#Recognition that Jesus is the Son of God

[dramoor]

"And when the centurion who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, 'Truly, this man was the Son of God'.”

~Mark 15:39

#saints #Orthodox Christian #centurion #roman soldier #martyr #pierced the side of Christ #Lord Jesus #Pontius Pilate #feast day October 16th #St. Longinus #Scriptures #Recognition that Jesus is the Son of God

[catwouthats]

I want to preface this by saying I have a really good pattern recognition and took a film class before .

I NEVER WANTED TO LEARN THIS INFORMATION OR HAVE THIS THEORY!!

Anyways, because people are confused about the theory of Gabriel somehow having the second coming of Christ (and also why I think some of the book of Revelation will be included in Good Omens 3), I thought I’d put my evidence here.

Once again I’d like to formally apologize and this is your last warning.

You will lose all sanity past this point just like i did.

(TLDR; only read what’s in bold and look at the pictures)

When it comes to why I think season 3 might be based off of Revelation slightly, there isn’t that much evidence. (Unfortunately there is more evidence for the other part.)

First of all we have Metatron mentioning the second coming of Christ before they get on the elevator. Now for those of you who don’t know the second Coming of Christ is part of Revelation! (Also, Metatron did not bother to try and stop Gabriel from leaving… which I find suspicious…)

Where “Christ 2.0” is mentioned in Revelation? Well the Revelation is not straight forward. Some think of the Second Coming of Christ as whom was mentioned in Revelation 14:14-16 (in this chapter he comes down from the heavens and chops off heads) and some think of The Second Coming of Christ as who was mentioned in Revelation 19:11-16 (in this chapter he comes down from the heavens and helps put two of the false prophets in hellfire). For Chapter 14, they call the being “the son of man”, which is the same title people use for Jesus. For chapter 19, there is “King of Kings, Lord of Lords” tattooed on his thigh, which is what some people call God.

Luckily, considering the main point of Good Omens is to show that love and life matters most, I don’t think they will do exactly what those chapters say.

Neil also said that he got inspiration from Genesis and Revelation here: https://www.tumblr.com/neil-gaiman/728173029401788416/hi-neil-gaiman-i-would-like-to-know-if-good-omens

Side note, another reason I feel they will use some of Revelation:

Now on to the Unfortunate truth. Proof/foreshadowing that Gabriel will have the Second Coming of Christ. (Again I want to formerly apologize to both the fandom and Neil Gaiman.)

So what started this is Chapter 12 of Revelation. In chapter 12 someone is pregnant in the sky/heavens/space and gives birth to a special child. Before that child is eaten by a monster, an Angel comes in and takes the Baby away and brings the baby to God. This is why I think this is the same being as the second coming mentioned before. He was taken care of by God and raised in Heaven.

But he was also born in space…

And unfortunately for us ineffable bureaucracy is in space. And although they aren’t human, there are actually a lot of references throughout Good Omens 1 and 2 that associate Gabriel with birth and sex.

But before i get into that, I want to preface all this. I know this might upset some of you all because you might also have had the head cannon of them being asexual. To that I say, don’t worry I don’t think anything sexual will actually happen. They are kind of dumb (when it comes to human affairs) supernatural beings whom can perform miracles. A lot of this is just dramatic irony used to make us laugh and to possibly hint at the future.

So here is all the evidence of Gabriel having a kid so far (I will edit it if more comes up):

1) When he says he was there for the creation/birth of Eve in the garden. Why in the world would that be an important thing to mention? For what reason did God want him there? Why did God want him to see how to make a human?

2) The fact he is the same Angel who delivered the message to Mary that she was pregnant with Jesus. You can see this in Luke 1:26. While, this is not mentioning Good Omens I feel it is important to point out. Also, I think it would be funny if Mary was able to pull an Uno reverse card (and a +2 card because it would be the 2nd coming) and tell GABRIEL that he was gonna have the child.

Not to mention there are even more similarities between the two of them (which I mention later.) I think it shows them as having something more in common rather than just being in eachother a story…

3) The fact he was also there for the “birth” of 3 of Lot’s kids. Yet another moment of human creation that God insisted he’d be a part of.

6) The tomatoes falling in front of him as he walked to Aziraphale’s Bookshop (they did a close up which usually is a “pay attention” sign) because apparently tomatoes are a sign of fertility. (Also if you look at the extended edition of Gabriel’s arrival you will see that the tomato pile seeming bubbled up like it was multiply as he walked by.)

Not only that, but some studies show that tomatoes can cure infertility. And considering we know that angels do not at first have any reproductive organs, I think it’s safe to say that this symbolism could show how he is no longer infertile. (Link: https://www.nicswell.co.uk/health-news/tomatoes-and-fertility )

7) Everyone assumed he was a stripper that Aziraphale hired. Nina thought it was Aziraphale’s ”naked man friend” he hired. And the people around him even took pictures of him nude. They didn’t even bother to call the police they were in such awe.

The fact that they didn’t call the police or weren’t really disgusted (but rather many were quite turned on if you look at the symbolism) is very interesting to me. It reminds me of the story of Lot in the Bible. Two Angels visit Lot (in sodom and Gomorrah) and a huge crowd of people forms outside his house. The angels were so charismatic and hot that everybody wanted to do them, and that is why they were crowding around Lot’s house. I wish I was joking, but I’m not!

8) All the people that flirted with him at the ball to which he said something along the lines of “I learned something new about this body last night in bed” and also “want me to show you?”

As my friend on tiktok (cloverthegrand) said “something something Gabriel was [probably] purposefully made to be very attractive to attract a partner to fulfill the second coming requirements.”

9) He likes hot cocoa and chocolate is sort of an aphrodisiac, which is something that supposedly “turns you on”. And yes, chocolate is still a symbol of love even without it’s aphrodisiac qualities.

(Link: https://www.simplychocolate.com/learn-chocolate-aphrodisiac )

10) When they have sushi (fish), Gabriel is always(?) there. When they are in he restaurant in season 1 and at the Ball in season 2. Fish is a sign of fertility in a couple cultures like in judaism, some Native American tribes, and Celtic culture. 

(Links: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/an-abundance-of-fish/ and https://www.atshq.org/fish-symbolism/ )

11) This is quite controversial, but the fact that Gabriel planned basically to show up to beelzebub completely naked is quite… odd. He probably doesn’t understand the complexities of this and what it means (or would mean to humans), yet it is still an odd flag that I feel could show us a hint. And once again, I would like to remind you all that this is not me saying that they aren’t asexual. I still firmly believe that they are both aroace spec because they are/were Angels!

12) The “I’m in the fly” on the bottom of the box that Gabriel brought is also quite funny to me. Gabriel and Beelzebub sure did not get the joke, but I know some of the audience (including me) had one Hell of a time laughing at that dramatic irony/pun! And once again it is another this that associates Gabriel with the creation of kids.

13) “Everyday” being beelzebub and Gabriels song -despite also being described by Terry and Neil as an apocalyptic song- is also interesting to me. I feel it could show that somehow their love and their romance is the start of this second apocalypse or maybe even the center of it. It’s slightly scary to me that Neil didn’t wait to use Everyday for season three, yet instead started using it here for a romance.

14) All the good luck symbolism for Gabriel.  Gabriel got really lucky the season. Whether with a Aziraphale and Crowley and his memory or how everything around him went. It was as if it was perfectly planned. And it was! There were a lot of symbols for good luck, always surrounding Gabriel to make sure no harm came his way (such as the Garlic, onions, cabbage, and plum tree at Gabriel’s arrival. Also the color blue, hearts, and lions.) I feel this shows just how important and essential Gabriel is to SOMETHING. Something probably bigger than he knows.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure I remember Neil Gaiman once saying on Tumblr that he made Gabriel more of a character in season one of good omens because he was important to the next part of the story. This season definitely showed us just how important Gabriel really is (to my unfortunate mental decline.)

15) Cows. This one isn’t that big considering it is just two framed images of cows in the background while Beelzebub and Gabriel order at the bar, but I included it anyways. Cows represent fertility and strength (yippee 😐)

16) Gabriel is wearing the same blue at the Ball as Sitis(kind of) and as The Virgin Mary! They all have big blue thingy. This shows they are similar… somehow (*cough* miraculous births/“births” *cough*)

Bonus: The Proof is in the Pudding!… or at least the side dish. Here is some evidence from the extended editions/cut scenes:

A) In the extended edition of Gabriel’s arrival:

Aa) Lemon symbolism. In the extended edition, you can see an old man holding a lemon, while standing in front of a pile of tomatoes on the table. The pile of tomatoes then later, bubbles up, as if multiplying, and falls down on the floor, overtaking him and his lemon.  lemons can symbolize loyalty to one other person in a sexual or romantic relationship and they were also used as a form of birth control, but consider the tomatoes -what fixes infertility- went past that man I think it’s safe to say that is no longer a thing.



Ab) Flowers. Honestly this is not that important because flowers have many different meanings (I mainly did this for fun; not all of the flowers support this theory). But mainly people use flowers to give to someone they love. Also, flowers in General (specifically Lilies and Roses) are commonly associated with the Virgin Mary. Let me quickly go over the flowers/plants in this shot that I could identify.

Black eyed Susans - encouragement, motivation, endurance, and justice

White Roses - purity, youthfulness, innocence, eternal loyalty, and new beginnings

Yellow Roses - friendship and joy

Pink Roses - elegance, refinement, sweetness, and femininity

Green Roses or Green Chrysanthemum? (I can’t tell which it is from a distance) - chrysanthemum-good fortune, rebirth, renew, and good health. Rose-renewal, fertility, growth, abundance, and rejuvenation

Eucalyptus - strength, protection, abundance, and the division between Heaven and Earth

Wreaths - not a flower I know, but they do symbolize some important things. Fertility, life after death, life, and Jesus dying and coming back

(Links (This is not all of them because I got tired): https://fiftyflowers.com/blogs/flowers/rose-color-meanings#:~:text=White%20roses%20symbolize%20purity%2C%20youthfulness,for%20weddings%20and%20romantic%20occasions. And https://blossmcart.com/blog/chrysanthemum-meaning-and-symbolism/#:~:text=Green%20chrysanthemums%20symbolize%20good%20fortune,love%2C%20longevity%2C%20and%20joy. )

Ac) THE HOSE POORING WATER INTO THE PURSE! OH MY GOSH DID THIS SHOT SURPRISE ME IN THE EXTENDED EDITION! Also they even did a close up of it so you know it’s important! This is on the nose fornication. The hose representing a pp, the purse representing somethings that “purrs”, and the water representing… human male milk. The hose fills up the purse and makes it wet in these shots.

This could just be them showing more of how everyone is thirsting after Gabriel, but than again… why specifically Gabriel? And why something so specifically representing conception?

B) In the cut scene at The Ball

Ba) The nut allergy. In one of the cut scenes Justine has a nut allergy and asks Gabriel if any of the appetizers have nuts in them. I love to interpret this as them saying they are a lesbian because of their emphasis on all nuts. I especially love this because (assumingly) the people before them were flirting with him and they weren’t (probably because he looks like a male human.)

Bb) The fact Gabriel has no idea what nuts are and asks what they taste like. It seems very innocent in the scene, but if I saw that scene back to back of the “I learned something new in bed last night” I would definitely assume that was on purpose for many reasons. And considering all the other times Gabriel is associated with sex, I think I am gonna interpret it this way. He is a very innocent Angel though (literally).

[EDITS: The bit on the side (more evidence that I unfortunately can’t add imagery for because I’ve reached my limit on this Tumblr post):

-the pornography bit in s1

-the fact Gabriel is sort of fixated on having a nice body (exercising, looking at the statue of himself)

-the way his statue holds a cross the similar to how The Virgin Mary holds a cross in images (at least at times where she is holding one)

-The fact that there is also a lot of imagery of the Virgin Mary putting her hands cross over her chest, which is similar to how Gabriel does when Aziraphale and Crowley ask to hold his hands in s2

-him “being a Virgin” being the butt of a lot of the sexual jokes. I put being a virgin in quotes because I actually have a very depressing theory about this. He most definitely did not just miracle genitals right before seeing Beelzebub, otherwise the Angels would’ve gotten a notification as he was leaving that he did that considering they were looking at his file. That means he’s had that for a while. We know he has something down there because of the crowds reaction to him being naked after he puts down the box. 

-Neil said “we will never know” when asked if Gabriel made “the effort” down there… this isn’t evidence I just find this hilarious (Link https://www.tumblr.com/neil-gaiman/725238480054239232/hey-neil-i-dont-know-if-this-question-has )

-Neil offered the name Gabriel to someone that was naming an incubator in their lab https://www.tumblr.com/neil-gaiman/727942479466430464/i-need-help-naming-lab-equipment-i-work-in-a-lab

-

Do I think all of this evidence means Gabriel will give BIRTH? Not exactly, I mean he could just miracle a child by pulling of one of his ribs and gathering Star dust around it to shape the body. However, I do think there is a high possibility that Gabriel will somehow raise or make The Second coming of Christ (or just any child) in Good Omens 3.

And on the contrary, to all of what I said, some of the other angels and demons could also be associated with fertility (ex: stars, sand and fish as symbolism for fertility. Aziraphale has scenes with stars, sand and fish). However, in my opinion, it is not to the degree that Gabriel is associated with things like sex, birth and the Virgin Mary. He is CONSTANTLY being associated with it (even if it’s not on purpose) throughout the series. They could just be making sex jokes with Gabriel because it’s funny (and because it’s John Hamm who is/was apparently a sex symbol), but we’ll never know until season 3 I guess!

I doubt this all will help in my plea to be not weird on tumblr, considering I shared the evidence now, but it’s better than sounding like somebody who just said “archangel Gabriel mpreg” just for the fuck all.

#good omens #good omens 2 #ineffable bureaucracy #good omens gabriel #gos2 spoilers #go2 spoilers #gos2 #good omens 2 spoilers #good omens theory #good omens 3 theory #archangel fucking gabriel

[imagines-all-day-everyday]

bat outta hell

chapter one: eddie munson always knew he was metal. or at least that's what he thought until he ends up in an alternate dimension fighting satanic bats and a certain hawkins sweetheart comes to his rescue.

warnings: swearing, s 4 spoilers, fluffffff <3

Notes: as if this is my first eddie fic omg.

Series Masterlist

Eddie Munson was metal.

He was the leader of the Hellfire Club, he played in a hardcore band, he had some sweet tatties. Yeah, he thought he was pretty darn metal if he said so himself.

That was until he watched two ladies jump headfirst into a freezing lake after Steve "the hair" Harrington without hesitation. Until he found himself surrounded by what he could only describe as bat-like creatures that seemed hellbent on eating the four teenagers alive.

"God damn it shit." He shrieked as he swung the oar clumsily at one of the creatures, the wood snapping clean in half as it made contact.

"Come on you son of a bitch!" He shouted as he held the broken oar up, his eyes glued to the sky as the bats continued to circle.

"Eddie watch out!"

Eddie turned just in time to see a flap of wings and sharp teeth gnashing and all he could do was squeeze his eyes shut as he prepared for the inevitable pain he was about to endure.

But it never came. Instead, an anguished squeal reached his ears followed by a slick thud as something hit the ground in front of him. He peaked an eye open to see the creature that was about to cause his demise lying dead at his feet, an arrow protruding from its chest.

Eddie stumbled back, his eyes wide as he watched arrows sail through the air, the red lightning illuminating them as they each found their targets with deadly precision.

Eddie's eyes darted from the sky in time to see another bat aiming for Steve, who was completely defenceless as he tried to get up onto his feet.

"Duck!" An unfamiliar voice called out.

Steve ducked instantly, just in time as an arrow wizzed over his head and lodged into the left wing of the bat, pinning it to the ground.

Eddie whirled around in time to see a figure run past him towards Steve. A baseball bat rose up into the air, metal encased fingers glinted back at him as they brought the bat down with full force. A squelching noise intermingled with the whining of the creature rung out.

Then, silence.

"Steve! Are you ok?" Nancy was at Steve's side in a second as the stranger extended a hand to help him up. Steve barely even registered Nancy's voice as he stared up at his saviour, his eyes wide as her soft hand enveloped his and tugged him up.

"Jesus H Christ!" Eddie shrieked, his chest heaving as he threw down the broken oar, his eyes scanning the sky. The sound of a soft chuckle made Eddie turn around once more to see that the anonymous stranger had finally turned around to face him.

His lips parted in surprise at the sight of a girl about their age, staring back at him. Her hair matted and down to her shoulders, dirt and grime smeared all over her face and body, with a backpack slung over one shoulder and a bow over the other.

They locked eyes as she slung the bat up to rest on the back of her shoulder blades, the end of it glistening in the blood of the bat creature. Ringed fingers curled around the handle tightly as an amused smirk remained on her features.

A spark of recognition coursed through him as he studied her face. She looked so achingly familiar but he just couldn't place it, he knew her, somehow.

All eyes were on her, wide and in shock, Steve, Robin, Eddie and Nancy's chests heaving up and down at an uneven rate as they combed every inch of her body. They all mentally reached the same conclusion. They'd been saved by a badass.

"*yn*?"

Their saviour turned to face Nancy at the sound of the name.

Then it clicked for Eddie. *yn*, as in *yn* *yln*. The editor of the school newspaper, captain of the volleyball team, on track for class valedictorian, all round Hawkins sweetheart.

He'd heard her name mentioned a few times in the hallways of Hawkins High but never bothered to really put a name to a face. He'd had more important things to do, like run Hellfire Club.

But now as he stared at her in awe, Eddie wondered why the hell he had never taken the time to notice her before.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing Wheeler." *yn* answered, brows raised in surprise.

"How did you-"

"Listen, while I would love to have a little catch up, there are a lot more of our little friends on their way so I strongly suggest we find cover."

"I'm sure we can take them." Steve answered her.

Nancy opened her mouth to also protest when a screech in the distance made all five teenagers jerk their heads around. Eddie froze when a black swarm of bats rose up through the red clouds, rising over the top of them and approaching fast. There must have been hundreds, if not thousands.

"I recommend the woods, personally." *yn* breathed out as her grip on the bat tightened.

"I endorse that recommendation, yep." Robin nodded her head frantically.

"Woods sound like a sweeeet idea to me." Eddie murmured.

"Good." *yn* nodded calmly. "Then let's go."

Eddie watched as she took off in the direction of the woods without as much as a second glance behind her. It was as if they didn't have demonic bat creatures hot on their heels, like she was just off for a morning jog before heading to school.

Yeah outside D&D, Eddie Munson was not metal.

*yn* *yln* though? Yeah. She was fucking metal.

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

*yn* tried to catch her breath as she watched the bats fly overhead, having thrown them off their scent in the thick undergrowth. Her body was aching and her lungs were screaming as she pressed her back against the cool rock surface. She could feel Eddie Munson's hair brushing against her shoulder every so often as the five huddled together under Skull Rock.

The eternal senior, the leader of the Hellfire Club, band member of Corroded Coffin, part time drug dealer and full time social outcast. The self titled freak. Eddie "the freak" Munson's reputation proceeded him. Even if you lived under a rock like this one, you knew the name Eddie Munson.

However, *yn* had never paid much attention to him, she was far too busy to worry about some drop kick, too focused on getting into her dream college. She definitely never thought that she'd save his life and then be squeezed in next to him while they hid from alter-dimensional bats.

"Ok, I think we're good." Robin breathed out after a few moments as she slowly crept out from their hiding spot.

"We should be ok for a while now, it takes a lot to get their attention." *yn* explained as they all rose to their feet.

"Steve?" Everyone turned to see Steve slumped against the side of the cave, gripping his abdomen tightly.

"I'm fine." He squeaked out, wincing as he slid down to the ground.

"No, no, no. No you're not, you're losing blood." Nancy panicked as she crouched down in front of him, examining his wounds.

"Here, I've got bandages and antiseptic." *yn* spoke as she dumped her backpack on the ground.

Eddie peered over her shoulder to see the bag was full of supplies: arrows, bandages, water, food.

"Woah. You are fully stocked." He observed as she pulled out a roll of bandages and ointment.

"I have more back at my camp, not sure how much good it will do us though." She sighed as she handed the supplies to Nancy who quickly thanked her before beginning to dress Steve's wounds.

"Do you guys think these bats have rabies?" Robin murmured as she studied Steve's injuries.

"Cause like getting rabies is my number one fear and I really don't think I could handle it if Steve got rabies and went feral and all that stuff." Robin continued as *yn* took a seat and pulled out more bandages.

"I think we are in the clear for rabies, unless I've been foaming at the mouth and you guys haven't informed me." *yn* joked lightly as she patted her leg just underneath where her denim shorts ended, drawing everyones attention to the blood stained bandage wrapped around her thigh.

"Shitheads took a good sized chunk of me when I first got here."

"How long have you been here exactly?" Nancy queried.

"Well, I went to go check out the sight of Fred's murder the day after it happened and that was..." *yn* trailed off, her brow furrowing as she tried to piece together how long it had been. That was when she realised that she didn't have an answer. There was no day or night wherever they were, she had no way of telling how much time had passed.

"Three days ago." Robin interjected causing *yn*'s brow to raise.

"I've been in this shithole for three days?" *yn* let out a low whistle. "Thank god my parents are away or I would have been so grounded."

"You are scarily calm for someone who has been trapped in another dimension for three whole days." Robin observed as *yn* peeled off the blood soaked bandage.

"I'm good at compartmentalising." *yn* shrugged, "I'm sure once we get out of here I'll be in intensive therapy for the rest of my life but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Eddie studied her in disbelief, both simultaneously confused and incredibly impressed at just how calm she was being. It made him feel rather stupid about his several tantrums and freak outs since they'd gotten here.

"How the hell did you get here anyway?" Steve asked, wincing as Nancy applied some antiseptic to his wounds.

"Well after Fred got murdered I went to check out the site, see what I could find out. I thought the whole thing was strange, especially when my best reporter who'd been with Fred the day he died didn't show up for work, y'know?" *yn* explained, nodding her head towards Nancy.

"And that was when I saw this weird hole that was moving, like it was alive almost. Anyway, obviously I had to see what was on the other side and then-" *yn* gestured around. "Here I was. And I thought not only had I found the best front page story that Hawkins has ever seen but my god would this be a great story for my college application letters. I thought I couldn't be more lucky." She chuckled humourously, shaking her head at just how wrong she had been.

"But then you got stuck..." Robin murmured to which *yn* nodded as she gritted her teeth and pulled the fresh gauze tightly around her thigh.

"Yep, those little vermin guard that gate like their lives depend on it. But hey," She shrugged as she finished securing the bandage, "now you're all here maybe we've actually got a shot at getting out of here."

With that she rose to her feet and dusted herself off, surveying her surroundings with a determined glint in her eye. Eddie took this opportunity to scale a rock, his mind racing as he took in the dreary environment.

Robin wondered back over to Steve and Nancy, her eyes wide as she studied *yn*.

"Who'd have thought *yn* *yln* would be such a badass?" Robin whispered to them.

"Yeah..." Steve trailed off, his eyes glued to *yn*'s imposing stance in awe as he replied. "You'd think we'd be used to the unexpected by now, huh?" Steve continued before grimacing as Nancy unexpectedly pulled the cloth tighter, grating against his open wound.

"So uh, this place is like Hawkins but with monsters and nasty shit?" Eddie asked, glancing down at the others.

"Pretty much, yeah." Nancy nodded, getting up once Steve's wound was dressed. "Watch out for the vines." She warned as Eddie went to step down from the boulder. "It's all a hive mind."

"A what?"

"All the creepy crawlies around here dude." Steve chimed in. "They're all like one or something, you step on a vine you're stepping on a bat, you're stepping on Vecna."

"Who or what is a Vecna?" *yn* butted in, her brow creased as she glanced around the group.

"Oh boy." Eddie let out a low whistle. "Do you have a lot to catch up on sweetheart."

"What am I missing? Did you guys know about this place before?" *yn* asked, her eyes narrowing as she studied Nancy's face. "Have you been holding out on me Wheeler? This could be the story of the century!"

"Ok look I promise I'll tell you everything, but right now we've got to figure out how to get out of here." Nancy responded.

*yn* bit her tongue, forcing down the onslaught of interrogative questions she had waiting in her arsenal. "Fine." She nodded, crossing her arms in front of her chest as she racked her brains for a solution.

"Well I haven't dared to venture far from the woods while I've been here, just a few houses on the outskirts to get supplies." *yn* explained. "But if everything is the same in this version of Hawkins, theoretically we can go to the police station or something and grab more weapons to take on those bats guarding the way out of here."

"Oooh, grenades!" Robin exclaimed.

"I highly doubt the Hawkins PD has grenades Robin but guns, sure." Steve nodded.

"Well we don't have to go all the way down town for guns. I have guns, in my bedroom." Nancy revealed.

"You." Eddie began as he jumped off the boulder. "Nancy Wheeler, have guns. Plural. In your bedroom?"

"Full of surprises isn't she?" Robin beamed.

"I don't know what's more surprising, that revelation or that the valedictorian can take down monsters with a bow and arrow." Eddie responded, an amused smirk on his lips as he glanced at *yn*.

*yn* quirked a brow up at his words, opening her mouth to retort back when the ground suddenly shook from underneath them, loud bangs echoed all around them.

*yn* stumbled, her back smashing into Eddie's front as they toppled over. Eddie was quick to react, ensnaring her in his arms to shield her from the fall as they fell backwards. He gripped onto her tightly, his ringed fingers digging into her side as he covered her body with his as rocks fell around them.

Almost as quickly as the earthquake began, it ended. As the ground stilled and *yn* and Eddie sat up, the loud bellow of an unseen monster rung out from afar. It was enough to make the hairs on their body stand on end.

Chills ran through *yn*'s body at the sound. She knew they were all thinking the same thing. No one wanted to stick around long enough to find out what made that sound.

"Uh, so guns sound like a good idea to me." Eddie swallowed.

"Yeah, me too." Robin breathed out.

It was then that *yn* realised that one of Eddie's arms was still looped protectively around her waist. His fingers pressed firmly into her skin as he held her against him. She swallowed thickly as she studied him, this was the first time she had been this close to him, to really take time to appreciate his features. Then his big brown eyes were on her too and *yn* felt her composure wobble ever so slightly.

In that moment *yn* wondered why the hell she had never taken the time to notice him before.

"So what are we waiting for?" Steve spoke up, his eyes darting between Eddie and *yn*.

Steve's voice caused *yn* to tear her gaze from Eddie and scramble to her feet. "Lead the way."

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

"So I'm going to take a wild guess that you didn't actually kill Chrissie Cunningham?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" *yn* continued, mild panic sweeping over her when she saw the look that crossed Eddie's face at the mention of the cheerleader.

"No no it's ok." Eddie waved his hand dismissively as he recouped his emotions. "I was there when it happened, the cops are right about that, but I didn't kill her."

"I'm sorry." *yn* repeated, "that must have been awful."

"Yeah it wasn't the greatest experience of all time. Might have to join you in that lifelong intensive therapy you were talking about." Eddie's words made a wry smile appear on her features as she gripped the strap of her backpack.

"I'm sorry about Fred too, I know he worked on the paper with you." Eddie continued.

"It's ok, we weren't that close." *yn* let out a small sigh at the thought of the shy boy.

The pair fell into silence as they continued to treck through the woods. Eddie swallowed as his eyes darted to *yn*'s face, studying her for a few moments before looking back ahead of him.

"You still play in Corroded Coffin?"

Her question made Eddie come to a sudden stop, his eyes lighting up at the mention of his bands name.

"Hell yeah I do." A disbelieving smile spread across his lips as he stared down at her. "I'm surprised you've heard of us."

"Of course I have." *yn* laughed. "I wrote a review of you guys for the paper... sophomore year I think."

Eddie racked his brain for a few moments, searching through his memories for one involving an article about his band.

"Oh shit yeah!" He exclaimed, his grin widening as it hit him. "About our set at the Spring Carnival. You gave us a rave review."

His words made *yn* tilt her head back and let out a laugh, one that made his heart flutter slightly. "I don't know if I'd call it a rave review" She answered as the pair began to walk again, "I think I said that while you were no Metallica, you were pretty damn good for a Hawkins bread band."

"You know Metallica?" Eddie queried, the backhanded compliment going completely in one ear and out the other as he stared at her.

A confused expression crossed her features as she looked at him, "doesn't everyone?"

Eddie had to withhold a squeak of excitement, calming himself down by inhaling deeply as he walked instep beside her.

"No they definitely do not." Was all he mumbled in reply, his head swimming with thoughts as they followed after the others.

"Listen, I still haven't had the chance to say thank you for saving our asses before." He spoke up after a few minutes of silence had passed.

"I mean that was a real Ozzie move you pulled back there."

It was only when he said it that he realised *yn* probably didn't have a clue what or who he was talking about. He opened his mouth to explain when her soft chuckle cut him off.

"I don't know if I'd go as far as biting a bats head off, but thank you."

She got the reference. This had to be some sort of mistake. A cruel, sick joke that the universe was playing on him.

"Well it was very metal of you, that's all I'm saying. Totally badass." His compliment made a small blush appear on her cheeks.

"Maybe my new nickname can be the Princess of Darkness." She grinned, her words almost making Eddie stop in his tracks again.

Another Ozzy reference. Had he died and gone to heaven?

"You like Black Sabbath?" This was a test. He couldn't get ahead of himself just yet, he had to be sure.

"They're no Led Zepplin or Deep Purple but yeah, they're cool." *yn* nodded.

Eddie thought he might pass out.

*yn* *yln*, the smartest girl in school and was probably, no, definitely was the prettiest girl in school, liked metal music. Liked his band. Was a bow and arrow using, baseball bat wielding, monster slaying badass.

Eddie had never believed in any of that soulmate crap before, but holy shit, maybe he needed to rethink that. Actually, maybe he needed to rethink everything he'd ever squirrelled away in his own personal Munson doctrine. Because right now, he was pretty convinced that he was staring down at someone who had been crafted right out of his own personal fantasies.

She smirked and raised a brow when she noted the stunned look on his features, "people like me can like metal too, y'know."

Her voice made Eddie break out of his thoughts, panic overwhelming him as he scrambled for something to say.

"It's not just reserved for self proclaimed freaks." She continued, enjoying seeing him squirm under her gaze.

"Uh shit yeah no of course I just-" Eddie began to ramble, running a hand through his unruly hair as he tried to think of a way to pull himself out of the grave he'd just dug.

"Hey *yn*! I'm bored, come here so I can catch you up on everything Vecna and Upside Down to pass the time." Robin called out from ahead of them.

Eddie had never been so grateful for Robin Buckley and her inability to stop talking.

"Saved by the bell." *yn* teased him.

"Yeah coming!" *yn* called back to Robin before glancing up at Eddie once more.

"Here." She extended the baseball bat out for him to grab. He studied her momentarily before cautiously taking the bat from her, a quizzical expression on his features.

"To replace your oar." She explained as she let go of the handle.

"Try not to break this one." She smirked, before jogging to catch up with Robin.

"I won't oh great princess of darkness!" He called out to her. The use of the nickname caused her to let out a laugh and turn around just in time to watch him bow dramatically, his mop of curls sweeping against the floor.

"I'll protect it with my life." He shot her a huge grin as he rose up with a sweep of his hands.

"I'll hold you to that Munson." She grinned, sending him a wink before turning around once more.

Eddie let the bat drop to his side, bringing up a clenched fist to his mouth to stifle the low and pining whine he let out as he watched her go.

"Jesus H Christ." He breathed out as he brought his other hand up to clutch over his heart dramatically.

"Marry me, *yn* *yln*."

chapter two

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

I've really been on fire lately I have to say because I fucking love this fic so much. Potentially one of my favourites of all time, big call I know but!!! I just love writing for Eddie he's such a great character!!! Also feel like there could be a part 2 potentially or a stand alone fic so love that. As always, feedback would be super super appreciated and you can give it back HERE!

#eddie munson #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson oneshot #eddie munson imagines #eddie munson one shot #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x original character #eddie munson x oc #eddie x reader #eddie munson st4 #eddie x y/n #stranger things #stranger things imagine #stranger things oneshot #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things imagines #stranger things s4 #steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington oneshot #steve harrington fanfiction #robin buckley #robin buckley imagine #robin buckley imagines #robin buckley fanfiction

[sherbertilluminated]

Of all the titles in Songs for Pierre Chuvin, "Their Gods Do Not Have Surgeons" is the most strikingly melancholy. It's not just that Darnielle's voice sounds muted and plaintive, that the chorus is one request, over and over again:

Restore the temple of Isis at Memphis

It's not even that the singer wants something so simple. It's that he wants something that the listeners believe is good.

The title of this one is a reference to Chapter 8 of A Chronicle of the Last Pagans, where a Christian mob destroys a number of statues honoring Egyptian deities, breaking off their limbs and shouting "their gods do not have surgeons." Which is conspicuously wrong in the song, because one of the most famous stories to survive from Egyptian religion is one where a deity performs a reconstructive operation.

I doubt my USAmerican upbringing offered me a nuanced look at ancient Egyptian religious belief, but even as a child I was familiar with the story of how the god Set dismembered his brother Osiris, and how his sister/wife Isis (almost) put him back together to conceive a son. This myth is present in the lyrics of Their Gods Do Not Have Surgeons—the Christians are compared to "beasts" with "pawprints" in a way that matches Set's quasi-canine depictions and I'm pretty sure the line "return the peace you took from me" is a homophone/pun on the missing "piece" of Osiris' body which prevented his complete resurrection—and relevant to its rhetorical situation.

The "they" and the "you" of the song are Christians of the (reunited?) Roman Empire in Egypt, people familiar with Jesus' comparison of his own body to the temple in Jerusalem and his assertion that it will be destroyed and reconstructed. When Darnielle sings "you who come demanding proof/let your God rebuild this roof," it's especially poignant because's he's arguing that if only the singer were offered a chance, ie if only he were allowed to worship the surgeon-goddess Isis in her temple, he could demonstrate that Christianity is not the only religious tradition to believe in a resurrection.

The reason for the pathos of the chorus becomes clear at the end of the second verse, with the request "show us the goodwill you were shown/or leave us alone." The poignancy of that plea comes from the recognition that if the people oppressing you would only listen to you, they would realize you love similar stories, that they won't listen to you, that religion will not prevent people with imperial support from acting imperialistically, and that you're desperate enough to ask anyway.

The other tracks on Songs for Pierre Chuvin showcase a range of reactions to the Christianization of the Roman Empire, from violent resistance in "Aulon Raid" to syncretism and covert hope in "Exegetic Chains." But "Their Gods Do Not Have Surgeons" is special to me for the raw pain it depicts and the way it frames that pain as a product of hypocrisy and religious myopia.

#maybe I oughta think about this in the context of #going to tennessee #'and the sun is setting on Memphis' and all #but sherb really is not an Egypt/near east expert #their gods do not have surgeons #songs for pierre chuvin #Pierre Chuvin #the mountain goats #songs within words

[momentsbeforemass]

Not Nathanael

(for all of us who are less than perfect)

A lot of Apostles share names.

There are two with the name of James. Two Simons, even two Judas’s. But there’s only one Nathanael.

That’s plenty. And today’s Gospel shows us why.

The first time Nathanael and Jesus see each other, everything clicks into place. Jesus says to him, “here is someone in whom there is no deceit.” And Nathanael’s response? “You are the Son of God.”

Unlike every other Apostle, Nathanael immediately knows exactly who Jesus is. Like flipping a switch. How is that even possible?

It’s simple, actually. And it’s a ringing indictment of you and me, and every other person for whom it isn’t like flipping a switch. Because of what it tells us about Nathanael. Which is?

In the words of C.S. Lewis, “It takes holiness to detect holiness.”

That’s why Nathanael immediately knows exactly who Jesus is. Because that’s how holy he is.

Jesus reached out to Nathanael once. And Nathanael got it.

That’s why one Nathanael is plenty. That’s why you and I need the rest of the Apostles. 

Because the rest of the Apostles? They’re a mixed mess. One of them over-promises and underperforms. Two of them are all about recognition and being first. One of them is a revolutionary. Another one has doubts. You get the idea.

The part I love? How Jesus treats the rest of the Apostles. The mixed mess. The ones who aren’t already holy. The not-Nathanael’s.

When they don’t get it immediately? Watch what Jesus does. Jesus doesn’t give up on them.

Time after time. Jesus tells them, and shows them, exactly who He is. And for years, none of it really clicks for them.

But Jesus doesn’t hold them to the Nathanael standard.

Jesus reaches out to them. And keeps reaching out to them. Until they get it.

It shows us that there’s a place in the heart of Jesus for each one of them.

And it’s a sign of hope. For all of us.

Because it shows us that there’s a place in the heart of God for each one of us.

For you and me, and all of the other not-Nathanael’s.

Even if we’re not already holy.

Today’s Readings

#Who is Jesus? #Nathanael #God #Jesus #Catholic #Christian #Church #Holy #Apostles #Heart of God #Moments Before Mass

[vi-sigoth]

I'm exiting Christianity, but when I look at Paganism, I see so much of it is tainted by leftist morons and Wiccans? How do you bypass all of that and find authentic Paganism?

Disclaimer for all of my Christian mutuals: please understand this is not a personal attack, but this is my deep, true belief on this matter.

Well anon, congratulations on what will probably be one of the most difficult, but joyful, journeys of your life. You’ve already got the first step down, which is a major accomplishment: you’ve recognized that there is a lot of bullshit and misinformation around paganism. It’s a beautiful mosaic covered in grime and thorny, ugly, vines. So get ready for your hands to get dirty, and get ready to bleed. One of the great tragedies of paganism is that, despite what some think, the line hasn’t been broken, but it’s been heavily damaged and beaten almost beyond recognition. So my personal advice to you is:

1. Do not trust anyone that claims that paganism is a free-for-all, open religion.

Paganism is an ancestral religion. In fact, I was speaking to a friend about this a couple days ago, your ancestors probably didn’t really have the terms “religion” and “atheism” or “atheist” in their lexicon. Your ancestral gods are your progenitors. Are you alive? Is there warm blood in your veins? Then your gods are also alive too. To quote my friend “atheism only works if your gods are a separate, non-tangible thing. You cannot believe in your ancestry and blood. You can see it and feel it. It’s material.” Your ancestors, the spirits of the land and of the waters, the gods, are there whether you acknowledge it or not.

The problem with leftist “pagans” is that they come over from Christianity, but they still keep a Christian mindset, which is that, they believe that all the gods are for everyone. One of the most fundamental differences between Christianity and European paganism is that to accept Christianity means that you accept that Jesus Christ is for everyone. A Christian Norwegian, a Christian Irishman, a Christian Native American, a Christian Korean and a Christian Ethiopian are brothers in Christ. But a Christian Norwegian and a pagan Norwegian are no longer brothers according to Christianity. If you are a Christian convert, your pagan mother and father are sinners that will go to hell. You will not find them in the afterlife. In fact, it might even be your duty to separate yourself from them, from your entire family, if they refuse to accept Christ.

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” - Matthew 10:34-37 KJ

I, as a pagan, do not abide by this. Your ties to your family, your gens, your tribe of people are the MOST important thing you have on this Earth. Our ancestral gods do not tell us to eschew our own family for them. Remember this any time you have doubts. Christianity does not originate in Europe. I don’t know how to stress this enough. It is anti-European. The more you learn about it, the more you will see that.

(And going along in this vein, does that mean a Christian Englishman should let his daughter marry a Christian African over a pagan Englishman? Ponder that one.)

So how do leftist pagans fit in with this? Well, they think that the entire, giant pantheon of European gods are a free-for all. They aren’t. If you are Germanic, you worship Germanic gods. If you are Slavic, you worship Slavic gods. Wiccanism (which deserves its own separate post) cherry-picked from Celtic, Norse, Near-East/Babylonian and Greco-Roman paganism, then splashed all that with Thelema and Khabbalah, and anyone can join. TRUE paganism is a closed religion. Odin is the progenitor of all Germanic people. If you have no Germanic blood, you don’t belong to him. So why would you worship him? It’s a whole other separate post, but it goes back to the leftist mindset that everything should be for everyone all the time. It’s RACIST to say that a quirky black girl in the US can’t worship Odin! But how so? I believe everyone has the right, and should, worship their own ancestral gods.

2. Do not trust monists, do not trust people that argue that European paganism should all be smushed together into a few archetypal figures and worshipped that way. The gods are real, they are not archetypes or representatives of something.

Yes, this is a thing that’s actually happening, and it’s probably going to be the first real schism of the pagan world.

3. Do not trust anyone that tells you that paganism is an OwO so soft and kind and gentle, non-judgmental way of life, as opposed to big meanyhead Christianity with all their hard rules!!! 👿. You might or might not know that Tacitus wrote of the Germanic tribes he observed that some criminals were punished by hanging, whereas some crimes (sodomy, for instance) were so disgusting that they were punished by bog drowning. Pagans absolutely had standards of upright, moral behavior long before they had interactions with Abrahamic religions. Just because there might not be an official written, surviving codification of those rules doesn’t mean they didn’t exist. This is unfortunately something you run into with pre-Christian Europe: oral tradition was often disrupted, therefore, modern pagans have no direct way to obtain it. And don’t think for a second either that illiterate = stupid. Druids had to undergo YEARS of training in religion, history, herblore/medicine, and law memorization, probably much more than the modern man could muster, before they were allowed to practice.

4. Most of all, do not listen to anyone who tells you that you MUST follow this religion or that. You CANNOT leave church, you MUST be a Baptist and not any other kind of Christian, you MUST be a Muslim, you MUST be a pagan. Only you and the gods alone know the yearnings of your own heart. Spend time thinking about why you want to leave Christianity, go on walks, pray and meditate, journal about it. Ask yourself what specific things you have problems with, and explore those. You would be shocked how well writing your thoughts down can help you think and articulate those thoughts to yourself and others.

Now, as to good sources that aren’t tainted by Wiccanism, I recommend going straight to the fonts: Read the best translations of myths and sagas you can find. read as unbiased academic papers on history and myth as you can. I highly recommend Telegram for fantastic discussions that really delve into paganism. I can make a separate post detailing all of the channels that I follow. I like Telegram quite a bit because I find that the pages I follow cite their sources pretty diligently, which means you can go and read the source for yourself. If you’d like to remain anonymous, send me another anon and I’ll post the Telegram list, if you’re comfortable messaging me, I can message you that list, and give you some better ideas of specific texts to read if I know which branches of European paganism you’re wanting to explore.

5. If you see a blog that talks about “working with” a god rather than worshipping them, block on site.

6. You know what, just block all Wiccans. Fuck them.

Remember that you are not alone. What you feel, I suspect, is shared by many Westerners, who feel in their blood the secret wild yearning to return to the ways of their ancestors. They might not know that’s what it is. What that nearly ungraspable thing inside them calls for, but I think if more people were made aware that there’s another thing out there, not Christianity, not atheism, not Islam, but another, half-hidden, secret thing, they might be able to give a name to their longing.

Good luck, sorry for the very long reply. And welcome home.

#long post #anonymous

[saras-devotionals]

Quiet Time 4/23

What am I feeling today?

Honestly, I feel guilty for not posting my quiet times lately. I’ve been learning some incredible things and it’s selfish to keep it to myself and also not useful to me if I don’t have it written down anywhere because then I forget! Also, I’m feeling overwhelmed, it’s my last week of the semester and I’m worried about school, the fashion show, and women’s day at my church because they’re all happening within this next week and it’s just a lot on my plate because I want to be able to achieve it all to the best of my ability.

The Prideful Soul’s Guide to Humility

Reality Will Not Change

Man will never succeed in his effort to pull himself up to the level of God, and he certainly will never be in a position where he will be able to look down on God. Cocky, arrogant man may make disparaging comments about God. He may ridicule God. He may prance and strut around as though he is more clever than God. He may boast that he does not need God. He may live as though he is "the master of his fate and the captain of his soul." But one day he will stand in the presence of the righteous and holy God, and he will tremble as he realizes that he was never greater than God. It was all an absurd, fool-hearted and deadly game of pretending. Isaiah describes such a man

Isaiah 14:12-17 NIV

“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?””

This ruler that Isaiah is describing once exercised authority over many. So expansive was his power that he fantasized that he could make himself like the Most High. But his glory was short-lived, and he ended up just like the other men in the shame of the grave.

So it will be with every pride. ful soul that does not bow in humility before the God who made him. Nothing man can do will change reality. He is not God. He will never be God. As long as he ignores that truth, his life will be headed for a disastrous conclusion. For God opposes the proud.

James 4:6 NIV

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.””

1 Peter 5:5 NIV

“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.””

The Truth Sets You Free

Jesus taught, "You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free." Even those who do not acknowledge Jesus as the Christ agree that this is the highest kind of wisdom. Universities place this saying over their doors. Scientists are fiercely committed to finding the truth. Whenever you ask for guidance or counsel, you want to get it from someone who is fully in touch with the truth.

When you make decisions on the most important issues in your life, you need to be in touch with the most central truths of life. The most important truth any of us can ever know is that there is a God, but we are not him. Any confusion about either one of those things gets us into big trouble. There is a great and powerful God who wants a relationship with us and who will use his amazing power to bless our lives, but we are the creatures and he is the Creator. Everything we have, we have from his hand. Have you done some great things? Have you received some recognition for accomplishments? If so, you did those things with the mind and strength God gave you. Without him you would be nothing.

As Paul said to the proud Athenians: “He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25)

The basis for humility, then, is quite simple. Humility is the only thing that makes sense because of how eternal and unchanging and powerful God is and how fading and precarious and dependent we are. Nothing you do in your life will ever change that. People are sometimes humble until they enjoy some great success. What fools we can be! A little success, achieved by the grace of God, does not change the nature of reality. It does not change who you are and who God is.

To live in accordance with the truth, we all need to practice the presence of God. We need to live all the time just as if we were standing in the presence of someone very important because we are. Think of some recent prideful thing you did. Would you have done that if you had been aware that you were standing in the very presence of the holy, righteous and almighty God? Would you have treated your friend the way you did? Would you have treated your spouse the way you did? Would you have taken the credit that you took? Would you have been defensive when corrected?

This is such a good reminder for me because sometimes I don’t think about the fact that everything I do is in the presence of God. I can go about my day ignoring Him sometimes or thinking He’s not around to see certain things but that so blind and ignorant! He’s literally watching me right now and every moment of my life! I need to go about the days of my life acknowledging Him because He’s everywhere!

#bible #quiet time #bible quote #bible scripture #bible verse #christian blog #christian faith #christian living #christianity #faith in jesus #bible study #devo #faith #faith in god #jesus #devotional #disciple of christ #daily devotional #discipleship #jesus saves #jesus loves you #love #christian #saras devotionals #4/23

[wesleyhill]

Waiting without Hope

A homily preached at Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh, on Holy Saturday 2024

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

In the famous story of Jesus walking, unrecognized, with two of his followers after his resurrection, there is a remarkably poignant, human moment. Jesus asks them what they are discussing as they walk away from Jerusalem, and after they recount the chaos and tragedy of the last few days, they say about Jesus (not knowing that they are talking to the Risen One himself), “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” That perfect tense — “we had hoped” — contains and conceals a world of grief.

We are all familiar with the crush and pain of dashed hopes. You can’t live much beyond childhood to feel it (and many taste it already in childhood). The friendship you thought would last forever ends in betrayal. The career you had set your sights on becomes impossible because of an incurable injury. The divorce papers are finally signed. The chemo and radiation treatments are discontinued, and all that is left to do is wait for death’s coming. The key is returned. The lid on the casket is lowered for the last time. We had hoped.

If you’re religious (as I assume you are — you’re here for a Holy Saturday service!), then you know this same pain in your life with God. The bewilderment and hurt of unanswered prayer. The ache of the lack of God’s experienced presence. The recurring sense that this is all just pious fantasizing. The secret fear that God has finally abandoned you. We had hoped.

One of the great teachers of spirituality from the last century once wrote that every Christian who prays (and not just the great mystics or hermits) sooner or later experiences “the dark night of the soul,” the time — sometimes a long time — when God’s presence can’t be discerned or enjoyed anymore:

The beginner is usually granted ‘sensible’ [sensory], tangible consolations by way of encouragement; his senses and intellectual powers rejoice in the discovery of divine meaning and divine presence in the words and events of Scripture. As he advances, these consolations are necessarily withdrawn from time to time and for indefinite periods, for God does not wish to be found on any other path than his Son’s dying and rising.

God, in other words, allows us to remain in darkness, grief, and unknowing for a purpose: so that we might not rely on shallow, false pictures of who God is and might instead discover God right in the midst of dying and death, on the cross and in the tomb.

The writer Joan Didion says that after her husband died suddenly in their living room one night while she was in the kitchen preparing dinner, “There was a level on which I believed that what had happened remained reversible.” She calls this time of confusion her “year of magical thinking.” Her memoir with that title is the story of the slow recognition that the magic was false and that the reality was in fact irreversible: her husband really wasn’t coming back, and she now had to find a way to go on living without him.

That stripping away of illusions is what Holy Saturday is about. We thought we could ensure that Jesus and his Father were always available for our manipulation. We may have imagined that we could somehow use God to advance the agendas we prefer. We might have believed that we could forecast how God would always act and rely on him to meet our needs in the way we determine is best. But now we are faced with the cold, graying corpse in the tomb and the reality that we had it all wrong. We had hoped.

But Holy Saturday is also about waiting for a new hope on the far side of death — a hope that isn’t just a continuation of what we thought we wanted but a transformation of how we relate to God in faith and prayer. Christians usually picture Jesus descending into the nethermost caverns of hell on this day, and we might imagine him, as he dives downward, shedding all of the controls and expectations we try to clothe him in.

Holding that image in our minds, we might also imagine ourselves the way one of the church fathers pictured us in prayer: as ascending higher and higher on the crags of Mount Sinai with Moses and finding that the closer we get to God’s fiery presence, the darker and darker our vision becomes. God appears to us as cloudy, luminous darkness because only when we let go of what we think is light are we able to better approach the light that God is with humility and (true) hope.

As Jesus descends into darkness, we ascend into darkness, the one enabling the other — and our life with God as we know it dies so that it can rise again true and pure.

And so, in the words of one of our greatest Christian poets,

I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love, For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith But the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting. Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought: So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.

Amen.

[angeltreasure]

hope you have a fabulous pride month!!🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🌈❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Pride is the sin that made Lucifer fall from Heaven. No, I don’t give recognition to him or celebrate sin of lust or pride.

June, for me, is for the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, Who is truly present body, blood, soul, and divinity in the consecrated Eucharist and wine. I will praise Him through June and forever. Amen, Alleluia! 🔥♥️

[for-me-to-live-is-christ]

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Luke 9:23 -

"If anyone wishes to come after Me;

he must deny himself,

and take up his cross daily and follow Me."

When the Cross is alive,

it burns up the flesh – dreams of the flesh,

ambitions of the flesh – all of the flesh.

All of the flesh it consumes.

It consumed man's flesh beyond recognition,

and so it is with His own.

So when the Father looks down,

He sees the reflection of His Son,

and then there becomes recognition.

Let the Cross have its work.

Let the grave contain what is causing death,

but let the Spirit quicken what is life.

Thank Him for the Cross;

for the work of the Cross.

For we are a people of His Cross --

you are marked by His Cross.

Cast not away the Blood of Jesus.

Let the Blood consume.

Let the Blood be the fuel for the fire of the

Cross and the fuel for carrying forth His

Kingdom into the earth.

Let the Spirit of the Living God consume the flesh,

so that in His Spirit you will live and move and have

your being, as you continue to bear

fruit that remains for His Kingdom.

And as His Cross becomes your cross,

know He has hidden you in His Cross.

For your cross is within His

Cross, and the enemy cannot beat you with

your cross when you bow down and let the

working of His Cross take precedence as you

fight for new territory in your land of promise.

Feel His Cross. Feel His Blood.

It is real. It is truth. He is alive forevermore,

and so are you. Your spirit is eternal.

Let your spirit be free to mature through

the working of the Cross. For,

yes, there is death, but more importantly,

there is the life of the Cross and His purpose for your life.

Let His Cross consume you.

Let His grave clothes transform you.

Let His robes of righteousness transfuse you,

through the Blood of the Cross as you continue

to advance His Kingdom through your Christ calling.

[godslove]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

The spiritual gift of service, or ministering, covers a wide range of activities in its application. There are two Greek words for this gift. The first one, found in Romans 12:7, is diakonia. The basic meaning of this word is “to wait tables,” but it is most often translated in the Bible as “ministry.” It refers to any act of service done in genuine love for the edification of the community. The word antilepsis is translated “helping” and is found in 1 Corinthians 12:28. It has a similar meaning: to help or aid in love within the community.

The Holy Spirit endows some believers with this gift to fill the many gaps of ministry and meet the needs of the church as it fulfills the Great Commission. The goal is to energize the church and free up others to use their gifts to the fullest. The result is the continued edification of the church and the added ability to see beyond its own needs and reach out into the community.

We see people with this gift in some passages:

³ Therefore, brethren, we direct you to select from among you seven men of good reputation, men filled with the Spirit and with wisdom, to whom we may assign this task.

—Acts 6:3

¹⁵ As you know, brethren, the members of the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. ¹⁶ I urge you to put yourselves at the service of such people and of all those who work and toil with them.

—1 Corinthians 16:15-16

Those with the gift of service are committed to the spread of the Gospel. They serve in ways that benefit others with different gifts and ministries that are more public. They have a heart devoted to Jesus and a desire to follow His command and example in

²⁵ But Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. ²⁶ This must not be so with you. Instead, whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your servant. ²⁸ In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

—Matthew 20:25-28

Those with this gift do not seek recognition or a position in the “spotlight,” they just love to help out. They are content with serving in the background knowing that their contribution will bless the church, display the love of Christ to the world, and bring glory to God.

⁷ “If it is a gift of ministry, we should engage in serving others. If it is a gift of teaching, we should teach.”

—Romans 12:7

²⁸ And those whom God has appointed in the Church are first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then doers of mighty deeds, those who have the gifts of healing, helping others, administering, and various kinds of tongues.

—1 Corinthians 12:28

⁴ “There are different varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different forms of activity, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.

⁷ To each of us, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

—1 Corinthians 12:4-7, The Spirit Distributes the Gifts for the Common Good

³⁵ “In all this, I have shown you that by such hard work we must help the weak, keeping in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

—Acts 20:35

¹¹ “No one but Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he has been helpful to me in my ministry.”

—2 Timothy 4:11

¹⁹ “I know your deeds—your love, your faithfulness, your service, and your endurance—and that you are doing greater works than you did at first.”

—Revelation 2:19

#spiritual gifts #Service #God's gifts #spiritual gift #God #bible scripture #bible verse #bible study #christian #christianity #roman catholic #catholic #bible quote #christian motivation #Christ #Jesus Christ #writeblr #writing #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writersociety #Jesus #spiritual #spirituality #spiritual community #ministry #serving #helpful

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

22nd March >> Fr. Martin's Reflections / Homilies on Today's Mass Readings (Inc. John 10:31-42) for Friday, Fifth Week of Lent: ‘The Father is in me and I am in the Father’.

Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

Gospel (Except USA) John 10:31-42 They wanted to stone Jesus, but he eluded them.

The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’ The Jews answered him, ‘We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.’ Jesus answered:

‘Is it not written in your Law: I said, you are gods? So the Law uses the word gods of those to whom the word of God was addressed, and scripture cannot be rejected. Yet you say to someone the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, “You are blaspheming,” because he says, “I am the son of God.” If I am not doing my Father’s work, there is no need to believe me; but if I am doing it, then even if you refuse to believe in me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’

They wanted to arrest him then, but he eluded them. He went back again to the far side of the Jordan to stay in the district where John had once been baptising. Many people who came to him there said, ‘John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true’; and many of them believed in him.

Gospel (USA) John 10:31-42 They wanted to arrest Jesus, but he eluded them.

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power. He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him.

Reflections (11)

(i) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

The desire for vengeance can be a very destructive force in some communities. Those who have suffered personal damage of some kind want to inflict the same or even greater personal damage on those responsible. The result can be a cycle of violence and killings. If the cycle is to be halted, someone needs to cry ‘Stop!’ In the Jewish Scriptures, there is the principle of an eye for an eye. If that is followed through, everyone can end up blind. The word ‘vengeance’ appears in today’s first reading. Jeremiah has been subjected to terrible verbal abuse, with possibly worse to follow, because of his preaching God’s word. In desperation, he turns to God in prayer, ‘Let me see the vengeance you will take on them, for I have committed my cause to you’. Jeremiah doesn’t take it on himself to take vengeance on his enemies. He calls on God to take vengeance on them on his behalf. He leaves vengeance to God. We often find such a prayer in the psalms, the person who has been persecuted calling on God to avenge them. There is a recognition here that vengeance is best left to God, rather than something for humans to engage in. Yet, it is hard to imagine Jesus praying the prayer of Jeremiah. In today’s gospel reading, people fetch stones to stone him. He doesn’t retreat and organize his followers to stone his opponents in return. Instead, he tries to engage with them. As he hung from the cross, he asked God to forgive his enemies. In the Sermon on the Mount, he calls on us to pray for those who persecute us. This is a step beyond Jeremiah. We can only live and pray in this way in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus. Each day we need to pray, ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart and kindle in me the fire of your love’.

And/Or

(ii) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus’ opponents want to stone him because they consider that he has committed the sin of blasphemy, ‘You are only a man and you claim to be God’. Jesus goes on to qualify this accusation, ‘I am the Son of God’. This is the usual way that Jesus speaks of himself in John’s gospel. He never says, ‘I am God’, in that bold way, but he regularly speaks of himself as the Son of God. He frequently refers to himself as the Son whom God, his Father, has sent into the world. Yet, at the end of the gospel of John, we find Thomas declaring before the risen Jesus, ‘My Lord and my God’. John’s gospel as a whole certainly understands Jesus to be God. The opening line of that gospel makes this clear, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’. According to the author of this gospel, when the Word became flesh, became human, the Word did not cease to be God. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is God in human form. In that sense what his opponents accuse Jesus of is profoundly true in a way that they do not appreciate, ‘You are only a man and you claim to be God’. Jesus is indeed both human and divine, a man who is also God. God has appeared to us in Jesus in a way that had never happened before and could never happy again. That is why Jesus must be at the centre of our lives as believers and at the centre of the life of the church. Everything else and everyone else, no matter how holy or special, is secondary to him. The whole purpose of our lives as his disciples is to allow him to become more and more central to our lives.

And/Or

(iii) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

 In last Monday’s gospel reading the religious leaders brought a woman along to Jesus claiming that according to the Jewish Law she ought to be stoned because she had sinned by committing adultery. In this morning’s gospel reading people fetch stones to stone Jesus himself because he had sinned by claiming that he and God the Father were one. Jesus asks his would-be stoners the very probing question, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’ Jesus had done many good works, his Father’s work, and yet, in spite of the good he was doing, some people wanted to stone him. Eventually, he would be put to death for those good works, not by stoning but by crucifixion. Jesus remained faithful to his good work, even though it aroused the hatred and anger of some of his contemporaries. The Lord calls on us all to share in his good work, in the work of his Father. The gospel reading suggests that sharing in whatever small way we can in the Lord’s good works will not always make for an easy or a simple life. Yet, as we try to be faithful to that calling, the Lord will support us. Indeed, he will be working in us and through us.

And/Or

(iv) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus is accused of blasphemy by the Jewish leaders, ‘you are only a man and you claim to be God’. That indeed would have been considered blasphemy. Yet, that statement expresses the full mystery of Jesus, the mystery of the incarnation. Yes, he is only a man, but he also claims to be God, and not only claims to be so but is so. Jesus is God in human form. We believe that he reveals God to us in a way that no other human being has ever done or will ever do. In the gospel reading Jesus declares, ‘believe in the work I do, then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in the Father’. Jesus was saying, ‘Look at the good works I do and then you will recognize that I am God in human form’. Jesus revealed God by what he said, but above all by what he did, by his works. In John’s gospel from which we are reading this week, the greatest of Jesus’ works was his passion and death. It was above all in and through his passion and death that Jesus revealed God most fully, the God who so loved the world that he gave his only Son. As we reflect on the passion and death of Jesus this coming Holy Week we will be looking upon not just a broken human being but upon the revelation of God.

And/Or

(v) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

You are familiar with the story in John’s gospel where Jesus protects a woman from the religious leaders who wanted to stone her because they claimed she had committed adultery. In this morning’s gospel reading from John’s gospel the religious leaders fetch stones to stone Jesus. In response Jesus asks the very probing question, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’ Jesus had done nothing but good; he had done many good works and yet some people wanted to stone him. Taking an initiative to do what we consider to be the good thing, the right thing, will not always make us popular. The gospel reading suggests that it might even give rise to hostility from others. To avoid trouble, the temptation might be to do nothing. Yet, it is a temptation we need to resist. The Lord calls us to share in his work, what he calls in today’s gospel reading, ‘my Father’s work’. Sharing in whatever small way we can in the Lord’s good work, or good works, will not always make for an easy or a simple life. Yet, it is our calling and in trying to be faithful to that calling the Lord will support us; in fact, he will be working in us and through us.

And/Or

(vi) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus is strongly opposed by the Jews because of the claims he makes about himself. ‘You are only a man and you claim to be God’, they said. Jesus goes on to say of himself, ‘I am the Son of God… the Father is in me and I am in the Father’. Jesus claims to have a unique relationship with God, such that whoever sees him sees God, the Father. The author of the fourth gospel puts it very simply when he writes, the Word who was God became flesh, became enfleshed Word. Jesus, in other words, is God in human form. That conviction is at the core of our Christian faith. Jesus is the revelation of God, and because of that, in the words of the gospel reading, the good works that he does are the work of the Father. God is doing God’s work through Jesus. God will always be something of a mystery to us, but Jesus has unveiled that mystery to a great extent. Jesus has revealed that the mystery of God is, ultimately, the mystery of Love. In the words of the first letter of Saint John, ‘God is Love’. In the words of the gospel, ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only Son’. That is the wonderful mystery that we will be remembering and celebrating this coming Holy Week.

And/Or

(vii) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus declares that he has been doing his Father’s work. He states, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father’. It is the works he does that show he has a special relationship with God, that he is one with God, Son of God. The work that Jesus is doing reveals who Jesus is. Jesus brings that work of God to completion on the cross; in John’s gospel he dies with the words, ‘it is completed/it is finished’. If Jesus’ works reveal his identity as God’s Son, it is while on the cross that Jesus reveals his identity as God’s Son most fully. That is why we venerate the cross, because on the cross we see Jesus giving his all in the doing of God’s work. On the cross we see Jesus’ absolute fidelity to God and to God’s work; we see his total fidelity to us, and in Jesus we see God’s fidelity to us. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. In looking on the one whom they have pierced, we see the truth of God, which is infinite and total love. Our gazing upon the cross this coming week can help to keep us steady and grounded in these difficult times.

And/Or

(viii) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is accused of blasphemy. ‘You are only a man and you claim to be God’. From a Jewish perspective, for any man to claim to be God was blasphemy. The accusation of blasphemy seems to have been levelled against Jesus on more than one occasion. At the very beginning of his public ministry, Mark’s gospel informs us that Jesus was accused of blasphemy because he declared to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’.  The response of the experts in the Jewish Law was to say, ‘It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Jesus was judged to be speaking in ways that were associated exclusively with God. In response to the accusation of blasphemy in this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks of himself as the one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world and as the one who is doing the work of God his Father. That expresses what we believe about Jesus. He is the one whom God has sent into the world to do the work of God. He has a unique relationship with God; he is Son of God. He is not only a man who claims to be God; he is a man in whom God is to be found in a unique way. In the centuries after the gospels were written the church would say that Jesus was fully human and fully divine. In the coming week we will be contemplating the humanity of Jesus in all its pain and brokenness, his passion and death. This morning’s gospel reading reminds us that in looking upon the broken humanity of Jesus we are also looking upon the face of God, the God who so loved the world that he gave his only Son.

And/Or

(ix) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

As we draw near to Holy Week, which is next week, the gospel readings highlight the growing hostility to Jesus. At the beginning of today’s gospel reading, Jesus’ opponents fetch stones to stone him. At the end of the reading, they want to arrest him. Jesus seems perplexed at their hostility, ‘I have done many good works for you to see… for which of these are you stoning me?’ Violence can often be mindless and irrational, as we know only too well. On this occasion, Jesus was able to allude those who would do him harm. However, the time would come when he would be unable to allude them. They would have him arrested and put to death. In spite of the many good works Jesus did, he was put to death. In the first reading, Jeremiah speaks out of a similar experience to Jesus. He did God’s work, he proclaimed God’s word, and, for that, he was denounced by people who wanted to bring about his downfall. Jeremiah’s reaction to this undeserved hostility from his opponents was a very human one. He prays to God in that reading, ‘Let me see the vengeance you will take on them’. We could never imagine such a prayer on the lips of Jesus. Rather, Jesus revealed God’s love even to his enemies. He washed the feet of his betrayer, Judas. He prayed for his executioners, asking God to forgive them. Jesus’ passion and death, even more than his life, revealed a love that was constant even in the face of hostility and rejection. Jesus’ passion and death reveals God’s love for all humanity, a quality of love which is very different to any human love. That is why the Friday on which Jesus’ passion and death is remembered is called Good Friday, and why the story of Jesus’ passion and death is part of the larger gospel story. It is gospel, good news, for us all.

And/Or

(x) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

Jeremiah was one of those prophets who really suffered because of his calling from God, and he gave often gave expression to his suffering in very direct language. He laments before God, complaining to God about what is happening to him, and, yet, trusting that God will somehow take care of him. We have a very good example of Jeremiah’s prayer of lament in today’s gospel reading. He complains aloud, ‘all those who used to be my friends watched for my downfall’. In no uncertain terms he demands that God look out for him by taking his side against his enemies, ‘Let me see the vengeance you will take on them’. It is an honest prayer, but a prayer we might be uncomfortable with. Yet, Jeremiah shows us that every human emotion can be brought to prayer, even those emotions that incline us towards wishing our enemy ill. Many of the psalms in the Book of Psalms are psalms of lament and they sometimes display that same vindictive spirit that we find in Jeremiah in today’s first reading. Yet, bringing those dark emotions to the Lord in prayer makes us less likely to act them out. In the gospel reading, Jesus has to deal with the same kind of deadly hostility that Jeremiah complains of. People want to stone him and seek to arrest him. We could never imagine Jesus praying aloud to God as Jeremiah did, ‘let me see the vengeance you will take on them’. Yet, the prayer of Jeremiah is venerated as the word of God. It is an acceptable form of prayer in God’s eyes, provided we leave vengeance to the Lord and not try to take it on ourselves. The crisis we are going through has generated many different emotions within us, some of them, perhaps, very dark. Jeremiah shows that we can always bring such emotions to the Lord in prayer. The Lord is comfortable with us coming to him as we are.

And/Or

(xi) Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

The hostility of the religious leaders to Jesus in today’s gospel reading is in many ways very understandable in the light of how they saw Jesus, ‘you are only a man and you claim to be God’. There is something scandalous about a human being claiming to be God. If we met someone on the street who claimed to be God we would be very wary of them. Yet, we know that the observation which so scandalized the religious leaders is true to who Jesus was. He is only a man; he is fully human. Yet, his claim to be God is a valid one because he is God in human form, the Word who is God become flesh. The confession of Thomas before the risen Lord at the end of this gospel of John is one we all share, ‘My Lord and my God’. Jesus, fully human, is our Lord and God. When we listen to the words of Jesus we are listening to the words of God. In the gospel reading, Jesus speaks about his many good works. The works of Jesus are the works of God. It is God who is speaking and working through Jesus. That is why when the gospel is proclaimed in church, we stand up for it. It is why generations of Christians have prayerfully read the gospels, knowing that in doing so they are allowing God to touch their lives in some way. We are not scandalized by the claim of Jesus, like the religious leaders. Rather we rejoice in the good news that, in the words of Jesus in today’s gospel reading, ‘the Father is in me and I am in the Father’.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[goofyjelly]

I'm watching Star Trek TOS Bread and Circuses

I AM ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT OH MY FUCKING GOD WHAAAAAT

also the fucking banter while Spock and Bones are fighting was hilarious to me in an otherwise very serious situation-

But oh my gosh I'm so fucking invested omg

Also I love the outfits (i.e. I like it when they dress up lmao it's funny)

Spock looks like a cat in a cage 🥺

Bones is like Welp we're gonna die , so sorry for all the mean banter, we're friends

PFFFFFF BONES

"Each day you stay alive is just one more day you might slip and let your human half peak out" BONES YOU DONT NEED TO CALL HIM OUT LIKE THAT

I think calling out Spock-

OKAY HOLD UP, BONES SAYS THAT SPOCK DOESNT KNOW EMOTIONS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY PICKS UP ON THE FACT THAT SPOCK IS WORRIED ABOUT JIM IN THE SAME BREATH LIKE 🤨

Okay but I think Bones calling out Spock is just Bones being angry instead of being scared cus like yea they're Gonna Die™

"LAST HOURS AS A MAN" YOU- UH- DUDE WHAT- women™

Also oh my gosh SCOTTY IS THE BEST!!!

Like he's so smart, love it honestly.

OH FUCK THEY ACTUALLY USED THE MACHINE GUNS OH WOW

Pffff oh my god dude you did NOT try to redeem yourself after all that 😭😭😭 like , very glad the Boys are safe but yea

Also YES SCOTTY!!!! SCOTTY RECOGNITION ✨✨✨

Yes Uhura~ OH MY GOD WAIT JESUS CHRIST??????????????????????????

W H A T

EXCUUUUUUUSE ME???

ARE YOU JUST-

ARE YOU KIDDING? ARE YOU SAYING THAT LOTS OF PLANETS HAVE THEIR OWN JESUS?????????????

I'm screaming, actually.

They just love dropping insane shit at the end of every episode.

That was a clever play on words though, I'll give them that. They thought the Sun was the sun in the sky when it was the Son.

Ten outta ten episode honestly. I'll be rewatching , like, by tomorrow

#star trek tos #the original series #goofy jelly thoughts

[albertfinch]

APPREHENDING THE GOD OF INCREASE

Right now, we celebrate the Holy Spirit bringing us into a divine convergence to position us for a continual increase in wisdom, stature, and favor!

Luke 2:52 reads, "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

WISDOM is the application of your understanding and the supernatural ability to turn your encounters and dreams with God into reality. This increase in the Spirit of Wisdom is being poured out to give you the capacity to clearly recognize where your FOCUS should be directed right now. In the Bible the "Sons of Issachar" knew the times (kairos: the NOW opportunities) and the seasons.

STATURE refers to the size of your heart and your inner man. It's a combination of your God-sized dreams, His presence on your life, and the size of your YES to God. Your stature in the Spirit causes a healthy recognition and is used by God to attract favor with God and men.

FAVOR is a direct result of apprehending and moving in your Christ calling as you bear fruit that remains for God’s Kingdom.

2 Corinthians 9:8 reads, "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."

SPENDING YOUR FAVOR

The secret to your increase in these NOW moments is directly linked to recognizing and valuing your "Burning Bush" (new and uncommon) invitations and your ability to "take off your shoes" and stay a while with Him.

Moses not only turned aside to encounter God's obvious invitations, but he built a dwelling place for continual encounters and called it "The Tent of Meeting". From that day on everyone knew that Moses was intentional about obeying God and using obedience and communion with God to receive more understanding and favor.

In Exodus 33:13, Moses discovers how to use his favor, "Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight."

FAVOR AND FRIENDSHIP

Exodus 33:14-16 reads "And He said, 'My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.' Then he said to Him, 'If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?'"

Moses had learned from his surprise "Burning Bush" encounters, and from wearing a path in the sand to his regularly scheduled "Tent of Meeting" moments with God, that experiencing more of God's presence would cause him to go from favor to friendship.

Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!" (verse 17)

You have found the favor and the friendship of God who says to you this day, "I will be with you just as I was with Moses."

God shows His glory in us as we move from glory to glory as we bear fruit that remains for His advancing Kingdom through our Christ calling.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

#jesus #calling #increase #destiny #purpose #bible #daily word #favor #devotional #inspiration

[cruger2984]

THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINT FRANCIS BORGIA The Patron Against Earthquakes Feast Day: September 30, October 3 (Jesuit calendar)

Francis Borgia (Francisco de Borja y Aragón) gave up incredible wealth, power and privilege as a Spanish nobleman to enter the Society of Jesus where his experience brought him to leadership as the third superior general of the young Society of Jesus. The oldest son of the third duke of Gandía, Borgia was born in the family palace in Valencia. His great grandfather on his father's side was Pope Alexander VI, and his mother's grandfather was King Ferdinand the Catholic.

Like other young nobles he was trained for life at court, and in 1522 was appointed page to his cousin Catherine, the sister of Emperor Charles V who invited him back to court after he studied philosophy for three years. In 1529, he married Leonor de Castro of Portugal, Empress Isabella's first lady-in-waiting. The 20 year-old Borgia was honored by the Emperor who named him Marquis of Llombai, and placed him in charge of the imperial household. During the next 10 years, Francis and Eleanor had eight children and lived in great familiarity with Charles and Isabella, until the Empress unexpectedly died on May 1, 1539.

Her death led directly to Borgia's conversion when Francis accompanied the funeral cortege to the burial place in the royal chapel in Granada. When the coffin was opened, he saw not the beautiful face of the 36-year-old queen, but a face beyond recognition. Not wanting to serve another master who would die, he began to devote himself to prayer and penance.

After he returned from Granada, he was appointed Viceroy of Catalonia in June 1539, and then became the fourth duke of Gandía after his father died four years later. He returned to the family palace to manage his estates, but when his wife Leonor died March 27, 1546, he resolved to dedicate the rest of his life to God's service. He was familiar with the Jesuits, having founded a Jesuit college in Gandía and being a personal friend of Father Peter Favre whom he asked to inform Ignatius of his decision. Ignatius welcomed him into the Society but recommended that he tell no one until he arranged affairs for his children and finished studying theology. Meanwhile, the founder of the Jesuits encouraged the duke to continue living as a nobleman. Francis pronounced his vows as a Jesuit on Feb. 1, 1548 and on Aug. 20, 1550 earned a doctorate in theology from the university which he himself had founded.

Since 1550 was a Holy Year, Francis took the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Rome so he could visit Ignatius and arrange his public entrance into the Society of Jesus. He left his home in Gandía, never to see it again, and lodged in the Jesuit residence in Rome with Ignatius rather than taking Pope Julius III's offer to stay in the Borgia apartments in the Vatican. After living as a Jesuit from the end of October until early February 1551, he returned to Spain where he resigned his title in favor of his son, Carlos. As soon as he received the Emperor's letter accepting his resignation, Francis donned the Jesuit cassock. He was ordained a priest on May 23 and celebrated his first Mass in the chapel in the Loyola family home.

For a few years Borgia worked as an ordinary parish priest. In 1554 he was named Commissary General in Spain, with power over provincials in Spain and Portugal. He founded Spain's first novitiate, at Simancas, and set up over 20 schools. He did not attend the first general congregation, convened almost two years after Ignatius died, but did return to Rome in 1561 at Pope Pius IV's request. He was chosen to be vicar general when Father James Laínez, who succeeded Ignatius as superior general, attended the last session of the Council of Trent. Upon Laínez's return, Borgia became assistant for Spain and Portugal, and then was elected to succeed Laínez after his death in 1565.

Borgia served as the third superior general of the Jesuits for seven years and devoted himself to revising the Society's rules, expanding its missions in India and the Americas, and shepherding the growth of the young Society.

His final project was a mission to Spain accompanying Cardinal Michele Bonelli in an effort to secure Spain's help against the Turks. The two churchmen left Rome in June 1571, and arrived in Barcelona by the end of August. Borgia was overwhelmed by the reception he received from people who had known him as a nobleman and honored his choice of religious life. In December, Borgia left Spain for France to continue the diplomatic mission, but he fell ill from fever and pleurisy because of the unusually cold. He had to spend weeks resting in Turin on the return trip to Rome and then stayed with relatives in Ferrara during the summer.

Finally, he set out for Rome on Sept. 3, 1572, going to bed immediately upon his arrival. His final illness lasted three days before the 61-year-old general died during the night of September 30.

Source: jesuits.global

#random stuff #catholic #catholic saints #francis borgia #francisco de borja y aragó #francisco borja #jesuits #society of jesus

[idontwanttospoiltheparty]

for writing prompts, I've always been a sucker for character studies, and I thought the contrast between John's very reserved routine where he was just cooped up in Kenwood vs. Paul's "king of swinging london" lifestyle post-touring years was very influential in their dynamics later on (think this was discussed in the Rob Sheffield ep. of AKOM), and dunno if it's your preferred kind of writing style - but I always loved the inner voices you gave each of them in ILTY, so would love your take on it!

inspired by you calling Paul a king instead of prince, which is the word I've seen more often :) this didn't end up being about their dynamic exactly and I went sort of off the rails in terms of style lol, but I hope you still enjoy <3

Diarchy ~1.1k words

(from Greek δι-, di-, "double", and -αρχία, -arkhía, "ruled")

“One day, you four will be bigger than Elvis,” Brian told them.

John can still recall Paul’s chuckle.

“Sir, that’s very kind of you and we are sort of brilliant, but no need for false flattery.”

Brian Epstein, immediately taken with Macca’s charm, which the leather trousers and greased hair only superficially concealed, broke into a smile.

“Believe me, I am not in the business of false flattery.” Then he locked eyes with John, with a stare so disarming it reaches across time and space and sends shivers down his spine right now, as he lies in bed, searching for motivation to get up.

Bigger than the King —  every day, it’s getting harder to deny it, John realizes, as he pulls the covers up to his chin. Only, at some point, perhaps when he came face-to-face with Elvis himself, all of it – the money, the recognition, the power – became meaningless to him. Now, all he feels is the unimaginable weight of the crown, pulling him down and tightening around his brain, the burden of his medals squeezing his heart and making it ever more difficult to breathe.

Christ, does he want a cigarette right now.

Once again, his stubborn laziness has been defeated by a debilitating craving. John crawls off the king-sized mattress, so large that some nights he isn’t sure Cyn actually shares it with him. After putting on his glasses, he dons a dressing gown, which hangs off his shoulders like a royal mantle.

He is like Louis XIV, he thinks, slowly walking down the steps of Kenwood. He’s been reading a lot of history books lately, one of the only activities he still seems to enjoy, and the parallels haunt him. Here he is, in his closed-off palace, sequestered away from the capital and, whether intentionally or not, from life itself.

Here comes the Sun King, he thinks, floating into the kitchen, where Cyn sits at the table.

He is like Henry VIII, he thinks, rather off-handedly at first, simply in-keeping with the theme of over-indulgent regents — before falling into a minor spiral over what this comparison means for his current marriage.

He may have a son, but he is more and more becoming convinced that what he needs, his wife cannot provide.

He is like King Solomon, glued to his throne and writing his songs; apparently an authority on love and God even, appointed by birth, that is to say, by rotten luck. People come to him, seeking his wisdom, for they have dubbed him “the Smart One”, even whilst he spoils his sense of self, dropping acid and hallucinating three hundred concubines.

He is like Tutankhamun, the fallen Pharaoh; doomed young, buried in gold and treasure, the mask he wears remembered in lieu of his actual face.

How he longs for someone to finally open his crypt; how he fears for whomever might stumble upon it and suffer his curse.

*   *   *

Bigger than Jesus, Paul thinks, stepping through the gate at Cavendish Avenue. He doesn’t know why John’s misquoted words are in his head at this hour. It is so late that the street lanterns are dark and not a single fan is there to greet him.

As he comes down from the various highs of the evening – the party, the art, the coke – he finds himself contemplating the comparative.

“You’ve really gone and done it this time, haven’t you, John?” he remembers saying, his best friend half-smirking at him, in an attempt to cover up his profound fear of the disaster he had caused.

“Didn’t say ‘bigger’, did I? Wouldn’t’ve been wrong, though, if I had…”

Paul, unable to keep up his frustration for long, smiled.

“And what does that make us, then?”

John’s eyes glinted.

“Kings of King of kings.”

It’s overwhelming, Paul thinks, entering his quiet townhouse, while remembering his wild night — the celebrations may end, but the music playing in his head never does. Most moments, he is thankful for it, drinking up experiences and ideas alongside the free-flowing booze, but some dark minutes like this one, he wishes for peace; the kind he found so easily as a child, content to daydream on the back seat of a bus.

Everyone wants to speak with him now, everyone wants his consideration and stamp of approval, but the worst part: Paul wants everything, too. He’s not sure when it happened, but there is a looming sense that he’s walked past some point of no return, and he now feels a hunger inside him that will never be quelled.

Paul shakes the rain off his umbrella then hangs it up on his mahogany coat hanger, lifting it as if it were a sceptre. In the dim light, his silk shirt gleams like battle armour, like the glistening personality he has learned to put on when surrounded by crowds.

He is like King Arthur, he thinks, making his way toward the garden for one last smoke before bed; he’s been revisiting stories from his childhood as well as ones he never got around to, in an attempt to understand better. Although he tries desperately to re-distribute the reign he was bestowed with evenly across his Round Table, he will never not be the stand-out sovereign among his peers.

He draws a ciggie from his pack like the sword from the stone.

He is like Alexander the Great. He has built an empire atop another, once thought undefeatable, all before the humble age of thirty. He longs to herald in a new era of cultural sharing, and the fact he does indeed hold the power to do so is tantalizingly terrifying.

He is also plagued by a foreboding that the instant he gives in and lets himself relax, he will drop dead and with him his dominion disintegrate.

Although he tries to stop himself, Paul thinks he may be like the emperor from Andersen’s tale, clad in nothing before all his intimidated subjects. After all this time, he has never quite been able to shake the feeling that he is secretly embarrassing himself and, one day, a few words coming from the most ostensibly innocuous of sources will bring his entire kingdom down.

He is like Odysseus, King of Ithaca; so intoxicated with the thrill of adventure that he may never find his way home, all the while watching those around him give in to their fleeting desires or the whims of wily tricksters, only to pay the ultimate price.

And when it’s been this long, who at home might still be waiting for him to return? Who will grieve?

#<333333 #sorry I feel like I kind of didnt fully hit the mark on your prompt I just got really Really into this motif lol #anyways please do let me know what you think :) #fic #ask #anon #fiona.docx