#the oldest among them judge me for this sin

[klarionthewizard]

The WIP List

As written to demonstrate why this is named the Writer's Block:

-original novel (first draft editing)

-original story, reverse Hades/Persephone vibes (currently a worldbuilding notebook)

-James Asher roleswap fic (two pages)

-the other James Asher roleswap fic with same swap but different setting bc I lost the original notebook for six months (four pages)

-continuation chapter of Veers Makes Piett's Crew Look Rational (seven pages of ideas in a notebook, three sentences of actual writing)

-a Maximilian Veers as the Grand Inquisitor fic ( half a page)

-a Maximilian Veers as a witch fic (four pages but I decided I hated the way I wrote the magic system so I'll probably start it over soon)

-original fiction of a vampire in college (fifteen pages)

-a short story collection that I wrote in high school that I have since decided I hated and am thus rewriting (Originally 120 pages, I've kept like, 30)

-assorted poems of varying quality

[thepachy]

A group of 5 men from the resistance tried to attack a cult outpost or what they thought was one, not even knowing the mistake they made.

They were all standing there in front of the building inside the walls, surrounded by Jacob’s elite hunters, any move and they were shot straight in the head. They could see the chosen with some judges and far away the prisoners in their mediocre cages where they will end if they were lucky enough, and right in front of them, him.

The oldest brother, smirking at them. they knew they were done and how stupid their idea was, they were gonna die or forced to join, both were bad endings.

After a long silence, Seed finally stopped his little grin and spoke: "only a little group of 3 men from the whitetails militia to come here ?" they all looked surprised. They were 5 not 3, why would he say that ? As they stayed fixing the Soldier closely, Jacob glanced at one of the young men and as he started another devilish grin, in an instant the young man took his knife and slit the throat of the other man in front of him.

5 - 2, 3, just like he said, it was so quick that they didn’t even had the time to understand that all this had already been planned. The 3 men turned to their traitor, they were so taken by surprise that they were like frozen after the terrible act.

"You’re weak, he said, and so easy to lure" the man then took his shirt off and walked towards Jacob, revealing his sins carved on his skin, he was one of them. They couldn’t believe the one they trusted and had helped planned this for weeks was one of them. A hunter brought back a leather jacket and gave it to the man, on the back was painted this damn cross and a deer skull.

Seeing this, one of the men thought of some rumors concerning a member of the cult, discreet and rarely seen by outside members, his nickname sounded something like "the deer", was it him ?

"Wh- why ?! One of them shouted at this betrayal

-I led the little herd of sheep into the wolf's trap" said the man with a grin mimicking Jacob’s one and adding with a little chuckle like if all this was nothing more than a joke "that my purpose".

They knew it was the end after that masquerade, they just put their weapons on the ground and knelt down. Again the Soldier won and showed that he had the control over everything and everyone. They were trapped in the claws of the wolves. How could have they been fooled so easily ?

How could they have known that the frail-looking deer among them was actually hiding wolf teeth ?

Jacob watched the despair in their eyes as the chosen pushed them to the ground, keeping them for later…

The deer lured the herd, as it was his purpose

_________________

Ok so ! Sorry it took me ages because of school but I’ve been tagged by @la-grosse-patate and @cassietrn for some wips but i wasn’t feeling like sharing my little sketches and it’s technically the first time i put something out of my mind and i wanted to just write like a little introduction for Eric

Also sorry i had to ask some friends to correct it but i hope you stil liked

somehow

[mademoiselle-red]

It’s also worth noting that Tianqi (played by Liu Xueyi), is not a demon, but the God of the Demons. The Immortal he is speaking to is Wuhuan, the Queen of the Immortals. Tianqi is an Old God, she is a New God, and they have very different views of the cosmological order of their world.

Ancient Love Poetry’s cosmology is really interesting and a bit different from other Xianxia in that in the beginning of the universe, there were the Gods, the Immortals, and the Demons. The Gods lived in their own realm above everyone else and controlled everything. The Immortals and Demons were equal under the eyes of the Gods, lived in their own realms below the Gods, and both races could ascend to Godhood through cultivation.

Among the Gods, there were four Original Gods who were descended from the Supreme God and honored above all others:

Zhiyang, the oldest Original God (not sure what he is god of)

Shanggu, the God of Chaos and the new Supreme God

Baijue, the God of Fire and God of the Immortals

Tianqi, the God of Water and the God of the Demons

As the God of Demons, Tianqi’s life force nourishes the entire race of Demons and gives them the energy to cultivate and thrive. He is their God, and they are his children.

During the Cataclysm that ended the Age of the Gods, the new Supreme God sacrificed herself to prevent the End of the World, and all the Gods fell and “died”, leaving behind the Immortals and the Demons, who became embroiled in conflict.

The Immortals gradually forgot about the old order and began to see themselves as the highest beings in existence, looking down upon both Demon and Man. Wuhuan, an Immortal who had served the God of Chaos in the old era, survived the cataclysm, ascended to Godhood, and became the Queen of Immortals.

However, all four of the Original Gods survived / were reborn after Cataclysm, and they remain the highest and most powerful beings in existence in this world, even if some of the Immortals loathe to admit it.

So in this scene, Tianqi is not only sticking up for his children and upholding the old order where Immortals and Demons were all equal under the Gods, but reminding the Queen of the Immortals that she cannot judge his children, but he, as an Original God, can pass judgement upon her.

This piece of world building is important because outside specific fictional settings, demons and immortals are not supposed to be equal from a folk religion perspective, since demons represent the “fall” and “corruption” of souls (animal and human) on their cultivation path to immortality.

Demons and Immortals tend to get racialized in lots of Xianxia works, rather than representing different cultivation results achieved by human and animal souls.

But simply waving an authorial hand and saying demons and immortals are all equal sits wrong, because it cannot hand-wave away the cultural understanding that demons represent man’s capitulation to his worst instincts and immortals represent man’s pursuit of virtue. That’s why the way this handwaving is done in some Xianxia dramas like Love and Redemption sits so wrong with me and a lot of fans. Because the demons are racialized but also canonically retain some attributes from folk religion, such as cultivating via consuming human souls.

Ancient Love Poetry solves this problem by having the demons derive their powers and life force from the God of Demons. Tianqi’s existence in this universe is morally neutral, and so his children’s existence is also morally neutral, untainted by the “original sin” of being living representations of the corruption of souls (or needing to consume human souls to cultivate). Like Tianqi, they are neither good nor bad, just equal under the eyes of the Original Gods.

Ancient Love Poetry – How dare you judge me

[wolint]

FRESH MANNA

SPIRITUAL PROSTITUTION

Jeremiah 3:1-11

Prostitution is called the "oldest profession” in the world. It was the most common way for women and previously some men to make money, even in Bible times. The Bible tells us that prostitution is immoral. Proverbs 23:27-28 says, "For a prostitute is a deep pit and a wayward wife is a narrow well. Like a bandit, she lies in wait, and multiplies the unfaithful among men."

Hosea 4:12 makes a graphic accusation against Israel: “My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. A spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.” Why would God say Israel had a spirit of whoredom (“spirit of prostitution,”? the same can be said of our generation and society today.

So many are prostituting themselves after other gods or jumping from church to church or denomination to denomination. What are they looking for? What are you looking for?

The narrative goes that Judah had separated from her husband, the Lord, and had been a harlot with many lovers, again, just like this age and generation and society. We, like Judah, are constantly unfaithful in marriage to the Lord and have no right to turn to Him or expect Him to return to us. Our unfaithfulness is evident in that the land is completely polluted with idols, and we sit as prostitutes by the roads as seen in Genesis 38:13-14, 20-21, this is the image of a cult prostitute. But God’s faithfulness to His word is greater than our unfaithfulness to Him, as Jeremiah later recorded God’s promise of Israel’s national restoration under the new covenant.

Morality and immorality are relational concepts that impact the way God feels about His people.

God is not the cold, emotionless and unfeeling judge sitting on His throne in the sky without feeling the pain of our constant straying and betrayal. God is personal, He feels our pains and laments our strays, but despite these, He is always eager to be reconciled to us and us to Him, unfaithful as we may be.

We have people church-crawling looking for “something” that I am not sure they even know what they are looking for. Or maybe they are looking for the “perfect church”, which unfortunately does not exist. Creating a culture of spiritual prostitution.

So many of us, like Judea have vacated our position as the bride of Christ to become brazen prostitutes.

Even though Judea made a pretend repentance, in verse 10, God the all-seeing God saw through their pretence, just like He sees our pretend piety and holiness.

God forbids involvement with prostitutes because He knows such involvement is detrimental to us as Proverbs 5:3-5 says, "For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; But in the end, she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell".

We must all take care that we don’t get so steep in spiritual prostitution that when we show up in church or Christian gatherings, we end up praising God with a rock heart.

Although prostitution is sinful, prostitutes are not beyond God’s scope of forgiveness. The record of Rahab in Joshua 2 shows us that God is willing to forgive anyone who repents.

Just like anyone else, prostitutes have the opportunity to receive salvation and eternal life from God, to be cleansed of all their unrighteousness and to be given a brand new life! All they must do is turn away from their sinful lifestyle and turn to the living God, whose grace and mercy are boundless. 2 Corinthians 5:17 puts it clearly and encouragingly for every returning spiritual prostitute.

We must learn to stay put with God and stop straying.

PRAYER: Father, help me to remain faithful to you as my only saviour and deliverer and not become a spiritual prostitute in Jesus’s name. Amen.

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT. PRAYER MIN.

[princeofgod-2021]

LIGHT OF LIFE 337

John 1:4

WHERE WE MUST DRAW LINES 19 – SHEEP AND GOATS 3

Mat 25:31-33 "WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES IN HIS GLORY AND ALL HIS ANGELS ARE WITH HIM, he will sit on HIS GLORIOUS THRONE. THE PEOPLE OF EVERY NATION WILL BE GATHERED IN FRONT OF HIM. HE WILL SEPARATE THEM AS A SHEPHERD SEPARATES THE SHEEP FROM THE GOATS. HE WILL PUT THE SHEEP ON HIS RIGHT BUT THE GOATS ON HIS LEFT. GW

In this final segment, we are going to discuss what really separated the Sheep from Goats.

Remember I told us that Jesus presented the end time story in a parable here?

So, it can only be seen as pictorials and simile of the actual events and prophetic declarations.

These were the final words and last Parable from Jesus, according to Matthew, and it finalizes all divine Commandments.

Mat 25:34-36 Then THE KING WILL SAY TO THOSE ON HIS RIGHT, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I WAS SICK AND YOU TOOK CARE OF ME, I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU VISITED ME.’ NET

In the [actual] final judgment, the focus was on the individual deeds of persons of these nations.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, and then another book was opened, the book of the living. THE DEAD WERE JUDGED ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HAD DONE, AS RECORDED IN THE BOOKS. GNB

But in the Matthew 25 Parable, they were judged in reference to a specified standard of service: Love and Care for the needy, poor and oppressed.

In a way, it’s all the same thing, right?

Though in Rev, they were judged according to what they actually did; in Matt, they were judged according to specifics that they were supposed to do, but they either did, or failed to do.

Mat 25:42-43 I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink. I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I WAS NAKED, BUT YOU DID NOT GIVE ME ANY CLOTHES TO WEAR. I WAS SICK AND IN JAIL, BUT YOU DID NOT TAKE CARE OF ME." CEV

I want you to see how this “standard” – by which separation of “workers” happened – shows us a replication of the Character and Personality of Jesus Himself.

Let’s start by looking [again] at God’s overall and central purpose.

Rom 8:29 For HE KNEW ALL ABOUT US BEFORE WE WERE BORN AND HE DESTINED US FROM THE BEGINNING TO SHARE THE LIKENESS OF HIS SON. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO WILL BECOME JUST LIKE HIM. TPT

Every single human is destined to conform to the image, personality and Character of Jesus.

God will not accept or relate firmly with anyone who is not presented in the full image of His Son Jesus.

Psa 2:10-12 Be smart, all you rulers, and pay close attention. Serve and honor the LORD; be glad and tremble. SHOW RESPECT TO HIS SON because if you don't, the LORD might become furious and suddenly destroy you. But he blesses and protects everyone who runs to him. CEV

The least expectation from every man will be utmost regard for Jesus and all He stands for.

Mat 1:21 She will give birth to a son and you are to name him ‘Savior,’ for he is DESTINED to give his life to SAVE HIS PEOPLE from their sins.” TPT

Jesus stands for Salvation, and “He saves His People” means He identified as one with humanity.

Also, in all His mission amongst men, he does nothing but help and do good to people.

Act 10:38 You know about JESUS OF NAZARETH and how GOD POURED OUT ON HIM THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER. HE WENT EVERYWHERE, DOING GOOD AND HEALING ALL WHO WERE UNDER THE POWER OF THE DEVIL, for God was with him.

All the Anointing on Jesus’ life was applied to helping people.

Many will want anointing for “status upgrade” and respect. Jesus suffered insult, yet he kept His “cool”.

1Pe 2:23-24 who when He was reviled did not revile in return. WHEN HE SUFFERED, HE DID NOT THREATEN, but gave Himself up to Him who judges righteously. HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, THAT DYING TO SINS, WE MIGHT LIVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS; by whose stripes you were healed. MKJV

The major reason why Jesus avoided offenses was so He won’t be distracted from his mission of saving men and because His time was too short in doing it all.

Imagine such love and care?

Rom 9:28 FOR HE WILL FINISH THE WORK, AND CUT IT SHORT IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: because A SHORT WORK WILL THE LORD MAKE upon the earth. KJV

But even though the work was so short (3.5 years), it acknowledges the standard of Righteousness, which is the replication of His Divine Character.

That’s why the Judgment will come. Yet Jesus wanted every man to have the Opportunity to become like Him, so He pleaded with God to forgive.

Luk 23:34 Then Jesus said, "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING." MEANWHILE, THE SOLDIERS DIVIDED HIS CLOTHES AMONG THEMSELVES BY THROWING DICE. GW

Therefore beloved, we should pity the one who is insulted and he decides to stop doing the good he does in Church, or the one who is asked for help but he is quick to call the needy “lazy” because he wants to fully enjoy his “hard-earned” resources.

Judgement is coming; we all will be separated into 2 groups: The Sheep and Goats. To which side will you, or will I, be sent?

Mat 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! NET

Imagine then, that all GOATS, who won’t become like Jesus, but remain selfish, greedy, proud and wicked, will suffer the same punishment satan will suffer.

You will not be a Goat, in Jesus name.

Join us on Monday for another thrilling and insightful subtopic.

Keep Shinning!

Brother Prince

Friday, April 07, 2023

08055125517; 08023904307

[waritawrites]

A Secret: Watch Out for the Evil Eye Symbol!

https://followerofthewayforever.wordpress.com/2021/02/22/a-secret-watch-out-for-the-evil-eye-symbol/

The Evil Eye has made a reappearance into popular culture, particularly in fashion, jewelry and accessories, and alleged "art." It is a hateful stare that is used to place curses on others. In John H. Elliot's Beware the Evil Eye: The Evil Eye in the Bible and the Ancient World: -Volume 1 Introduction, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, He tells the truth about the evil eye by sharing Jesus' sermon on the mount:

"Beware the Evil Eye: The Evil Eye in the Bible and the Ancient World: -Volume 1 Introduction, Mesopotamia, and Egypt

In his celebrated 'Sermon on the Mount,' Jesus of Nazareth makes reference to one of the oldest beliefs in the ancient world the malignity of an Evil Eye (Matt 6:22-23): 'If, however, your Eye is Evil, your entire body will be full of darkness.' Another of Jesus's references to the Evil Eye appears in his parable concerning workers in a vineyard and an eruption of Evil-Eyed envy (Matt 20:1-16). At the parable’s conclusion, a generous vineyard owner chides disgruntled workers envious of their fellow laborers: 'Is your Eye Evil because I am good?' (Matt 20:15)."

According to Britannica.com

"Evil eye, glance believed to have the ability to cause injury or death to those on whom it falls; pregnant women, children, and animals are thought to be particularly susceptible. Belief in the evil eye is ancient and ubiquitous; it occurred in ancient Greece and Rome, in Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions, and in indigenous, peasant, and other folk societies, and it has persisted throughout the world into modern times. Those most often accused of casting the evil eye include strangers, malformed individuals, childless women, and old women."

Personally, I have noticed when certain acquaintances and relatives come around catastrophe strikes not long after, especially after they have acted condescending and hateful. Once my grandmother wanted to know why I didn't want to go the wedding of one my cousins. I told her that it was because certain of our other relatives were going to the wedding and I noticed that every time there was a new encounter that would cause more frequent contact with them, catastrophes would strike. I told her that I suspected that they were practicing witchcraft. My grandmother didn't defend them - if it weren't true she would have. My grandmother said nothing. She is a woman who went out of town to the casino with her sister when I had gotten seriously ill in high school. She picked me up from school, took me home, then she and my great aunt told me that they couldn't stay - they left town told no one that I was at home sick. I almost died.

Be careful of the company that you keep - no matter who it is. Everyone who seems to treat you nice doesn't have good intentions towards you. Witches often offer gifts and favors as a way of cursing people. Do not accepts gifts if you can avoid it. Don't keep them because those may be cursed objects - THROW THEM AWAY!

!!PAY ATTENTION!! When people who you hardly ever see come around and weird things happen, pray to GOD for help and put those people in GOD's hands.

The Evil Eye is Witchcraft

Deuteronomy 18:9 - 13

9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

Rhonda Byrne's The Secret and The Law of Attraction: It is the manifestation of an evil eye

Witches often use the evil eye in various ways. They practice its use in The Law of Attraction, which is a metaphysical principle which purports that by positive thinking you can control your world and the world around you. Kerby Anderson's The False Teaching of “The Secret” – A Christian Evaluation states:

“The Law of Attraction.”{6} You can summarize the law with three words: “Thoughts become things.” In other words, if you think hard enough about something, it will take place. Think good thoughts, and you will reap good things. Think bad thoughts, and bad things will happen to you. You create your own circumstances, and you can change those circumstances with your thoughts.

A central teaching of “The Law of Attraction” is that nothing can come into your experience unless you summon it through persistent thoughts. Thus, everything that surrounds you right now (both good and bad) has been attracted to you. As you focus on what you want, you are changing the vibration of atoms of that thing so that they begin to vibrate to you.{7} Ultimately, you determine the frequency or vibration so that you can best acquire wealth, health, and fulfillment."

Vision boards are forms of evil eye law of attraction witchcraft as well. Do not use the practices of witchcraftvto manifest the things that you want. Galatians 5:16 - 26:

Galatians 5:16 - 26:

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Pray and Trust in GOD for what you want according to HIS Will. James 4:2 - 17 states:

James 4:2 - 17

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

In pure Christianity, we recognize that witchcraft is an attempt at usurping GOD's Authority by trying to become your own god. GOD's understanding is infinite. Man's understanding is limited and finite - we don't see the whole picture - we don't know the whole situation. 1 Corinthians 13:12 says:

1 Corinthians 13:12

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

GOD sees clearly therefore leaning unto our understanding via witchcraft will bring about unholy, selfish, unrighteous results. Proverbs 3:5 - 8 says:

Proverbs 3:5 - 8

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

#GOD #Jesus #HolySpirit #TheBible

#TheSecret #TheLawOfAttraction #RhondaByrne #Oprah #NewAge #Witches #Witchcraft #EvilEye

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

16th January >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Saturday, First Week in Ordinary Time    or 

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary    or

Saint Fursa, Abbot and Missionary.

Saturday, First Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Green)

First Reading

Hebrews 4:12-16

Let us be confident in approaching the throne of grace

The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts. No created thing can hide from him; everything is uncovered and open to the eyes of the one to whom we must give account of ourselves.    Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed. For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us; but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 18(19):8-10,15

R/ Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

The law of the Lord is perfect,    it revives the soul. The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,    it gives wisdom to the simple.

R/ Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

The precepts of the Lord are right,    they gladden the heart. The command of the Lord is clear,    it gives light to the eyes.

R/ Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

The fear of the Lord is holy,    abiding for ever. The decrees of the Lord are truth    and all of them just.

R/ Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

May the spoken words of my mouth,    the thoughts of my heart, win favour in your sight, O Lord,    my rescuer, my rock!

R/ Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

Gospel Acclamation

Psalm 118:36,29

Alleluia, alleluia! Bend my heart to your will, O Lord, and teach me your law. Alleluia!

Or:

Luke 4:17

Alleluia, alleluia! The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives. Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 2:13-17

Your light must shine in the sight of men

Jesus went out to the shore of the lake; and all the people came to him, and he taught them. As he was walking on he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus, sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.    When Jesus was at dinner in his house, a number of tax collectors and sinners were also sitting at the table with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many of them among his followers. When the scribes of the Pharisee party saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard this he said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Liturgical Colour: White)

(Readings for the memorial)

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

Either:

First Reading

Genesis 3:9-15,20

The mother of all those who live

After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’    Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this,

‘Be accursed beyond all cattle, all wild beasts. You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life. I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. It will crush your head and you will strike its heel.’

The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who live.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

OR: --------

First reading Genesis 12:1-7 All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you

The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.

‘I will bless those who bless you: I will curse those who slight you. All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you.’

So Abram went as the Lord told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had amassed and the people they had acquired in Haran. They set off for the land of Canaan, and arrived there.    Abram passed through the land as far as Shechem’s holy place, the Oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘It is to your descendants that I will give this land.’ So Abram built there an altar for the Lord who had appeared to him.

OR: --------

First reading 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-11,16 The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House

Once David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go and do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.’    But that very night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:    ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did, in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

OR: --------

First reading 1 Chronicles 15:3-4,15-16,16:1-2 They brought in the ark of God and put it inside the tent that David had pitched for it

David gathered all Israel together to bring the ark of God up to the place he had prepared for it. David called together the sons of Aaron and the sons of Levi. And the Levites carried the ark of God with the shafts on their shoulders, as Moses had ordered in accordance with the word of the Lord.    David then told the heads of the Levites to assign duties for their kinsmen as cantors, with their various instruments of music, harps and lyres and cymbals, to play joyful tunes.    They brought the ark of God in and put it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered holocausts before God, and communion sacrifices. And when David had finished offering holocausts and communion sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

OR: --------

First reading Proverbs 8:22-31 Before the earth came into being, Wisdom was born

The Wisdom of God cries aloud:

The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded,    before the oldest of his works. From everlasting I was firmly set,    from the beginning, before earth came into being. The deep was not, when I was born,    there were no springs to gush with water. Before the mountains were settled,    before the hills, I came to birth; before he made the earth, the countryside,    or the first grains of the world’s dust. When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there,    when he drew a ring on the surface of the deep, when he thickened the clouds above,    when he fixed fast the springs of the deep, when he assigned the sea its boundaries – and the waters will not invade the shore –    when he laid down the foundations of the earth, I was by his side, a master craftsman,    delighting him day after day,    ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere in his world,    delighting to be with the sons of men.

OR: --------

First reading Ecclesiasticus 24:1-4,8-12,18-21 From eternity, in the beginning, God created wisdom

Wisdom speaks her own praises,    in the midst of her people she glories in herself. She opens her mouth in the assembly of the Most High,    she glories in herself in the presence of the Mighty One: ‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,    and I covered the earth like a mist. I had my tent in the heights,    and my throne in a pillar of cloud. Then the creator of all things instructed me,    and he who created me fixed a place for my tent. He said, “Pitch your tent in Jacob,    make Israel your inheritance.” From eternity, in the beginning, he created me,    and for eternity I shall remain. I ministered before him in the holy tabernacle,    and thus was I established on Zion. In the beloved city he has given me rest,    and in Jerusalem I wield my authority. I have taken root in a privileged people,    in the Lord’s property, in his inheritance. Approach me, you who desire me,    and take your fill of my fruits, for memories of me are sweeter than honey,    inheriting me is sweeter than the honeycomb. They who eat me will hunger for more,    they who drink me will thirst for more. Whoever listens to me will never have to blush,    whoever acts as I dictate will never sin.’

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 7:10-14,8:10 The maiden is with child

The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’    Then Isaiah said:

‘Listen now, House of David: are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men without trying the patience of my God, too? The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 9:1-6 A Son is given to us

The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone. You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time, as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him, the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor, these you break as on the day of Midian.

For all the footgear of battle, every cloak rolled in blood, is burnt, and consumed by fire.

For there is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 61:9-11 I exult for joy in the Lord

Their race will be famous throughout the nations, their descendants throughout the peoples. All who see them will admit that they are a race whom the Lord has blessed.

‘I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity, like a bridegroom wearing his wreath, like a bride adorned in her jewels.

‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow, as a garden makes seeds spring up, so will the Lord make both integrity and praise spring up in the sight of the nations.’

OR: --------

First reading Micah 5:1-4 He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord

The Lord says this:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old. The Lord is therefore going to abandon them till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth. Then the remnant of his brothers will come back to the sons of Israel. He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace.

OR: --------

First reading Zechariah 2:14-17 'I am coming', says the Lord

Sing, rejoice, daughter of Zion; for I am coming to dwell in the middle of you – it is the Lord who speaks. Many nations will join the Lord, on that day; they will become his people. But he will remain among you, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. But the Lord will hold Judah as his portion in the Holy Land, and again make Jerusalem his very own. Let all mankind be silent before the Lord! For he is awaking and is coming from his holy dwelling.

-------- ________

EITHER: --------

Responsorial Psalm 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

My heart exults in the Lord.    I find my strength in my God; my mouth laughs at my enemies    as I rejoice in your saving help.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

The bows of the mighty are broken,    but the weak are clothed with strength. Those with plenty must labour for bread,    but the hungry need work no more. The childless wife has children now    but the fruitful wife bears no more.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

It is the Lord who gives life and death,    he brings men to the grave and back; it is the Lord who gives poverty and riches.    He brings men low and raises them on high.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

He lifts up the lowly from the dust,    from the dungheap he raises the poor to set him in the company of princes    to give him a glorious throne. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,    on them he has set the world.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Judith 13:18a-19

You are the highest honour of our race!

May you be blessed, my daughter, by God Most High, beyond all women on earth; and may the Lord God be blessed, the Creator of heaven and earth.

You are the highest honour of our race!

The trust you have shown shall not pass from the memories of men, but shall ever remind them of the power of God.

You are the highest honour of our race!

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 44(45):11-12,14-17

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:    forget your own people and your father’s house. So will the king desire your beauty:    He is your lord, pay homage to him.

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

The daughter of the king is clothed with splendour,    her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold. She is led to the king with her maiden companions.

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

They are escorted amid gladness and joy;    they pass within the palace of the king. Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers:    you will make them princes over all the earth.

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 112(113):1-7

May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!

Praise, O servants of the Lord,    praise the name of the Lord! May the name of the Lord be blessed    both now and for evermore!

May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!

From the rising of the sun to its setting    praised be the name of the Lord! High above all nations is the Lord,    above the heavens his glory.

May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!

Who is like the Lord, our God,    who has risen on high to his throne yet stoops from the heights to look down,    to look down upon heaven and earth? From the dust he lifts up the lowly,    from the dungheap he raises the poor

May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:46-55

The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

My soul glorifies the Lord,    my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

He looks on his servant in her nothingness;    henceforth all ages will call me blessed. The Almighty works marvels for me.    Holy his name!

The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

His mercy is from age to age,    on those who fear him. He puts forth his arm in strength    and scatters the proud-hearted.

The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

He casts the mighty from their thrones    and raises the lowly. He fills the starving with good things,    sends the rich away empty.

The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

He protects Israel, his servant,    remembering his mercy, the mercy promised to our fathers,    to Abraham and his sons for ever.

The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

-------- ________

Gospel Acclamation cf.Lk1:28

Alleluia, alleluia! Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women. Alleluia!

Or: cf.Lk1:45

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled. Alleluia!

Or: cf.Lk2:19

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who treasured the word of God and pondered it in her heart. Alleluia!

Or: Lk11:28

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy are those who hear the word of God and keep it. Alleluia!

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, for the sun of justice, Christ our God, was born of you. Alleluia!

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy is the Virgin Mary, who, without dying, won the palm of martyrdom beneath the cross of the Lord. Alleluia!

________

EITHER: --------

Gospel Matthew 1:1-16,18-23 The ancestry and conception of Jesus Christ

A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother, Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother, Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother, Obed was the father of Jesse; and Jesse was the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Azariah, Azariah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah; and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers. Then the deportation to Babylon took place.

After the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob; and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel,

a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 1:18-23 How Jesus Christ came to be born

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel,

a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 The flight into Egypt and the return to Nazareth

After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:

I called my son out of Egypt.

After Herod’s death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee. There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled:

‘He will be called a Nazarene.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 12:46-50 My mother and my brothers are anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven

Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 1:26-38 'I am the handmaid of the Lord'

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 1:39-47 Blessed is she who believed the promise

Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’    And Mary said:

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour.’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 2:1-14 'In the town of David a saviour has been born to you'

Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken. This census – the first – took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn.    In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing:

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favour.’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 2:15-19 The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and found the baby lying in the manger

Now when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they hurried away and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 2:27-35 'A sword will pierce your soul too'

Prompted by the Spirit Simeon came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel.’

As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 2:41-52 Mary stored up all these things in her heart

Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.    Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have, you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’    ‘Why were you looking for me?’ he replied. ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’ But they did not understand what he meant.    He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority.    His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 11:27-28 'Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!'

As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’

OR: --------

Gospel John 2:1-11 'My hour has not come yet' - 'Do whatever he tells you'

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. When they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the wedding was all finished, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said ‘Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’, and they filled them to the brim. ‘Draw some out now’ he told them ‘and take it to the steward.’ They did this; the steward tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from – only the servants who had drawn the water knew – the steward called the bridegroom and said, ‘People generally serve the best wine first, and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have had plenty to drink; but you have kept the best wine till now.’    This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him.

OR: --------

Gospel John 19:25-27 'Woman, this is your son'

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint Fursa, Abbot and Missionary

(Liturgical Colour: White)

(Readings for the memorial)

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

Either:

First Reading

Genesis 12:1-4

All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you

The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.

‘I will bless those who bless you: I will curse those who slight you. All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you.’

So Abram went as the Lord told him.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

OR: --------

First reading Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18 You must love your neighbour as yourself

The Lord spoke to Moses; he said: ‘Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them:    ‘“Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.    ‘“You must not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. You must openly tell him, your neighbour, of his offence; this way you will not take a sin upon yourself. You must not exact vengeance, nor must you bear a grudge against the children of your people. You must love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.”’

OR: --------

First reading Deuteronomy 6:3-9 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart

Moses said to the people:    ‘Listen, Israel, keep and observe these commandments, which will make you prosper and give you great increase, as the Lord the God of your fathers has promised you, giving you a land where milk and honey flow.    ‘Listen, Israel: the Lord our God is the one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Let these words I urge on you today be written on your heart. You shall repeat them to your children and say them over to them whether at rest in your house or walking abroad, at your lying down or at your rising; you shall fasten them on your hand as a sign and on your forehead as a circlet; you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.’

OR: --------

First reading Deuteronomy 10:8-9 The Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to do him service

Moses said to the people: ‘The Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the Lord’s covenant, to stand in the presence of the Lord, to do him service and in his name to pronounce blessing as they still do today. Levi therefore has no share or inheritance with his brothers: the Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God told him.’

OR: --------

First reading 1 Kings 19:4-9,11-15 The Lord was not in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire

Elijah went into the wilderness, a day’s journey, and sitting under a furze bush wished he were dead. ‘O Lord,’ he said ‘I have had enough. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down and went to sleep. But an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked round, and there at his head was a scone baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. But the angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, or the journey will be too long for you.’ So he got up and ate and drank, and strengthened by that food he walked for forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.    There he went into the cave and spent the night in it. Then he was told, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ Then the Lord himself went by. There came a mighty wind, so strong it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice came to him, which said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He replied, ‘I am filled with jealous zeal for the Lord of Hosts, because the sons of Israel have deserted you, broken down your altars and put your prophets to the sword. I am the only one left and they want to kill me.’    ‘Go,’ the Lord said, ‘go back by the same way to the wilderness of Damascus.’

OR: --------

First reading 1 Kings 19:16,19-21 Elisha leaves the plough to follow Elijah

The Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go, you are to anoint Elisha son of Shaphat, of Abel Meholah, as prophet to succeed you.’    Leaving there, Elijah came on Elisha son of Shaphat as he was ploughing behind twelve yoke of oxen, he himself being with the twelfth. Elijah passed near to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother, then I will follow you’ he said. Elijah answered, ‘Go, go back; for have I done anything to you?’ Elisha turned away, took the pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He used the plough for cooking the oxen, then gave to his men, who ate. He then rose, and followed Elijah and became his servant.

OR: --------

First reading Tobit 8:4-8 A prayer on the wedding night

On their wedding night Tobias rose from the bed, and said to his wife Sarah, ‘Get up, my sister! You and I must pray and petition our Lord to win his grace and his protection.’ She stood up, and they began praying for protection, and this was how he began:

‘You are blessed, O God of our fathers; blessed, too, is your name for ever and ever. Let the heavens bless you and all things you have made for evermore. It was you who created Adam, you who created Eve his wife to be his help and support; and from these two the human race was born. It was you who said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make him a helpmate like himself.” And so I do not take my sister for any lustful motive; I do it in singleness of heart. Be kind enough to have pity on her and on me and bring us to old age together.’

OR: --------

First reading Tobit 12:6-13 Bless God and utter his praise before all the living

Raphael took Tobit and his son Tobias aside and said, ‘Bless God, utter his praise before all the living for all the favours he has given you. Bless and extol his name. Proclaim before all men the deeds of God as they deserve, and never tire of giving him thanks. It is right to keep the secret of a king, yet right to reveal and publish the works of God. Thank him worthily. Do what is good, and no evil can befall you.    ‘Prayer with fasting and alms with right conduct are better than riches with iniquity. Better to practise almsgiving than to hoard up gold. Almsgiving saves from death and purges every kind of sin. Those who give alms have their fill of days; those who commit sin and do evil, bring harm on themselves.    ‘I am going to tell you the whole truth, hiding nothing from you. I have already told you that it is right to keep the secret of a king, yet right too to reveal in worthy fashion the works of God. So you must know that when you and Sarah were at prayer, it was I who offered your supplications before the glory of the Lord and who read them; so too when you were burying the dead. When you did not hesitate to get up and leave the table to go and bury a dead man, I was sent to test your faith, and at the same time God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.’

OR: --------

First reading Judith 8:2-8 The widow Judith was devout and feared God

Judith’s husband Manasseh, of her own tribe and family, had died at the time of barley harvest. He was supervising the men as they bound up the sheaves in the field, when he caught sunstroke and had to take to his bed. He died in Bethulia, his home town, and was buried with his ancestors in the field that lies between Dothan and Balamon. As a widow, Judith stayed inside her home for three years and four months. She had had an upper room built for herself on the roof. She wore sackcloth round her waist and dressed in widow’s weeds. She fasted every day of her widowhood except for the sabbath eve, the sabbath itself, the eve of New Moon, the feast of New Moon and the festival days of the House of Israel. Now, she was very beautiful, charming to see. Her husband Manasseh had left her gold and silver, menservants and maidservants, cattle and lands; and she lived among all her possessions without anyone finding a word to say against her, so devoutly did she fear God.

OR: --------

First reading Esther 4:17 'I will not bow down to any but you, Lord'

Calling to mind all the wonderful works of the Lord, Mordecai offered this prayer:

‘Lord, Lord, King and Master of all things, everything is subject to your power, and there is no-one who can withstand you in your will to save Israel.

‘Yes, you have made heaven and earth, and all the marvels that are under heaven. You are the Lord of all, and there is none who can resist you, Lord.

‘You know all things: you know, Lord, you know, that no insolence, arrogance, vainglory prompted me to this, to this refusal to bow down before proud Haman. I would readily have kissed his feet for the safety of Israel.

‘But what I did, I did rather than place the glory of a man above the glory of God; and I will not bow down to any but to you, Lord: in so refusing I will not act in pride.

‘Hear my supplication, have mercy on your heritage, and turn our grief into rejoicing, that we may live to hymn your name, Lord. Do not suffer the mouths of those who praise you to perish.’

OR: --------

First reading Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31 A perfect wife - who can find her?

A perfect wife – who can find her?    She is far beyond the price of pearls. Her husband’s heart has confidence in her,    from her he will derive no little profit. Advantage and not hurt she brings him    all the days of her life. She is always busy with wool and with flax,    she does her work with eager hands. She sets her hands to the distaff,    her fingers grasp the spindle. She holds out her hand to the poor,    she opens her arms to the needy. Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty;    the woman who is wise is the one to praise. Give her a share in what her hands have worked for,    and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.

OR: --------

First reading Ecclesiasticus 2:7-13 You who fear the Lord, trust the Lord

You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;    do not turn aside in case you fall. You who fear the Lord, trust him,    and you will not be baulked of your reward. You who fear the Lord hope for good things,    for everlasting happiness and mercy. Look at the generations of old and see:    who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? Or who ever feared him steadfastly and was left forsaken?    Or who ever called out to him, and was ignored? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful,    he forgives sins, and saves in days of distress.

OR: --------

First reading Ecclesiasticus 3:19-25 Behave humbly, and you will find favour with the Lord

My son, be gentle in carrying out your business,    and you will be better loved than a lavish giver. The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly,    and then you will find favour with the Lord; for great though the power of the Lord is,    he accepts the homage of the humble. Do not try to understand things that are too difficult for you,    or try to discover what is beyond your powers. Concentrate on what has been assigned you:    you have no need to worry over mysteries. Do not meddle with matters that are beyond you:    what you have been taught already exceeds the scope of the human mind. For many have been misled by their own presumption,    and wrong-headed opinions have warped their ideas. For lack of eyes you want for light;    if you are without knowledge, do not attempt to convince.

OR: --------

First reading Ecclesiasticus 26:1-4,13-16 A perfect wife is the joy of her husband

Happy the husband of a really good wife;    the number of her days will be doubled. A perfect wife is the joy of her husband,    he will live out his years in peace. A good wife is the best of portions,    reserved for those who fear the Lord: rich or poor, they will be glad of heart,    cheerful of face, whatever the season. The grace of a wife will charm her husband,    her accomplishments will make him the stronger. A silent wife is a gift from the Lord,    no price can be put on a well-trained character. A modest wife is a boon twice over,    a chaste character cannot be weighed on scales. Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord    is the beauty of a good wife in a well-kept house.

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 58:6-11 Then will your light shine like the dawn

Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me – it is the Lord who speaks – to break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor,

to clothe the man you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin? Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you. Cry, and the Lord will answer; call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed,

your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon. The Lord will always guide you, giving you relief in desert places.

He will give strength to your bones and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never run dry.

OR: --------

First reading Jeremiah 20:7-9 The word of the Lord has meant insult for me

You have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced; you have overpowered me: you were the stronger. I am a daily laughing-stock, everybody’s butt. Each time I speak the word, I have to howl and proclaim: ‘Violence and ruin!’ The word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision, all day long. I used to say, ‘I will not think about him, I will not speak in his name any more.’ Then there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones. The effort to restrain it wearied me, I could not bear it.

OR: --------

First reading Micah 6:6-8 The Lord asks only this: to act justly, to love tenderly, to walk humbly

‘With what gift shall I come into the Lord’s presence    and bow down before God on high? Shall I come with holocausts,    with calves one year old? Will he be pleased with rams by the thousand,    with libations of oil in torrents? Must I give my first-born for what I have done wrong,    the fruit of my body for my own sin?’

– What is good has been explained to you, man;    this is what the Lord asks of you: only this, to act justly,    to love tenderly    and to walk humbly with your God.

OR: --------

First reading Zephaniah 2:3,3:12-13 In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people

Seek the Lord, all you, the humble of the earth, who obey his commands. Seek integrity, seek humility: you may perhaps find shelter on the day of the anger of the Lord.

In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people, and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord. They will do no wrong, will tell no lies; and the perjured tongue will no longer be found in their mouths. But they will be able to graze and rest with no one to disturb them.

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EITHER: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 1:1-4,6

His delight is the law of the Lord. or Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm-tree in the courts of our God.

Happy indeed is the man    who follows not the counsel of the wicked; nor lingers in the way of sinners    nor sits in the company of scorners, but whose delight is the law of the Lord    and who ponders his law day and night.

His delight is the law of the Lord. or Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm-tree in the courts of our God.

He is like a tree that is planted    beside the flowing waters, that yields its fruit in due season    and whose leaves shall never fade;    and all that he does shall prosper.

His delight is the law of the Lord. or Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm-tree in the courts of our God.

Not so are the wicked, not so! For they like winnowed chaff    shall be driven away by the wind: for the Lord guards the way of the just    but the way of the wicked leads to doom.

His delight is the law of the Lord. or Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm-tree in the courts of our God.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 14(15):2-5

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without fault; he who acts with justice and speaks the truth from his heart; he who does not slander with his tongue.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who does no wrong to his brother, who casts no slur on his neighbour, who holds the godless in disdain, but honours those who fear the Lord.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who keeps his pledge, come what may; who takes no interest on a loan and accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a man will stand firm for ever.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 15(16):1-2,5,7-8,11

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.    I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.’ O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;    it is you yourself who are my prize.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,    who even at night directs my heart. I keep the Lord ever in my sight:    since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

You will show me the path of life,    the fullness of joy in your presence,    at your right hand happiness for ever.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 22(23)

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;    there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures    where he gives me repose. Near restful waters he leads me,    to revive my drooping spirit.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me along the right path;    he is true to his name. If I should walk in the valley of darkness    no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff;    with these you give me comfort.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

You have prepared a banquet for me    in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil;    my cup is overflowing.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me    all the days of my life. In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell    for ever and ever.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33(34):2-11

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see that the Lord is good.

I will bless the Lord at all times,    his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.    The humble shall hear and be glad.

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Glorify the Lord with me.    Together let us praise his name. I sought the Lord and he answered me;    from all my terrors he set me free.

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Look towards him and be radiant;    let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called, the Lord heard him    and rescued him from all his distress.

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see that the Lord is good.

The angel of the Lord is encamped    around those who revere him, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good.    He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Revere the Lord, you his saints.    They lack nothing, those who revere him. Strong lions suffer want and go hungry    but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see that the Lord is good.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 102(103):1-4,8-9,13-14,17-18

My soul, give thanks to the Lord.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord    all my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord    and never forget all his blessings.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,    who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave,    who crowns you with love and compassion.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord.

The Lord is compassion and love,    slow to anger and rich in mercy. His wrath will come to an end;    he will not be angry for ever.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord.

As a father has compassion on his sons,    the Lord has pity on those who fear him; for he knows of what we are made,    he remembers that we are dust.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord.

But the love of the Lord is everlasting    upon those who hold him in fear; his justice reaches out to children’s children    when they keep his covenant in truth,    when they keep his will in their mind.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 111(112):1-9

Happy the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia!

Happy the man who fears the Lord,    who takes delight in all his commands. His sons will be powerful on earth;    the children of the upright are blessed.

Happy the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia!

Riches and wealth are in his house;    his justice stands firm for ever. He is a light in the darkness for the upright:    he is generous, merciful and just.

Happy the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia!

The good man takes pity and lends,    he conducts his affairs with honour. The just man will never waver:    he will be remembered for ever.

Happy the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia!

He has no fear of evil news;    with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord. With a steadfast heart he will not fear;    he will see the downfall of his foes.

Happy the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia!

Open-handed, he gives to the poor;    his justice stands firm for ever.    His head will be raised in glory.

Happy the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia!

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 127(128):1-5

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord    and walk in his ways! By the labour of your hands you shall eat.    You will be happy and prosper.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine    in the heart of your house; your children like shoots of the olive,    around your table.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Indeed thus shall be blessed    the man who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion    all the days of your life!

O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 130(131)

Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

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

Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

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

Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

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

Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.

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Gospel Acclamation Mt5:3

Alleluia, alleluia! How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia!

Or: Mt5:6

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied. Alleluia!

Or: Mt5:8

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God. Alleluia!

Or: Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!

Or: Mt23:11,12

Alleluia, alleluia! The greatest among you must be your servant, says the Lord: the man who humbles himself will be exalted. Alleluia!

Or: Mt11:28

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

Or: Lk21:36

Alleluia, alleluia! Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of Man. Alleluia!

Or: Jn8:12

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!

Or: Jn8:31-32

Alleluia, alleluia! If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, and you will learn the truth, says the Lord. Alleluia!

Or: Jn13:34

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

Or: Jn14:23

Alleluia, alleluia! If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him. Alleluia!

Or: Jn15:4,5

Alleluia, alleluia! Make your home in me, as I make mine in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me bears fruit in plenty. Alleluia!

Or: Jn15:9,5

Alleluia, alleluia! Remain in my love, says the Lord; whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty. Alleluia!

________

EITHER: --------

Gospel Matthew 5:1-12a How happy are the poor in spirit

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

‘How happy are the poor in spirit;    theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy the gentle:    they shall have the earth for their heritage. Happy those who mourn:    they shall be comforted. Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:    they shall be satisfied. Happy the merciful:    they shall have mercy shown them. Happy the pure in heart:    they shall see God. Happy the peacemakers:    they shall be called sons of God. Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:    theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 5:13-16 Your light must shine in the sight of men

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.    ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 7:21-27 The wise man built his house on a rock

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?” Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!    ‘Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 11:25-30 You have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to little children

Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.    ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 13:44-46 He sells everything he owns and buys the field

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.    ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 16:24-27 Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?    ‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 18:1-5 Unless you become like little children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven

The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.    ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 19:3-12 Husband and wife are no longer two, but one body

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and to test him they said, ‘Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’    They said to him, ‘Then why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal should be given in cases of divorce?’ ‘It was because you were so unteachable’ he said ‘that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Now I say this to you: the man who divorces his wife – I am not speaking of fornication – and marries another, is guilty of adultery.’    The disciples said to him, ‘If that is how things are between husband and wife, it is not advisable to marry.’ But he replied, ‘It is not everyone who can accept what I have said, but only those to whom it is granted. There are eunuchs born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs made so by men and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 19:27-29 They will be repaid a hundred times over and inherit eternal life

Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘What about us?’ he said. ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 22:34-40 The commandments of love

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

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 25:1-13 The wise and foolish virgins

Jesus told this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, “The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.” At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, “Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out.” But they replied, “There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves.” They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later. “Lord, Lord,” they said “open the door for us.” But he replied, “I tell you solemnly, I do not know you.” So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 25:14-30 You have been faithful in small things: come and join in your master's happiness

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.    ‘The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.    ‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”    ‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”    ‘Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”    ‘Last came forward the man who had the one talent. “Sir,” said he “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 25:14-23 You have been faithful in small things: come and join in your master's happiness

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.    ‘The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.    ‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”    ‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”    ‘Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 25:31-46 I was naked and you clothed me; sick, and you visited me

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.    ‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”    ‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.”    ‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 25:31-40 I was naked and you clothed me; sick, and you visited me

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.    ‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”’

OR: --------

Gospel Mark 3:31-35 Who are my mother and my brothers? Those that do the will of God

The mother and brothers of Jesus arrived and, standing outside, sent in a message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, ‘Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you.’ He replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.’

OR: --------

Gospel Mark 9:34-37 Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me

The disciples had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So Jesus sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

OR: --------

Gospel Mark 10:13-16 It is to such as these little children that the kingdom of God belongs

People were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.

OR: --------

Gospel Mark 10:17-30 Give everything you own to the poor, and follow me

Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, ‘Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not kill; You must not commit adultery; You must not steal; You must not bring false witness; You must not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’ And he said to him, ‘Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.’ Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.    Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, ‘My children,’ he said to them ‘how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were more astonished than ever. ‘In that case’ they said to one another ‘who can be saved?’ Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he said ‘it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.’    Peter took this up. ‘What about us?’ he asked him. ‘We have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land – not without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.’

OR: --------

Gospel Mark 10:17-27 Give everything you own to the poor, and follow me

Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, ‘Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not kill; You must not commit adultery; You must not steal; You must not bring false witness; You must not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’ And he said to him, ‘Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.’ Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.    Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, ‘My children,’ he said to them ‘how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were more astonished than ever. ‘In that case’ they said to one another ‘who can be saved?’ Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he said ‘it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 6:27-38 Love your enemies

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.    ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 9:57-62 'I will follow you wherever you go'

As Jesus and his disciples travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’    Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first.’ But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’    Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say goodbye to my people at home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 10:38-42 Martha works; Mary listens

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 12:32-34 It has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.    ‘Sell your possessions and give alms. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth destroy it. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 12:35-40 You too must stand ready

Jesus said to his disciples:    ‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

OR: --------

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

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

OR: --------

Gospel John 15:1-8 I am the vine, you are the branches

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you. Make your home in me, as I make mine in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire, and they are burnt. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it. It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.’

OR: --------

Gospel John 15:9-17 You are my friends if you do what I command you

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants any more, because a servant does not know his master’s business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me: no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name. What I command you is to love one another.’

OR: --------

Gospel John 17:20-26 Father, may they be completely one

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me. I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me and that I have loved them as much as you loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me. I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[lizord-lord]

So @patton-croc-agenda and I have a nutty habit of making AUs with @fangirltothefullest‘s fusions and I was suddenly overcome with the need to draw a few (or several) characters from one of our aus..the Seven Princes of Hell. It took. So. Long. But I am PROUD aight. It was originally nine, because like a dumbass I didn’t think we could have each one tied to one of the seven deadly sins- though not based off of them, because well..when you’re an immortal demon prince the sin is likely based off of you.

[Left to right] Anvity (he/him they/them) (fangirltothefullest/tashi’s character and design) Lust Remus (he/him) “Remy” Sloth Enrique (he/him) (from the My Life with a Narrator video) Gluttony Vincent (he/him they/them)(based off me) Wrath Jaqueline (she/her they/them) (based off jack) Envy Eleanor (she/her) (based off @impatentpending) Greed Romulus “Roman” Pride

(Couple character tidbits under the cut)

The Seven Princes of Hell are seven top-tier demons that have been around for as long as record goes back. They are many leagues above the other denizens of Hell (their subjects) in both influence and power level, but not all of the Princes are equal among themselves. Their residence is a sprawling castle in Hell’s highest mountain, which many of them rarely leave. They are also rarely summoned by humans, unless said human is very experienced in the art of demonic rituals.

Anvity is the youngest- and the weakest, though this is related not to his age but to his particular subset of demonic blood. He is a succubus, and apparently this makes him easy prey for his elder siblings when they are bored or simply in testy moods. I notice the Princes seem to often be in testy moods, but it seems Anvity is the most overdramatic of the bunch.

Remus- or Remy, as he prefers to be called, is the next up the line...he’s..not as involved with his siblings as he used to be. Certainly the most adult of the group, though he doesn’t often show it. He is the one who spends the most time outside of the Hell, and is the most well-versed in the changings of Earth, which has perhaps made him more mellow of a demon than he was in the first place. Though according to sources, when he does get involved with his family, he’s usually incredibly drunk and either “judging the rest” or “instigating the fun.”

Enrique is a fairly mysterious figure. I am told he keeps to himself, though it is not uncommon to find him monologuing to himself as he walks the halls or lounges in his room. He is however, a very good chef, this I know, and while he does not consider himself above everyone else, he is not the type for rampant chaos.

Jaqueline is the Princes’ middle sibling, and another more subdued figure. More prone to observation and writing than anything else, but she is also the only one of the Princes that Vincent (the third eldest) actually likes..this could be taken as a comfort or concern. I am told it is both. She can come off as a voice of reason, but I am told she is actually often a force of chaos in her own right, though this can come as a shock if you don’t have both eyes open.

Vincent is the most volatile and dangerous Prince. Tempermantal and prone to mood swings, he is the smallest of the Princes- but I implore you, do not take this as an indication of his strength. In physical power alone, he is the most powerful of his siblings, and the most chaotic among demons, which is saying something. Killing for sport is not in his repertoire, but torture is- and according to sources, about 60% of his vocabulary consists of profane language. The onl person besides Jaqueline he does not seem to hate is Eleanor, to which he is arguably a right-hand-man.

Eleanor is the second oldest- but she is the ringleader, despite what else you might be told. She knows the ins and outs of nearly every demon noble and hell, and is a master manipulater and puppetmaster- so much so that she runs Hell without her older brother even realizing it. Her psychological power is a force to behold, but her physical does not fall too far behind. It has been said she bathes in the tears of her victims, but this is not true. Mostly. I have been told she has a jar of tears she adds to any bathwater.

Romulus- or Roman, as he has called himself in recent centuries- is the closest thing to a King Hell has. He is the face of the Seven Princes and is the most likely to make public appearances, due to being a charming and extroverted individual. Many tales have been told of his adventures throughout the millenia, to the point even the other Princes aren’t sure what’s true. My source tells me the best approach here is to “not believe anything he says.” I do not agree with this statement, but it is advised to take his stories with several bags of salt.

~E

Taglist: @whatwashernameagain, @im-bad-at-life, @ajdraws0430, @pastel-patton123, @royallyanxious, @ultimate-queen-of-fandoms2, @a-lexicon-of-words, @theincediblesulk, @supremestoverlord, @em-be-lievable @adoratato @wildheart49  @why-things-go-boom

[Let me know if you want to see more of these kids!]

[lifeofresulullah]

The Life of The Prophet Muhammad: First Migration, the Year of Sorrow, the Splitting of the Moon

The Spread of Islam and the Divine Warning to the Prophet: Part 2

Death of the Male Children of the Prophet

Sad events followed the happiness that came with the lifting of the boycott. The first chain of a series of saddening events was the death of our Holy Prophet’s four-year-old son, Qasim.

Our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) heart, which was a fountain of compassion, was greatly saddened by his oldest son’s death. As he was walking to his beloved child’s funeral in a deep woeful state, he said to the Kuaykian Mountain that stood upright before him, “O Mountain! If what has befallen upon me had befallen upon you then you would not have been able to bear it and would have crumbled.”

Another painful event occurred while our Holy Prophet was still in deep mourning over his eldest son’s death: the death of his other son, Abdullah.

The Master of the Universe (PBUH), who is the ultimate example of what it means to submit to the will of Allah, was unable to hold back his tears.

Hazrat Khadijah asked about her beloved children whom she had rendered to Allah, “Oh Allah’s Apostle! Where are they now?”

Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) answered, “They are in heaven.”

Due to these painful circumstances, our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) heart was mournful and his eyes were continuously filled with tears. The Muslims also shared his sadness while the polytheists were elated. They did not pay any condolences nor exhibit any sense of human integrity as they tried to further upset our Holy Prophet (PBUH) in whatever way they could. Savages like As bin wail and Abu Jahl took their cruelty to a whole other level by arrogantly saying, “Muhammad is now abtar, his progeny has been cut off. He does not have any songs left to continue his lineage. When he dies, his name and fame will be forgotten.” 

Allah, Who never refrained from helping and consoling His beloved, revealed Surah al-Kawthar, which consoled our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and caused the polytheists to gag:

“Verily, We have granted you Al-Kawthar (9) (a river in Paradise). Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). For he who hates you (O Muhammad) he will be cut off.”

Yes, in reality the Abu Jahls and Abu Lahabs were the ones whose names and fame fell from grace whereas our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) name and cause have continued to prevail for centuries and will continue to wave like a flag in the believers’ hearts till the Day of Judgment.

Abu Talib’s Death

The Muslims were immensely happy after having been rescued from this harsh boycott, which lasted three years. A common feeling of happiness spread across Mecca. However, this joy did not last long. Other painful events and tribulations occurred within a very short time.

Abu Talib fell sick and passed away during the tenth year of our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) Prophethood. Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was immensely saddened by the death of his beloved uncle who had embraced him at a young age, who compassionately took him under his wing and raised him, and risked all sorts of dangers in order to protect our Holy Prophet (PBUH.) At the same time, the Master of the Universe (PBUH) sincerely yearned for Abu Talib to become a Muslim so that his uncle could attain eternal happiness.

As time passed, Abu Talib’s illness had gotten worse. The polytheists noticed this and again decided to appeal to Abu Talib to surrender his nephew to them. Utba bin Abi Rabia, Shayba bin Rabia, Abu Jahl, Umayya bin Khalaf, Abu Sufyan, and many others came to him and said: Oh Abu Talib, you are one of our elders. We are now worried seeing that you have fallen on your death bed. You know what has happened between us and your brother’s son. Call him and be a judge amongst us. Have him separate from us and we will separate from him. Let us not struggle with one another. Have him not interfere with our faith and we will not interfere with his.”

Abu Talib sent for our Magnificent Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) came and sat amid his uncle and those who were present.

Abu Talib addressed the Master of the Universe (PBUH), “Oh my Brother’ Son. These are the leading figures of the tribe. They came here to discuss your matter. They are going to give you what they offer to give and will take what they want to take.”

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) answered, “Alright, my Uncle. I have one word that I want them to take and accept from me. With that one word, they can rule over all the Arabs and non-Arabs.”

Abu Talib was amazed, “only one word?”

“Yes, only one word” replied our Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Everyone was curious; what could this word be?

Abu Jahl came forth and arrogantly said, “Tell us what that one word is so we can add ten more words to it.”

The Master of the Universe (PBUH) announced the one word that everyone was so curious to hear:

“Say La ilaha illallah and throw away all the idols that you worship!”

The polytheists all clapped their hands and said, “Oh Muhammad, do you want to make all these gods just one God? We are surprised.” Afterward, they spoke amongst themselves: “By God, this man is not going to give us what we want. Let us go, until God issues His judgment, let us firmly follow the religion of our forefathers.” 

Allah notifies us of their action in the Holy Quran as follows:

"Has he made the gods (all) into one God? Truly this is a wonderful thing!  And the leaders among them go away (impatiently), (saying) "Walk ye away, and remain constant to your gods! For this is truly a thing designed (against you)! 

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) Invites His Uncle to Islam

Following the discussion they had with the polytheists, Abu Talib said to our Holy Prophet (PBUH), “By God, my brother’s son, I do not see your request as being far from the truth.”

When he heard this, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was happy and hopeful that his uncle whom he dearly loved and respected would become a Muslim, “O Uncle! Say ‘La ilaha illalah’ so I can intercede for you on the Day of Judgment.”

Unfortunately, the Uncle of the Master of the Universe (PBUH) did not provide a joyous answer:

“Oh my nephew, I swear by Allah that if I was not afraid of them claiming that my conversion was due to having been afflicted with dementia at an old age and of them continuously mentioning this to you and the sons of your forefathers after my departure from this world, then I would say what it is that you want me to say and would submit to you;  The Quraysh is going to think that I uttered those words because I fear death; that is why I am not going to say them.”

However, despite this, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) did not refrain from encouraging his uncle to convert to Islam. His holy heart was pounding with the fear of the frightful aftermath that his beloved uncle would face in the event that he did not convert. Therefore, he continuously said, “Oh Uncle, say La ‘ilaha illallah’ so I can intercede for you in the hereafter.”

On some other occasion, while our Holy Prophet was (PBUH) inviting Abu Talib to testify to faith, Abu Jahil and Abdullah bin Abi Umayya were present. They both said, “Oh Abu Talib! Are you going to turn away from Abdulmuttalib’s people and his religion?”

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) did not pay attention to their words and persisted in inviting his uncle to recite the shahada (testimony of faith.) They also continued to repeat their own words in the same manner. At last, Abu Talib said (by referring to himself) “he was a follower of Abumuttalib’s faith. 

Despite this, our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) holy heart was greatly distressed with the fear that his uncle, who loved him dearly, would share the same frightful fate as the polytheists who had subjected our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) to all sorts of insults and cruelty. He said, “O Uncle, know that that I will continue to ask for you to be forgiven until Allah takes your soul.” 

Eventually, Abu Talib died at the age of 87 without attaining an acceptable belief. 

Upon this, Allah revealed a verse that addressed our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims at the same time:

“It is true thou wilt not be able to guide every one whom thou lovest: but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance.” 

Our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) holy and delicate heart was immensely saddened by his uncle’s death. His eyes were filled with tears and he said,

“May Allah forgive his sins and offer His benevolence.”

At the time of Abu Talib’s death, Hazrat Abbas was at his brother’s bedside. When Abu Talib was dying, Hazrat Abbas saw his lips moving and heard him say, “La ilaha illalllah.” He turned to our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and said, “O my Brother’s Son! By God, I heard my brother Abu Talib utter the testimony that you had wanted him to say.”

Amid his tears our Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “I did not hear it.” 

We should state that Hazrat Abbas was not a Muslim, then.

At his uncle’s funeral, our Holy Prophet (PBUH), who was greatly saddened and whose heart was a trove of compassion for all of humanity, prayed for him, “May Allah bring you to the presence of His compassion and reward you with benevolence.” 

During this time a verse related to this matter was revealed, providing the Muslims with an unchangeable measure:

“It is not fitting, for the prophet and those who believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for pagans, even though they be of kin after it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire.” 

The death of his uncle both saddened our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and caused him to think deeply. He was the one who had been our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) guardian in the physical sense and had tried to protect his nephew from the dangers posed by the polytheists. He never refrained from safeguarding his nephew under the most difficult and harshest conditions and continued to risk facing harsh enmity from his relatives. Due to this protection, the polytheists were unable to fully interfere with our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) work.

Now Abu Talib was gone. There was no one left to protect (visibly) our Holy Prophet (PBUH) against the polytheists’ excessive animosity and resentment. However, Allah continued to be His Beloved Messenger’s (PBUH) true protector without leaving the need for a material guard and protector.

The Issue of the Belief of Abu Talib

There are many views regarding Abu Talib’s faith. Scholars from among the Shia believe that he left with faith whereas most Sunni scholars say that he left without having testified. Furthermore, it can be understood from some of his poems that he would frequently praise our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and had testified to him through his heart.

Hazrat Khadijah’s Death

A short while after Abu Talib’s death, about three days later, our Holy Prophet’s beloved wife, Hazrat Khadijah, passed away, at age 65, during the holy month of Ramadan.

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) led the prayer at her funeral and while they were burying her in the Hajun graveyard, he watched the dark soil that now covered her with tears in his eyes.

These painful events that took place one after the other greatly pained and saddened our Holy Prophet (PBUH.) Hazrat Khadijah was our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) greatest supporter and sympathizer due to her loyalty, the strength of her faith, compassion, faithfulness, submission, her heart’s tenderness, and virtue. While everyone was an enemy to him, she was the first to testify to his Prophethood. And while everyone distanced themselves from him, she opened her heart to him and had her love deeply buried in her tender heart. She was his only source of comfort during all the times he was most distressed.

Our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) exceptional love for Hazrat Khadijah undoubtedly and greatly contributed to his immense grief. He never forgot about her after her death and would praise and speak about her with great reverence and love when the situation arose. He would help her relatives and never withheld his compassion and mercy from them, which reflected his love for her.

One day, when he heard the voice of Hazrat Khadijah’s sister, Halah, he mentioned the name of his beloved wife. Hazrat Aisha witnessed this and said, “Allah has given you younger and more beautiful wives.”

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) made it obvious that he was bothered by her words and mentioned Hazrat Khadijah’s kindness and virtue.

Intending to make up for what she had said, Hazrat Aisha, who was very perceptive, said with the fullest sincerity, “O Allah’s Apostle! I swear by Allah Who has sent you as a Prophet that I will always want you to mention Khadijah’s stories from now on.” 

***

We learn that our mother Hazrat Aisha was jealous when our Holy Prophet (PBUH) would continue to frequently praise and mention Hazrat Khadijah with love through her own words:

"I did not feel jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet as much as I did of Khadijah though I did not see her, the Prophet used to mention her very often, and whenever he slaughtered a sheep, he would cut its parts and send them to the women friends of Khadijah. When I sometimes said to him, "(You treat Khadijah in such a way) as if there is no woman on earth except Khadijah," he would say, "Khadijah was such-and-such a woman, and from her I had children." 

When our Holy Prophet (PBUH) frequented Hira, our mother Hazrat Khadijah would take food to him.

One day Hazrat Jabrail came and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! The one who comes directly to you from afar is Khadijah. She is carrying a container that holds food. When she comes to you greet her on behalf of her Lord and me! Tell her that a castle in heaven has been made from pearls to be given to her and that it possesses no work and commotion.” 

***

Hazrat Ali heard our Holy Prophet (PBUH) say: “Maryam, the daughter of Imran, was the best woman of her time. The best woman in my ummah (community) is Khadijah.” 

[bangledeverafter]

The Modern-day Trend of Stoning

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

             I have come across a trend during this stressful time of pandemic and I’m not talking about TikTok. TikTok has been around long before it became the mainstream app it is today. Maybe you’ve experienced this trend but just haven’t put a name on it yet. The trend I was referring to is Stoning.

 I’d like to quote lyrics from one of Taylor Swift’s songs, Ours:

 “Seems like there's always someone who disapproves, They'll judge it like they know about me and you, And the verdict comes from those with nothing else to do...”

I promise, I have a point.

            Do you know the story of a woman who was caught in the act of adultery? Her story is found in chapter 8 of the book of John in the Bible. To test Jesus, the religious leaders at that time brought the woman to Jesus. They asked him what to do with the woman when the Law of Moses said to stone such sinner. (He didn’t answer right away. Instead, this is where the famous writing on the ground by Jesus happened.) Not hearing a word from Jesus yet, they continued asking him about what ought to be done to the adulterous woman. Jesus stood up, told those leaders one of the most mic dropping sentences in the gospels, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her,” and then went on writing again. Surprisingly, one by one they went away, starting from the oldest, until only the woman was left with Jesus. No one was able to condemn the woman at that time. Jesus said to the woman that he neither condemns her.

            Those religious leaders threw stones (at the person committing certain/particular offense) as their tangible expression of judgement, but people nowadays have improvised this traditional stoning into a virtual, digital thing. People don’t literally throw rocks, but they do throw sarcastic, insulting, and angry posts/tweets as hard and harsh as stones—as an expression of judgement against one another. Seems like there are always some who disapprove, who judge like they know everything, and from whom insufficiently grounded verdict come.

What I don’t mean

 “Maybe you have not considered that those people we angrily post about were caught doing something wrong, and it’s only right that we call them out for it.”

 I see. But I also want to be clear that I did not in any way deny people’s wrong doings. A wrong doing is a wrong doing and we must expose these people for it. The woman was wrong for committing adultery, but Jesus did not deny her sin or rebuked the people for exposing her sin. He forgave her sin. And what Jesus really confronted head-on at that time was the hypocritical judgement of those people.

 “So do you want us to stay silent about the bad things that are happening around?”

No, I don’t. I think it is only right and brave to stand up both for yourself and for others. But surely there is wisdom in knowing the proper way to say the proper things at a proper time with a proper end or motive.

 Just don’t do it.

             Even before I write this down, I also have been guilty of today’s stoning: hypocritically judging and angrily lashing out at some people—both in person and in my social media accounts. But I am trying not to do that anymore... because ultimately, it didn’t help me. In all my judgments and rants I was not able to help anyone either. If there’s any discouragement I think I am willing to share to you, it is to get you away from the flow of that stoning trend. Just step away from it. As tempting as it is to throw shade on others, don’t.

 Now I talk to two types of people:

       If you’re a follower of Christ, as I am, I hope you know that we are called to:

 let our words be fitting, good for building up, and not be corrupting that it may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29). 

 be an example to other believers, in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

 pray, intercede, submit to, and even give thanks for all people, about our leaders and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior… (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

 pursue love... If we speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, we are only being noisy gongs or clanging cymbals. (1 Cor. 14:1,13:1)

 love not in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18)

             There are so many more verses relating to this lesson... but God’s will is clear - It’s not to participate in that kind of stoning. Don’t do it.

        If you aren’t a follower of Christ, I hope to let you know that you are also called to:

 a loving relationship with Jesus, who saved both you and me from our sins. Will you think of this for a moment, although this might sound a bit off the border to you:

 Will you die in place of a good person? Maybe, right?

 But will you die in place of your enemy, who has done nothing but bad to you?

 Or in our context today, will you die in place of the corrupt and irresponsible people who should be punished for their incompetence? Do you now remember so many people?

 N to the O, right? Why would you?

             Because rarely will someone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But friend, God demonstrates his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, while we were still his enemies, Christ died for us.

            His salvation is a free gift for you to accept also. You and I can never pay enough for it, we can never earn it. He saved us before we can even do anything for him. It is only by his grace, now for you to receive. Will you receive Jesus in your heart? I pray that you will. The truth is, Jesus is the only one who can really help us change—not just ourselves and our words, but also the world and all that’s happening around us.

            To make the most of this opportunity, I write in the hopes of protecting you also from the bitter fruit of this modern day stoning… because even when you can raise awareness or gain sympathy by likes and retweets, or even when you can actually change things (as fulfilling as that looks), that will only be very temporary. But the bitter consequences of the power of your words of stone in your life, visible and invisible? Eternal. I urge you, don’t do it.

            I really think that the reason those religious leaders at that time weren’t able to stone the woman to death is that they know in their hearts they were just as guilty of sin as she was. Today, in whatever part of society we might belong, we are just as guilty of sin to stone another sinner. The good news is, there is a sure hope in leaving the judgement of the heart to God - only he has the right, because only he is righteous.

            Thank you for bearing a little with this lengthy writing. But I hope it encouraged you as much as I hope it discouraged you from being potentially swayed into such a terrible trend and from going with the flow in case you find yourself wandering in it already. God bless you.

[sadiceking]

Everyone knows about your younger siblings, the Seven Deadly Sins; they don't remember that you are the First Sin, Disobedience

We are not true siblings, in the traditional sense, as Lust (I think her name is Jordan these days) makes uncomfortably clear at every gathering. We do have the same father, who also birthed lies and deceit, but the principle problem to our familial relation is that we have no mother. We were spawned from nothing, coalescing into being when our father committed the atrocities for which we are named. We are treated as siblings, referred to as related, and indeed consider ourselves brothers and sisters. They are, at least. I am usually overlooked, as Greed (we don’t know what his mortal identity is as of now, it usually isn’t revealed until after other mortals execute his body or he chooses a new identity) reminds me out of frustration at not being the oldest. I am the first, the eldest by far, and the most powerful.

I do not like the rest of them, to be honest, and the last time I saw them was no exception. I stood in a corner of the grand hall. Everything was hot, as it always is in hell. The light and heat came from a crack in the stone in the floor, a jagged scar in the ground, through which the bright orange magma, the blood of this inhuman machine of a plane, glowed brightly. The floor was grey stone otherwise, the walls the same but with primitive human paintings drawn from foot to waist height all around. They were pictograms of humans dying horribly, pulled from various caves on the mortal plane. The table, the centerpiece to this gaudy representation of a meeting room, was a slab of raw obsidian. It was 12 feet long, not low enough to sit at or high enough to stand next to. A blasé feeling of monotony overwhelmed me, and for a moment I considered leaving. There was no door here, though, so it wouldn’t be an easy trip. This room was specifically designed for this, a meeting of the “siblings” and our father. He called it a “quarterly staff meeting” and for some reason he received endless joy from the representation of human rituals in our own day to day lives. It was a sick representation, a half transparent shadow of the real thing usually, but he persisted in the habit.

Greed stepped into the room. One moment she was walking wherever she was previously, the next she was stepping up to the table. She knelt down, that familiar glow in her eyes, and looked down into the river of heat turned liquid. “This stuff,” she reached a hand toward the magma, “is beautiful. I don’t even know why I think that, but it is. Maybe it’s because of how difficult it is for mortals to have, maybe that’s why I want it.” She looked up, she had known I was there and I’m sure was purposefully waiting to acknowledge me until after she had spoken on something else. “Here first, as usual. I’m glad I made it before Envy, I like to watch him seethe at you. He’s a cardinal these days, if the rumors are to be believed. What I wouldn’t give to get into those archives.” She looked back down.

As if on cue, envy stepped in, looking flustered. He took a moment to adjust his robes (which did a good job of imitating the bird for which they were named) then looked around. His eyes, as always, landed on me. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see you in that.” He gestured to my face mask and bandana, which hung down across my chest. It was a black cloth with a white van dyke mustache upon the center, and a gas mask to the side. “I could have guessed you’d been there, judging from the size of the…” he searched for the right words. “Incident. I don’t understand why you arrive first brother, should you be-“ a boom interrupted him. We all rolled our eyes, knowing what was about to happen.

Wrath ripped a hole in the floor and climbed up. His form a burning husk that slowly faded to a charred body, and then solidified as a pale skinned demon with horns protruding from his forehead and bending back to follow the shape of his skull. “Sorry about that.” His voice was gruff, rocky, and deep. It came from the yelling he did, nearly constantly. Now, however, he knew that yelling would get him less than nothing, a more than a fair share of scorn from the rest of them. His form was not a mortal body, being cast into hell after his last form had gone mad it would be another century before he would regain the ability to become corporeal. He stepped up to the table and the anger began smoldering on his face “this fucking table, he’s such an asshole.” His hands rested on the top of it, and his weight rested on those, as he leaned over them. Our eyes met, and we exchanged a curt nod. Of all the siblings he and I were closest, being similar in scope.

The two others who were closest to each other came in next, nearly wrapped around each other. Jordan, and Pride (this body was known as Don), fell to the floor laughing. They stood, impervious to those of us watching (or because of it), they began kissing passionately, disgustingly.

“That was me, not 50 years ago.” the sound from Gluttony’s (Anthony’s) mouth was slurred and garbled. He was an emaciated human and his mouth dripped with foam from the bottle of champagne that he held on to for dear life. I put on my bandana, the smell was nauseating, even to me. “But now I’ve got others.” His smile was lazy and he pointed it at envy. She sneered and looked at his bottle. I could see the longing, but she hid it well.

“Thank you all for being here!” the reedy voice resounded throughout the room, quieting all of us. The wall at the end of the room split and pressed inward, revealing a pinstripe suit and slicked back hair. Father stepped into the room. We felt the power in each step, the dignity and grace, but most of all we felt the odd sense of completion that came with his presence. I knew the reason, but I’m not sure if the others do. I know because I remember.

I remember the bloody stumps of wings and feathers falling around us as he knelt in the red toned cave. I remember the screams and pleas to Him, the begging, the resignation and humility. I remember the last time my father cried, because it was a moment after he pulled my scared child-like form from his breast. We are creations that come from him attempting to remove negatives from himself. I was the first, his disobedience to the almighty. To no avail or reward though. He no longer was disobedient, but there was no praise or raising up. Just silence and contempt. The others came out as infants and grew into their being, I was the only one who came out completely aware. I am the greatest of my father’s disappointments, and so he continues to pretend I do not exist. As if by shunning me he will finally gain reentrance into paradise.

“Since I have no time for keeping track of you myself, I have no idea what you’ve been doing!” he was genuinely excited. Elated at the suffering we had caused and ready to hear and experience it. “But wait, we’re missing one, again.” He gestured easily and a sleeping form appeared against one wall, knees to chest, and head on knees. “There she is. Wake up please, Tristitia. Wake up.” She sat up and looked alertly at him. “Excellent. Let’s start with you two, so you may be out sooner. Lust? Pride?”

They both gave accounts of their debauchery amongst the humans. One had successfully avoided jail by use of pompous bull headed tactics against the opponents, and the other had beguiled an entire town of people, creating a quiet paradise for herself. Many would end up down here, to be showed her true form. Then they left, laughing and already pulling off items of clothing.

“gross.” Father said with a smile. “Now you, gluttony.”

He looked up from a needle, which he whisked away into an interior pocket. He gave a quick summary of a sickness he could spread through ingestion of infected materials, how he would lace drugs and other illicit substances, adding an addictive element.

“Very interesting, you have much ingenuity my son! But please, do be cautious not to kill them too fast, for we need that pasture to grow, so as we may slaughter more lambs in the face of, well, you know the rest anyway.” Gluttony left, reaching inside his jacket looking relieved. “Sloth?”

“I have done nothing.” She said, eyes closed. He pursed his lips and waved dismissively. She too, was gone.

“You know I have nothing, I am not allowed on the material plane as of now, may I be dismissed?” wrath was tapping impatiently.

“You know the rules, you are being punished.” A pronouncement which always brought a small laugh to him. “You must stay until the end, besides, you will enjoy this.” Father winked, and I looked around, worried I knew what he was talking about. Envy looked at me. Then looked at father. “oh go on, we both know what you’re about to say.” He said to her with a wide grin.

“Father, I request more assets.” This again. “I deserve to be more influence and some deserve less.” She stepped up to speak directly to him.

“And why, my dear daughter, is that?” he was humoring her, enjoying the forthcoming confrontation.

“He doesn’t even use his power how it is supposed to be used! When he does, if he does, it’s for good! You have seen what he does now! Fights for freedom among oppressed? Why are you not supporting the oppressor moron?” she was yelling now.

“yes.” Wrath whispered, his head tilted back with ecstasy. “Don’t stop now.”

“You rarely do anything! How long has it been since you really took charge? Were you French? Was it that failed plot you represent to this day on that flimsy pop-culture induced facial cover? I don’t even remember which it was! You are nothing, but because you choose to do nothing and have everything, there is naught left for myself, who could do something with it. I could make leaders weak, and with that desire I could fuel death on a global scale. Instead I am stuck whispering, hoping I can find a logical reason for atrocities to be committed that doesn’t lead back to me. I deserve better, you deserve little.” She induced a measure of her power. To me, it was a weak flex. A child holding up a bicep in hopes a parent will be threatened enough to acquiesce some inane demand. For the first time in a long time, I connected with wrath. It was time to put her, and the rest of them (who always stayed close by to listen in on the drama) why I was on top. Father leaned back, easing himself in a chair that had not existed a moment ago. Wrath’s eyes opened wide.

“oh.” Escaped him after the sighs of feeling from envy. He and I were connected now, he could feel what my anger felt like. I strengthened it, gave him a real representation of what I could feel. “Self-righteousness, so tart among the hates. Do it.” The last was said to me.

“Do you want to know why I’m the more powerful?” I flexed my own muscle and her feeble attempt at force broke like a reed. She fell back as I moved forward. "I do not use my power? Did you ever think it’s because I don’t need to? I only use the bare minimum because I know what my job is and how to do it. It’s easy for me.” I threw the table out of the way, wrath bellowed with laughter and pleasure. “Yes, French, yes, English. Both you speak of now but it is not just your lips that mutter the same words they spoke for me those many years ago. People all over that puny planet whisper my words to each other in encouragement to do what they feel they need to do. Far reaching consequences. My plots never fail if people wear a mask of a face I wore hundreds of years ago.” another step forward and the table barred my path to her. “I work for good, and not evil? I should support oppressors and dictators and monsters? I do not work for evil, just as I do not work for good. You petty idiots think our job is to spread fear, and hate, and sorrow. That’s not what I do and your lack of understanding is why you will never earn what I have. I work for chaos. I work for despair and uncertainty. The darkness of the unknown is how I play my game and it is a powerful tool. Hundreds, thousands of people in a mass facing off against those with the power and authority to kill them, yet they stand ready for change. And the turmoil that comes from that is what earns our side souls.” The final pieces of the table came to rest around the room as I reached her cowed form. “You will never have the power I wield.” I whispered to her. “Because you could not use it.” I flexed again and she crumpled beneath its weight. “Because you could not hold it, let alone swing it.” I released my hate.

“Sharpened to a point brother. Now use it.” Wrath mumbled.

“You are a simpleton compared to me, drooling over your petty machinations. I am disobedience, and I do not represent the angry school child, the petty argument between stubborn people. I represent a tide of change sweeping across a nation. I control the mindset of millions of people around the planet who are willing to do anything for me. I am first, and will remain first. Are we done?”

“I am.” Wrath fell to the ground, exhaling heavily. Envy looked away, scolded.

“Well said, eldest.” Father smiled and made eye contact with me for the first time in existence, but still couldn’t call me son. He stood, clapped a twice. And turned to leave, a hop in his step. He was always happy, and always would be. After all, he was the only one here without sin.

[spiritsoulandbody]

#DailyDevotion Pastors Hold Fast To The Word Of Grace

#DailyDevotion Pastors Hold Fast To The Word Of Grace Acts 20:27-38 27because I didn't shrink from telling you God's whole plan.28“Take care of yourselves and the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you spiritual overseers to be shepherds of God's church that He bought with His own blood. 29I know when I'm gone fierce wolves will come among you and not spare the flock. 30And even some of your own men will start to tell perversions of the truth to get the disciples to leave and follow them. 31So watch and remember how for three years, day and night, I didn't stop warning everyone with tears. 32And now I entrust you to God and to the Word of His grace, which can build you up and give you the salvation to be shared by all who are made holy. 33“I didn't want anyone's silver or gold or clothes. 34You know these hands worked for what I needed and for the men with me. 35In every way I showed you that by working hard as I do we should help the weak and remember what the Lord Jesus said: “We are more blessed when we give than when we receive." 36When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37They wept very much, put their arms around Paul, and kissed him. 38It hurt them most of all that he had said they wouldn't see him again. Then they took him to the ship. Such words St. Paul gives to the elders from Ephesus before he goes to Jerusalem where he faces most certain persecution, arrest and eventually sent to be judged by Caesar and executed. Those who lead the Church should take these words to heart. First the Church belongs to Christ Jesus, the LORD. He bought it with with his own blood. There is a deep theological statement by Paul here. He actually doesn't say Jesus. He says God purchased the Church with his blood. But neither God the Father nor God the Holy Spirit became man and shed their blood. Jesus is the one who shed his blood which means Paul is saying here Jesus is God. You should mark this verse in your memory to counter those who say Jesus isn't really God but just a/the Son of God (as if that means he isn't God). So Jesus is God and he purchased the Church with his blood. The Church belongs to him. It doesn't belong to the pastors, bishops, presidents of congregations, the oldest member of a congregation or a founding member of a congregation. It belongs to Jesus. As after Paul so in our days, some of our own men and women will tells perversions of the the truth to get disciples and follow them. They often say we have to teach certain things and not teach other things in order to win disciples for Jesus. The truth is, they are just trying to get foolish people to follow them, people who love darkness and not light. We are, pastors and laymen, to see we stick to the Word of God's grace which builds us up and gives us the salvation which is to be shared with all who are made holy through the waters of baptism. That Word of grace is the good news God became man, shed his blood to free us from sin and death, and offers this gift of salvation to all men freely, calling us to turn from our sin and to turn to Jesus for grace, mercy and peace. As Christ Jesus worked hard to gain salvation and to freely give it to us, we should work hard to have something to give freely to the weak and those in need. “For we are more blessed when we give than when we receive.” Jesus is the most blessed but we are called to follow in his example. Merciful God and Father, grant us your grace to have faithful pastors and teachers who stick firm to the Word of grace, who submit to the Christ Jesus, the Lord of the Church, so we may receive your mercy and be merciful to those we meet. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Read the full article

[ace-angel-judas]

Let’s Not Fall In Love

Let’s Not Fall In Love (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5)

Pairing: G Dragon (Kwon Ji Yong)/Jin Dae (OC)

Series: Jin Dae comes from a family of Stars, her father is a famous producer, she has a DJ, Rapper and Singer as brothers. Jin Dae is a trainee at JYP Entertainment, her brother is a DJ and artist at YG Entertainment. Through her brother she meets the king of kpop, G Dragon.

Dae was 100% sure she would never EVER live down her actions. Why did she do it? She had no idea, confidence had burst into her chest and before she knew it, she had kissed him on the cheek. Did she tell anyone? Hell no. Not in these dorms, Yuki was the only other female and if she told her, the girl would yell and tell everyone.

She hadn’t been back to the Bigbang dorms since then, Seungri had called her a few times and she either let it go to voice mail or would make up a quick excuse saying that she was too busy. Dae had been busy, herself and the group had practicing and perfecting their skills for the up and coming battle. They were travelling to YG Entertainment, which only made Dae more nervous, for the battle. Not only would this predict whether they were ready to debut, but she had also bad mouthed the CEO.

Now they stood outside of YG entertainment as JYP arrived.

“Think we’ll see your brother?” Yuki smiled as she nudged Dae’s side.

“I don’t know,” Dae shrugged, “He’s probably busy,”

“Think we will see Bigbang?” Ho Jung asked.

“Once again,” Dae sighed, “Busy,”

As the car pulled up, Dae bit her lip. JYP stepped out of the car and gave them a run down before leading them inside. They had the cameras following them too, their show had gained more ratings since Dae’s appearance on Seungri’s Instagram.

“This is exciting,” Tae Sin beamed.

“I’m nervous,” Dae admitted.

“We all are,” Yuki grabbed Dae’s hand, “But we’re here as a team,”

Their opposing group were all males, a few of them stared at the two girls with furrowed brows and confused looks.

“Hello, we are Rebels,” Dae introduced her group, they patted their hands on their chests before bowing.

“You’re a mixed group?” YG asked.

“Yes,” Dae nodded.

Their opposing group glanced between each other.

“We don’t want to verse girls,” One of them said, “It’ll be unfair,”

“Afraid we’ll beat you?” Dae spoke up, nodding at the one who had spoken.

Yuki snickered beside Dae, JYP smirked as he motioned for Dae to step forward.

“This is Jin Dae, she is the leader of this group,” JYP introduced, “Her father is the CEO of Jin Studios,”

The opposing team murmured between each other, two of them hit each other slightly while Dae’s shoulders slumped.

“Her brother has actually been teaching a few of you,” YG spoke up, “He’s going to be judging with us actually,”

“Her brother is TJ?” The youngest looking one spoke up.

“Yes,” Dae nodded, “TJ is my Oppa, I’m also choreographing a dance for Bigbang,”

The opposing group looked between each other in panic, Dae waved softly to them as she stepped back in line. They looked towards the door as Tyler walked in, he had his sunglasses on and Dae rolled her eyes.

“He looks like an idoit,” She whispered under her breath.

“YG did you tell them the other news?” Tyler asked, slipping of his sunglasses and slipping them onto the collar of his back shirt.

“I was waiting for you,” YG answered.

“Ah well, Bigbang will be watching,” Tyler shrugged.

Dae groaned and turned around slightly, the other group grinned to each other while Rebels all laughed slightly except for Dae. Her luck was turning sour.

“Shall we continue?” JYP grinned.

Dae reluctantly followed the groups towards a bigger stage like area, Bigbang were already standing as they arrived. As everyone began to greet each other, Dae was attacked with a bear hug by Seungri.

“Kitten!” He laughed.

“Kitten...?” Tae Sin whispered.

“Kitten?!” Yuki squealed slightly.

“Oppa Seungri...,” Dae hugged the maknae back slightly.

“We haven’t seen you in a week,” The maknae pouted, “Introduce your band members!”

“Ah, this is Rebels,” Dae explained, “Yuki, Ho Jung, T.K and Sin,”

As she pointed to each member they all bowed respectfully. YG clapped his hands and the maknae pouted before joining his own group, Dae clenched her hands together and avoid the burning gaze of Ji Yong. The leader of Bigbang was sitting in his assigned seat, arms crossed and stealing glances from Dae.

“You will be marked on three areas,” JYP began to explain, “Vocal, Rap and Dance but at the end you will be performing a cover and using all three,”

Dae nodded softly, she had a lot of confidence in the dance, but she didn’t know how they’d react to her position in the group being both main rapper and sub vocal. Tyler being here also made her nervous. The opposing groups rap line went first, even all through the performance she could still feel Ji Yong staring at her.

“T.K, Dae, Sin,” JYP stated, “You’re up,”

The three proceeded to stand up and stand in the middle of the stage, YG looked over them.

“Who’s the oldest?” YG asked.

“Me,” T.K answered, “I’m 22,”

“What’s your opinion on Dae as your leader?” YG asked, “Seeing as she is a much younger female,”

Dae glanced away slightly.

“She deserves to be our leader the most, she’s the hardest working,” T.K spoke honestly, “Her gender and age don’t matter, her experience does, and she has taught all four of us,”

YG nodded before looking at Tae Sin.

“And you’re opinion?” YG asked.

“I respect her,” Tae Sin answered, “None of us would have been able to make it this far without her,”

Dae stayed silent as YG judged over them, the CEO glanced over at JYP who gave him a smirk.

“Impress me,” YG stated.

Dae tapped her fingers against her leg as T.K began to rap line, T. K’s rap was harsh not only in lyrics but also given his deep voice. Just as Sin began his verse, Dae glanced at his brother who had Taeyang whispering something in his ear. She could not freeze now, as soon as Sin spoke his last word, Dae slipped between the two men and began her verse.

JYP, YG and Tyler all turned to the group in shock, Dae’s voice was feminine but it flowed perfectly among the masculinity of her fellow rappers. She hadn’t tried to make her voice deep or hide that she was in fact a female. As she ended her verse, the room was silent until Ji Yong and Seungri both began to clap from the audience.

“Jagi that was amazing!” Seungri yells.

Dae covered her face and turned away slightly, JYP and YG are both nodding slightly.

“Your fellow rappers were harsh and masculine which is good for a rapper, they perfected every beat,” YG began to explain, “I expected that when you came in, your voice would be too soft, but your voice didn’t clash, it actually flowed really well,”

“I..,” Tyler was silent for a moment, “T.K and Sin have extremely good rap vocals and they know how to use their voice but Dae...,”

Dae chewed the inside of her lip softly.

“You’re my little sister,” Tyler spoke, “You were so innocent and now I hear this and it’s betraying!”

Everyone starts laughing, Dae giggled as they sit down. The battle continues to flow on, Dae’s group perform their full performance and when it comes time to decide who wins. Dae is nervous again.

“Both groups were amazing,” Tyler states, “I’m having a hard time trying to decide myself, so I’ll leave it to YG and JYP,”

JYP and YG both looked at each other.

“Rebels,” YG nodded.

“Really?” JYP grinned.

“When you brought a mixed group in, I thought there was no way they could work together and have a good beat, but I have been proven wrong,” YG explains, “I had high expectations, but they were completely destroyed, especially the dance, I cannot wait to see what you’ve got seat up for BigBang’s new choreography,”

The group smiles brightly and bow to the CEO’s, the camera stops rolling and everyone takes half an hour to settle down. Ji Yong and Seungri both make their way towards Dae.

“You rap and sing?” Seungri beamed, “Jagi, That’s amazing!”

“Thank you Oppa,” Dae smiled, “We used to have a sixth member to do vocals, but she was kicked,”

“Are you coming over tonight to work?” Ji Yong asked anxiously.

“Of course,” Dae’s cheeks go slightly red, “I’m done with most of my work, so I’ll be able to again,”

“See you tonight, Jagi,” Ji Yong winked.

[wolint]

FRESH MANNA

SPIRITUAL PROSTITUTION

Jeremiah 3:1-11

Prostitution is called the "oldest profession” in the world. It was the most common way for women and previously some men to make money, even in Bible times. The Bible tells us that prostitution is immoral. Proverbs 23:27-28 says, "For a prostitute is a deep pit and a wayward wife is a narrow well. Like a bandit, she lies in wait, and multiplies the unfaithful among men."

Hosea 4:12 makes a graphic accusation against Israel: “My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. A spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.” Why would God say Israel had a spirit of whoredom (“spirit of prostitution,”? the same can be said of our generation and society today.

So many are prostituting themselves after other gods or jumping from church to church or denomination to denomination. What are they looking for? What are you looking for?

The narrative goes that Judah had separated from her husband, the Lord, and had been a harlot with many lovers, again, just like this age and generation and society. We, like Judah, are constantly unfaithful in marriage to the Lord and have no right to turn to Him or expect Him to return to us. Our unfaithfulness is evident in that the land is completely polluted with idols, and we sit as prostitutes by the roads as seen in Genesis 38:13-14, 20-21, this is the image of a cult prostitute. But God’s faithfulness to His word is greater than our unfaithfulness to Him, as Jeremiah later recorded God’s promise of Israel’s national restoration under the new covenant.

Morality and immorality are relational concepts that impact the way God feels about His people.

God is not the cold, emotionless and unfeeling judge sitting on His throne in the sky without feeling the pain of our constant straying and betrayal. God is personal, He feels our pains and laments our strays, but despite these, He is always eager to be reconciled to us and us to Him, unfaithful as we may be.

We have people church-crawling looking for “something” that I am not sure they even know what they are looking for. Or maybe they are looking for the “perfect church”, which unfortunately does not exist. Creating a culture of spiritual prostitution.

So many of us, like Judea have vacated our position as the bride of Christ to become brazen prostitutes.

Even though Judea made a pretend repentance, in verse 10, God the all-seeing God saw through their pretence, just like He sees our pretend piety and holiness.

God forbids involvement with prostitutes because He knows such involvement is detrimental to us as Proverbs 5:3-5 says, "For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; But in the end, she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell".

We must all take care that we don’t get so steep in spiritual prostitution that when we show up in church or Christian gatherings, we end up praising God with a rock heart.

Although prostitution is sinful, prostitutes are not beyond God’s scope of forgiveness. The record of Rahab in Joshua 2 shows us that God is willing to forgive anyone who repents.

Just like anyone else, prostitutes have the opportunity to receive salvation and eternal life from God, to be cleansed of all their unrighteousness and to be given a brand new life! All they must do is turn away from their sinful lifestyle and turn to the living God, whose grace and mercy are boundless. 2 Corinthians 5:17 puts it clearly and encouragingly for every returning spiritual prostitute.

We must learn to stay put with God and stop straying.

PRAYER: Father, help me to remain faithful to you as my only saviour and deliverer and not become a spiritual prostitute in Jesus’s name. Amen.

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT. PRAYER MIN.

[walkthroughtheword]

Reading for August 7th         Judges 3

Let’s look closely at the first six verses: V. 1 The unconquered nations were God’s test to the new generation of Israel The Hebrew construction for what is translated “new generation” does not just mean next generation but a generation different in values, substance and character.  This new generation had not experienced God’s miraculous deliverance from captivity in Egypt nor did they remember the initial conquest of Joshua.  They had forgotten the promise made to their ancestor Abraham, forgotten that they were set apart and were now just like everyone else; another group of “ites” in a sea of “ites” all getting less distinct each day.  In the water of the Old Testament, holiness means set apart for a special purpose and the opposite of holiness is not profane but ordinary.  The Hebrew word nasah used here is better translated test than tempt.  To tempt is to entice toward evil, “deliver us from temptation,” but to test is to make something stronger and of better quality through rigor.  These pagan and evil nations would serve to teach Israel what happens when you forget God and what happens when you repent and turn back to God. V. 2 God used them to teach this generation how to fight God’s plan was that Israel destroy an evil Canaanite culture, take the whole of the land and become a holy people.  The muddy water in which they found themselves was necessitated by the utter failure of Israel to totally engage the clear mission of God to “drive out the inhabitants.”  Since Israel was unfaithful to God, they would now live in the presence of many enemies.  If they were going to maintain a distinct identity as God’s chosen people, they had to learn to fight. V. 5-6 Israel lived among these nations, intermarried and worshipped their Gods Due to a lack of obedience to Yahweh, Israel is surrounded by enemies.  Their choice at this point is to do the really hard thing and maintain their unique identity in God or to do the easy thing and assimilate with the culture and gods of their neighbors.  They are charged with unholy assimilation.  Here are three witnesses to this charge. 1) You live among the Canaanites.  This is an indictment of the failure of the conquest.  The Canaanites should not still be here.  “You could have won.  You rejected God.  You lost.” 2) You intermarried with the Canaanites.  This blending of cultures may seem to those of us in our water as a paragon of tolerance but it is cultural death for Israel and spiritual death for you and me.  The second they become just like their neighbors, salvation history is off-line. 3) You served their gods.  The primary gods of Canaan are Baal and Ashtoreth.  Like most pagan gods they are a sexually charged couple who are responsible for all various and sundry aspects of fertility.  Worship of these gods was essentially sacred prostitution so temple attendance in this ancient culture was both good and enthusiastic.  In fact, almost all the great pagan temples of the ancients were supported by sacred prostitution, which the Jews shifted to tithes and offerings and later American Protestants shifted to bake sales.  Contrast the Baal and Ashtoreth to Yahweh.  Yahweh stands alone over heaven and earth, has no female consort and introduces to the earth what we would call morality, ethics and law. Israel has not just sinned upon the death of Joshua, Israel keeps on sinning.  If this wanton propensity for sin goes unchecked, this unique set of “ites” God was raising up to save the world will be lost in a melting pot of bronze.  Something has to give.  Something has to keep salvation history alive.  Enter the judges. This format does not allow the time to explore each judge in depth, so we will take a single judge as a case-in-point.  Let’s meet Ehud, the second judge of Israel.   Judges 3: 12-15, 21-23, 27-30 V. 12 Once again Israel did evil in the Lord’s sight so they fell to King Eglon of Moab I think we are somewhere around 1300 B.C. and there is no record of Eglon other than Judges.  As will happen so many times, Israel has forgotten God and have been turned over to foreign oppressors.  The oppressor de jour is Eglon. V. 13-14 Eglon formed an alliance with the Ammonites and Amalekites, took Jericho and oppressed Israel for eighteen years. Jericho, taken by Joshua in the famous march around the walls had been lost.  It was three “ites” against one and the Israelites in southern Israel along the east shores of the Dead Sea had been paying annual tribute to Eglon for eighteen years.  Jericho, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, controlled the region and Eglon controlled Jericho. V. 15 When Israel cried out to the Lord, God raised up Ehud from the tribe of Benjamin who was left handed There is no sign of repentance here, but plenty of signs of desperation.  In response, God “raises up” Ehud from among the people.  The tribe of Benjamin were known for their ambidextrous warriors and Ehud was a part of the Special Forces with a unique skill set.  It appears that boys literally were forced to learn to fight with their right hands tied behind them to give them advantage and surprise in battle.  Of special note was that Ehud was a natural lefty.  It is particularly advantageous.  The Hebrew clearly implies that he was of an elite class, with unique training that produced in him unique skills.  Not only that, he is the leader. Israel sent Ehud to deliver the tribute money to Eglon who was very fat In antiquity to be fat was to enjoy a life of leisure, rich foods and decadence.  You couldn’t come up fat in a survival of the fittest culture but you could grow fat once you had power.  Eglon was growing fat off of Israel’s tributes.  They were working, planting, building and harvesting in bondage and Eglon was living off the fat of the land, not even raising a hand to do it.  Ehud was there in an official capacity on behalf of Israel to deliver the annual taxes of the oppressed to the king. V. 16-17 So Ehud made a short, straight blade, double edged dagger and strapped it to his right thigh underneath his clothing.  In the late Bronze Age, it seemed like Israel was always outgunned but this story is a bit of an exception.  The warriors of the Tribe of Benjamin not only could fight but handcrafting their weapons by metallurgy was a part of their culture.  Only a warrior who was equally skilled fighting with either hand would craft a bronze dagger sharpened on both sides.  Concealing a dagger upon the thigh was a common practice as you must remember that men normally wore cloaks, not pants and normally wore their daggers on the left side and not the right. V. 18-19 When the delegation left and passed the idols at Gilgal, Ehud turned back alone and requested a private audience with Eglon to deliver a special message As the delegation left Eglon and Moab, they passed through Gilgal and witnessed a pagan shrine to the Baal and Ashtoreth.  It was the precise kind of shrine that God had commanded to be torn down but there it stood as a symbol of Israel’s failure in both conquest and covenant.  It is here that Ehud determined to start something only God could finish.   When he returns, Eglon suspects nothing unusual since Ehud was a designated ambassador of Israel and had just been to the palace to deliver tribute without incident. V. 20-22 Ehud approached Eglon who was sitting in an upper room and said, “I have a message from God.”  When Eglon approached, Ehud plunged the dagger into Eglon’s belly so deeply the dagger disappeared in the fat and the king’s bowels emptied.  This is where the story gets interesting.  Eglon was apparently in a room at the top of the palace that offered a chance to catch a breeze here and there in the desert heat.  When Ehud entered, the obese Eglon reached out a hand to get some help off his chair and as Ehud pulled him up with the left hand, he inserted his dagger with his right and it went in with a mighty slurp.  The Hebrew word taqA means to drive something with force, so this was a violent stab not a tentative one. V. 23 Ehud locked the door, climbed down the toilet shoot and left through the front door.  Ancient toilets were large holes covered by seats with smaller holes that emptied into an open septic area at ground level.  Ehud locks the door, removes the toilet cover, lowers himself through the sewer system to the first floor and coolly walks out of the palace. V. 24-25 The kings servants waited for Eglon thinking he was using the restroom but finally burst through the door to find him dead on the floor In antiquity, you walked in on a king uninvited at the risk of your life.  The servants were getting concerned but they did not break through the door until their concern for the welfare of their king outweighed their concern for the welfare of themselves. V. 26-28 Ehud escaped passing the idols at Seiah, arrived in the hill country of Ephraim and called for an army.  Follow me! For the Lord has given us a victory over Moab!  So they followed him and took control of the Jordan.  Ehud has assassinated the King of Moab as an official emissary of Israel.  He now travels about thirteen miles navigating an elevation change of about 4,000 feet to raise an army.  Whether Israel raised an army or not, the Moabites were coming in vengeance and wrath and Ehud informed them that the people could either fight for their freedom or die certain deaths in bondage.  When explained that way, the army formed quickly and enthusiastically and formed a line on the west side of the Jordan River at the mouth of the Dead Sea.  With both skilled warriors, good weapons and good ground, Ehud proclaimed, “God has given us victory over Moab!”  God would either give them victory or they would all die. V. 29-30 They killed ten thousand of the best soldiers of Moab and no one escaped and the land had peace for eighty years This is a big win against a good army and the text adds, “And not one of them escaped.” This puts Israel back on line with God’s original command to drive the Canaanites from the land and offered this new generation both a win and an opportunity to see God’s hand at work!  And as a result, the land was at peace for eighty years.  In Judges, peace is always something for which you must fight.  

[theliterateape]

Mascots for Systemic Sin

by Don Hall

Harold Chandler was one of eight kids who all went to Circle High School in the seventies and eighties. He was the youngest one of the brood. The Chandlers named all of their children in alphabetical order—A through H—with Harold being the last.

They were dirt poor. When we think of dirt poor, this is the family that fits that particular bill of goods. The home was not a place large enough for such an expansive group. As I recall, they used well water so Harold, who was in my class, rarely came to school bathed. They didn't have electricity (I found that out because his older sister, Glynis, invited me to her senior prom my sophomore year).

We treated Harold like shit. Not so much a situation of active bullying but there was no question he was shunned by most kids in school. His oldest brother, Bryan, was a source of legendary thuggery. The stories were that he was a petty thief and was expelled for it his junior year.

So when someone broke into the office after hours and stole money and vandalized the place, Harold was the almost automatic scapegoat for the crime. Not that he had ever given anyone a reason to suspect that he was a thief but that he was from a family of thieves because they were poor (dirt poor) and his oldest brother was a known criminal.

I don't think they ever proved who did the deed—hell, maybe Harold had committed the crime—but in recollection, the only reason he was accused was that he was a stereotypical kid from the wrong side of the tracks.

Patrisse Khan-Cullors co-founded the Black Lives Matter movement with Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi in 2013. Recently it was uncovered that Khan-Cullors managed to amass millions of dollars and purchased extravagant homes all while professing her belief in Marxism.

After news of Khan-Cullors luxury living hit the press, other members of the Black Lives Matter organization called for an investigation. “If you go around calling yourself a socialist, you have to ask how much of her own personal money is going to charitable causes,” said Hawk Newsome, the head of Black Lives Matter Greater New York City. “It’s really sad because it makes people doubt the validity of the movement and overlook the fact that it’s the people that carry this movement.”

SOURCE

The current conservative spin is exactly that. Because Khan-Cullor seems to be nothing more than your standard race grifter, she becomes a scapegoat for the most progressive civil rights movement in sixty years. For half the country's population, her financial indiscretions paint the entire movement as suspect. She becomes a negative representative of an organization comprised of few who could afford four or five multi-million dollar homes.

The word “scapegoating” originated from an ingenious ritual described in Leviticus 16. 

According to Jewish law, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest laid hands on an “escaping” goat, placing all the sins of the Jewish people from the previous year onto the animal.

Then the goat was beaten with reeds and thorns, driven out into the desert, and the people went home rejoicing. 

Violence towards the innocent victim was apparently quite effective at temporarily relieving the group’s guilt and shame. 

The reverse of this ritual is now in play. Instead of the goat taking on the sins of the tribe, the tribe takes upon the sins of the goat. 

The incompetent, brutal, and bigoted police officer paints the entire 900,000 American law enforcement community as incompetent, brutal, and bigoted.

The looters using an otherwise peaceful protest as cover to rip-off a Target for a plasma screen gives permission to those disinclined to agree with the protest to dismiss the cause.

The rich and powerful Hollywood rapist convicts all rich and powerful Hollywood types as rapists.

It's a strange twist on the form but it isn't entirely unexpected. We aren't looking at individuals and their behavior today as much as we are why the systems in place allow (or at least refuse to stem) the behavior of the worst among us. Each individual anecdote about someone's lived experience becomes a puzzle piece to reduce whole institutions and practices as evil. As it is the opposite of scapegoating, I'll call it mascoting.

Instead of seeing these mascots as outliers, their mere existence is used to suggest widespread corruption. Each mascot becomes a sole representative of a greater ill.

Adolf Hitler is a mascot for any leader who is racially intolerant and authoritarian. Any leader who seems too ambitious, too angry, too dictatorial inevitably evokes the comparison.

The mascot for #MeToo is, without question, Weinstein. The big, fuzzy, unattractive über-powerful Hollywood mogul who solicited blowjobs, spanked his junk into plants, and raped Annabella Sciorra is the poster boy for all aging white men in charge of the entertainment industry.

AOC is mascot for the Socialists in government. Ibram Kendi is the mascot for the Critical Race Theorists. Tucker Carlson is dressed to the nines as avatar for all that is bad at Fox. Kristen Sinema (AZ) is the picture of fence-riding, anti-minimum wage Democratic obstructionists. Derek Chauvin represents all white cops. George Floyd fronts for all black men.

Ah, if life were so simple and easy to categorize. The fact that this reduction of systems to the behavior of individuals is pockmarked with error, replete with misrepresentation, and in direct conflict with the bizarre nature of human beings doesn't stop us. We do it anyway.

Maybe if we focused on positive mascots? Tom Hanks as mascot for white dudes? John McWhorter as the de-facto black guy stand-in? Eric Talley adumbrates all police officers and Kevin Feige epitomizes the wealthy, powerful Hollywood executive?

Harold Chandler was certainly a part of his family but was nothing like his sister and it was unfair to judge him based upon the actions of a brother he was unlikely to know well combined with the poverty he was born into and had no choice in. He was more complex than that. His poverty and the fact that he was outcast doesn't make him a saint but it doesn't make him the mascot of sinners, either.

As Russian philosopher Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote, “If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”