#his faith in Jesus was rewarded | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

nerdygaymormon · 5 months ago

Text

Matthew 25:14-30 - Parable of the Talents

Jesus tells a parable that says the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by a man going on a long trip. He calls together his servants and entrusts his money to them while he is gone. He gave five talents of silver to one servant, two talents of silver to another, and one talent of silver to the final servant—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

The servant who received the five talents of silver began to trade the money and earned five more talents. The servant with two bags of silver also went and earned two more. But the servant who received the one talent of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

After a long time, their master returned and he wants an accounting of the funds he left with them. The servant who was entrusted with five talents came forward to say he used it to gain an additional five talents. The master replied, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Let's celebrate together."

The servant who had the two talents came forward to say he had used it to earn two more talents. The master also congratulates him and invites him to celebrate together.

Then the servant with the one talent of silver said, "Master, I knew you were a harsh man as evidenced by you harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering straw you didn't set out to dry. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth to keep it safe. Here is your money back." The master calls this servant wicked and lazy and asks if you knew that I'm such a harsh man because I take profits I didn't work for, why didn't you deposit my money and at least earn some interest on it?" Then the master ordered the one talent of silver taken away from this servant and given to the servant with the ten talents.

The master goes on to say that those who use well what they are given, will be given even more, and they will have an abundance. But for those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The Kingdom of Heaven is like this.

————————————————————

First thing we need to make clear in this story is that a talent of silver is a LARGE amount of money. Some scholars estimate a talent was worth 20 years of wages for the common worker. Let's imagine someone who earns $25,000/year today doing work like cleaning houses or doing yard work, using that comparison would make a single talent worth $500,000.

Right from the beginning, this story is not what we would expect, the master leaving huge amounts of money with his servants for them to manage on their own with no instructions or supervision.

It makes sense to us in a capitalist system that people use money to make money. An investor uses money to buy shares of a corporation and expects it to work to earn a profit and pay the investor a dividend. If the corporation doesn't make more wealth, then the investor will take their funds elsewhere. This is greed-driven, not a charity. This is how the master in the story operates, he uses his money to reap profits from others who do the work.

The servant who buried the money blames his master's ruthless craving for profits as the reason he didn't want to possibly lose the money and so he buried it. However, the master is not pleased because he has no profit and points out that depositing the funds at a bank and earning a low interest rate is low risk and at least earns some profit.

If this is what heaven is like, then God wants profitable servants, not excuses. There's many ways to use what God has given us. Success isn't rewarded with carefree living on the beach, instead you're given more responsibility.

————————————————————

I've heard this parable used in two ways. One is to say we are each to work as hard as we can because we know God is harsh and demanding. The word "talent" in the story means an amount of money but in English the word "talent" means an ability or aptitude, and thus many say that whatever natural talents we have, we must develop and use them for Jesus (like he's the investor and we're the corporation that has to earn a profit), or else!

Another interpretation is that this isn't about working as hard as you can and only then are you valuable to the Lord, instead this is actually about grace. The Lord gave them huge sums of money and no rules about how to use it, they are enabled to act. The one who gets called lazy and wicked is the one who didn't try new things, who doesn't take risks, who does nothing but hide what he was given. Even if we have a fear of risk, there's low-risk options for us, but we must do something, even if not everything works out.

Let's take our body as an example of something given to us. We only have the use of it during this mortal life, then God takes it back.

In the first interpretation, we must exercise hard and eat right and care for our body, make it into the best, most-healthy version of itself so that we can use on doing good works for the Lord. In the second interpretation, we are given a body and it's up to us to experiment with it in different ways and in that way grow, like trying different sports, training our hands to play a musical instrument, experiencing the pleasures of sex and the pain of injury, we are to take risks, even if some of those risks don't pay off, because that's how we grow.

————————————————————

What would be a queer interpretation of this story?

Telling queer people not to “act” on their queerness is akin to telling us to bury our talent and to go back to the Lord without doing anything with it.

Queer people are told to hide who they are. Gay, bi, and pan people have the capacity to love, but too often we're told we shouldn't, to bury that desire and instead return it unused to the Lord. Trans people are told not to explore their bodies and ways to change it to fit who they are on the inside, that God would rather we return our bodies unaltered and unexplored. This feels like the opposite of what this parable is teaching.

Also, we know Jesus uses the money in the story as a metaphor, elsewhere in the scriptures we're told accumulating riches is problematic, we're to use what money we have to help others. What would be examples of "investing talents" that God would view as profitable? How about helping queer people to overcome the shame they were taught? What about fighting for equity and justice for groups, like queer people, who are not treated fairly in our power structures?

#queer scriptures #queer faith #queerstake

33 notes · View notes

izzieheart · 1 month ago

Text

BIBLE STUDY: #1

─ ✩ “In the following study, we will reflect on seeking God's wisdom, protection, peace, and justice. Most importantly, we will learn to trust in God's hands, knowing that He always knows what is best for us. In the end, His plans are greater than ours!”

Books used on the following study: Psalms

STRENGTH AND OBEDIENCE

Psalm 19:11 "Therefore, by them, Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward." By following God's commands, we are warned, and there is great reward in obeying Him.

Psalm 19:13 "Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me. Then I will be innocent and cleansed from blatant rebellion." This verse highlights the importance of humility and obedience to God’s commandments and warns against the arrogance and self-righteousness that can lead to sin.

1. Why is self-righteousness wrong? The concept of self-righteousness implies a belief that one's salvation is based on their own actions or works, rather than the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins. We don't deserve Heaven on our own merits, but it's only through the love and grace of God, through our faith and acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice, that we can be made righteous.

2. In modern times, how can we replace the offerings made back then? While modern times may not include traditional burnt offerings like in the Old Testament, we can still offer our sacrifices to God through our actions and our daily lives. This could mean giving up harmful habits and behaviors, volunteering our time and resources to help others, or even simply doing our best to obey God's commandments in everyday situations. Let us also make time daily to strengthen our relationship with God.

TRUST AND LOVE

Psalm 21:2 "You have given him his heart's desire and have not denied the request of his lips." This verse speaks about trust and gratitude to God, expressing the speaker's faith in God's love and sovereignty.

Psalm 21:7 "For the King relies on the Lord; through the faithful love of the Most High he is not shaken." The king encounters difficulties and threats, the love and support of God will ensure that he remains strong and protected, and he will never be broken or overcome by misfortune.

Psalm 46:4-5 "There is a river its steams delight the day of God, the holy dwelling the place of the *Most High. God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns." These verses convey the assurance of God's presence, protection, and timely help for His people, offering hope and security amidst any adversity.

Psalm 57:3 "He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me. God sends His faithful love and truth." This phrase portrays a vivid image of God actively intervening in our life. It emphasizes God’s willingness to descend from His heavenly throne to rescue those in distress.

Psalm 118:18 "The Lord disciplined me severely, but He did not hand me over to death." God discipline us not to ultimately punish us but to shape us into better people. We must recognized that the severity of the discipline is a reflection of God's concern for our growth and righteousness. Despite the severity of the discipline, we are thankful that God has not allowed us to face ultimate destruction or death.

GOD'S PROTECTION

Psalm 23:4 "Even if I go to the darkest valley, I fear no danger, For you are with me; You anoint on my head with oil; my cup overflows." This is a declaration of trust and faith in God, emphasizing that even in darkness, we are comforted by the presence of God, who promises to protect and guide us.

Psalm 34:7 "The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who *fear Him, and rescues them." This verse highlights the protective presence of God and His angels, specifically for those who fear and worship Him.

Psalm 27:2"When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and enemies stumbled and fell." The expression “to devour my flesh” uses vivid imagery to describe the intensity of our enemie's intentions—it's as if they are determined to utterly destroy us. But in the end, God caused our enemies to falter and be defeated.

THE WICKED AND JUSTICE

Psalm 73:6 "Therefore, pride is their necklace and violence covers them like a garment." This phrase implies that the wicked wear their pride openly and with arrogance as if it were an accessory like a necklace. Just as clothing envelops a person, violence is said to cover the wicked. This means that their lives are characterized by cruelty and aggression. Violence defines their actions, and they engage in harmful and unjust lifestyles.

Psalm 73:7 "Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild." Fatness in the Bible often symbolizes wealth and abundance. The imagery of eyes bulging out suggests that the wicked are so well-fed and prosperous that their wealth is excessive. And untimely the desires and thoughts of their hearts are uncontrolled, ambitious, and often wicked.

Psalm 73:8 "They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression." They are known for their mockery and malicious speech, meaning they ridicule others and speak in harmful or spiteful ways. The wicked not only speak maliciously, but they also use their power or influence to threaten and oppress others.

Psalm 73:16 "When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny." The psalmist on this, Asaph, is struggling to make sense of why the wicked seem to prosper endlessly while the righteous suffer. He observed the arrogance and success of the wicked, and it deeply troubled him, making him confused and frustrated. But when Asaph enters the sanctuary, he gains a spiritual perspective, a new perspective. Asaph gains clarity about the ultimate fate of the wicked. While they may seem to prosper, their success will come to an end. Their end will be one of judgment and destruction.

─ ✩ “This is all for today! Thanks for joining me in this Bible study, remember to ask for guidance to the Lord before reading. And reflect his word in our daily lives. Remember God love us, we aren’t too far from him. See you all next study!”

12 notes · View notes

bloodsappho · 16 days ago

Text

These crosses all over my body

Remind me of who I used to be

And Christ forgive these bones I’m hiding

From noone successfully

Wrestling with God, secrets that can’t be hidden, flesh and bone. Themes established from the very outset. Of course we wonder what are these crosses, these secrets. As we will hear, violence haunts the protagonist. She is abused, she fights back, she kills. So are the crosses decorative sigils, testaments of faith worn around the neck and fingers? Are they cuts and bruises and batterings? Are they deep, inner wounds, bleeding out silently? Are they self inflicted cuts, scored with a razor into her wrists and thighs?

Self-inflicted razor wounds go much deeper than the pop-psych logic of “self-harm”. Particularly prevalent amongst young women, they attest to a body-mind that wants to open, to bleed, to have its own limits annihilated in a rush of pleasure and pain. Mortification of the flesh is particularly common in Christian culture, self-inflicted punishment for sinful thought and deed, attributed especially to women.

Camille Paglia:

“The artist makes art not to save mankind but to save himself. Every benevolent comment by an artist is a fog to cover his tracks, the bloody trail of his assault against reality and others.”

Later

“Art advances by self-mutilation of the artist.”

Hemingway claims “to write is easy, you just sit down and bleed”. Bowie claims “to be an artist is a ridiculous thing. It makes much more sense to earn money, look after your family. I don’t know why anyone would do it.” Self experience attests to artists sitting in frozen cold apartments, unable to eat properly, following a voice that nobody else can here. Addicts and artists often go hand in hand.

“These crosses all over our bodies”, the stacked wounds and traumas of war against the everyday. The great mistake of Amero-boomerist art criticism to assume that such wounds and traumas are the fault of oppressive power structures themselves. Such power structures exist to keep violent nature in a straightjacket, a state of affairs that the artist simply cannot abide by. The only advice that can ever be given to someone who is thinking about becoming an artist is “Give up now”, because the path of crucifixion is not something that can be chosen or rationally debated.

Many cultures and esoteric paths offer Gods of ecstasy and vision who undergo violent metamorphoses and stand at the crossroads of life and death: Jesus, Dionysus, Shiva and Osiris just a few. Of course the Christ myth is an evolution of the Dionysus myth, but the Christian Universalist reading comes out of Jewish linguistic totalitarianism which wants to banish the erotics of masks, idols and personas. The multiplicity and polymorphism, not to mention the perversity, of the various robes of the dying God is anathema to the priest line that wants to establish strict loyalty and sexual submission.

Judaism today has evolved to be a champion of the erotics of the eye, with many of the great figures of Hollywood Jewish artists trained in Romanticism and Expressionism who fled central Europe when the Nazis came to power in the 1930s. It is in fundamentalist Islam where we see the nightmare of Abrahamic totalitarianism most clearly, with women wrapped in rags and virgin girls offered as the heavenly reward for total submission to God.

Michael Jackson, one of the most influential and biggest selling artists of all time. One hardly ever hears his name mentioned save in scorn, and yet his traces are everywhere — the songs and dances of every popstar of the last 20 years are unmistakenly scorred by his influence. Jackson is frightening because he is, we might say, trans-everything. Massively androgynous, morphing from black to white, physically and musically, adult and child, his career is a violent and unceasing metamorphosis. He was under the knife as much as under the camera, a vanguard of celebrity plastic surgery taken to extremes, to many an angel and to many others a satanic freakshow.

The artist, condemned to create beauty at the monstrous intersections of life.

#dark renaissance #dark academia #writing #creative writing #art #ethel cain #mothercain #preachers daughter #essay #literary criticism #literary #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity

9 notes · View notes

scribeforchrist-blog · 5 months ago

Text

Bringing Intimacy Back

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK =========================  + Galatians 3:26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ========================= VERSE OF THE DAY ======================== +Psalm 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” ========================= SUBJECT: Bringing Intimacy Back ========================= ** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS ** I AM INTIMATE WITH GOD  I AM SEEKING GOD  I AM PRAYING ALWAYS  I AM LOVING  ******************************** THOUGHTS: =======================  Ever since I could remember, I have heard people say you don’t pray to feel God's presence, but you pray to hear his voice and communicate with him. But his presence can be felt if we focus just on him; he allows us to have glimpse or moments of his presence being there, but the most important thing we should focus on is communicating with him; we have to be intimate when we pray to him we must pray, a lot of times we get so focused on whether we will feel his presence that we lose the point of what we should be doing which is communicating.  Where do you communicate with him,, only at church, in your car, in a closet? These things matter because if we are constantly around people, how will we ever have those moments to hear Him? God likes to speak; like I always say, when we communicate with someone, it's one person talking and the other listening, but how can we ever hear him speak if we are always talking? We have to learn to let God speak so we can know what he has to say.   Sometimes, we don’t know how to pray in silence because our mind is racing, and we have 1000 or more thoughts coming through our heads.  Mathew 6:6 says, But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees you in secret, will reward you.  We must go into a room, shut the door, and pray, and a lot of us don’t do that. Some of us will do everything in our power not to pray, but how do we expect to feel his presence if we are never alone? If we never go away, it says to go into a room, shut the door, and secretly do it away from EVERYTHING & EVERYONE so no one can hear or see us. Sometimes, when we pray, we are loud because when someone prays in tongues, they will feel the presence of God, and when they do, it is such a powerful moment, and it’s uncontrollable, but for the most part, we must remain silent so that we may hear God.  To feel the presence of God, we must “Pray without ceasing,” I try to pray all the time; I set an alarm every every half hour, and when the alarm goes off, I pray, and it's not a long prayer. It may be for 5 to ten minutes. Whatever I can give God, I do it right then. We must understand that the more time we spend in his presence, the more likely we will encounter him. Don’t expect it to; don’t look for it, just relax and pray.   Acts 2:3-4 Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  See, the disciples knew they had to wait on the Holy Spirit, and when they did, they were filled with him, but it was only when they waited. Look at this: it says they were sitting; we will feel his presence when we sit and dwell. A lot of times, we don’t feel his presence because we are messing with our phone or we are talking, but when we WAIT and SIT and wait on God, we can have encounters and opportunities to feel We must confess our sins and wait for God to show us what he wants us to see.  Lamentations 3:25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 

The Lord will always. Be good to us; he will always see us through, but we must wait on him even in our daily lives and our big decisions; we must wait on him to show us the way because without knowing his way, we will always go wrong that’s why we sit that’s why we wait, if you noticed the prophets in the bible the always go to the mountain top, they always go into caves to get away from everything else just to hear the whispers of God.

If you're not hearing him check on these things, have you sinned, have you ignored is instructions, have I waited, we are so gain to go but where are we going, people are so ready to start their callings but where are you going? What will you do once you are there?? If you can’t answer these questions, seek God with everything. That means the time we have in our life; we must take it into account and understand every second and every minute matters when we are seeking him,  ***Today, the Holy Spirit wants us to know to get alone in our closet, to get alone with him and connect with him; he wants us to love doing this and not feel like it’s a chore; this isn’t a chore this is intimacy, when we are in relationships you’ll hear people say they want time with the person their dating because they are seeking those intimate moments to talk and to get to know them so how do we do this with Him, how do we take the time to love him and to be near him, we must strip away the distractions and strip away other things and seek him. Put on worship music, praise him, and give him praise, set the atmosphere, and allow him to move through your room. After doing this, sit, wait, and focus on him, and he will speak to you.   This week, we talked about committing adultery in the heart; this happens when someone seeks something from someone else, they aren’t getting in their marriage, and we do this with God because we feel he’s not giving us the peace we deserve or the love we deserve or the attention. Still, God can give us everything we need, but we must seek him, put him first, stop looking for other things, be content , and start loving God more. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee ======================== PRAYER ======================== Heavenly Father, thank you for everything you have done for us ,lord; continue to be our guide; help us to love you more to be connected with you, lord; we acknowledge we aren’t doing enough, lord. I ask you to be with each of us, lord, and continue to show us the way we love you so much; show us how to wait on you, remove the distractions, and help us be willing to let go of it. Lord, we ask you to forgive us for our sins. Lord, create in us a pure heart; help us to be closer to you more and more each day; help us to be intimate with you and not just seek you for this or that but to seek more time to have with you while it's still day in Jesus’ Name Amen  ======================== REFERENCES ======================== + Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.  + Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;”   + Genesis 49:18: “I wait for your salvation, O Lord.”  ======================== FURTHER READINGS ========================= Proverbs 15 Nehemiah 3 Psalm 118 Luke 18 =========================

19 notes · View notes

walkswithmyfather · 4 months ago

Text

Mark 6:45-46 (TPT). “After everyone had their meal, Jesus instructed his disciples to get back into the boat and go on ahead of him and sail to the other side to Bethsaida. So he dispersed the crowd, said good-bye to his disciples, then slipped away to pray on the mountain.”

Luke 5:16 (CEV). “But Jesus would often go to some place where he could be alone and pray.”

Matthew 6:6 (NIV). “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV). “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

James 5:13-16 (ESV). “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

17 notes · View notes

droogiesanddiscourse · 2 years ago

Text

"Hellfire."

Pairing: Monsignor John Pruitt x F!Reader

Summary: You are called first to receive everlasting life from the angel's blood during Easter Vigil.

Warnings: Spoilers for Episode 6 of Midnight Mass and all the content that comes with it. Language. Taking some liberties with how the angel's blood works uhhh hehe. Millie who's that AU. Going off of the stream of consciousness / dream-like writing I am trying so hard to stay out of my head and just write what comes.

"Brothers and sisters,” Monsignor Pruitt concludes. “On this most holy night I come to you with good news. Not only the good news of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who arose to forgive us of our sins after three days in the tomb. But, also the resurrection of ourselves."

He clasps his hands together in makeshift prayer, eyes sparkling an unfamiliar orange glow that you've never seen before. That of a feral black cat's eyes bouncing back light. The ones that hunt on the outpost of the island, all teeth and heat and hunger and sex and wild and and and--

Visions of nocturnal holiness.

"I ask you. Trust in me. And God will reward your loyalty heavily. Know that I would not ask of the ultimate sacrifice of your life if I did not have utmost faith in our God for the miracle he is about to bestow tonight."

The silence within the church is deafening. Not a soul rises for his offer, parishioners stunned to their seats. His eyes scan, searching for a familiar face. Finally focusing on yours.

“Please. [“____”]," his voice like liquid honey calls to you, echoing through the church. "I call upon you to take the plunge first, my sweet child. Show the good people of Crockett Island that there is nothing to fear. That there is paradise waiting for us all tonight."

He leaves his pulpit, descending down the steps towards you. His arm reaches out, using his slender fingers to beckon you to him with a "come hither" motion. White vestments flowing, covering his human visage as he moves, billowing out like an angel's wings.

Devils were once just fallen angels. Symbols of purity be damned.

He notices your trepidation.

"One moment of pain, perhaps. But an eternity of youth and love and worship in His name. We have been given a tremendous gift, sister ["____"]. Be brave.”

Beverly Keene remained tucked in the upper corner of the church, stirring the choice of death for this evening. She's always been a witch in your eyes; now the harsh comparison rings true more than ever as she concocts a deadly potion of sickeningly sweet liquid.

The smell reminds you of too hot summers and running against the shoreline as the waves lap against your ankles and buying popsicles at the general store and sticky raspberry juice running between your fingers. Familiar memories and tastes intermingled with rat poison.

“And so Jesus rose from the tomb, trampling down death. As will we. I am with you, and you are with me. There is nothing to fear."

Don't drink the kool-aid, the old adage goes.

But you wonder how vanilla and raspberry taste mixed together.

Jonestown redux is standing before you, with his hand outstretched for you to take; his body backlit by the illumination of hundreds of candles. You look up at him through your lashes, lips slightly parted. Your eyebrows upturned and eyes reposed.

"Monsignor. Forgive me, but I cannot," you swallow hard. Back yourself from that cliff, you have one leg dangling over the edge now! "For I have not taken communion as my sins have been too weighty, too difficult to ever be forgiven. I believe I did not deserve the body and blood of Christ at that time, which is selfish of me. Forgive me.”

John almost considers this for a moment, his thick eyebrows furrowing together as he stares down at you.

"There is no resurrection for me. I will die,” you state bluntly. Your words are finally registering.

Back away back away, make distance between the cliff.

But he smiles, against your expectations. A tight lipped smile, his eyes kissing at the corners when his cheeks raise. Missed by the miracle of reversed age, not reaching the crows feet that reveal only when he's truly happy.

"My angel. You've taken more than enough of my seed in your womb, and down your throat. The blessing is already inside you."

His hand grazes your cheek, and Hellfire reigns down as the finality of his reveal sets in across the room. Hot and prickling at the back of your neck. High pitched buzzing of bees in your ears. Whore of Babylon comes to Crockett Island. Mary Magdalene weeps. Hundreds of eyes descend upon your form, fragile and ready to break at a moment's notice.

Hell has a special place reserved for you for tasting the most unholy fruits. You wear guilt like a halo.

John positions his index fingers and thumb underneath your chin, tilting it upwards. Your eyes dart away, unable to face him. For sure your very skin would burst into flames if you stared too long.

"Look at me," he demands. "Look at me, angel. Do not be ashamed.”

Oh, you’re more than familiar with this position.

Your eyes tilt back, big and yearning and scared yet wanting more. More of John, more of his smell on your bedsheets, more of his fingers in your mouth more of the salty bitter taste of his skin more breaking the boundaries between heaven and hell more more more more flesh more blood no sin no death no guilt.

Hell has a special place reserved for you in due time.

But real hell is living without him. You slip your hand into his, rising from the pew.

The church is silent, conversations about your unforgivable sin now hushed to murmurs. Somewhere in the distance you hear the gentle song of night crickets that intermingle with your delicate footsteps across decades old wood. A resounding creak and moan of the floorboards that echoes through the small church that makes it become an entity of its own, ready to swallow you whole.

Someone is crying, quietly muffled pathetically behind a cloth. A woman blesses herself using the sign of the cross as you pass.

A dead girl walking, and this is the sound of your funeral march.

Your toes bump into the first step leading up to the chancel. Guiding you by your waist, John spins you to face the congregation. Expressions of the crowd are unreadable.

Are you Joan of Arc or a witch about to be burned at the stake?

Blasphemy, blasphemy stood before your friends, family, acquaintances.

A light. The vision of John blocks you away from their watchful eyes as he stands before you, cupping your face within his hands. Your eyes lock together. Gently, he presses a chaste kiss to the center of your forehead. Lips just barely ghosting over your flesh. You tremble before him.

Bev stands behind you, both arms outstretched forward, bent at the elbow. You’re smart enough to realize she’s ready to catch you for when you involuntarily start seizing, your body putting up its final fight against the poison coursing through its veins.

Life. Death. Rise.

A sob starts in your larynx, unable to burst fully to the surface The warmth of his hands removed from your face, now reaching for Bev's as he takes the small plastic solo cup of juice from hers into his.

"I am with you," he whispers as he holds the cup up to your lips. "As you walk through the valley of the shadow of death I am with you, and you will come out on the other side anew. Whole. Pure as a reward for your devotion to Him."

Raspberry and vanilla threaten to break the seal of your lips, the cup tapped against it. His other hand snakes his way up your back, weaving his fingers within your hair. The digits tug against your locks slightly, tilting your head back.

"Open."

Saliva gathers at the back of your throat.

You can't, you can't, you can't.

You cannot dare to lose the chance to miss another one of those too hot summer days where the children of Crockett island throw their books haphazardly into their backpacks basking in their first hours of summer vacation and the salty water clinging to your hair making it curly and sticky raspberry juice dripping between your fingers–

But oh the visions of him with and the way he whimpers into your neck when he thrusts into you, his hot mouth on your pulse point, the way his hand pin down your wrists forcing you to stay still. Murmured praises and bedroom hymns whispered as the moonlight coats both of your bodies in a ghostly blue glow. Was it truly ever living without him? No more hiding no more secrets you are his and he is yours. A boundary death cannot even cross–eternity is a beautiful thing to imagine.

A tear slips out of your eye, rolling down your cheek. The pad of John’s thumb gently rubs it away. Sympathy for the condemned.

"Drink."

And you do.

#father paul hill x reader #monsignor john pruitt x reader #midnight mass #hamfam #father paul x reader #monsignor pruitt x reader #hamish linklater x reader #hamish linklater imagine #Caitlin loses their damn mind over the fucking hot ass priest cant keep living like this I am literally so insane and feral #please send help #Caitlin go to hell challenge (real)#a/n: rat poison supposedly tastes like vanilla so that is where the reference comes from if that was confusing at all

158 notes · View notes

beloved-of-john · 2 months ago

Note

3 5 8 10 14 15 31

Wow, okay! I assume this is for the Christian ask game :)

3. Have you been baptized? If you have been, when? If not, do you plan to be?

I have been baptised in the Church Of England (Anglican), but I hope to be confirmed into the Roman Catholic church in the future.

5. Do you attend church? If so, do you prefer traditional or contemporary services?

I attend church every Sunday if I possibly can! And I tend to prefer traditional services, they just help me connect to the divine much more.

8. What is your favorite Bible story?

I'm not sure if I have an absolute favourite, but Daniel in the lion's den has stuck with me since I was a child. There's something about the strength of Daniel's faith in God, and God's great love for him, and how the beasts of the earth, God's creatures, bow down to that love.

10. Is there a certain miracle that Jesus performed that's really spoken to you? If so, which one and why?

The healing of the paralytic at the pool really speaks to me, because I can't even imagine how radically that man's life was changed. Also the way Jesus chose specifically to heal him on Shabbat, demonstrating that His love for humankind defies all laws and boundaries.

14. What is something that's brought you closer to God?

I answered this question here :)

15. What is something that has made you question your faith?

The idea that non-Christians won't get to join us in Heaven, that they will go to Hell or that their souls will just be obliterated. I simply can't believe that. I know too many non-religious people and people of other religions who are wonderful people and examples of God's love. I can't believe that my parents, who I love so dearly, won't be the recipients of God's endless mercy. Yes, I believe that faith will be rewarded, and lack of faith is a sin, but they are no more sinful than I am. I'm pretty much a purgatorial universalist at this point anyway, but when people tell me that these things are a given of my faith, I sometimes feel that "if that's true, I don't want this".

31. What do you think you'll do when you first meet Jesus one day?

I think I'll just run to Him and hug Him so tightly, probably cry into his chest, thank Him for saving me and for His limitless love for me, thank Him for being my father, my brother, my best friend and my king, and take a while to just rejoice in His presence. <3

And then I'll ask Him a whole lot of questions XD

#asks #ask game #christianity #catholicism #christian faith #jesus christ

16 notes · View notes

yeslordmyking · 7 months ago

Text

John 4:23-24 — Today's Verse for Tuesday, April 23, 2024

0 notes

skimbradsteen · 3 months ago

Text

Daily Poem Praising God#4: If I Have Offended You

If I have offended you I'm being honest If I have offended you I'm trying to help you, I promise

If I have offended you For spreading my faith I'm doing it because I love you To change your everlasting fate

Our God is mighty He is full of Grace If you open the door to Him You'll feel His warm embrace

My goal is simple My faith is strong My love for you Is lifelong

In times of suffering I hope to bring peace In light of the chaos of the world Give it to God and allow it to release

Pain and suffering is bound to happen Jesus suffered much to provide us Salvation We must give it all to him For He is our foundation

He offers love and mercy Forgiveness and freedom Repenting of your sins For glorious rewards with Him If I have offended you I did so in love The God who I praise Sends his everlasting love.

15 notes · View notes

frmartinshomiliesandreflections · 11 days ago

Text

6th November >> Fr. Martin's Reflections/Homilies on Today's Mass Readings for:

The Feast of All Saints of Ireland (Inc. Luke 6:20-26)

and for

Wednesday, Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time (Inc. Luke 14:25-33)

Feast of All Saints of Ireland

Gospel Luke 6:20-26 Happy are you who are poor, who are hungry, who weep.

Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said:

‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God. Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied. Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.

Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now. Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry. Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.

‘Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.��

Reflections (7)

(i) Feast of All Saints of Ireland

The saints are those who responded fully to the Lord’s call to become his disciples. Today’s gospel reading says that Jesus fixed his eyes on his disciples before speaking to them. He addresses them as poor, hungry, weeping, hated and abused. Most of the Irish saints whom we remember today could have been addressed in a similar way. In many ways, the life of Jesus’ first disciples became more of a struggle for them after they left their former way of life to follow Jesus. Getting involved in Jesus’ way of doing things brought new demands, and had left them poorer, needier, more vulnerable and less acceptable to many. Yet, Jesus declares to his struggling disciples that they are blessed, because in becoming his disciples and in remaining faithful to him, they would experience the abundance of God’s generosity, ‘you shall be satisfied… you shall laugh… your reward will be great in heaven’. When our own following of the Lord makes demands on us and leaves us more vulnerable, the Lord declares us blessed too. Our efforts to walk in the way of the Lord, to become saints, will often mean taking the path less travelled. Some people looking at our lives might see us as losing out. Our remaining faithful to the Lord’s way can appear to leave us less fortunate from a human point of view. Today’s gospel reading declares, however, that, in reality, we are truly fortunate. Jesus assures us that whatever we have to put aside in order to be faithful to him will seem very little in comparison to what we will receive from him. He promises his struggling disciples, ‘yours is the kingdom of God’. He makes the same promise to disciples in every generation, to all who are striving to be saints, to be loving in the way Jesus is loving. This promise of the kingdom of God does not simply pertain to the next life; it begins to be fulfilled for us in this life. If we give our lives over to the Lord, as the saints did, we will begin to know the blessings of the kingdom of God in this present live, and we will experience them to the full in eternal life.

And/Or

(ii) All the Saints of Ireland

Today we celebrate the feast of all the saints of Ireland. We remember all those men and women from the time of Saint Patrick who witnessed to the gospel in our land by the way they lived. We thank God for the ways that they kept the flame of faith burning, very often through difficult and dangerous times. They enjoyed a living relationship with the Lord, and that relationship shaped all that they said and did. The first reading this morning speaks of so many witnesses in a great cloud on every side of us. They were innumerable people who lived saintly lives in every generation. Some of them have been canonized, some are on the way to be canonized; others will never be officially canonized. They are an encouragement to us all to keep running steadily in the race we have started, in the words of that first reading. The witness of the saints inspires us and encourages us to be faithful to the Lord, to keep walking in his way. We look to them for the courage we need to keep the faith and to share the faith. We look to them, because we know that in looking to them we are looking to the Lord who revealed himself through them in a special way. We all need each other’s witness. Our own efforts to reach sanctity, to be loving like Jesus, is an encouragement to everyone else As Paul says in one of his letters, the live and death of everyone has its influence on others. We can forget just how much our own struggle to be faithful to the gospel impacts on others for good. To the extent that any one of us grows in holiness, we make it easier for others to do the same. Today’s feast invites us all to be part of that great crowd of witnesses who enable others to keep running steadily in the race they have started.

And/Or

(iii) Feast of All the Saints of Ireland

Just under a week ago we celebrated the feast of all saints. Today, we celebrate the feast of all the saints of Ireland. We know the names of some of those saints, like Patrick, Brigid, Columcille, Ita, and many others. It is striking how many of the stained-glass windows in our church depict Irish saints. However, today we also remember those saintly men and women of our land of whom we have little or no record. In the words of today’s first reading, ‘some of them left a name behind them, so that their praises are still sung. While others have left no memory, and disappeared as though they had not existed, they are now as though they had never been’. Yet, the impact for good of this second group, those who have left no memory, could have been just as powerful as the impact for good of the well-known Irish saints. The saints are those whose lives are transparent before God; the light of God’s love shines through them. They are always a power for good, whether or not they leave a memory. When a child in school was asked, ‘Who are the saints?’, she thought of the stained-glass windows in her parish church and said ‘the saints are those who let the light in’. Before we can allow the light of the Lord to shine through us, we first have to be aware of our need of his light. In today’s gospel reading, Luke tells us that people were drawn to Jesus from near and far, Jerusalem, Tyre and Sidon. They came out of a sense of their need of God’s life-giving and healing light. They were poor, hungry, distressed, needy, and they knew it, and Jesus says to them, ‘Happy are you..’ He declared happy this mass of broken humanity, because they knew their need of what Jesus could offer them. The first step on the road to sanctity is that awareness of our need of the Lord for what only the Lord can give us. As we come before the Lord in our poverty, we open ourselves to his coming. We make it possible for him to work in and through us. It is our awareness of our need of the Lord which makes us transparent before the light of his love, enabling that light to shine through us into our often dark world.

And/Or

(iv) Feats of All the Saints of Ireland

There is a very strange paradox at the heart of today’s gospel reading for the feast of all the saints of Ireland. Jesus declares happy those who are afflicted in any way, the poor, the hungry, those who are weeping. That seems to fly in the face of the normal human way of looking at things. When we are afflicted in any of these ways, we generally consider ourselves to be very unfortunate. When we look back on such an experience we say to ourselves, ‘That was a bad time in my life. Hopefully, things will improve’. Yet, from Jesus’ perspective our affliction, our vulnerability, can create a space for God to act and to reverse our situation. That is why Jesus makes a series of promises to the poor, the hungry, those who weep, ‘yours is the kingdom of God… you shall be satisfied… you shall laugh’. The ultimate expression of such a reversal worked by God is the death and resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified, when he was at his most afflicted and vulnerable, God raised him to new life. Our greatest struggles in life can open us up to the God of life, and can create a space for God to act in a life-giving way. Paul knew this from his own experience; he spoke of God’s power being made perfect in weakness. In the gospel reading, Jesus is not canonizing poverty or hunger or sadness. Elsewhere in Luke’s gospel, he calls on the better-off to provide for the poor; he shows that he wants those who weep to be consoled and the hungry to be fed. He wanted the promises he makes to the afflicted in today’s gospel reading to begin to come to pass in this earthly life. However, he insists that, whatever about this life, God will certainly will provide for us in our poverty, in our affliction, in our weakness and vulnerability, if we are open to his presence. Many of our Irish saints whose feast we celebrate today experienced great affliction in their struggle to remain faithful to the gospel. Yet, they also knew the Lord’s strength in their weakness, and the promises that Jesus makes in today’s gospel reading are now coming to pass for them. They inspire us to live the gospel to the full, even at the risk of becoming vulnerable and impoverished, knowing that the Lord will provide for us too both in this life and the next.

And/Or

(v) Feast of All Saints of Ireland

According to the Second Vatican Council’s decree on the church, Lumen Gentium, “The union of the wayfarers with the brothers and sisters who sleep in the peace of Christ is in no way interrupted, but on the contrary, according to the constant faith of the Church, this union is reinforced by an exchange of spiritual goods” (LG 49). In the creed, we profess our faith in ‘the communion of saints’, that deep spiritual bond between the ‘wayfarers’, those of us who are still on our pilgrim way, and those who are now with the Lord. The Council speaks of ‘an exchange of spiritual goods’ between believers still on earth and those believers who are now seeing the Lord face to face. In that sense, all the saints of Ireland are not simply figures of the past that we can look back to for inspiration. They are also figures of the present who can guide us today on our pilgrim way. The Letter to the Hebrews speaks of us being ‘surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses’ and assures us that this great cloud of witnesses helps us to ‘run with perseverance the race that is set before us’. Today’s feast invites us to look to the saints of Ireland as our spiritual companions on our pilgrim way. Very few of this great ‘cloud of witnesses’ have been officially canonized by the church. Most are saints by acclamation of local churches in Ireland. Also included in this group of ‘all saints of Ireland’ are those whose lives of sanctity and goodness were known only to their family, friends and parish community. There is a local dimension to this feast. We are encouraged to think of those men and women from our local area whose loving way of life was an inspiration to other believers. They were all people of the beatitudes in today’s gospel reading. They may have been poor in worldly terms but were rich in the sight of God. Their lives may have been marked by hunger, sadness and various trials and tribulations, but they were at peace in themselves, ‘satisfied’, and they exuded a deep sense of joy, a sharing in the Lord’s own joy. They show us what really matters in life and inspire us to want to belong in their company.

And/Or

(vi) Feast of All Saints of Ireland

All the saints of Ireland, whose feast we celebrate today, include those whose saintly way of life has been recognized by the church, but also those whose sanctity was known only to those who lived alongside them. These were the men and women of our island through whom the light of God’s loving presence shone brightly. Many of them would have been considered poor, hungry and weeping, in the language of today’s gospel reading. When Jesus says in that gospel reading, ‘how happy are you who are poor; yours is the kingdom of God’, he was not suggesting that poverty was, in itself, a blessed state. Jesus was saying that the poor are blessed because God was standing by their side and was working tirelessly to transform their plight. Throughout his ministry, Jesus revealed a God who pledged to act on behalf of the poor, the marginalized, the vulnerable, the broken in body, mind and spirit, the hungry, the sorrowful. Jesus proclaimed that God was acting in and through his own ministry to reverse the situation of these groups. Jesus made present a God who was the passionate defender of the weak and powerless. What God was doing through Jesus, Jesus wants to continue doing through us his followers, his body in the world. That is why Jesus speaks these beatitudes while fixing his eyes on his disciples. He is calling on us all to work to ensure that the promises he makes to the poor and vulnerable in today’s gospel reading comes to pass, ‘yours is the kingdom of God, you shall be satisfied, you shall laugh’. These promises of Jesus don’t just pertain to life beyond this earthly life. Jesus wasn’t saying to those in greatest need, ‘you can be happy because your situation will be reversed in heaven’. Jesus expected the promises he made to begin to become a reality in the here and now. The saints included those through whom the Lord was free to work to begin bringing to pass in the here and now the promises made in the beatitudes. Because of their openness to the Lord’s presence and call, these saints allowed the poor to experience something of the coming kingdom of God on this side of eternity; they enabled the hungry in body and spirit to be satisfied; they dried the tears of those who wept and helped them to taste something of the joy of the risen Lord. Just as Jesus fixed his eyes on his disciples when he spoke these beatitudes and woes, so he fixes his eyes on all of us today. He calls out to us to help him to bring to pass in the here and now the promises that he makes to the most vulnerable in today’s gospel reading. He calls us to be saints.

And/Or

(vii) Feast of All the Saints of Ireland

The gospel reading for this feast of all the saints of Ireland is the beatitudes as found in the gospel of Luke. They are less familiar to us that the beatitudes as found in Matthew, and, perhaps, more difficult to come to terms with. In what sense are the poor, the hungry, the weeping, the persecuted, happy or blessed? They are happy because, according to Jesus, God is close to them and is working to reverse their miserable situation, ‘yours is the kingdom of God… you shall be satisfied… you shall laugh… your reward will be great in heaven’. Is it the case then that they should accept their plight in the hope that all will be well in the next life? Jesus’ words and actions in this gospel of Luke as a whole would not suggest so. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Lazarus is certainly poor, hungry and weeping. He had no one who tried to improve his situation, even though the rich man on the other side of the gate could have transformed his miserable state with just a little effort. Beyond death, God not only improved his situation, but completely reversed it. At the banquet of Abraham, he enjoyed the hospitality of the kingdom of God; he was satisfied and joyful. Yet, the clear message of the parable is that Lazarus should not have had to wait until after his death for his situation to be reversed. God wanted and expected the rich man to begin to do for Lazarus what God did for him in the kingdom of God. Luke’s gospel as a whole is clear that God wants the work of reversing the situation of the most vulnerable to begin in the here and now. Throughout his ministry, Jesus powerfully revealed this hospitable, transformative, love of God to those who found themselves living on the margins. He looks to his disciples to do the same. The saints were those through whom God’s hospitable, welcoming, love began to transform the lives of those in greatest need. Because of their lives, the kingdom of God was not just a future hope but was also something of a present reality for those who longed for its coming.

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

Wednesday, Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA) Luke 14:25-33 Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. ‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, “Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’

Gospel (USA) Luke 14:25-33 Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

Reflections (7)

(i) Wednesday, Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

The opening verses of the gospel reading this morning seem strange to our ears. Clearly, Jesus’ call to the crowds to hate father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters, is not to be taken literally. Earlier in Luke’s gospel, Jesus had called upon his followers to love their enemies, to bless those who curse them, to pray for those who treat them badly. Jesus embodies that teaching in his own life. He healed the ear of the enemy who had come out to arrest him; he prayed asking God’s forgiveness for those who were crucified him. In this morning’s gospel, Jesus is using deliberately exaggerated language to get across his teaching more pointedly. He is really saying that those who want to follow him will have to love him even more than they love those for whom they have the deepest natural affection. As God’s representative, as God’s Son, Jesus alone is to be loved in the way that God is to be loved, with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. Nothing less will do for God or for God’s Son. Jesus seems to be saying that if we want to be his disciples, we can’t be half-hearted about it. Our following of the Lord is not a casual affair; it needs to be carefully considered, just as someone who decides to build a tower or to go to war needs to think it through thoroughly beforehand.

And/Or

(ii) Wednesday, Thirty first Week in Ordinary Time

The opening words of the gospel this morning seem very harsh and strange to our ears. Yet, we are dealing here with a Semitic idiom, expressing preference. If you prefer one thing, or even one person, over another, you are said to love the one and hate the other. Jesus is not calling on his disciples to hate their families, but to love him more than they love even their families. He is to be the primary love or the primary loyalty in our lives. Elsewhere in the gospel Jesus quotes what he terms the first commandment to love God with all one’s soul, strength and mind. However, because Jesus is God-with-us, to love God in this total way is to love Jesus in this total way. As followers of Jesus we are called to give him our primary allegiance; our relationship with him is to influence all our other relationships. Jesus calls for great loyalty and devotion. That is why he calls on potential disciples to think it through, just as a builder has to think through whether he will be able to finish building the tower if he starts on it. We ask the Lord this morning to keep us whole-hearted rather than half-hearted in our following of him.

And/Or

(iii) Wednesday, Thirty first Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading today, Jesus tells two parables, the parable of the builder and the parable of the king marching to war. In both parables two men rush into some important enterprise without reflecting sufficiently on what they were about to undertake. Their action was not matched by a corresponding reflection and, so, they failed to complete what they began. Jesus seems to be suggesting that following him, becoming his disciple, requires us to be reflective as well as active, prayerfully reflective. We need to keep stepping back before setting out, or, in the language of the parables, we need to keep sitting down to prayerfully consider before launching forth. Following the Lord is not a casual affair, no more than building a tower should be for the builder or going to war should be for a king. We don’t remain the Lord’s disciple, we don’t persevere on that road, without prayerful consideration. Such prayerful consideration can take many forms; it might mean asking the Lord for the wisdom and courage we need to take the right path, his path. It might mean prayerfully entrusting ourselves to the Lord with all our heart, in the conviction that we cannot follow him perseveringly without the resources he alone can provide.

And/Or

(iv) Wednesday, Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

The language at the beginning of today’s gospel reading about the need to hate family members so as to become a follower of Jesus seems very strange to our ears. It is a Semitic idiom of expressing preference, whereby if someone prefers one thing or one person over another, they are said to love the one and hate the other. The Jesus who said, ‘love your enemies’, is not asking us to hate our own flesh and blood. Yet, he is calling for a level of allegiance to himself that takes priority over even the most cherished of human allegiances. He is to be the primary love in our lives. That doesn’t mean that we will love others less, including the members of our family. Rather, if the Lord is the first love in our lives, then our natural loves will be enhanced; we will be empowered to love others in the way the Lord loves them. When we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, we will be caught up into the Lord’s love for others. The more we give ourselves to the Lord, the freer we are to give ourselves to others in the way the Lord gives himself to them. Jesus is aware that he is asking a lot of us, which is why the parable he speaks calls on us to think seriously about our response to his call, just as a builder has to think everything through before he starts to build and a king has to think carefully before he goes to war, especially if he has the smaller force. Yet, elsewhere in the gospels Jesus assures us that if we respond to his call, all embracing as it is, we will receive from him far more than we give him.

And/Or

(v) Wednesday, Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus’ message in today’s gospel reading is very demanding. He declares that becoming his disciple will cost us something. It will require being more devoted to him than to those we are bound to by the strongest ties of natural affection. It means a readiness to hold our possessions lightly, least them become an obstacle to our walking in the Lord’s way. Becoming the Lord’s disciple is not something we do lightly. It requires us to think through what is involved, as someone who sets out to build a tower or a king who sets out to go to war has to think everything through clearly and thoroughly in advance. Jesus’ strong demands here have to be placed in the context of his desire, evident elsewhere in the gospels, to empower us to rise to these demands and to find deep happiness in so doing. The Lord who demands much also generously graces and gifts us. The Lord’s message is both reassuring and demanding. In today’s first reading, Saint Paul shows a great awareness of this two sided nature of the Christian calling and life. On the one hand, he says to the church in Philippi, ‘work out your salvation in fear and trembling’. There are demanding steps which only we can take. Then, Paul immediately says, ‘it is God who puts both the will and the action into you’. It is God who gives us the desire to take the often difficult path of following his Son and also it is God who empowers us to take that path, ‘the will and the action’. As Paul says in another of his other letters, ‘The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this’.

And/Or

(vi) Wednesday, Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

The language of ‘hating’ father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters in today’s gospel reading seems strange to our ears. However, we are dealing here with what could be termed a Semitic idiom. It is a question of preference. We are being called to love God more than our closest blood relatives. In the Jewish tradition, only God was to be loved with all our being, all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This all-encompassing love of God is our response to God’s infinite and unconditional love of us. We are to love all others, including our enemies, with something of the love that God has for us and for them. Because Jesus is God with us, God in human form, this all-encompassing love of God can be transferred to Jesus. Our loving devotion to him is to transcend all other human ties, including the most humanly intense and affectionate. Following Jesus as his disciple entails a total loyalty and faithfulness to him, even unto death. This is why, in the the two parables, Jesus suggests that our response to his call is not to be taken lightly. It requires consideration and reflection, just as a builder has to calculate whether he can finish the tower he intends to build and a king has to calculate whether he can win the battle he intends to fight. Discerning how best to be the Lord’s faithful follower always needs our careful and prayerful consideration and reflection. It requires a process of discernment and the Holy Spirit is given to us to help us in that process.

And/Or

(vii) Wednesday, Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

The opening words of Jesus about the need to hate parents, wife, children, siblings, in order to become his disciple sound very strange and jarring to our ears. It seems to be a Semitic way of expressing preference. If you prefer one thing over another, you are said to love the one and hate the other. Jesus is saying that our relationship with him is to be the primary relationship in our lives. He is to be preferred over all others. Earlier in the gospel, Jesus had said that the primary relationship in our lives is with God. It is only God who is to be loved with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength and all our mind. This love of God with all our being can be transferred to Jesus because through him God is visiting his people (Lk 19:44). We are to love Jesus in this unique way because this is the way that Jesus loves us. Jesus gave his body for us, his very self, on the cross (Lk 22:19). He asks us to give ourselves in love to him, even when this places us at odds with our closest blood relations (Lk 12:51-53). Jesus knows it is a big ask which is why we need to think it through, like the builder intending to build a tower and the king intending to go to war. Following in the way of the Lord, especially when it becomes costly, will always involve a degree of careful, reflective, deliberation. Yet, the Lord does not leave us to our own devices when it comes to answering his call to become his wholehearted follower. The Holy Spirit will always be given to those who ask for it (Lk 11:13) to empower them to become the Lord’s followers. The risen Lord promises to cloth us ‘with power from on high’ (Lk 24:49).

Fr. Martin Hogan.

8 notes · View notes