likewise converted his father to Christ, whom Pope Pontian also baptised, together with his whole household. And after the death of his father, Saint Pontius, then 20 years old, was appointed by the emperor Alexander Severus (222-235) as a senator, to take the place of his deceased father. In the Senate and the surroundings of the emperor, Saint Pontius enjoyed universal esteem for his good nature, sound sense and fairness. Under the successor to the emperor Alexander Severus – Maximian (235-238), Pope Saint Pontian finished his life as a martyr (+ 235). Pope Saint Antherus was elected Bishop of Rome in place of Pope Saint Pontian, and he too soon accepted suffering and death for Christ (+ 236). His successor was Pope Saint Fabian (Fabius), who as a presbyter fearlessly gave burial to the bodies of martyrs. Pope Saint Fabian loved Saint Pontius as though he were his own flesh and blood son. Saint Pontius distributed with Saint Fabian all his substance on the needs of the poor. After the perishing of impious Maximian, the new emperor Gordian (238-244) did not persecute Christians, and thereafter in turn the emperor Philip (244-249) together with his co-regent son Philip was persuaded by the conversations and preaching of Saint Pontius to believe in Christ and to accept Baptism from holy Pope Fabian. With the permission of the emperors, Saints Pontius and Fabian threw down the statue of Jupiter at the pagan temple and on this place built a church. For 4 years the Church of Christ dwelt in peace and tranquility. But then Decius (249-251) ascended the throne, having organised a rebellion and murdered the emperor Philip and his son. And during this time Sainted Fabian, Pope of Rome (+ 250), accepted death for Christ. But Saint Pontius left Rome for the city of Cimelum (on the border of Italy and Gaul-France) and lived there like a stranger. During the time of the emperor Valerian (253-259), cruel torturers were sent out with full authority to all ends to seek out and kill all Christians. And thus Claudius and Anubius arrived in the city of Cimelum for this purpose. Saint Pontius fearlessly confessed himself a Christian and refused to offer sacrifice to idols. They shackled him in irons and threw him in prison. From the very beginning of the torture the saint calmly admonished the torturers, that the Lord would bring to naught the torture and they would see the power of God. And indeed, as soon as the servants attempted to tie Saint Pontius to the rack, it fell apart to pieces, and the torturers fell to the ground as though dead. "Be convinced, O man of little faith, in the power of my Lord", – said Saint Pontius to Claudius, but on the advice of Anubius he gave Saint Pontius over to be devoured by two bears in the circus. The wild beasts, while not touching the saint, fell instead upon their keepers and tore at them. The spectators began to shout: "God only is the Christian God, in Whom believeth Pontius". By order of the torturers a bon-fire was built, but it burnt out, and the saint remained alive, and even his clothes did not burn. The crowd shouted all the more strongly: "Great is the God of the Christians!" Saint Pontius then was sentenced to beheading by the sword, and the execution was made out beyond the city in the year 257. The body of Saint Pontius was given burial at the place of execution by his comrade and friend Valerian.

Martyr Eusignios of Antioch (362)

The Martyr Eusignios was born at Antioch in the mid III Century. Over the course of sixty years he served in the Roman armies of the emperors Diocletian, Maximian Hercules, Constantius Chlorus, Constantine the Great and his sons. Saint Eusignios was a companion of Saint Basiliskos (Comm. 3 March and 22 May), and he provided an account of his deed of martyrdom (+ c. 308). At the beginning of the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, Saint Eusignios was a witness to the appearance in the sky of the starry Cross, a prediction of victory. Saint Eusignios retired in his old age from military service and returned to his own country. There he spent his time in prayer, fasting, and attending the temple of God. And thus he lived until the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363), who yearned for a return to paganism. Through the denunciation of one of the Antioch citizens, Saint Eusignios stood trial as a Christian before the emperor Julian in the year 362. He fearlessly accused the emperor of apostacy from Christ, and reproached him with the example of his relative, Constantine the Great, and he described in detail how he himself had been an eyewitness to the appearance in the sky of the sign of the Cross. Julian did not spare the quite old Saint Eusignios, then 110 years old, but rather ordered him beheaded.

2 Corinthians 2:14-3:3

14Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.15For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.16To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Matthew 23:29-39

29Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,30and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'31Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt.33Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?34Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,35that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.36Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!38See! Your house is left to you desolate;39for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'

#orthodoxy #orthodoxchristianity #ancientfaith #firstchristian #spirituality #sacredtext #gospel #scripture

5 notes · View notes

pamphletstoinspire · 6 years ago

Photo

A Great Catch: The 153 Fish

“I welcome you on the eve of a great battle.” So began General Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 15, 1944, solemnly addressing the admirals and generals and officers of the Allied Expeditionary Force, announcing the proposed strategy for Operation Overlord, codename for the Normandy invasion. Underestimated as an orator, Eisenhower’s speech riveted the attention of all in the tense atmosphere. The location was an unlikely one: a lecture hall of Saint Paul’s School in London. The boys had already been evacuated to Berkshire during the Blitz. The top brass, who had arrived from the advance command post of the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Forces at Southwick House in Hampshire, were seated on school chairs, with two armchairs occupied by King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. General Bernard Montgomery, the future Field Marshall, brought out his maps to show the British and American positions. The school served as headquarters of the XXI Army Group under Montgomery, and he felt at home there because he was an Old Pauline. Planning took place in the office of his old Headmaster, or High Master, which was the title used from the day of the school’s foundation in 1509 by John Colet.

As a close friend of Erasmus, and an even closer spiritual advisor to Thomas More, Colet was the epitome of a Renaissance humanist, laden with learning he had brought back from France and Italy for lectures in his own university at Oxford. More lured him back to his birthplace of London where his father had been a rich merchant and twice Lord Mayor. As Dean of Saint Paul’s cathedral, Colet put his reforming principles to work with eloquent imprecations against the pride, concupiscence, covetousness, and worldly absorptions that had tainted the priesthood. Archbishop Warham of Canterbury dismissed frivolous charges of heresy brought against Colet by offended clerics. Colet’s combination of charm and audacity engendered the respect even of Henry VIII, despite his bold preaching against the king’s French wars. As a priest with no children of his own, and no nieces or nephews because all twenty-two of his siblings had died in childhood, Colet devoted much of his inherited fortune to founding Saint Paul’s school for teaching 153 boys literature, manners, and, with Renaissance flair, Greek on a par with Latin. Erasmus said that when Colet lectured he thought he was hearing a second Plato. If so, his Platonism was Christian. He wanted a great catch, similar to the 153 fish that the apostles had hauled in at the command of the Risen Christ. The boys would be welcome “from all nations and countries indifferently.”

The catch was great indeed, and since then the school has turned out graduates including, just for starters: John Milton, Samuel Pepys, John Churchill, G.K. Chesterton, three holders of the Victoria Cross, and the astronomer for whom Halley’s comet is named — all rising from the first 153.

Exegetes, sometimes with too much time on their hands, and even earnest saints, have teased 153 and other numbers into signifying possibly more than their meaning. Jerome tried to find some significance in the fact that the second-century Greco-Roman poet Oppian listed 153 species of fish in his 3,500 verses about fishing, the “Halieutica,” dedicated rather sycophantically to the emperor Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus. Of course, Oppian was wrong in his counting; besides, he wrote after the compilation of the Gospel. Augustine found that 153 is the sum if the first seventeen integers, which may reveal nothing more than his skill at arithmetic. In his devotion to the Rosary, Louis de Montfort found something prophetic between the catch of Galilean fish and the sum of fifteen decades of Hail Mary’s plus the first three beads.

There may be no end to such agile mental exercises, and I once wrote a book — Coincidentally — rather whimsically illustrating how it is possible to detect endless matrices if you try hard enough. For example, faddish New Age fascination with the esoteric numerology of Kabbalah cultism can strain minds. It may not have been a helpful influence on the popular singer who gave millions of dollars to a Kabbalah institute and recently was confined to a mental health facility purportedly against her will. Carl Jung wrote at some length about what he termed “synchronicity” and warned that an obsession with “acausal principles” could unbalance reason. Yet even a detached observer might pause at the fact that the Sacred Tetragrammaton appears 153 times in Genesis.

The point here is that there are many levels of meaning in divine revelation that may be clues to the operation of Divine Providence. “For I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11). Even our limited mathematics may articulate something of the symmetry by which the pulse of Creation may be taken: “‘To whom then will you compare Me, or who is My equal?’ says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who has created these things, who brings out their host by number” (Is. 40:25). Perception of this saves the saints from madness and inspires them to awe.

Contemplation of the unity of the True God and True Man encounters layers of reality beyond the comprehension of human intelligence. Nonetheless, we can perceive the existence of those dimensions. A “Participatory Anthropic Principle,” first forwarded by John A. Wheeler, suggests that the universe is structured with a set of physical constants or “cosmic coincidences” without which there would be no intelligent life on Earth, and that it is only by participating in that structure by rational perception that the constants or coincidences have their potency. So there may be in those 153 fish the Voice saying: “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12).

It would be a mistake to suppose that the apostles went back to fishing in disobedience to the Master’s command years before that they drop their nets and follow him. Christ is the Alpha and Omega, meaning that he is able to know everything from start to finish at the same time. Before the Resurrection, Jesus told the apostles that they would meet a man in Jerusalem carrying a pitcher of water, from whom they would rent an Upper Room: “So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them (Luke 22:13).” Thus he was also able to “set up” his men, ordering them to go to the Sea of Tiberius, knowing what he had prepared for them there, in order to instruct them.

In his humanity he did a domestic thing in cooking breakfast. In his divinity he predicted what the apostles would become. Whatever else may be encoded in the number 153, the fact is that this event happened, for had it been an oriental myth there would have been a million fish. This number was a detail never to be forgotten. Even when the youngest of them, the cadet of the Twelve, was the last to survive and his mind was weary with age, he said with a thrill like that of a youth: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life” (1 John 1:1).

There is one thing we know that prevents miniaturizing Christ as the best of men but only a man: “For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (I Col. 16-17). In him was an urgent appeal to the intellect, which for the Jew was a function of love and not confined to the brain, as is clear in the Resurrection appearance to Cleopas and his companion on the Emmaus road: “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26). Here was the culmination of his earlier rabbinical catechesis: “‘Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’ ‘Twelve,’ they replied. ‘And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’ They answered, ‘Seven.’ He said to them, ‘Do you still not understand?’” (Mark 8: 18–21).

The unseen calculus that fascinated Oppian when counting fish in coastal Cilicia much more amazed William Blake when describing an imagined “Tyger” which certainly was not rampant in London: “What immortal hand or eye / Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” If there is substance to some anthropic principle in the play of numbers, it is found in the fact that after the 153 fish had been dragged to shore, a small fire was burning as Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. And Peter wept in remembering that by another small fire in Jerusalem he had said three times that he never knew the Man.

BY: FR. GEORGE W. RUTLER

From: www.pamphletstoinspire.com

#a great catch the 153 fish

1 note · View note