#you beat the swords into plowshares

[angstandhappiness]

Lovely

no!! stop running!!!

i need to tell you that he held out his arms to take his baby!!!

but the child squirmed around and began wailing terrified by his father’s helm!!!!

and his father began laughing and his mother laughed as well!!

and from his handsome head he took it and placed it on the ground!!

and he kissed his son and swung him around!!!

and prayed that he would become better than him!!!

stop running this is important!!!!

[favoritemtgcard]

Official Bracket Announcement

After more than 420 individual nominations, 64 cards have been selected to compete to be tumblr's favorite Magic: The Gathering card!

You can view a complete list of Divisions and seeds below the cut

Thank you to everyone who submitted a card and supported their favorites. There are over 30,000 cards printed in Magic's history, so this poll would have been literally impossible without your help. There were a lot of very tight calls when putting this together, and not every card could make the final cut, but hopefully this bracket reflects the majority of the popular picks as well as a few individual favorite contenders.

The first matches of Division A will be posted tomorrow, November 5th at 10:00am PST. Division B will be posted the following day, then Division C, and so on. You will have a full week to vote in these matches for your favorite card. (Reminder: seed number is only a best guess at how a team will perform in a given bracket, and exist to facilitate a more interesting tournament. It is not at all uncommon for lower seed cards to beat higher seeds, and it is not a reflection of the quality of the card in of itself.)

Thank you again for all of your interest and support! I am already excited to learn how some of these early matches play out.

Division A Begins November 5th

Bearscape

Savor the Moment

Phyrexian Unlife

Dark Ritual

Damnation

Baleful Strix

Massacre Girl

Emrakul the Aeons Torn

Murder

Colossal Dreadmaw

Waste Not

Surgical Extraction

Forest

Perplexing Chimera

Stasis

Elvish Visionary

Division B Begins November 6th

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death

Brainstorm

Selesnya Evangel

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben

Thallid

Rona, Herald of Invasion

Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

Hot Soup

Phage the Untouchable

Earthbind

Cheatyface

Wedding Announcement

Storm Crow

Darksteel Relic

Rin and Seri

Madcap Skills

Division C Begins November 7th

Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful

Bitterblossom

Mana Tithe

Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

Elspeth, Sun's Champion

Tragic Slip

Olivia Voldaren

Craterhoof Behemoth

Island

Enthralling Victor

Indestructible Aura

Llanowar Elves

Gush

Urza's Ruinous Blast

Ashnod, Flesh Mechanist

Mountain

Division D Begins November 8th

Lightning Bolt

Faithless Looting

Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar

Gallia of the Endless Dance

Breach the Multiverse

Dark Depths

Heartbeat of Spring

Yargle, Glutton of Urborg

Niv-Mizzet, Parun

Swords to Plowshares

Archangel Avacyn

Run Away Together

Tempt With Bunnies

Enter the Dungeon

Plains

Mantis Rider

[thesummerstorms]

“You see?” Frank said. “Now, heal my friends!”

Triptolemus tapped his chin. “Well, thank you for the snake, but I’m not sure I like your tone, demigod. Perhaps I’ll turn you into—”

Frank was faster. He lunged at Trip and slammed him into the wall, his fingers locked around the god’s throat.

“Think about your next words,” Frank warned, deadly calm. “Or instead of beating my sword into a plowshare, I will beat it into your head.”

Triptolemus gulped. “You know…I think I’ll heal your friends.”

“Swear it on the River Styx.”

“I swear it on the River Styx.”

Frank released him. Triptolemus touched his throat, as if making sure it was still there.

- House of Hades

[locustheologicus]

Metallica’s For Whom the Bell Tolls: An Anti-War Polemic

This song is Metallica’s take on Hemingway’s novel of the same name. Hemingway writes about the Spanish Civil War and in doing so offers a reproach of modern warfare. As I think of the deepening conflicts and war in the middle east and the Ukraine and other conficts that seem to be escalating I think it would be good to hear the words of caution within the warring style that Metallica offers especially with the amazing use of the bass by the great Cliff Burton. Cliff was an amazing talent but he unfortunately died tragically after the following album “Master of Puppets.” 

The lyrics allow you to just imagine what the combatants are going through within the fevered pitch that is provided by this headbanging music. 

Take a look to the sky just before you die It's the last time you will Blackened roar, massive roar, fills the crumbling sky Shattered goal fills his soul with a ruthless cry

Stranger now are his eyes to this mystery Hears the silence so loud Crack of dawn, all is gone, except the will to be Now they see what will be, blinded eyes to see

I feel that there is a certain irony here as I recall the way this song made me feel as a teenage boy in the late 1980′s. On the one hand this music moves you towards feelings of anger and passion that bring a sense of deep meaning and purpose for an adolescant youth who craves for simple answers. Almost like a desire to be a unreflectively part of something. Yet the words (which one can eventually reflect on later) force you to pause and consider what it is that you are actually a part of. War and violence has the ability to get the person to find a sense of tribal meaning and this again is what many young men crave. The desire to march off into some sense of victory and glory. But the lyrics then has you think, what is it all about? what is ultimately achieved and why did we value such methods of destruction.

With the escalation of war and violence we may need to be more attentive to the prophetic words etched by Hemingway, sung by James Hetfield, and played by Metallica. This is the hope expressed in Scriptures:

For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. - Isaiah 2:4

Pope Francis recently reflected on the theme of war having reflected on the one year anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel which started the current war in the middle east. In the reflection he calls on the international community (all of us) to “end the spiral of revenge” which calls to mind the teaching of Bishop Helder Camara. The belief that violence ultimately begest violence and that peace is the path that we Christians are called to promote. 

Tomorrow marks one year since the terror attack on the population in Israel, to whom I once again express my closeness. Let us not forget that there are still many hostages in Gaza. I ask for them to be released immediately. Since that day, the Middle East has been plunged into a condition marked by increasing suffering, with destructive military actions continuing to strike the Palestinian people. This people is suffering very much in Gaza and in other territories. Most of them are innocent civilians, all of them are people who must receive all necessary humanitarian aid. I call for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon. Let us pray for the Lebanese, especially for those who live in the south, who are forced to leave their villages.

I appeal to the international community, that it may work to end the spiral of revenge and prevent further attacks, like the one recently carried out by Iran, that could make that region fall into an even greater war. All nations have the right to exist in peace and security, and their territories must not be attacked or invaded, their sovereignty must be respected through and guaranteed by dialogue and peace, not by hatred and war.

[utilitycaster]

I should also note - I don't even think this is revenge, and I don't think Orym is betraying some idea of who he wants to be.

Orym didn't have the skills to be a druid, but I don't see anything that would stand in the way of him being an herbalist like Nell, or a midwife like his mother, or, I don't know, a scout, or an artisan. He decided to be a soldier. He chose a life where he would wield a sword, and he did it long before anything particularly bad happened to him. This feels like a continuation.

I also don't think it's revenge. I think his actions are informed by the way the Vanguard has treated him, but I don't think he wants to kill Ludinus or Bor'Dor because of what they did to him specifically. I think he is considering what they will do to the world at large. And frankly, it is really interesting (derogatory) to see, after a campaign in which Liam's character was lambasted for deciding to quietly work within the system and properly depose people rather than going murderhobo vigilante, there being a popular sentiment that his next character should sit back and let an existential threat play out because he's too close to the case.

It's weird to me that people are like ORYM'S GOING DARK like sorry but while mechanically I don't think he's necessarily going to become a paladin this is like... righteous strength of conviction, not murderhobo. It's not like, dark to go after a death cult or someone who tried to assassinate you.

[why-bless-your-heart]

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

O King of the Nations, and the one they desired, keystone, who makes both peoples one, come and save mankind, whom you shaped from the mud.

Isaiah 9:5: For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

Isaiah 2:4: He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

[feely-touchy]

You poor and lonely giant

Sat atop your throne of heroes' bones

Gazing upon your once great, now empty kingdom

How desolate your heart must be

Casting its shadow upon the quaking sky

Why continue searching for a rival king

To wage your holy war on?

Feed your immortality to me,

I want to watch the dying stars.

I am not a fiend, or friend

I merely wish that you will not pretend

That you are the center of our story

Yes, we cried your name when we raised our nations from the dire earth

But it was our hands, not yours

That built and beat the brow, the sword, the plowshares

While you hid in your untouchable alabaster tower

Looking down

Always down

As if you were a king primed for the guillotine

While we were meant to be simply ants

Made for keeping busy

Or something starving for the squashing

Well, we have grown into fully fledged human beings

And we'll even eat the angels alive if need be

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The LORD Judges the Nations

1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;

5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:

6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.

7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:

8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it.

9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.

12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

17 So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion. — Joel 3 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Exodus 3:8; Exodus 6:12; 2 Kings 12:18; Job 1:15; Job 6:27; Psalm 7:6; Psalm 61:3; Psalm 85:1; Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 4:4; Isaiah 8:9-10; Isaiah 11:14; Isaiah 13:3-4; Isaiah 43:5-6; Isaiah 66:16; Ezekiel 27:13; Ezekiel 37:25; Joel 2:10; Amos 9:15; Matthew 11:21; Matthew 24:29; Mark 4:29; Revelation 6:12; Revelation 8:12; Revelation 14:14-15; Revelation 14:18,19 and 20, Revelation 19:15

[toa-greatmind-nothingislittle]

if you like the Phoebe Bridgers song Smoke Signals and in particular the line, “I buried a hatchet, it’s coming up lavender,” might I offer you a poem by Yehuda Amichai:

Don’t stop after beating the swords

into plowshares, don’t stop! Go on beating and make musical instruments out of them.

Whoever wants to make war again

will have to turn them into plowshares first.

idk just something about the symbolism of purposefully and fully getting rid of something destructive and making something beautiful out of it gets to me

[azdoine]

it's nothing. im just resealing my evil eye and beating the sword that ends the world into plowshares. if you even care.

[mehemingway]

The Living Hateful and the Loving Dead

There are only two people To be found in the world Ancient lines From ancient times The loving and the hateful Always at odds Though just one with the other As well as itself

Because hate is misunderstood love A cry for safety, comfort, belonging Starved of the good things in life And therefore convinced of the truth That love can be taken by force If it even really exists It's confusing, I know So why not raze the whole world With no stone unburned Perhaps you'll find it in the rubble Of somebody's home But I'm sorry, my friend It was once in the hearts Of the multitudinous dead And your city built upon death Will haunt itself to the end Because you reap what you sow When you plant on mass graves And you pass your kids land Filled with other kids' bones

So while the soil is fertile with blood And all of your swords Have been beat into plowshares You will die by them nonetheless Because you'll have created a home That doesn't know life

-Me H.

[albertfinch]

November 24, 2023 – Exhortation

The fire of the Lord revives you, frees you, and brings you closer to Him; where the fire of the enemy brings death, destruction, oppression, and bondage. "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify… and refine them like gold and silver…" (Malachi 3:3)

God is using this time to construct, build, and draw you into who you were called to be; that which, without the fire, you wouldn't have discovered otherwise.

Unique expressions and streams will emerge that have been "pulled out" or drawn out because of the heat and pressing. If you have been a sleeping warrior you will stand to your feet.

"Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, 'I am a warrior.'" (Joel 3:10)

The Lord is combining both the branding iron (used for marking deeply) with the pruning hook (used for cutting back and purifying) as a tool for raising up mighty warriors!

Since you have been through the fire as His 'firebrand,' you will rescue those who have felt weak and broken down in the battlefield, forging them into weapons. You will "hook" people out of darkness and bring them back into life. You will be the reviver of those who feel dead and beyond hope –- like you once were. You will be the dispenser of Holy Ghost fire to those whose flames have been extinguished.

Just like after a fire burns land and new life comes forth, now you are going to see the new life budding up from the ashes and ruins.  

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY 

[anonymousdandelion]

(English and Hebrew text below the cut.)

Heavenly Father, Rock and Redeemer of Israel

On this holy and awesome day,

We come before You in prayer and supplication

On behalf of our brothers and sisters

In Your Holy Land, the Land of Israel.

You know every secret since the world began,

Nothing is shrouded from You.

All is revealed and known before You

Know how our ancestors in every generation

Prayed to return to Zion in joy.

They never lost hope,

And when, in Your great mercy, it came to pass,

It was like a dream fulfilled.

Therefore, we pray to You, the Merciful,

Have mercy on Your people,

And spread over the inhabitants of Your land,

The tabernacle of Your peace,

As it is written:

“I will grant peace in the land,

When you lie down, no one will make you afraid…

And through that land no sword shall pass.”

Please, King who reigns over all kings

Have mercy on Your people,

You know that we, Your people, love peace,

We have laboured for it and not found it.

We have lived too long among those who hate peace.

Therefore, remember, O Lord, the affection of Jerusalem;

Do not forget the love of Zion.

Arise and have compassion on Zion;

For the time has come.

And may we, in our time, be worthy to see

the words of your prophets fulfilled,

when You “will judge among nations,

and arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation shall not raise sword against nation;

No more will they learn to make war.”

May this be Your will, and let us say: Amen.

אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹאֲלוֹ

בְּיוֹם זֶה קָדוֹשׁ וְנוֹרָא

בָּאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ בִּתְפִלָּה וּבְתַחֲנוּנִים

בְּעַד אַחֵינוּ וְאַחְיוֹתֵינוּ

בְּאַרְצְךָ, וּבְאַרְצֵנוּ, אֶר��ץ יִשְׂרָאֵל.

אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ רָזֵי עוֹלָם

וְאֵין דָּבָר נֶעֱלָם מִמֶּךָּ.

גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ

תְּפִלוֹת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְּכָל דּוֹר וְדוֹר

לִרְאוֹת בְּשִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן בְּרִנָּה.

לֹא אָבְדָה תִּקְוָתֵנוּ

וְהִנֵּה בְּחַסְדְּךָ הַגָּדוֹל רָאִינוּ

וְהָיִינוּ כְּחוֹלְמִים.

לָכֵן בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים

רַחֵם עַל עַמֶּךָ,

וּפְרוֹשׂ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ

עַל כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי אַרְצֶךָ,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב:

“וְנָתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ,

וּשְׁכַבְתֶּם וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד…

וְחֶרֶב לֹא תַעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצְכֶם.”

אָנָּא מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים

רַחֵם עַל עַמֶּךָ

כִּי אוֹהֲבֵי שָׁלוֹם אֲנַחְנוּ

יָגַעְנוּ וְלֹא הוּנַח לָנוּ

וְרַבַּת שָׁכְנָה לָנוּ נַפְשֵׁנוּ עִם שׂוֹנְאֵי שָׁלוֹם.

זְכֹר ה’ חִבַּת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם

אַהֲבַת צִיּוֹן אַל תִּשְׁכַּח לָנֶצַח.

אַתָּה תָקוּם תְּרַחֵם צִיּוֹן

כִּי עֵת לְחֶנְנָהּ כִּי בָא מוֹעֵד.

וְנִזְכֶּה בְּיָמֵינוּ

לְדִבְרֵי עֲבָדֶיךָ הַנְּבִיאִים,

“וְשָׁפַט בֵּין הַגּוֹיִם

וְהוֹכִיחַ לְעַמִּים רַבִּים

וְכִתְּתוּ חַרְבוֹתָם לְאִתִּים

וַחֲנִיתוֹתֵיהֶם לַמְּזַמְּרוֹת

לֹא יִשָּׂא גוֹי אֶל גּוֹי חֶרֶב

וְלֹא יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה.”

וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן, וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

4th December >> Mass Readings (USA)

Monday, First Week of Advent 

or

Saint John Damascene, Priest, Doctor. 

Monday, First Week of Advent 

(Liturgical Colour: Violet: B (2))

First Reading Isaiah 2:1-5 The Lord will gather all nations into the eternal peace of the Kingdom of God.

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.In days to come,

The mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9

R/ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R/ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD.

R/ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David.

R/ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings.

R/ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Because of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!” Because of the house of the LORD, our God, I will pray for your good.

R/ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation cf. Psalm 80:4

Alleluia, alleluia. Come and save us, LORD our God; let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 8:5-11 Many will come from the east and the west into the Kingdom of heaven.

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint John Damascene, Priest, Doctor 

(Liturgical Colour: White: B (2))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

First Reading 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:1-3 Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Beloved: Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

My child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well. Bear your share of hardship along with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R/ The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or R/ Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.

R/ The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or R/ Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.

R/ The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or R/ Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just.

R/ The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or R/ Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; Sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb.

R/ The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. or R/ Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Gospel Acclamation John 14:23

Alleluia, alleluia. All who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them. Alleluia, alleluia.

Either:

Gospel Matthew 25:14-30 Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one – to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Or:

Gospel Matthew 25:14-23 Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one – to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[allaboutjoseph]

The O Antiphons

The importance of O Antiphons is twofold: Each one highlights a title for the Messiah: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel. Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. Lets now look at each antiphon with just a sample of Isaiahs related prophecies.

O Sapientia : O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation. Isaiah had prophesied, The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:2-3), and Wonderful is His counsel and great is His wisdom. (Isaiah 28:29).

O Adonai: O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. Isaiah had prophesied, But He shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the lands afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. (Isaiah 11:4-5); and Indeed the Lord will be there with us, majestic; yes the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king, he it is who will save us. (Isaiah 33:22).

O Radix Jesse: O Flower of Jesse's stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid. Isaiah had prophesied, But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. (Isaiah 11:1), and A On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10). Remember also that Jesse was the father of King David, and Micah had prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in Davids city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:1).

O Clavis David: O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom. Isaiah had prophesied, AI will place the Key of the House of David on His shoulder; when he opens, no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open. (Isaiah 22:22), and His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from Davids throne, and over His kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. (Isaiah 9:6).

O Oriens: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Isaiah had prophesied, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown. (Isaiah 9:1).

O Rex Gentium: O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust. Isaiah had prophesied, For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5), and He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. (Isaiah 2:4) .

O Emmanuel: O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God. Isaiah had prophesied, The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.  (Isaiah 7:14). Remember Emmanuel means God is with us.

According to Professor Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, Tomorrow, I will come. Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, Tomorrow, I will come. So the O Antiphons not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation,but bring it to a joyful conclusion.

[gaymormonmike]

Jeffrey R Holland Apostle

I was looking to see why he was not at General Conference and ran into controversy over his being asked to be the commencement speaker at Southern University Utah. I am so proud of the many queer people and allies who spoke up and objected to Elder Holland being the speaker. They expressed their hurt and pain from a talk Elder Holland gave at BYU faculty meeting in August, 2021.I found the text of that talk to decide for myself about it. In the talk he quotes a talk by Apostle Neal A Maxwell given to BYU faculty in March, 2004. Elder Maxwell compares the BYU faculty to the builders of the Nauvoo temple who had a trowel in one hand and a musket in the other. He concludes that the faculty does the job of building students but also defending the principles of the Gospel. (Not his words, my interpretation). Then Elder Holland quotes Apostle Dallin Oaks from his address to BYU faculty in August, 2014. Elder Oaks quotes Elder Maxwell and then states, “I want to hear more musket fire from this temple of learning.”  Elder Holland then focuses on marriage being only between a man and woman. Later in the talk he makes it clear that he is more concerned  with the integrity of BYU as an institution than with the right of an individual student to declare his sexual lifestyle.  He states that some faculty when asked to support the churches position on the queer community fired their muskets not at those hostile to the church but to the “Point of Mountain.”  Then he summarizes with the following: “  My Brethren have made the case for the metaphor of musket fire, which I have endorsed yet again today. There will continue to be those who oppose our teachings—and with that will continue the need to define, document, and defend the faith. But we all look forward to the day when we can “beat [our] swords into plowshares, and [our] spears into pruninghooks” and, at least on this subject, “learn war [no] more.”16 And while I have focused on this same-sex topic this morning more than I would have liked, I pray you will see it as emblematic of a lot of issues our students, our communities, and our Church face in this complex, contemporary world of ours. “

I love and respect Elder Holland but even though he says he loves me as a queer man, his talk does not sound loving to me. He uses this unfortunate metaphor of musket fire, when queer people are being shot to death. I am grateful for those speaking out and expressing their concern about his talk. I also understand those who want to hear Elder Holland and do  not want to censor or prevent him from talking, even though he speaks against BYU queer people’s free speech.

I would come to hear him speak in the hopes that he hears all the reasons for protest and addresses them in the way Christ would address them. This shows me that not every word out of a general authorities mouth is inspired of God. It is my privilege to use critical thinking and personal revelation to discern what is true doctrine and how it effects my life.