#mount of olives.... my words will never pass away.........

[ghostsmp3]

beloved disciple nation how we feeling

[hyakinthou-naos]

Hyakíntha Ritual: The Pénthos

1. Ceremonial Garments

As we mourn the passing of our patron's consort, Prince Hyacinthus, we adorn ourselves in simple clothes of dark colors. We wear no jewelry, we partake in no adornments, we allow our grief to permeate the air. He who was all beauty, all light, and all focus of Our Lord Apollo's affections. He was all good, all kindness, all love. We bind our hair and don our veils as we proceed to Temple.

2. Khernips & Purification

We reach the steps and ramps of The Temple's entrance, it's wide white doors opened wide for our precession.

The entrance chamber holds a bowl of water where flaming leaves of bay and laurel have been extinguished. The water is cool as we wash our hands in the lustral water, cleansing ourselves before we enter The Temple's center.

3. Gathering at the Altar

We proceed into The Temple's center; there is music playing softly as we enter. The altar is positioned in the center of the room, behind which stands the Steward - dressed in black. Chairs and pillows for seating are arranged in a semi-circle in front of the altar, upon each is a hyacinth flower in full bloom.

We take our seats

4. Opening Prayer & Deity Invocation

As we settle into our chosen seats, the music fades away. The Steward stands behind the altar and lights the center candle, and speaks:

Hestia, great goddess of the ancients - Daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea - She who is honored before all others. O great goddess, we ask that you accept this flame as an offering to you. Hestia, goddess of hearth and home Lead our way, and light our path.

The Steward then moves to light the second candle, as well as the ceremonial incense. The wick ignites and sweetly scented smoke begins to fill the room. They raise their arms to the heavens, and speak:

Lord Apollo, wonderous god of music and poetry Son of Lord Zeus and Lady Lêta Lover of Hyacinthus, for whom we mourn O bright and shining Lord, we ask that you accept these offerings - flame and incense. We pray that they will ease your heart. We call upon you today, great god of prophecy and healing, to bare witness to our ritual - as we honor your fallen love. The great Prince Hyacinthus of Sparta, for whom these flowers honor. May Hermes carry these words from our lips, to your ears, on mighty Mount Olympus. Du et des, we give so you may give.

5. Hymns & Music

As the Steward concludes their prayer, they open a book sat behind the altar - Metamorphese by Ovid. The pages turn as the Steward opens to Book 10 - and begins to read:

You also, Hyacinthus, would have been set in the sky! if Phoebus had been given time which the cruel fates denied for you. But in a way you are immortal too. Though you have died. Always when warm spring drives winter out, and Aries (the Ram) succeeds to Pisces (watery Fish), you rise

and blossom on the green turf. And the love my father had for you was deeper than he felt for others. Delphi center of the world, had no presiding guardian, while the God frequented the Eurotas and the land of Sparta, never fortified with walls. His zither and his bow no longer fill

his eager mind and now without a thought of dignity, he carried nets and held the dogs in leash, and did not hesitate to go with Hyacinthus on the rough, steep mountain ridges; and by all of such associations, his love was increased. Now Titan was about midway, betwixt

the coming and the banished night, and stood at equal distance from those two extremes. Then, when the youth and Phoebus were well stripped, and gleaming with rich olive oil, they tried a friendly contest with the discus. First Phoebus, well-poised, sent it awhirl through air, and cleft the clouds beyond with its broad weight;

from which at length it fell down to the earth, a certain evidence of strength and skill. Heedless of danger Hyacinthus rushed for eager glory of the game, resolved to get the discus. But it bounded back from off the hard earth, and struck full against your face, O Hyacinthus! Deadly pale

the God's face went — as pallid as the boy's. With care he lifted the sad huddled form. The kind god tries to warm you back to life, and next endeavors to attend your wound, and stay your parting soul with healing herbs. His skill is no advantage, for the wound is past all art of cure. As if someone,

when in a garden, breaks off violets, poppies, or lilies hung from golden stems, then drooping they must hang their withered heads, and gaze down towards the earth beneath them; so, the dying boy's face droops, and his bent neck, a burden to itself, falls back upon his shoulder: “You are fallen in your prime

defrauded of your youth, O Hyacinthus!” Moaned Apollo. “I can see in your sad wound my own guilt, and you are my cause of grief and self-reproach. My own hand gave you death unmerited — I only can be charged with your destruction.—What have I done wrong? Can it be called a fault to play with you?

Should loving you be called a fault? And oh, that I might now give up my life for you! Or die with you! But since our destinies prevent us you shall always be with me, and you shall dwell upon my care-filled lips. The lyre struck by my hand, and my true songs will always celebrate you. A new flower

you shall arise, with markings on your petals, close imitation of my constant moans: and there shall come another to be linked with this new flower, a valiant hero shall be known by the same marks upon its petals.” And while Phoebus, Apollo, sang these words with his truth-telling lips, behold the blood

of Hyacinthus, which had poured out on the ground beside him and there stained the grass, was changed from blood; and in its place a flower, more beautiful than Tyrian dye, sprang up. It almost seemed a lily, were it not that one was purple and the other white. But Phoebus was not satisfied with this.

For it was he who worked the miracle of his sad words inscribed on flower leaves. These letters AI, AI, are inscribed on them. And Sparta certainly is proud to honor Hyacinthus as her son; and his loved fame endures; and every year they celebrate his solemn festival.

The Steward finishes his reading, placing the book back from whence it came, and arranges for the music to begin. Before starting the music, the Steward speaks:

I invite you all to listen to this music, and think of Prince Hyacinthus. Think of all the queer lovers who were taken from this world too soon. Think of all the queer lovers who cannot speak their truth aloud. Think of all the queer lovers, through which we can see Apollo and Hyacinthus. The Gods are with us, they are within us, if only we are to search for them. We are not separate from divinity, for we are all made from divinity.

Music begins to play, and the Steward beats his chest to rhythm of the song.

6. Libations

As the music concludes, the Steward places a large ceremonial bowl in the center of the participants. The Steward then returns with glasses filled with liquid, giving one to each of those in attendance. The Steward stands in front of the altar and speaks:

In honor and reverence of the ancient ways, we hold before us a libation of honey, water, and wine. As we pour these libations, we offer them to Prince Hyacinthus. He who was the lover of our Lord, he whose beauty was unrivaled, he who was taken far too soon.

We all pour our libations into the center bowl, the liquids flow together - some splashing onto the floor and our feet - and another song begins.

7. Divination

[Ritual attendees/participants are encouraged to engage in their own personal divination with Lord Apollo at this time.]

8. Closing Prayers

As the song finishes, the Steward returns to be behind the altar. They take a moment to pause, before speaking:

Hermes Psychopomp, guide of lost souls, we call to thee Guide the soul of Hyacinthus to the realms of Hades, where Queen Persephone reigns. Mighty Pluto, King of the Underworld, we call to thee Receive this soul with kindness and grant him peace in your domain. May his journey to the underworld be swift and gentle. Just Rhadamanthys, Fair Minos, and Honorable Aiakos - judges of the departed souls, we call to thee May Hyacinthus find rest in the Elysian Fields, may he know peace in the land of the dead, may he suffer no longer. O great gods of the underworld, we ask that you accept Hyacinthus, and that he may they find eternal rest and honor within your kingdom.

The Steward raises his arms to the heavens, and once again speaks:

Apollo Aegletus Shining Lord We Feel You In The Rising Sun Apollo Proupsius Foreseeing Lord We Trust Our Future Within Your Hands Apollo Musagetes Lord Of The Muses We Hear Your Voice In Song And Hymn Apollo Acesius Lord Of Healing We Trust In You To See Tomorrow Golden God We Sing Your Praise We Honor You And Speak Your Name Golden God We Beg Your Ear Be With Us And Keep Us Near Du Et Des

The Steward lowers his arms and extinguishes the second candle, before speaking for a final time:

Hestia, first -

They blow out the center candle.

- and last

And with that, the ritual is concluded.

[walkswithmyfather]

“Why Jesus Christ is the God of our painful Gethsemane” By Diana's Diaries:

“May I be willing, Lord, to bear Daily my cross for Thee; Even Thy cup of grief to share, Thou hast borne all for me. Lest I forget Gethsemane, Lead me to Calvary”

“This wonderful hymn penned down by Jennie E. Hussey has been my childhood favorite song. I am someone who tends to forget the Gethsemane that my Christ endured because I get caught up in my own heartaches.

Gethsemane literally means “the garden of oil press”, it was a place that was located on the Mount of Olives. Jesus often visited this place to PRAY with His disciples.

In olden times, the olive trees were beaten to have the olives fall to the ground. Then they were crushed in a stone basin until all the liquids came out and it became a red paste.

Our Christ was beaten and crushed by His own creation. The weight of our sins wore Him down, and He was crushed for our transgressions.

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.” —Isaiah 53:5 (NASB)

“At the place called Gethsemane, Jesus wept and prayed ‘ O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from ME; Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” —Matthew 26:39.

Let us remember that there was no conflict between the Persons of the Godhead, it is a revelation of Christ in His humanity.

My hands tremble as I write these words because I know I was the reason He was crushed and broken. Jesus foresaw how he was going to be crushed like the olives for the sake of his beloved creation.

“When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.” —John 18:1-2 (NIV)

Even his disciple, Judas knew the exact place where Jesus would be found.

—-Do we have a place of prayer where even the Devil fears to come nigh?

—-Have we strengthened and covered ourselves in prayer at the time of our trials and deep sorrows?

We have our painful gethsemanes in this world, the times when we feel crushed in our spirits by our very own, by the trials and wounds that never seem to go away.

Our gethsemanes are where we find zero strength to even pray because our heart is groaning deep, but Praise God, He prays for us.

It could be the temptation or an illness we go through as an individual, the brutal behavior of a family member, the betrayal of a friend, the emptiness and loneliness we experience in this world. The lack of empathy from those we thought were our near ones is so painful. Let me remind you, dear friend, Jesus who walked before you in HIS GETHSAMANE knows all about your gethsemanes.

Can you picture Christ wiping your tears in your season today? He is right there with you and I today.

Jesus Christ is the God over our gethsemanes because He experienced it Himself first. He is not the God who sat on the Heavenly throne and expected us to suffer on this Earth alone.”

[There is much more to this Web Article, including prayers. Please read the rest here.] Amen! 🙏🕊️🙌

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

2nd April >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Matthew 26:14 - 27:66 for Palm Sunday, Cycle A: ‘Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit’.

Palm Sunday, Cycle A

Gospel (Except USA)

Matthew 26:14-27:66

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Key: N. Narrator. ✠ Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker.    N. One of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,    O. What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over to you?    N. They paid him thirty silver pieces, and from that moment he looked for an opportunity to betray him.    Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus to say,    C. Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the passover?    N. He replied:    ✠ Go to so-and-so in the city and say to him, ‘The Master says: My time is near. It is at your house that I am keeping Passover with my disciples.’    N. The disciples did what Jesus told them and prepared the Passover.    When evening came he was at table with the twelve disciples. And while they were eating he said:    ✠ I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me.    N. They were greatly distressed and started asking him in turn,    C. Not I, Lord, surely?    N. He answered,    ✠ Someone who has dipped his hand into the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will, but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born!    N. Judas, who was to betray him, asked in his turn,    O. Not I, Rabbi, surely?    N. Jesus answered:    ✠ They are your own words.    N. Now as they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said:    ✠ Take it and eat; this is my body.    N. Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them, saying:    ✠ Drink, all of you, from this, for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. From now on, I tell you, I shall not drink wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in the kingdom of my Father.    N. After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them,    ✠ You will all lose faith in me this night, for the scripture says: I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered, but after my resurrection I shall go before you to Galilee.    N. At this, Peter said,    O. Though all lose faith in you, I will never lose faith.    N. Jesus answered him,    ✠ I tell you solemnly, this very night, before the cock crows, you will have disowned me three times.    N. Peter said to him,    O. Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.    N. And all the disciples said the same.    Then Jesus came with them to a small estate called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples,    ✠ Stay here while I go over there to pray.    N. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. And sadness came over him, and great distress. Then he said to them,    ✠ My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.    N. And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed:    ✠ My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.    N. He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter:    ✠ So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour? You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.    N. Again, a second time, he went away and prayed:    ✠ My Father, if this cup cannot pass by without my drinking it, your will be done!    N. And he came back again and found them sleeping, their eyes were so heavy. Leaving them there, he went away again and prayed for the third time, repeating the same words. Then he came back to the disciples and said to them,    ✠ You can sleep on now and take your rest. Now the hour has come when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let us go! My betrayer is already close at hand.    N. He was still speaking when Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, and with him a large number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. Now the traitor had arranged a sign with them. He had said,    O. ‘The one I kiss, he is the man. Take him in charge.’    N. So he went straight up to Jesus and said,    O. Greetings, Rabbi.    N. and kissed him. Jesus said to him,    ✠ My friend, do what you are here for.    N. Then they came forward, seized Jesus and took him in charge. At that, one of the followers of Jesus grasped his sword and drew it; he struck out at the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus then said,    ✠ Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defence? But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this is the way it must be?    N. It was at this time that Jesus said to the crowds,    ✠ Am I a brigand, that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? I sat teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid hands on me.    N. Now all this happened to fulfil the prophecies in scripture. Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away.    The men who had arrested Jesus led him off to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter followed him at a distance, and when he reached the high priest’s palace, he went in and sat down with the attendants to see what the end would be.    The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus, however false, on which they might pass the death sentence. But they could not find any, though several lying witnesses came forward. Eventually two stepped forward and made a statement,    O. This man said: ‘I have power to destroy the Temple of God and in three days build it up.’    N. The high priest then stood up and said to him,    O. Have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you?    N. But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him,    O. I put you on oath by the living God to tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.    N. Jesus answered:    ✠ The words are your own. Moreover, I tell you that from this time onward you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.    N. At this, the high priest tore his clothes and said,    O. He has blasphemed. What need of witnesses have we now? There! You have just heard the blasphemy. What is your opinion?    N. They answered,    C. He deserves to die.    N. Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists; others said as they struck him,    C. Play the prophet, Christ! Who hit you then?    N. Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him and said,    O. You too were with Jesus the Galilean.    N. But he denied it in front of them all, saying:    O. I do not know what you are talking about.    N. When he went out to the gateway another servant-girl saw him and said to the people there,    O. This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.    N. And again, with an oath, he denied it:    O. I do not know the man.    N. A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter,    C. You are one of them for sure! Why, your accent gives you away.    Then he started calling down curses on himself and swearing:    O. I do not know the man.    N. At that moment the cock crew, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said, ‘Before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.    When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people met in council to bring about the death of Jesus. They had him bound, and led him away to hand him over to Pilate, the governor.    When he found that Jesus had been condemned, Judas his betrayer was filled with remorse and took the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and elders, saying:    O. I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood.    N. They replied:    C. What is that to us? That is your concern.    N. And flinging down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he made off and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said,    C. It is against the Law to put this into the treasury: it is blood-money.    N. So they discussed the matter and bought the potter’s field with it as a graveyard for foreigners, and this is why the field is called the Field of Blood today. The words of the prophet Jeremiah were then fulfilled: And they took the thirty silver pieces, the sum at which the precious One was priced by children of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord directed me.    Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question:    O. Are you the king of the Jews?    N. Jesus replied,    ✠ It is you who say it.    N. But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all. Pilate then said to him,    O. Do you not hear how many charges they have brought against you?    N. But to the governor’s complete amazement, he offered no reply to any of the charges.    At festival time it was the governor’s practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose. Now there was at that time a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them,    O. Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?    N. For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message,    O. Have nothing to do with that man; I have been upset all day by a dream I had about him.    N. The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. So when the governor spoke and asked them,    O. Which of the two do you want me to release for you?    N. they said,    C. Barabbas.    N. Pilate said to them:    O. But in that case, what am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?    N. They all said:    C. Let him be crucified!    N. Pilate asked:    O. Why? What harm has he done?    N. But they shouted all the louder,    C. Let him be crucified!    N. Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said,    O. I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your concern.    N. And the people, to a man, shouted back,    C. His blood be on us and on our children!    N. Then he released Barabbas for them. He ordered Jesus to be first scourged and then handed over to be crucified.    The governor’s soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him. Then they stripped him and made him wear a scarlet cloak, and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying,    C. Hail, king of the Jews!    N. And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him.    On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, Simon by name, and enlisted him to carry his cross. When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull, they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink. When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots, and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him.    Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.’ At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.    The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said,    C. So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself! If you are God’s son, come down from the cross!    N. The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way, saying:    C. He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He puts his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, ‘I am the son of God.’    N. Even the robbers who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way.    From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice,    ✠ Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?    N. That is, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’ When some of those who stood there heard this, they said,    C. The man is calling on Elijah.    N. and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he dipped in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink. The rest of them said:    C. Wait! See if Elijah will come to save him.    N. But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.    Here all kneel and pause for a short time.    At that, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked; the rocks were split; the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy men rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the Holy City and appeared to a number of people. Meanwhile the centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said,    C. In truth this was a son of God.    N. And many women were there, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.    When it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, called Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate thereupon ordered it to be handed over. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud and put it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a large stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. Now Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.    Next day, that is, when Preparation Day was over, the chief priests and the Pharisees went in a body to Pilate and said to him,    C. Your Excellency, we recall that this impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I shall rise again.’ Therefore give the order to have the sepulchre kept secure until the third day, for fear his disciples come and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ This last piece of fraud would be worse than what went before.    N. Pilate said to them:    O. You may have your guard. Go and make all as secure as you know how.    N. So they went and made the sepulchre secure, putting seals on the stone and mounting a guard.

Gospel (USA)

Matthew 26:14—27:66

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

   On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’” The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

   When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

   While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

   Then Jesus said to them, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written:

I will strike the shepherd,    and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed;

but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the disciples spoke likewise.

   Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!” Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

   While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people. His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.” Immediately he went over to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and he kissed him. Jesus answered him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me. But all this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

   Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter was following him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard, and going inside he sat down with the servants to see the outcome. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward who stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and within three days rebuild it.’” The high priest rose and addressed him, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I order you to tell us under oath before the living God whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “You have said so. But I tell you:

From now on you will see the ‘Son of Man    seated at the right hand of the Power’    and ‘coming on the clouds of heaven.’”

Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses? You have now heard the blasphemy; what is your opinion?” They said in reply, “He deserves to die!” Then they spat in his face and struck him, while some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy for us, Christ: who is it that struck you?”

   Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!” As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the words that Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly.    When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

   Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? Look to it yourself.” Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself. The chief priests gathered up the money, but said, “It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury, for it is the price of blood.” After consultation, they used it to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet,

And they took the thirty pieces of silver,    the value of a man with a price on his head,    a price set by some of the Israelites, and they paid it out for the potter’s field    just as the Lord had commanded me.

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

   Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.” The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.” And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.

   Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.    As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross.

   And when they came to a place called Golgotha —which means Place of the Skull—, they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross!”

   Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.

   From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink. But the rest said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.

   Here all kneel and pause for a short time.    And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

   When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb.    The next day, the one following the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said, ‘After three days I will be raised up.’ Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ This last imposture would be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “The guard is yours; go, secure it as best you can.” So they went and secured the tomb by fixing a seal to the stone and setting the guard.

Reflections (6)

(i) Palm Sunday

The story we have just heard, the story of Jesus’ final hours, is the focal point of the coming week, up until Good Friday, what we have come to call ‘Holy Week’. The dark side of human nature is very much in evidence in the story we have just heard. There is the treachery of Judas, one of the twelve, the public denial of Jesus by Peter, the leader of the twelve, the sleep of Peter, James and John in the garden, at a time when Jesus needed them most, the cowardice of the disciples as a whole who abandoned Jesus and left him to suffer alone. There is the moral cowardice of Pilate, the cruelty of his soldiers, and the blindness of the high priest and the religious leaders to Jesus’ true identity. Yet in the midst of all that darkness of human failure, there are some rays of light. Pilate’s wife had come to recognize the innocence of Jesus through a dream and wanted her husband to have nothing to do with Jesus. Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus to carry his cross, even if under duress. There is the confession of faith of the Roman centurion and the soldiers guarding Jesus, ‘In truth this was a son of God’. The way Jesus died helped them to see who Jesus really was. The group of women who had followed Jesus in Galilee and to Jerusalem, serving him, had remained faithful. They were there, watching as he died, even if from a distance. They were there sitting opposite the tomb after Jesus was buried. Joseph, a rich man of Arimathea, who had become a disciple of Jesus, arranged for Jesus to have a dignified burial even if he had an undignified death. He placed Jesus in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock.

Even in times and places of great evil and sin, a light of goodness can shine, the goodness of God. In the horror of the concentration camps, deeds of heroic goodness could be found, as was shown by the Polish priest Maximilian Kolbe. The light that shone most brightly in the darkness of the passion story was the light of God’s love shining through Jesus. Jesus suffered his passion and death because he had a passionate love for God and for all God’s people. What was it that brought Jesus to the cross? It was his work of proclaiming the presence of God’s kingdom, of healing the broken in body, mind and spirit even on the Sabbath day, of welcoming the excluded, gathering a new kind of community about himself that embraced all. It was because he was passionately faithful to this God-given mission that he endured the hostility of powerful people who saw to it that he would be eliminated. Jesus remained faithful to his mission, even though it cost him his life. Jesus’s passion and death reveals the extent of his love for us, of God’s love for all humanity. He gave his life to reveal a love that is stronger than sin and that can bring great good out of evil and new life out of death. In allowing himself to be lifted up on the cross Jesus was proclaiming our worth, announcing that we are worth dying for, declaring that we are precious in his sight and eternally loved. That is why this story with all its darkness and sin is good news. The difference between Peter and Judas in the story we have just heard is that in his hour of failure Peter allowed himself to be embraced by the Lord’s merciful love, whereas Judas didn’t. Judas despaired, whereas Peter was lifted up by the Lord’s faithful love, and was empowered to later become the person God was calling him to be. This week we are being invited to allow ourselves to be embraced by God’s tremendous love shining through the crucified Jesus, so that we can be lifted up to new levels of goodness.

And/Or

(ii) Palm Sunday

 They say that a week is a long time in politics. Politicians who are in positions of responsibility at the beginning of a week can find themselves out of a job by the end of the same week. A week can be a long time in any of our lives. The situation that we find ourselves in at the beginning of a week can be very different to how things might stand with us at the end of the same week. The awareness of this leads many people to live life one day at a time, living each day well and to the full as it comes along.

 It is hard to conceive of a greater contrast than that between the beginning and the end of Jesus’ final week. The gospel that we read at the beginning of Mass tells us that the crowds welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with great enthusiasm, declaring God’s blessings on the one who came in the name of the Lord. According to the second gospel reading this morning, by the end of that week, the same crowds were crying out, ‘Crucify him’. Jesus who entered Jerusalem on a donkey to a great welcome was carried out of the city as a dead man a few days later, having suffered the cruellest form of death that the Roman Empire could devise.

 The people of Jerusalem who welcomed Jesus into their city did not know how the week would end. We who take up our palm branches this morning and who identify with the welcoming crowd know well how the week will end. We also know that the death of Jesus on a Roman cross was not really how this week ended. As Paul reminds us in today’s second reading, Christ ‘was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high’. We are beginning a long week in the church’s year, ‘Holy Week’. This week takes us from the tumultuous welcome extended to Jesus when he entered Jerusalem, through the deep darkness of his passion and death, and onto the wonderful event of his triumph over death in the resurrection, a triumph in which we all share. There is much to ponder on this coming week.

 People tend to be busier now than they have ever been. We seem to have more to do and less time to do it. As we begin this Holy Week, we might resolve to slow down a little this coming week so as to allow the momentous events that we are celebrating in the church to touch our hearts and minds. The core of this Holy Week is what we call the Easter Triduum, which begins with the celebration of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday evening and concludes with the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. This short time from the evening of Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday night is the most sacred time in the church’s year. It is sacred because during it we celebrate what has been called ‘the work of our redemption’.

 We have just heard the story of Jesus’ passion and death according to Matthew. As we begin this holy week, we are given a preview of where this week is heading. Although we use the term ‘passion’ with reference to the suffering of Jesus, in normal day to day usage the term refers to a strong feeling or a strong commitment. We all have a passion in that sense. The term can be readily applied to Jesus in this same sense. He suffered his passion, because he had a great passion, a passion for God and for humanity. He died because he was passionately devoted to revealing God’s love for all. In taking the cup of wine at the last supper, Jesus said, ‘this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many, for the forgiveness of sins’. Jesus’ death reveals God’s merciful and faithful love, a love that is stronger than sin, no matter how grave. When Jesus spoke of his blood poured out for ‘many’, the many included those who were responsible for his death; it includes all of us here in the church this morning.

 We approach this Holy Week with reverence because we know that the last journey of Jesus was one that he travelled for all of us. We are not simply spectators at an event that happened a long time ago and that has no real connection with us. We tell this story every year because it is our story. It is the ongoing story of God’s reaching out to us through his Son. It is the story of a divine love that is always stronger than human sin. Jesus poured out his life for us in love; we are called to pour out our lives in love for him and for each other. Let the palms we take home today be a sign of our desire to do just that.

And/Or

(iii) Palm Sunday

 They say that a week is a long time in politics. Politicians who are in positions of responsibility at the beginning of a week can find themselves out of a job by the end of the same week. A week can be a long time in any of our lives. The awareness of this leads many people to live life one day at a time, living each day well and to the full as it comes along.

 It is hard to conceive of a greater contrast than that between the beginning and the end of Jesus’ final week. The crowds who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with great enthusiasm, by the end of that week were crying out, ‘Crucify him’. Jesus who entered Jerusalem on a donkey to a great welcome was carried out of that city as a dead man a few days later, having suffered the cruellest death that the Roman Empire could devise.

 The people of Jerusalem who welcomed Jesus into their city did not know how the week would end. We who take up our palm branches this morning and who identify with the welcoming crowd know well how the week will end. We also know that the death of Jesus on a Roman cross was not really how this week ended. As Paul reminds us in today’s second reading, Christ ‘was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high’. We are beginning a long week in the church’s year, ‘Holy Week’. This week takes us from the tumultuous welcome extended to Jesus when he entered Jerusalem, through the deep darkness of his passion and death, and onto the wonderful event of his triumph over death in the resurrection, a triumph in which we all share. There is much to ponder on this coming week.

 We have just heard the story of Jesus’ passion and death according to Matthew. Although we use the term ‘passion’ with reference to the suffering of Jesus, in normal day to day usage the term refers to a strong feeling or a strong commitment. We all have a passion in that sense. Jesus suffered his passion, because he had a great passion, a passionate love for God and for humanity. He died because he was passionately devoted to revealing God’s love for all. In taking the cup of wine at the last supper, Jesus said, ‘this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many, for the forgiveness of sins’. Jesus’ death reveals God’s merciful and faithful love, a love that is stronger than sin, no matter how grave. When Jesus spoke of his blood poured out for ‘many’, the many includes all of us here in the church this morning.

 We approach this Holy Week with reverence because we know that the last journey of Jesus was one that he travelled for all of us. We are not simply spectators at an event that happened a long time ago and that has no real connection with us. We tell this story every year because it is our story. It is the story of God’s reaching out to us through his Son. Jesus poured out his life for us in love; he calls us in turn to pour out our lives in love for him and for each other, to share his great passion. The palms we take home today can be a sign of our desire to do just that.

And/Or

(iv) Palm Sunday

 This is the only Sunday in the year when we have two gospels, one at the beginning of Mass and the other in its usual place. There is a contrast between the two gospels; one is a story of welcome and the other is a story of rejection. When Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem at the beginning of the week he is welcomed by great crowds of people. A few days later, according to Matthew, all of the people, pressured by their religious leaders, call on Pilate to have Jesus crucified. Even though they are two very different stories Matthew makes a subtle connection between the two. According to our first gospel reading, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, ‘the whole city was in turmoil’. Literally, ‘the whole city shook’. At the moment Jesus died, according to Matthew, ‘the earth shook’. Both the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the passion and death of Jesus are events which shake us out of our usual posture. According to the first Gospel reading, when Jesus entered Jerusalem and the whole city shook, people asked the question, ‘Who is this?’ The earth shattering nature of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem made people ask this fundamental question. Their question is also our question, ‘Who is this?’ When Jesus died and the earth shook, this question received an answer from an unexpected quarter. Seeing the earth quaking and all that had taken place, the Roman centurion and the soldiers who were with him said, ‘In truth this was God’s Son’. Their confession is also our confession. This group of pagans, according to Matthew, recognized God’s presence in the death of Jesus. We are all invited to listen to the story of Jesus’ passion and death this holy week not just as the story of all the worst instincts of humanity, but, more fundamentally, as the story of God’s presence, of God’s love, embodied in the person of Jesus. At the beginning of Matthew’s gospel the child Jesus was given the name ‘Emmanuel’, God-with-us. It is above all in the hour of his passion and death that Jesus shows himself to be God-with-us - God’s loving presence in our midst. That is why we continue to proclaim this story as good news, the good news of a divine love that is stronger than sin, stronger than death. Paul captures the deeper meaning of this seemingly tragic story in his letter to the church in Rome, ‘God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us’ (Rom 5:8).

And/Or

(v) Palm Sunday

For the greater part of the gospel story, Jesus is active in various ways. He teaches and preaches; he heals the sick and shares table with sinners; he welcomes children and visits people’s homes. In all these activities, Jesus is revealing the kingdom of God, the powerful presence of God’s life-giving love. From the moment that Jesus is arrested on the Mount of Olives, Jesus is no longer the active one. Rather, he is the passive one. He is no longer the one who is doing things for others. Things are now done to him. He is betrayed by Judas. He is seized by his captors; he is led off to Caiaphas the high priest where he is interrogated. His face is spat upon; he is hit with fists. He is denied by Peter the leader of the twelve. He is bound and handed over to Pilate who questions him. He is handed over to Pilate’s soldiers who mock him and then lead him to Golgotha. He is stripped and crucified. He is mocked by those who pass by, by the religious leaders and even by those crucified alongside him, before he finally yields up his spirit in death. During the hours of his Passion and death, Jesus was helpless before what others were doing to him.

Yet during those hours in Jerusalem when Jesus was no longer in control of his life, he was as faithful to his life’s mission as he had been during the months and years of his active ministry. It was in many ways a more powerful, form of service of others. The love which drove his active ministry now drove his dying. God’s life-giving love that was so present in his activity was even more powerfully present in this time of passivity. When he had taken the cup of wine at the last supper, he said, ‘this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’. Jesus was declaring that his death would reveal God’s merciful love for all. He had lived to reconcile people to God, to gather people into the embrace of God’s love. Now his death would be the culmination of that reconciling, gathering, work. His death, even more than his life, proclaims God’s tremendous love, a love that is stronger than sin, a love that stops at nothing to ensure that we have life and have it to the full. That is why we consider the wrongful execution of this totally innocent man to be gospel, good news.

The passion and death of Jesus has a message for our own lives. It teaches us that, like Jesus, we can give as much to others in times of weakness as in times of strength. We too can reveal God’s love to others as much in times of passivity as in times of activity.  

 And/Or

(vi) Palm Sunday

For the greater part of the gospel story, Jesus is active in various ways. He teaches and preaches; he heals the sick and shares table with sinners; he welcomes children and visits people’s homes. In all these activities, Jesus is revealing the kingdom of God, the powerful presence of God’s life-giving love. From the moment that Jesus is arrested on the Mount of Olives, Jesus is no longer engaged in all the activities that filled his life for three years. In this anxious time many people must feel that much of their usual activity has come to a stop. Even though our healthcare workers and others and busy doing what they always have been doing, and even busier than usual, many have a sense that life is on hold and that much of what has shaped their day has come to a stop. As Jesus was arrested in the garden, we have been arrested, taken hold of, by the corona virus. In such a moment we can continue to do a great deal for one another, through the making of a phone call, the sending of a text, or an email, and, especially, through praying for one another. It is a time to give in other ways, and a time to receive in other ways, to be open to how others want to serve us and give us their loving support at this time.

For Jesus, the time after his arrest was not a time when he received loving support from anyone, apart from a very small group of women. From the time of his arrest, Jesus is no longer the one who is doing things for others. Things are now done to him by people who are hostile to him. He is betrayed by Judas. He is seized by his captors; he is led off to Caiaphas the high priest where he is interrogated. His face is spat upon; he is hit with fists. He is denied by Peter the leader of the twelve. He is bound and handed over to Pilate who questions him. He is handed over to Pilate’s soldiers who mock him and then lead him to Golgotha. He is stripped and crucified. He is mocked by those who pass by, by the religious leaders and even by those crucified alongside him, before he finally yields up his spirit in death. During the hours of his Passion and death, Jesus was helpless before the harm and damage that others were doing to him. He suffered what Shakespeare called the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’.

Yet during those hours in Jerusalem when Jesus was no longer in control of his life, he was as faithful to his life’s mission as he had been during the months and years of his active ministry in Galilee. The hour of his passion and death was in many ways an even more powerful form of service of others. The love which drove his active ministry now drove his dying. God’s life-giving love that was so present in his healing and reconciling ministry was even more powerfully present in this time when others had taken control of his life in the cruellest way. When Jesus took the cup of wine at the last supper, he said, ‘this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’. Jesus was declaring that his death would reveal God’s merciful love for all. He had lived to reconcile people to God, to gather people into the embrace of God’s love. Now his death would be the culmination of that reconciling, gathering, work of love. His death, even more than his life, proclaims God’s tremendous love, a love that is stronger than sin, a love that stops at nothing and is ready to endure everything to ensure that we have life and have it to the full. That is why we consider the wrongful execution of this totally innocent man to be gospel, good news.

The passion and death of Jesus has a message for our own lives. It teaches us that, like Jesus, we can give as much to others in times of weakness as in times of strength. We too can reveal God’s love to others as much in times of seeming inactivity as in times of activity.  Our presence can be truly life-giving for others, even when we seem to have lost control of so much of our lives. Just before Jesus began his public ministry, he spent time in the wilderness, where his faithfulness to his mission was put to the test. Just as his public ministry ended, he spent another time in the wilderness, the wilderness of his passion and death, when, again, his faithfulness to his life’s work was put to the test. We are in a wilderness moment now as we live with the consequences of the Corona Virus; it can be a time when our faith, our faithfulness to the Lord’s way, is put to the test. Jesus in the hour of his passion and death shows us how to remain a loving person in testing times. He is also present with us in this wilderness moment to empower us to be living icons of his loving presence to others at this time.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[fordecree7]

THE BIBLE BOOK OF GOD

New Testament

Mark 13

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

13 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The Abomination of Desolation

14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day or Hour

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."

Mark 13

Diane Beauford

[paddy603]

US On High Alert Amid Israel-Iran Shadow War: Origins Of Conflict Explained; The roots of Iran-Israel shadow war trace back to the overthrow of Iran's last monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in 1979.

In fact having read" The Modern Middle East " by Jeremy Bowden. He was the BBC's Middle East correspondent based in Jerusalem between 1995 and 2000[2] and the BBC Middle East editor from 2005 to 2022.

In his book I was reminded that this all started back in 1890 when Herzl an Austro Hungarian Jew was talking with a fellow scholar and former Mayor of Jerusalem during the Ottoman period. Talks with Yusaf Diya al-Din al-Khilidi about the prospect of introducing Jews from Europe back into the then Palestine. (renamed Syria-Palestinia by the Romans when the Jews were sent into exile.

In 1948 the reality of that conversation and the Balfour agreement, all changed as Israel became a state. But if peace were ever to come, Israel would first have to survive the military campaign to eliminate it — five Arab armies attacked on May, 15, 1948, Israel’s first full day of independence. Hence that conflict has never been quelled but continued to fester as with these latest threats from Iran, Lebanon and Syria with threats from Hezbollah, and Hamas to annihilate Israel.

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, there’s an intriguing incident where Jesus encounters a fig tree that is full of leaves, despite it being too early in the season for fig trees to be so lush. Upon closer inspection, Jesus finds that the tree bears no fruit. In response, He curses the fig tree, saying, “May you never bear fruit again!” Later, the disciples discover that the tree has withered.

This seemingly puzzling event holds deeper symbolism:

1. Israel: The fig tree represents the nation of Israel. Just as the tree bore leaves but lacked fruit, Israel would experience periods of fruitlessness despite its advantages 2. Jesus’ action serves as a parable, 3. foreshadowing the judgment that would befall Jerusalem.

A prophecy that He goes on to explain in it's fulfilment of when Israel's return to their land: The phrase “this generation shall not pass” appears in the Gospel of Matthew. It’s part of Jesus’ teaching on the Mount of Olives, often referred to as the Olivet Discourse. Let’s delve into its meaning: The specific passage containing this phrase is Matthew 24:34. Jesus responds to His disciples’ questions about the signs of His coming and the end of the age.

"Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches become tender and it produces leaves, you know that summer is near.

Context

The Lesson of the Fig tree.

Jesus declares, “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34). The phrase “this generation” refers to those living during that time. A generation is generally regarded as three score and ten, seventy years. Is that generation not ours Israel became a state in 1948 I was born in 1949 my generation, surely that makes one think when will this happen who will start the war on Israel.?

"Iran gives USA a chilling warning to 'stay away so you won't get hurt' as it vows revenge on Israel. 'Stay away so you won't get hurt,' Iran warned the US after vowing to get revenge for a strike widely attributed to Israel which killed Iranian military staff at the country's consulate in Syria." By Benjamin Lynch News Reporter & Charlie Jones News Reporter 16:57, 6 Apr 2024 UPDATED 00:21, 7 APR 2024. The Mirror.

Tensions mount between Iran, Israel amid Vienna nuke talks, Analysis; TEHRAN, Dec. 25 2021 (Xinhua) — Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) completed on Friday the final stage of the five-day “Great Prophet 17” military drills, sending through the words of its commanders a warning message to Israeli threats.

The threat of war seems so much closer now as one mad man is threatening the world with his finger poised on the Nuclear button to our Annihilation. Wars and rumours of wars, climate change, warnings of financial collapse, famines and floods. All of these are happening now so what happens next?

"And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24:6-8.

"Ezekiel ch. 38,39 prophecy is looking to be fulfilled in our lifetime. The Middle Eastern invasion led by Iran, Russia, and Turkey is on the horizon. Jesus is returning for His Church (the Rapture) sooner than we realize. Be watchful and ready." Val Waldeck,

Many of today’s Bible prophecy teachers and students are devoting a lot of their attention to the prophecies written over 2500 years ago in Ezekiel 38 and 39. This increased interest is driven in large part by a general consensus among them that the details of the prophecy are drawing near to fulfilment. This article will take a look at the final fulfilment of Ezekiel 38 and 39. The following time periods will be examined to see which one best fits the descriptions provided by the Hebrew prophet. Most think that time has come and that prophecy about to be fulfilled in our time.

The Iranian regime has spent billions of dollars on weapons and fighters shipped to Syria since the start of the Syrian revolution in March 2011. It has also financed a large part of the economy in the regime-controlled parts of Syria through loans and credit lines worth billions of dollars. The Assad regime would have collapsed were it not for this Iranian support.

One result of this heavy Iranian involvement in the war in Syria has been a change in the nature of the relationship between the Syrian and the Iranian regimes. From historically being mutually beneficial allies, the Iranian regime is now effectively the dominant force in regime-held areas of Syria, and can thus be legally considered an “occupying force,” with the responsibilities that accompany such a role.

Another book that highlights the volitivity of the Middle East is in Jeremy Bowen's own story on the "Modern Middle East." I also to tended to question David Cameron's return as Foreign Secretary with his past failed handling of Middle Eastern states at war and in crisis during his premiership.

He made a total hash of Libya by deposing Gadhafi and not helping to bring about change to fill the political void left in his absence. The same in working with Baraka Obama with their failed bid to remove Bashur Al Assad from power in Syria. In the end unable to get the backing of his Parliament to enter the war to then actually being mocked by Bashur Al Assad who is still in power thanks to the Russian's backing him.

Will War in Ukraine Further Destabilize Syria? Where are Israel in this Conflict?'

Israel has increasingly gone public with its support for Ukraine while avoiding public condemnation of Russia, the primary backer of the Syrian regime, which is classified by Israel as an enemy state on its northern border.

Israel against Gaza where do they fit in? As one who studies the regional conflicts I have to ask has the world once again taken it's eye off what we are not seeing with this conflict. How will it end?

Are Russia and Israel on a collision course with Iran threat and Israel's conflict with Syria? To repeat "Iran warned the US after vowing to get revenge for a strike widely attributed to Israel which killed Iranian military staff at the country's consulate in Syria." By Benjamin Lynch News Reporter & Charlie Jones News Reporter 16:57, 6 Apr 2024 UPDATED 00:21, 7 APR 2024. The Mirror.

Recent Russian statements have prompted speculation about Moscow's response to Israeli strikes in Syria. If there's a shift, it could pose problems for the US, as the situation between Israel and Russia is also very fragile and complicated.

There is reason to believe that violence in Ukraine and global geopolitical wrangling could spiral into other parts of the world—including Syria that both Iran and Russia think they have a right to as well as Russia's claim to Ukraine.

NATO Boss' 'Compromise With Putin' Remark Shocks Zelensky As Russian Army Advances At Frontline.

Avery recent statement from NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said "Ukraine may have to agree to some kind of compromise with Russia to end the conflict. In an interview with the BBC published on April 6, Stoltenberg said "It was up to Ukraine to choose when and under what conditions to seek peace with Russia." He also added, "At the end of the day, it has to be Ukraine that decides what kind of compromises they’re willing to do." Watch INTERNATIONAL NEWS.

The fact that one man—one man—is responsible for this huge geopolitical shift is deeply significant. It wouldn’t have happened without him using his power and having the will to step out and shake the nations, But does this imply bible prophecy is actually the case here and he is that Prince of Rosh, or is it is simply more conspiracy speculation.“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him’” Ezekiel 38:1-2

As one who studies the bible maybe the world needs to refocus on what next. For as we normalize relations with Iran due to our need of oil and as a result the United States' willingness to renegotiate the Iran Nuclear deal have we taken our eye off the eye of the storm to come.

Jesus said of this time "Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28

[dfroza]

And they wanted to arrest and kill God.

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 14th chapter of the book of Mark:

The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away. The Jewish leaders—the chief priests and the scribes—gathered to discuss how they might secretly arrest Jesus and kill Him.

Jewish Leaders: We can’t do it during the festivals. It might create an uproar.

While Jesus was eating dinner in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came into the house carrying an alabaster flask filled with a precious, sweet-smelling ointment made from spikenard. She came to Jesus, broke the jar, and gently poured out the perfume onto His head.

Some of those around the table were troubled by this and grumbled to each other.

Dinner Guests: Why did she waste this precious ointment? We could have sold this ointment for almost a year’s wages, and the money could have gone to the poor!

Their private concerns turned to public criticism against her.

Jesus: Leave her alone. Why are you attacking her? She has done a good thing. The poor will always be with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you want. But I won’t always be with you. She has done what she could for Me—she has come to anoint My body and prepare it for burial. Believe Me when I tell you that this act of hers will be told in her honor as long as there are people who tell the good news.

It was after this that Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to meet the chief priests with the intention of betraying Jesus to them. When they heard what he proposed, they were delighted and promised him money. So from that time on, Judas thought and waited and sought an opportunity to betray Jesus.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the customary day when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, His disciples wondered where they would celebrate the feast.

Disciples: Where do You want us to go and make preparations for You to eat the Passover meal?

So again He sent two of His disciples ahead and told them to watch for a man carrying a jar of water.

Jesus: Follow that man; and wherever he goes in, say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks, ‘Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with My disciples?’” He will take you upstairs and show you a large room furnished and ready. Make our preparations there.

So the two left and went into the city. All was as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the meal in the upper room. That evening Jesus and the twelve arrived and went into the upper room; and each reclined around the table, leaning upon an elbow as he ate.

Jesus: I tell you in absolute sincerity, one of you eating with Me tonight is going to betray Me.

The twelve were upset. They looked around at each other.

Disciples (one by one): Lord, it’s not I, is it?

Jesus: It is one of you, the twelve—one of you who is dipping your bread in the same dish that I am.

The Son of Man goes to His fate. That has already been predicted in the Scriptures. But still, it will be terrible for the one who betrays Him. It would have been better for him if he had never been born.

As they ate, Jesus took bread, offered a blessing, and broke it. He handed the pieces to His disciples.

Jesus: Take this [and eat it]. This is My body.

He took a cup of wine; and when He had given thanks for it, He passed it to them, and they all drank from it.

Jesus: This is My blood, a covenant poured out on behalf of many. Truly I will never taste the fruit of the vine again until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

After the meal, they sang a psalm and went out of the city to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus: All of you will desert Me tonight. It was written by Zechariah,

I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep will scatter.

But when I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.

Peter (protesting): It doesn’t matter who else turns his back on You. I will never desert You.

Jesus: Peter, mark My words. This very night before the cock crows twice, you will have denied Me three times.

Peter (insisting): No, Teacher. Even if it means that I have to die with You, I’ll never deny You.

All the other disciples said similar things.

They came at length to a garden called Gethsemane.

Jesus: Stay here. I’m going a little farther to pray and to think.

He took Peter, James, and John with Him; and as they left the larger group behind, He became distressed and filled with sorrow.

Jesus: My heart is so heavy; I feel as if I could die. Wait here for Me, and stay awake to keep watch.

He walked on a little farther. Then He threw Himself on the ground and prayed for deliverance from what was about to come.

Jesus: Abba, Father, I know that anything is possible for You. Please take this cup away so I don’t have to drink from it. But whatever happens, let Your will be done—not Mine.

He got up, went back to the three, and found them sleeping.

Jesus (waking Peter): Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you wait with Me for just an hour? Stay awake, and pray that you aren’t led into a trial of your own. It’s true—even when the spirit is willing, the body can betray it.

He went away again, and prayed again the same prayer as before—pleading with God but surrendering to His will.

He came back and found the three asleep; and when He woke them, they didn’t know what to say to Him.

After He had gone away and prayed for a third time, He returned to find them slumbering.

Jesus: Again? Still sleeping and getting a good rest? Well, that’s enough sleep. The time has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up now, and let’s go. The one who is going to betray Me is close by.

Before He had finished talking, Judas (one of the twelve) approached with a large group of people—agents of the chief priests, scribes, and elders in Jerusalem armed with swords and clubs.

The signal they had arranged was a kiss. “Watch to see whom I kiss; He’s the One,” Judas had told them. “Arrest Him, and take Him into secure custody.”

As soon as they arrived, Judas stepped forward.

Judas (kissing Jesus): My Teacher.

Immediately the soldiers grabbed Jesus and took Him into custody.

Now one of the disciples standing close by drew his sword and swung, cutting off the ear of a slave of Caiaphas, the high priest.

Jesus (calling out): Am I a thief or a bandit that you have to come armed with swords and clubs to capture Me? I sat teaching in the temple every day with you. You could have taken Me at any time, but you never did. Let the Scriptures be fulfilled.

When they saw the armed crowd take Jesus into custody, the disciples fled. One of those following Jesus was a young man who was wearing nothing but a linen cloth. When people from the mob grabbed for him, he wriggled out of their grasp, left them holding the cloth, and ran naked into the night.

They led Jesus off to see the high priest, who had gathered a council of religious and civic leaders, scribes, chief priests, and elders to hear the evidence and render some decision regarding Jesus. Peter followed, at a safe distance, all the way into the courtyard of the high priest, and he sat down with the guards to warm himself at their fire. He hoped no one would notice.

The chief priests and other religious leaders called for witnesses against Jesus so they could execute Him, but things didn’t turn out the way they had planned. There were plenty of people willing to get up and accuse Jesus falsely, distorting what Jesus had said or done; but their testimonies disagreed with each other, and the leaders were left with nothing. Some gave the following distorted testimony:

Witnesses: We heard Him say, “I will destroy this temple that has been made by human hands, and in three days, I will build another that is not made by human hands.”

But even here the witnesses could not agree on exactly what He had said.

The high priest stood up and turned to Jesus.

High Priest: Do You have anything to say in Your own defense? What do You think of what all these people have said about You?

But Jesus held His peace and didn’t say a word.

High Priest: Are You God’s Anointed, the Liberating King, the Son of the Blessed One?

Jesus: I am. One day you will see the Son of Man “sitting at His right hand, in the place of honor and power,” and “coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothes.

High Priest (to the council): What else do we need to hear? You have heard the blasphemy from His own lips. What do you have to say about that?

The verdict was unanimous—Jesus was guilty of a capital crime.

So the people began to humiliate Him. Some even spat upon Him. Then He was blindfolded, and they slapped and punched Him.

People: Come on, Prophet, prophesy for us! Tell us who just hit You.

Then the guards took Him, beating Him as they did so.

While Peter was waiting by the fire outside, one of the servant girls of the high priest saw him.

Servant Girl: You were one of those men with Jesus of Nazareth.

Peter: Woman, I don’t know what you’re talking about.

He left the fire, and as he went out into the gateway, [a cock crowed.]

The servant girl saw him again.

Servant Girl: Hey, this is one of them—one of those who followed Jesus.

Peter: No, I’m not one of them.

A little later, some of the other bystanders turned to Peter.

Bystander: Surely you’re one of them. You’re a Galilean. [We can tell by your accent.]

And then he swore an oath that if he wasn’t telling the truth that he would be cursed.

Peter: Listen, I don’t even know the man you’re talking about.

And as he said this, a cock crowed [a second time]; and Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the cock crows [twice], you will have denied Me three times.”

He began to weep.

The Book of Mark, Chapter 14 (The Voice)

A set of notes from The Voice translation:

This moment has been commemorated for two thousand years. Exactly what Jesus meant by calling the bread and wine His body and blood has been debated for centuries. By eating the bread and drinking the wine, believers participate not only in this supper but also in His death and resurrection because the bread is torn and the wine is poured, just as His body was torn and His blood poured out.

Just as Jesus’ physical body housed the Spirit of God, the physicality of the bread and wine has a spiritual significance. Otherwise, we wouldn’t need to eat the bread and drink the wine to celebrate this moment—it would be enough for us to read the story and remember what happened. But we, too, are physical as well as spiritual; and our physical actions can have spiritual importance.

•

Jesus, God’s Anointed, the Liberating King, has come not as a conquering king but as a sacrificial lamb who will die without defending Himself.

He is accused of setting Himself in the place of God, but He is innocent of that accusation because He is God. He does not defend Himself because His death protects from punishment the sinners who have made themselves like God ever since Adam ate the fruit in the garden.

Today’s paired reading from the First Testament is the 4th chapter of the book of Zechariah:

The heavenly messenger who had been talking with me returned and stirred me, as if I had been asleep. It was time for a fifth vision.

Heavenly Messenger: What do you see before you?

Zechariah: I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl on top of it and seven oil lamps on it. Each of the seven lamps has a spout, which the wicks lie in to soak up oil as they’re burned. There are also two olive trees nearby: one on the right and the other on the left of the bowl.

But what are these things, lord?

Heavenly Messenger: Do you not know what they are?

Zechariah: No, lord. I don’t.

Heavenly Messenger (changing the subject): The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has said this to Zerubbabel: “Your strength and prowess will not be enough to finish My temple, but My Spirit will be.” And He says this to those thwarting Zerubbabel’s efforts: “Who are you, O mighty mountain of opposition? Before Zerubbabel, you will become nothing more than a smooth plain, and he will quarry the capstone and bring it out to the sound of people shouting, ‘God, grant it Your grace! God bless it!’”

The word of the Eternal came to me again to reiterate what was just reported.

Heavenly Messenger: Zerubbabel’s very own hands have laid the foundation of this new temple, and his hands will complete it. When he does, it will be clear to you that the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has sent me to you. Now all who have frowned on the day when only slight progress was made to reconstruct the temple will celebrate when they see the stone that centers the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel, who will survey Jerusalem.

(finally answering his earlier question) The seven lamps on top of the lampstand are the eyes of the Eternal One, diligently searching the earth.

Zechariah (to the heavenly messenger): What are the two olive trees, the ones on the right and left of the lampstand? What do these mean?

(persisting) And the two fruitful olive branches that extend toward the lampstand, the ones supported by the two gold pipes pouring out their gold oil—what do these mean?

Heavenly Messenger: Do you not know what they are?

Zechariah: No, lord. I don’t.

Heavenly Messenger: The olive trees are the two men who have been anointed with fresh oil, Zerubabbel and Joshua. They will rule Jerusalem jointly, one over politics and one over religion, and serve the Master over all the earth.

The Book of Zechariah, Chapter 4 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

A fifth vision shows the lamp of God’s grace completing what has begun.

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Saturday, february 17 of 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New) of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about good news:

The teshuvah (repentance) called for by Yeshua is not like that of the rabbis... The rabbis want you to be sorry for your sins, to confess “every sin in the book,” and to find “atonement” in religious rituals, but this is not "good news," but rather "stale news." The teshuvah of Yeshua is the miracle of new life; Messiah sets you free from the power of sin and death itself. The repentance of Yeshua is to trust in God's remedy for your sin: "This is the work of God, to believe in the One whom God sent" (John 6:29). "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then His own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him" (Isa. 59:16).

We must turn away from the idea that God demands anything from us other than trust in his love. "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3). Stop trying to “measure up” to his standards. You simply cannot give more than you have the grace to give, so you must begin by getting your heart needs met by accepting God’s unconditional love. It's not about what you do for God, after all, but about what he does for you. That's the message of the gospel. Trust that you are rightly related to God because of the salvation of Yeshua, not because of your own efforts at self-improvement. "I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the One who sent me has eternal life (חַיֵּי עוֹלָם) and will not be condemned, but has passed over (i.e., μετά + βαίνω, lit., "crossed over" [עָבַר]) from death to life" (John 5:24).

Do you believe that God loves you right now - just as you are - and that you don't have to change or improve yourself to be loved by him? Do you believe that, whatever your present condition, God loves you with the very passion that put Yeshua on the cross? The LORD is present for you now, if you will believe, not some time later, after you've attempted to remedy yourself or after you have somehow “endured to the end.” If we come to God in utter poverty of spirit, confessing our need for deliverance from the misery of ourselves, why do we think that, after so coming, we should later relate to God on a different basis? You are delivered by trusting in God's grace, by accepting his love for your soul, and likewise are you sanctified. We never get beyond our need for the cross, which is to say that we always need God's compassion and mercy... “Repentance is the ultimate honesty” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).

We must be careful not to worship an idol, that is, a false concept of God... It is possible to read the Bible, to go to church or synagogue, and yet worship a pagan god. How so? By not knowing the heart of the Father; by not honoring the One who passionately seeks our healing. We know the Father by the Son, that is, in “the language of Son” (Heb. 1:2; Luke 10:21-24). Our heavenly Father is eager to forgive and embrace all of his children.

In Yeshua’s famous parable of the “prodigal son,” the father saw his child a “long way off” and ran to embrace and kiss him - no questions asked, no explanations needed about his past. When the son nevertheless began reciting his carefully prepared speech of repentance, the father barely listened, and in his overwhelming joy instructed his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found...' (Luke 15:20-25).

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

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Psalm 63:3 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm63-3-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm63-3-lesson.pdf

2.16.24 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel365:

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהֹוָה אֶחָד׃

Hear, O Yisrael! Hashem is our God, Hashem alone.

sh'-MA yis-ra-AYL a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu a-do-NAI e-KHAD

Deuteronomy 6:4

In 1946, shortly after the end of World War II, Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Mandatory Palestine, traveled to Europe in the hopes of finding Jewish children who had survived the war. He visited a large monastery that was known to have sheltered Jewish children from death at the hands of the Nazis. Rabbi Herzog sought to reunite these children with their people.

While the Reverend Mother was willing to give the children back, she was not sure how to identify which of the children among the hundreds in the monastery were, in fact, Jewish. Rabbi Herzog asked her to gather all of the children in a large room. When they were all assembled, he cried out “Hear, O Yisrael! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Known as the Shema, this fundamental Jewish prayer prompted an emotional reunion as dozens of children recognized the prayer and ran toward him. Though few of the children remembered much of their early lives, the sound of the Shema, the most fundamental prayer in the Jewish faith, instantly brought back memories of reciting these Hebrew words with their parents before bedtime.

This account illustrates the significance of the Shema prayer, and how deeply embedded it is within the Jewish soul. In fact, it is so fundamental that, according to Jewish law, it is one of two verses that should be taught as soon as a child learns how to speak. Why is this verse so significant?

This verse is a profound acknowledgment that God exists and asserts that He is the sole divine authority in the world. Reciting this verse daily is our way of embracing His sovereign role in our lives and accepting Him as our King.

But the phrase “God is One” goes beyond the simple affirmation of God’s singularity. It suggests a deep connection between God and the entirety of creation. This means that everything around us, from the vastness of the universe to the minutest details of life, is intrinsically linked to God. There isn’t anything in existence that stands apart from Him. Every element of the world we perceive is essentially a reflection of God, though it may not always be apparent. This perspective holds that the universe is in a constant state of reliance on God for its very existence. God didn’t just create the world and step back; He is actively involved in its continual unfolding, moment by moment. God’s energy perpetually flows into the universe, sustaining it at every turn. Should this divine energy ever be withdrawn, all of creation would cease to exist.

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

February 17, 2024

The Beginning of the Creation

“For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.” (Mark 13:19)

The phrase “from the beginning of the creation” or equivalent occurs at least six times in the New Testament, indicating beyond question that the world was created at a definite beginning-point of time. All other cosmogonies, on the other hand, are evolutionary cosmogonies, which deny a real beginning for the space/time cosmos at all.

What almost seems a redundancy in our text is the phrase “the creation which God created.” Evidently the Lord thought it vital to stress the fact of divine creation, especially as the great last-days “affliction” draws near.

That the “creation” mentioned in this verse refers explicitly to the cosmos is evident from the parallel passage in Matthew 24:21, where the same prophecy is rendered as follows: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time.” Here, “world” is actually the Greek kosmos, referring to the ordered universe of heaven and Earth. Thus, according to the Bible, the entire universe (including even time itself) came into existence at the “beginning” when God created it, as recorded in Genesis 1:1.

Note especially the significance of Mark 10:6 in this connection: “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” Jesus was here quoting from the account of the creation of Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:27) and included what seemed an almost incidental confirmation that God created them not after many billions of years of cosmic evolution but from the very beginning of creation! Man and woman were not divine afterthoughts, as evolution would imply, but were the very reason why God created the universe in the first place. HMM

A planetary story:

[that-dinopunk-guy]

The Messenger

I was a couple books into A Song of Ice and Fire when I wrote this one. It was meant as a prelude to a longer story that I'll probably never write now.

Also, if anyone gives a shit, I'm running out of these little one-offs. I'm going to be putting my longer multi-chapter works back online as well, but not here.

The woman came to Gingloa at the head of an army, riding atop a gergedat under the banner of House Agares. Though the majority of the army remained outside the city to set up camp, the message was clear: whatever the woman was here for, they would be wise not to deny her. As she rode down the central street accompanied by a retinue of mounted soldiers, the people stopped to watch her pass. Whoever she was, she was very wealthy. She wore a hauberk of steel maille over a knee-length crimson aketon, and over that her armor was thick scales of gilt steel worked in the shape of feathers. Pinned to her shoulders was a cloak of crimson silk.  Her pointed helm with its long nasal guard was steel, and at its peak were fastened three red feathers of command.  A fringe of steel scales hung from her helm to cover her face and neck, but as she looked across the upturned faces of the townsfolk they could see she had the olive skin and dusky eyes of the Garanic tribes of the central Markheb. Her mount was similarly attired; the Zuniceratops was caparisoned in red silk, with its horns and snout sheathed in steel and its rounded frill draped in scales of bronze. Behind her rode her standard bearer, and from his ornate staff hung a crimson gonfalon with a man riding a crocodile with a bird of prey perched upon his fist.

She was met within the city by a visibly nervous official, a representative of House Valac. No word had been sent of the woman’s approach, but news tended to travel fast on the road and an army was a difficult thing to conceal. After a simpering bow and an obsequious greeting he bid the woman to please follow him to the governor’s audience hall. The woman nodded and they proceeded on their way, but it wasn’t long before she brought them to a halt in the town square.

There, on a raised platform to the side of the square, stood three crates constructed of open wooden slats, and within each of the crates was a Hahn Gar, two men and one girl. They were naked and bound hand and foot, with their heads protruding from holes in the tops of the crates. One man was clearly dead, hanging limp and lifeless by the neck, but the others were still alive. The woman stared at the scene for a long moment before she turned her attention back to the official.

“What is this?” she asked coldly.

“Ah, this, oh, it’s nothing,” the official assured her. “A punishment. These slaves tried to run away, so they are being made to carry the crate.”

“Slaves,” the woman repeated in an even voice.

The man nodded. “Yes. We punish them out here, where everyone can see, as an example to the rest.”

The woman nodded and turned to her soldiers. “Get them out,” she said, and they immediately moved to obey. The official stammered and protested, but the woman ignored him. As the soldiers set to dismantling the crates and extricating the prisoners, she turned to the man. “Are they local?” she asked.

It seemed to take him a moment to understand what she was asking him. “Ah…no,” he said, shaking his head. “They’re from a mountain village, to the south.”

She nodded again and turned to her soldiers. By now two were helping the girl free of her crate, while three more worked on the man that still lived. “Three of you, take them back to my tent. See that they’re fed, and have Tansen see to any hurts they may have. Bring the dead one too, we’ll send him back to his village for burial. And if anyone shows up to try to take them back, kill them.” A big man in steel scales, evidently the captain, nodded and pointed out three to accompany the slaves back to the army’s encampment just outside the city.

“My lady,” the official protested, “these Hahn  Gar, they’re slaves, property, you can’t-“

One sharp glare was all it took to shut him up. “I will meet with the governor now,” she said, and the man nodded and led the way.

The official bid the woman to wait outside the hall while she was announced, but she simply brushed him aside and pushed the doors open while her soldiers stopped the guards from interfering. As she strode into the expansive audience chamber, she smirked underneath her helm at the indignant look on the governor’s face. She knew a more diplomatic approach would be more prudent, but she had heard many tales of Duke Maron Valac and none of them had endeared the man to her. If ignoring protocol would make him squirm, then she would ignore protocol. She could afford it, after all.

“Are all Agares messengers this insolent?” Duke Valac asked her as she passed the point at which visitors were expected to bow and stepped right up to the foot of the dais. He exchanged a look with the captain of his guards, as though they were considering throwing her out.

“I could ask the same of all vassal lords,” she said, and removed her helm. Both men’s eyes widened when they recognized her face.

“My lady,” Duke Valac said, bowing in his chair while his captain knelt beside him. “My apologies. You grace us with your presence.”

Princess Denika Agares I nodded. “Rise. I did not come here to see men grovel. If I wanted that, I could walk down any street in the capital.”

Duke Valac straightened, and his captain rose. “And what business brings you to Ulaan Bok, if I may ask?”

Denika uncapped a bamboo message tube at her waist and removed a roll of parchment, sealed with wax. “I bring a message from my brother, the Grand Duke.” She handed it off to the official who had met them in the city, who by now was so nervous that he almost dropped it. Upon recovering his composure, he rushed up onto the dais to bring it to his lord. Duke Valac took the parchment and, after inspecting the seal, broke it and began reading. Denika watched with some degree of satisfaction as his face steadily darkened.

“What is this?” he asked when he was finished.

“I thought it was fairly straightforward,” Denika said with a shrug. “The Grand Duke has issued a decree abolishing the practice of slavery and all related enterprises within Garacania.”

“I can see that, but why?” the Duke wanted to know. “Does he not realize what this means for our livelihoods here?”

The Princess shrugged. “I don’t imagine he particularly cares,” she said blandly.

“The Grand Duke does not care?!” Valac fumed. In his indignant anger, he seemed to be forgetting himself. “The welfare of the Garacani people should be first on the mind of the Grand Duke!”

“Oh, and it is,” Denika said. “The welfare of the Hahn Gar you’ve been making slaves, that is. They too are Garacani as it turns out, though the last few Grand Dukes seem to have forgotten that.”

“The Hahn Gar-“ Valac started.

“Became Garacani subjects when we brought Ulaan Bok into the fold a hundred years ago,” Denika interrupted him. “As such, they are entitled to the same protection as anyone else, whether from outside or from within.”

Duke Valac rose to his feet. “I will not stand for this,” he said, and Denika laughed.

“Oh, but you will,” she said, her voice steel. “My army outside your city will see to that. You will obey this decree, you will free every slave in Ulaan Bok, and you will return any Hahn Gar who wishes it back to their family from whom you had so cruelly taken them. And if you do not, you will be replaced with someone who will.”

Duke Valac fumed. He stood above her on the dais, but the added height did nothing to intimidate her. She stared coldly up at him, one hand on her belt, the other on the hilt of her sword. Though she gave the impression of resting it there casually, the implication was clear. “Now, will you obey?” she asked him.

Finally the Duke knelt on the dais and bowed his head. “I will obey, my lady.”

Princess Denika Agares I smiled. “Good.”

[bitcoinprophets]

Where Did Rapture Theology Come From?

Matthew 24: The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times 24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. 29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened,     and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky,     and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. The Day and Hour Unknown 36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ****************************************** and then there is 1 Thessolonians which goes into detail on the Rapture itself HERE Read the full article

[miajolensdevotion]

September 4, 2020

Verse: John 8:1-18

Write/ Copy Gods words :

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.(A)

2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.(B) 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.(C) Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap,(D) in order to have a basis for accusing him.(E)

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone(F) at her.”(G) 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”(H) Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”(I)

Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am(J) the light of the world.(K) Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(L)

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”(M)

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going.(N) But you have no idea where I come from(O) or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards;(P) I pass judgment on no one.(Q) 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.(R) 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.(S) 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”(T)

What is your Favorite verse(s):

10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”(H) Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”(I)

Explain in your own words what you just read.

Jesus go to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak, He appear again in the temple court, where all the people go together around Him & He sit down to teach them. The teacher of the law & the Pharisee bring in a woman catch in being a adultery. They let her stand before the crowd & tell to Jesus “Teacher, this woman is catch in thr act of adultery. In the law of Moses command us to stone that woman. Now what do you think?” They are using this question as a device in order to have a basis for blaming him. But Jesus bent down & start to write on the ground with His finger. When they keep on asking the question to Him, He stand up & say to them “If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” He bend down & write on the ground. At this, those who hear begin to go away one at a time, the older one first, until only Jesus is left there, with the woman still standing there”

Commitment / what will i do :

I will continue to treat everybody with kindness & patience

[supercutts]

          ❛  you're  not  posing  yet.  what's  next,  oliver  ?  selfies  ?  paparazzi  photos  ?  a  new  ship  name  on  twitter  ?  god,  this  is  fucking  humiliating  !!  ❜    words  are  spoken  harshly  as  she  goes  around  the  room  to  gather  her  things,  tossing  clothing  and  stray  makeup  products  into  a  bag  that  she  had  brought  with  her  for  what  was  originally  going  to  be  an  overnight  stay.  saying  her  name  only  fuels  the  fire,  so  she  can  barely  hear  the  male  speak  through  the  red  that  clouds  her  vision  as  anger  boils  hotter  and  hotter  with  every  passing  moment.  mina  only  stops  the  haphazard  packing  to  defend  herself  and  her  mounting  frustration.    ❛  i  never  said  you  were  cheating  on  me.  don't  put  words  in  my  mouth.  ❜    of  course  she  could  never  imagine  him  betraying  her  like  so,  but  that  doesn't  make  the  icky  feeling  go  away.  she  can  practically  see  her  social  media  feeds  blowing  up  with  trolls  and  skeptical  netizens  who  are  probably  eating  up  the  drama  of  her  boyfriend  being  paired  with  a  beautiful,  familiar,  monarchs  -  approved  blonde.  insecurity,  a  feeling  she  hasn't  experienced  in  a  long,  long  time,  is  starting  to  rear  its  ugly  head.    ❛  if  you  really  love  me,  then  stop  being  a  pushover  and  act  like  it.  until  then  i'm  done.  ❜    even  mina  isn't  exactly  sure  what  she  means  by  that,  but  what's  done  is  done  and  the  dam  breaks.  once  -  beaming  features  are  now  twisting  into  a  look  of  hurt  as  the  waterworks  begin,  this  time  with  the  tears  coming  hot  and  fast.  it's  unfamiliar  and  unwelcome  so  she  tries  to  wipe  them  away  as  quickly  as  they  fall.    ❛  i  love  you  so  much,  oli,  you  know  that.  but  this  won't  work  for  me  if  it  continues.  ❜

          “     yes,  mina,  i  understand  that  now!  i  understood  that  when  you  told  me  last  time.     ”     desperation  in  his  voice  is  clear  as  day,  another  argument  to  remind  him  how  inexperienced  he  is  at  something  so  simple  like  reminding  someone  he  has  a  girlfriend.  all  the  mistakes  he’s  made  have  never  been  committed  in  malice  but  oliver  has  to  stop  using  his  people  pleasing  tendencies  as  an  excuse  to  not  do  right  by  mina.  does  understand  where  she’s  coming  from  completely;  he’d  been  totally  blind  to  clara  and  the  ulterior  motives  she’s  had  towards  him  since  the  moment  they  met.  oliver  had  genuinely  believed  that  she  was  just  being  friendly,  and  since  she  was  always  around  due  to  their  constant  performances  and  smaller  tours;  he  just  got  used  to  her  presence.  things  only  shifted  when  he  and  mina  began  dating,  but  he  can  confidently  say  he’s  never  seen  clara  in  a  romantic  light.  ever.     “     i-i  don’t  know!  there  could  be  but  it’s  not  like  i’m  posing  for  them  or  actively  seeking  her  out.  c’mon  babe,  you  have  to  trust  me.     ”     if  she  can’t  feel  like  she  can’t  trust  him  then  they’re  clearly  not  on  the  same  page  as  to  where  they  want  this  relationship  to  go.  stays  silent  as  she  continues,  biting  on  the  inside  of  his  lip  out  of  nervousness  for  the  direction  that  this  conversation  can  take.     “     she’s  friends  with  the  girls––  what  am  i  supposed  to  dictate  who  they  can  and  can’t  hangout  with?  let’s  be  realistic.  have  i  ever  given  you  any  reason  to  believe  that  i’d…  that  i’d  cheat  on  you?  like  you  said,  i  pursued  you.  i.  love.  you.  why  would  i  fuck  all  this  up?  and  for  clara;  out  all  of  all  people.     ”     even  saying  her  name  now  leaves  a  bad  taste  in  oliver’s  mouth.

[swanimagines]

Hey! I love your writings a lot! Can I please request a Pin Hawthorne + 9:45pm? Thanks<3

FREDDY EVENT, send in requests for any of Freddy Carter’s characters (NOT the man himself (= no Freddy Carter (the real person) x readers), only his characters)!! The event means that requests I get for his characters during it’s on are my top priority but I might sprinkle in other requests too. The event is about to end tomorrow though!

Word count: 377

When you first had started crushing on Pin as you started riding at Bright Fields when you were just children, you would have never imagined that six years later you would be there, lying on a luxurious bed in his arms and watching Netflix together from a huge tv mounted on the wall. Arthur had made you some evening snacks to enjoy while watching the movie, and the tray he had brought to you when you started the movie was now sitting by your side on the end of the king size bed, piled up with grapes, breadsticks, olives and various cheeses. You had to admit, such snacks made you feel like royalty too.

Pin had told his butler to go sleep early that night, insisting that you'd take care of the dishes. He had been working so hard for the whole day, and his exhaustion started showing on his face. He had thanked Pin, retreating to his room as Pin had pulled you to lie between his legs, your head against his chest and he wrapped his arms around your hips. That's how you had been watching the movie, occasionally snacking on food from the tray or resting your head on him, feeling safe and protected under his strong arms.

The movie was interesting, but you started feeling tired after you had watched half of it. Your eyelids became heavy and your eyes involuntarily closed as minutes passed by, and soon you had fallen into sleep against Pin's chest.

Pin didn't even realise you had fallen to sleep at first, too invested into the movie himself to notice. But as the ending credits began rolling and Pin put the movie away, you began to snore lightly. He held back a chuckle and gently laid you next to him, sneaking to the other side of the bed to take the now-empty tray and put it on the windowsill. He crept back on the bed, settling down beside you and stroking your hair with gentle fingers. You smiled in your sleep, snuggling closer to him and Pin wrapped his arms around you, smiling tenderly at you sleeping. 

Then finally, he let himself fall in slumber too, knowing there was no other place where he'd rather be right now.

---

Tags: @scandalous-chaos @brekkers-desigirl @mentallynotstableghost @bb-skyrunner @ellora-brekker // send in an ask to be added, and specify which of Freddy's characters do you want to be tagged on! (This taglist is for Freddy event only, I won't take character taglists for anyone else than Freddy's characters. And note: after the event, Pin pieces will get the full Free Rein taglist again, this taglist applies only during this event) ALSO IF YOU WON’T INTERACT BEYOND LIKING, I’LL EVENTUALLY TAKE YOU OFF THE LIST!!

[jolteon-rph]

RAYMAN 3: HOODLUM HAVOC / SENTENCE STARTERS.

Quotes & sentences taken from all versions of the video game, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc.  Feel free to change the sentences as you see fit.

TW: Mentions of violence, threatening language.

“Gah! Listen up, pipsqueak!“

“_____ is not a word! You illiterate imbecile!“

“I've tamed a more ferocious beast than you.“

“Oh, my god! What is going on here? Would you mind being any more quiet!“

“This is getting a bit too much! Do you want to get thrown out, or what?“

“Stick to the script, will you?“

“Sounds like someone’s been eatin’ paint chips again.“

“I’m sorry! I-I-I didn’t-I didn’t mean to!“

“Yeah, well, you got a better idea?“

“Ah! Your parents should have put you in military school!“

“Let’s see if we can, y’know, hook you up with something to take the pain away, huh? How’s that sound? Hold on a sec here.“

“You seem quite clever, stranger. That's good! I like clever people.“

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. Besides, I wouldn’t know how to do that.“

“You’re lookin’ for action, this ain’t the place. Wacky spinsters around here.”

“Hahahaha, very stunning. Now you just gotta figure out how it works. Good luck.“

“Huh huh huh! How’s it hangin’, weiner dog?“

“If you read the story, you’ll find your way out. ‘Once upon a time, there were _____. Harmony. Love. Peace.’ ...Boring!”

“Where is it written that I do my own stunts?!“

“Do you mind? Some of us are trying to work around here.“

“Silence! I said SILENCE!”

“Oh, no, no, no! Shut your cake hole!“

“In any case, it’s nice and calm here. And here I was expecting a scary place filled with terrifying ghouls.”

“Good thing I know how to open the door now.“

“You will look perfect in my living room-- stuffed and mounted on my wall!“

“What’s yer problem? You afraid of girls?“

“My darling, finally I can hold you in my arms!”

“You've got no arms; no legs; and soon you'll have no head!“

“Bug off, fairy! Zelda needs you!“

“... Oh no. On second thought, I’d better stay here.”

“Do that again, olive head, and I'll skewer you on that toothpick of yours!”

“No, I'm not coming out! I don't have the habit of obeying orders!“

“Looks like you're at the end of your rope.”

“I hate this guy! I hate him! I hate him!“

“Oh, what a shame.“

“How I pity you, you who have had the misfortune of becoming the prey of _____!”

“I'm a lover, not a fighter.“

“Defeat is a relative concept.“

“Oh, just passing through. Pay no attention to me.“

“Oobie doobie doo, _____ is afraid and sings to calm himself down, oobie doobie doo...”

“Don’t provoke me. I’m warning you.“

“Hahahaha! Admit it, you were scared. Wanna lift?“

“Are you finally done goofin’ off? Can we get going now?“

“All the blood is rushing to my head... feels... weird... I'm starting to feel more intelligent...HELP!“

“I have never known defeat! Need I say more?“

“No. Why? Do you?“

“My dad's stronger than your dad.“

“Ohohoh! Don't hold back!“

“See you in Rayman 4!”

[swordoflight]

Matthew 24:27

Matthew 24

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘the sun will be darkened,

    and the moon will not give its light;

the stars will fall from the sky,

    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

The Day and Hour Unknown

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

[fordecree7]

THE BIBLE BOOK OF GOD

New Testament

Matthew 24

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

24 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The Abomination of Desolation

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

The Coming of the Son of Man

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day and Hour

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 24

Diane Beauford

[mirrorofliterature]

twenty first lines: a roll call

Stealing this from @lostmykeysie (hope you don’t mind; wonderful story openers on your end). It’s been almost three years since I last did this (earlyish 2019), so I don’t think I’m going to get through everything, but still, let’s go! It’s going to be a mix-mash of fandoms. Going chronologically from most recent to least.

Essentially, the rules are to gather together the first lines of your 20 most recent works and to comment on them, if any pattern emerges, etc.

1. When Victoria peers through Ceci’s door, she does not expect to see a scraggly skeleton standing there. | the song of a snuffed out spark | coco canon divergence, 7.3k

2. it takes her a while to figure it all out. | dancing to a different beat | izzy figures out she’s aro: shadowhunters, 757 words

3. Sirius Black was never meant to die old. | dreaming of a happy ending | sirius black, an inevitable tragedy: hp, 1.1k

4. 1928 is like every other year since Thomas became Downton Abbey’s butler. | and all i’m thinking about is tomorrow | thomas barrow gets the happiness he deserves: downton abbey, 3.1k

5. Ginny Weasley stands amongst the smoking wreckage of her school, a place she has lived in for the better part of six years. | a study of cracked gold | ginny and percy, rebuilding after tragedy: hp, 18.1k

6. Edward thought - Well, he doesn’t know what he thought. | i’ll tell you a story before it tells itself | edward courtaney x thomas barrow canon divergence: downton abbey, 10.9k (and desperately neglected)

7. Clary’s wearing a cotton-candied striped scarf when they break up. | cherry blossoms in the spring | modern clizzy exes to lovers: shadowhunters, 3.9k

8. Magnus Bane is Great. | falling | magnus bane has an identity crisis despite being a badass: shadowhunters, 442 words

9. Jason is jogging at the base of Mount Othrys. | falling like lightning | jason and thalia reunite early: pjo, 4.4k (also dying for attention)

10. The wind howls. | everything not black and blue | oliver wood joins the order and defends boyfriend percy weasley: hp, 4.1k

11. When Magnus walks through the hallowed halls of the Institute, hours after his trust in the Clave is further shattered, there are still faint hints of sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows, almost ethereal. | catch me when i fall | magnus bane gets the story arc he deserved in season 2b: canon divergence, shadowhunters, 7.3k 12. On a perfectly ordinary night, they’re sneaking around on top of frozen ground, walking slowly as to not skid on the icy grass. | fight on, ‘til the night is won | maiabelle murder mystery with a side of brotherly alec: shadowhunters, 1.9k  13. Another world is crueler. | almost found heaven but i missed a step | magnus bane dies too early, a tragedy: shadowhunters, 571 words 14. alec throws away his bundle of yellowing papers. | yet we must go on | alec gets overwhelmed by the impending end of the world, 3x20 coda: shadowhunters, ficlet 15. He wants to say that it was destiny, fate, that they met. | and i do not know who writes the stars | barris introspection fluff: downton abbey, 610 words 16. The infirmary is still as the clock ticks to the hour, shifting the world deeper into the day: night must have fallen by now, but inside the Institute, it is impossible to tell. | god save the king | outsider pov on malec when magnus collapses from magic strain: shadowhunters, 1.4k 17. Alec and Magnus are sitting on freshly painted stools in a quaint cafe off 5th Avenue, perched above bumpy grey and blue cobblestones. | as the storm passes, can you hold this fragile heart of mine? | mundane alec geting caught up in the shadow world: shadowhunters, 7.1k 18. They say drunken words are sober thoughts. | we dreamed, you and i, until you ran away | magnus is angsty over alec, post-break up: shadowhunters, 443 words

19. As Alexander Lightwood places his heart, his hopes, his dreams and desires out for anyone to see onto the thick mahogany table, Asmodeus smiles. | but oh my darling, don’t you trust me? | asmodeus is evil and a very terrible father: shadowhunters, 355 words

20. Alec stands in front of C-12 with a curse on the tip of his tongue: this is decisively not a science room. | off into the abyss (if only i was so brave) | rival science teachers malec: shadowhunters, 468 words

A pattern I was already noticing emerging after the first four fics: the first sentence immediately sets the tone of the fic and introduces the most important thing of the fic: the mystery, the thing the character has to figure out (my writing tends to be heavily character driven, what is plot?). It tends to be less laser focused the longer the fic, particularly if it is multi-chaptered, less signal posting. Sometimes I like to be dramatic and simply and creatively describe the scenery. I also got to skip one because I put it in my prior 20 lines fic in 2019 as a wip and felt very smug. Maybe too smug, but finishing things is a wonderful feeling. Irrelevant to the sentences, but my titles do tend to be literary-esque and dramatic. And lowercase. That is essential to my aesthetic.

This took me... a decent amount of time. I’m tagging: @infinitelycynical, @sugarandspace, @lightwormsiblings, @faejilly and whoever else wants to participate!