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okamirayne · 6 months

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Hi Rayne!

I’m a longtime fan (I read BtB when you were releasing OtC).

I just wanted to pop by as I’m doing my regular reread of the series, which is a habit I reserve for my most favourite books, and say hi and check in on you.

How are you? And (no pressure at all) how are you getting on with your original works? I look forward to the day I can read more of your wonderful writing. I’ve seen your updates on burnout and I don’t think this will help much but I want you to know you have a loyal fan in me who would enjoy and applaud anything that you write. I hope you have a wonderful rest of the year and festive season if you celebrate!

Hello, my dear Anon!💜

I’m a longtime fan (I read BtB when you were releasing OtC).

Oh wow! That's just so awesome. Thank you so much for the love you've shown the series. I'm so ridiculously touched that you return to enjoy the BtB madness and that it ranks among the stories you revisit. So, so happy and insanely chuffed to hear this. 💜💜💜

[..] say hi and check in on you.

How are you? And (no pressure at all) how are you getting on with your original works?

...there is a picture somewhere (a meme) of what looks like a hedgehog losing it's shit...*searches for it*

This, presently, is me. I am this spiky little ball of hot ballistic head injury waiting to happen.

Slightly more realistic representation:

Not sure whether that answers your question, my luv. 😅

My idiocy aside, it's so very sweet of you to check in. Thank you 🙏🏼 💗💜 I'm sadly still muscling my way through the shitshow that is creative burnout and trying to put out a few personal dumpster fires. My recent return to the BtB series has been an attempt to reconnect myself to my creativity...

I've been eyeing HHU for a few weeks now...

I’m considering flexing the atrophied muscle of my writer's brain by working a little on this BtB instalment, just to see if it gets the vital life-giving creative blood flowing again...

My original works remain preserved in a freeze-frame -- not abandoned, just locked behind a bloody glass wall (hence 'holding the wall and screaming'). My poor OCs are a collective entity, sitting with their chins in hand, eyeing me from beneath heavy lids, eyebrows cocked, waiting for me to come alive again.

And messages like yours?

They're a life-giving shot. Hugely nourishing to that deeply sad and starved part of me.

Thank you. 💕💜💕

Seriously. My earlier humour aside, your message has found me grasping another life-line of hope, and another reminder why I will not give this up - Screaming Hedgehog will prevail.

I’ve seen your updates on burnout and I don’t think this will help much [...]

Oh my dear, sweet, humble, beautifully kind, Anon -- how profoundly wrong you are about that, my friend. 🥹 You could not be further from the truth.

[...] but I want you to know you have a loyal fan in me who would enjoy and applaud anything that you write.

*hears her own heart break -- in the best way* 💔💔❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

Anon...This message from you impacts me in ways that, as usual, I fail to be able to communicate in words. I might be able to choreograph it in some dynamic form of hug/glomp/undying-embrace, from which you might not be able to extricate yourself without a tasergun (or tea, I'll take the carrot over the stick). But please, PLEASE, know that by reaching out to leave me this message, what you've done does WAY more than help. It heals. It hits. Hard. Right in the heart. And I clearly need that.

🤔 I recognise that doesn't make much sense, but it helps to remember why it hurts so damned badly not to be writing, otherwise I numb out, and that's devastingly worse than feeling the bottomless sadness. Your message lets me access that, which then lets me access the deep joy, gratitude, and encouragement which comes from hearing that my particular strain of storytelling madness is still wanted, still desired, even after so much time has passed since I last wrote...

I never assume this.

Christ, it's a fear that haunts me at every turn, so to have some of that demonically painful terror exorcised by your beautiful message goes waaaaay WAAAAY beyond helpful. Please don't ever doubt the power your words have had or how deep they reach. I'm talking deep deep roots here. My appreciation is boundless.

Thank you. 💕💜💕

I wish you a generously blessed rest of the year, Anon, however you do your wintering, festive or not, I hope it's fun and fulfilling🌟. Thank you also for your warm wishes! Yes, I usually celebrate, though this year will be a more subdued time due to a personal loss; that said, I will embrace all good tidings for the season of giving -- starting with this beautiful message from you. 💕

#thank you anon #anon kindness #will never know how to find the right words #there really are no words #only feels #humbled as hell #awesome anons #kind anons #am profoundly blessed #amazing reader feedback #hit me hard feels #beautiful messages

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tempestgnostic · 8 months

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Cultivating Authenticity in the Community Garden

A whole world of possibility opened up for me years ago when I realized that alterhuman/nonhuman identity isn’t solely one experience. You don’t have to believe in past lives. You don’t need to go through shifts. If you don’t have a visual representation of your alt/non identity, that’s alright. Our experiences are broader than that, and we need to encourage others to understand and affirm this, so we can encourage authenticity and learn about different paths to this identity that still hold the core of what it means to be alt/non.

I believe conceptkin truly changed the game for our community in a profound way. Here we see folks who possess very strong and impactful connections to abstract concepts, to the extent that they are these concepts, just as I am the archetypal werewolf. I see little difference between our experiences in general. I don’t personally believe my identity comes from a past life, and I only have the fuzziest ideas about what I would look like if I could physically represent myself accurately. This isn’t uncommon in the broader alt/non community, but it seems to be an experience shared by many conceptkin in particular.

Archetropes are another excellent example. We’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what being alt/non is for us, in order to explain ourselves more accurately and hopefully pave the way for others to do the same. Our community thrives when we take the anthropological approach: we start from the assumption that others want to represent their beliefs and experiences honestly. We keep in mind the limitations of language, as well as the accepted norms of our community that often dissuade ‘fringe’ belief. The truth is that our experiences are fundamentally real and ultimately valuable to understanding who we are.

If we want to truly encourage authenticity in the alt/non community, we must cultivate a hungry curiosity. We must learn to parse out what is truth and what is trolling, but also to give that initial benefit of the doubt, however briefly. We must recognize that we don’t all speak the same language, nor do we all agree on which terms mean what, and many of us have only been exposed to bits and pieces of the whole. We all make mistakes that require prompt correction, but we should approach that correction with some level of grace. Community-wide understanding is not instantaneous—far from it. Our work must be painfully collaborative.

None of what I’m saying here is new or revolutionary, by any stretch. Our community has decades of history, kept alive and accessible by amazing community members who have dedicated an incredible amount of time and energy to doing so. I repeat these sentiments because they bear repeating. I’m a big fan of the “Holy shit! Two cakes!” philosophy, and if my perspective can offer something insightful, then I’m happy to share it. (Hell, I’ll share it anyways.)

I have been welcomed into this community with open arms (and open limbs and wings of all kinds). I’ve had the pleasure of meeting fellow community members offline, and discussing our alt/non identities in meatspace has been a joy that’s wholly indescribable. I’ve never felt so seen, so profoundly understood, and I consider it a fine blessing to have found my way here.

#alterhuman community #nonhuman community #alt/non community #otherkin #therian #conceptkin #archetrope #fictionkin #there are probably more i could list but these were the ones that came to mind and could be relevant #alt/non

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myreia · 11 days

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15 Lines of Dialogue Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you’re free to include those as well!

thanks for the tag, @thevikingwoman and @bearlytolerant, ty frens!

tagging: @roguelioness @lilas @galadae @ellstersmash @fourteenthz

@tsunael @birues @ardberts @gatheredfates @anneapocalypse

@impossible-rat-babies @coldshrugs @gefiltefished @consulaaris

sorry if you've been tagged before, I have... lost track of who has done what. 😂 No pressure, ofc! 💖 tags also for anyone else who would like to share their writing! Feel free to tag me even if I didn't tag you or even if we're not mutuals, I'd love to see what you're working on!!

These are from published (and one unpublished) ffxiv fics. Because a lot of my favourite Aureia lines happen within the context of banter, I had a hard time deciding what to cut and where.

— 1: Far From Happenstance [ARR]

“What’s that thing on your arm?” “This? Ah… well… Perhaps this conversation is best saved for later, perhaps in a less conspicuous place?” “Or we could have it now. Your choice.”

— 2: Uncertainty [ARR]

“Tailing unsuspecting women about the city is nothing to be proud of.” “I have done nothing of the sort! Our meetings have been no more than happenstance, a quirk of nature drawing us to the same spot at the same time. I assure you, Aureia, I am not following you—” She stifles a snort, laughter tugging at the corners of her lips. “Oh…” He blows out a breath. “Oh, you’re joking? That was a joke. You have an unfair sense of humour…” “Don’t make yourself such an easy target next time.”

— 3: To Ash and Ember [ARR]

Lahabrea stares at her, startled out of his victory, mouth twisted with contempt. “How—” Aureia raises a hand, palm sheathed in blinding light. “Get the fuck out of him, you bastard.”

— 4: Sand and Stone [ARR]

“This is good for us,” she says quietly. “The Scions, I mean. We’re exposed here. Ascians, Garleans… it’s only a matter of time before they try again. Mor Dhona will afford us some means of protection we’ve lost.”

— 5: Bitter Frost [ARR/HW]

“You press on,” she says after a moment. She cups her palm between them, subconsciously pulling on the aether around her. A faint flame sizzles to life, warming her fingers. “Guilt can only carry you so far before it bleeds you dry. Just know that the next time… the next time will be different. Better.”

— 6: Divergence of the Heart, Chp 5 [HW]

“I don’t care what they say about me. I’m a hero to some, a villain to others. I can live with it.” “You should not have to. If there was a way—” “Please, Aymeric, I’m begging you not to draft a new statute on my behalf. You can’t decree change and expect centuries-old beliefs to shift overnight.”

— 7: Divergence of the Heart, Chp 7 [HW]

“Happiness? What makes you think I’m happy with this? With any of this?” “You’re the Warrior of Light. Defender of Eorzea and a beacon of hope. Blessed by Hydaelyn and beloved by all. What possible reason could you have not to be?” “Oh, fuck you.”

— 8: Divergence of the Heart, Chp 8 [HW]

She blinks. It shouldn’t be more simple than that. Does he not comprehend why this is so profoundly embarrassing? “And..?” “And how would this fact be of such radical importance that it would be the sole cause of a change in my opinion of you? Do you believe it so crucial to your identity that I should judge you differently for it?” “No, I don’t think that at all. I suppose I feel I’m… a failure, somehow. As a person.”

— 9: For All the Truths Left Unspoken [HW]

“Oh? Because you seem a little haggard, Thancred. Why don’t you look me in the eye and tell me what time you went to bed last night. Or if you went to bed at all, for that matter.” “It is not your concern—” “No, but you could have at least done the decency of admitting what was going on before you started fucking my friend.”

— 10: A Question of Desire [HW]

She cuts him off with a kiss. [Aymeric] groans softly, leaning into it, and she laughs with delight. “Save it for later,” she murmurs against his mouth.

— 11: Bound by Faith, Chp 2 [ShB]

“Under pain of further admonishment, I told her what I could.” “Nothing unfavourable, I trust,” she says drolly. “Who do you take me for, Aur?” “An idiot, if I’m being honest. Next question?” “…stumbled right into that one, didn’t I?” “Yes.” Her eyes sparkle with fondness. “You did.”

— 12: Bound by Faith, Chp 2 [ShB]

“There. That’s it. Aureia was a name I took by chance. Not because I wanted it, but because I needed it. An alias intended for Ul’dah alone, one I intended to relinquish the moment I could escape the city. But then you called me Aur and it… stuck.” She hesitates, her voice breaking. “I don’t know why it felt right, but it did. You gave me a name, Thancred, without even realizing that that was what you were doing.”

— 13: Bound by Faith, Chp 4 [ShB]

“They don’t hurt. At least, not like this. Sometimes, with astral fire…” She closes her eyes and swallows hard. “He did something to me, Thancred. Whether it was his intention or not, he left a mark that is more than skin deep. Like a part of his aether was seared onto mine. It makes me powerful, yes, but… my magic is not always controlled. It’s never been the same since then.”

— 14: Untitled Post-5.3. Fic, Chp 2

She glances at him and finds him glaring at her. It’s not a real glare—behind the dark look and mock exasperation is a knowing smile. “She’s taken full reign of the apartment. Mess everywhere. Looks like a tempest went through the place.” “Far too easy to imagine that.” “I don’t know where she gets it from.” “Oh, I know for certain. That’s the influence of your bad habits, not mine—” “I—listen here, you ass—” “Oh, an ass, am I? Bit early to deteriorate to name calling, no?”

— 15: Untitled Post-5.3. Fic, Chp 4

“Aur… that suite I mentioned earlier… I was quite serious about it.” “The suite or the sex you want to have with me in it?” “The whole matter.” She pauses, holding the soup out to him. “You should finish it,” she says quietly.

#aureia malathar #writing tag #oc tag

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neallo · 8 months

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Umm what are your meronia divorce headcanons? 😇 Yes I am baiting you into posting those tags you wrote because they were SO CORRECT

HGFDSJFSDFSD <3 <3 <3 GIVING ME AN EXCUSE TO TALK ABOUT THEM AS EXES... BLESS YOU...

Okay. So. BROADLY. Here is how I imagine they break up:

Mello, being literally so fucking bad at understanding Near and also being so bad at being normal in general and ALSO being bad at seeing his own value... I could see him suggesting breaking up as a way to test if Near really cares about him (this is deranged but so is he) and getting DEEPLY hurt when Near is not sobbing screaming crying on the floor pleading for him to stay. IMO Near is actually genuinely gutted in pretty much any situation where they part ways, but he sees that as his problem to deal with. He's not going to attempt to coerce Mello into staying in a relationship that he's (evidently) not happy in. There are. UM. Exceptions to this. But we won't get into that (<- lazy and also IDK if I can do it without spoiling a future story).

The biggest problem here is that even when Mello realizes he's miserable without Near etc etc etc he's wayyyy too proud to actually admit he made a mistake ending their relationship. I do think, however, that he would struggle to long-term stay away from Near fully. His impulse control is pretty bad so, like. Y'know.

I'll, uh. Refrain. From belaboring the point here [<- already plagued empress with the most disorganized thoughts imaginable yesterday about this ghsgjfsfhsdf] but I love the idea of a situation where they're exes because of Mello being chaotic and terrible and then he continues to be chaotic and terrible by starting to sleep with Near on a multiple-times-a-week basis again without actually acknowledging that they're effectively dating.

Like he's not fucking anyone else, he tells people he's not single, but he will NOT ask Near to get back together. He will however take literally one shot of tequila and just leave the bar or party & walk to Near's. "Ohhh I was just in the area" <- he had to walk 30 minutes to get there and climb up three stories of fire escape to do this. And he WOULD walk further if that was what was required.

Near is very nice and pretends like this is normal behavior because IMO he on some level realizes Mello is profoundly dysfunctional and is trying to figure out how he's supposed to deal with the whole thing (but is still in love enough and sufficiently used to Mello's deranged nature to put up with it <3 ).

Bonus points in my mind if this is a college AU or s/t and Near is roommates with Gevanni, who Mello fucking HATES on principle (read: is attractive and in Near's general vicinity, therefore must die). He has only met George (<- intentionally gets Gevanni's name wrong) a handful of times, but he was REALLY annoyed to find out that Gene didn't even know who he was bc CERTAINLY Near would have mentioned him. Gerald should really pay better attention :/ [Near is an undergrad student, Gevanni is a PhD candidate who desperately needed to sublet somewhere cheap and thought he lucked out w/ the most relaxed quiet tidy roommate Ever until this rude blonde guy started showing up and having loud sex with Near 2-3x a week]

#meronia #asks #neallopost

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godzilla-reads · 3 months

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🌎 Earth Keeper: Reflections on the American Land by N. Scott Momaday

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“In my truest being I am a keeper of the earth. I will tell the ancient stories and I will sing the holy songs. I belong to the land.”

In 2020 I was gifted this book by my parents (it was on my book gift list) and I read it in one sitting, being profoundly moved by Momaday’s words. In the wake of his passing, I return to Earth Keeper, meditating on what it means to be a keeper of the earth, meditating on who was on American land first, thinking on how to be respectful and a good steward of the land.

Momaday writes eloquently, lyrically. He writes about his own experiences with nature and people who have also been earth keepers, reflecting on how his ancestors held the land and what that means. In the first part of the book- The Dawn- he reminisces his spiritual journeys in his landscape and how important those journeys are. In the second part- The Dusk- we stop to look at ourselves and the importance of being reminded to be a keeper of the earth.

“We humans must revere the earth, for it is our well-being. Always the earth grants us what we need. If we treat the earth with kindness, it will treat us kindly. If we give our belief to the earth, it will believe in us. There is no better blessing than to be believed in.”

#godzilla reads #earth keeper #n scott momaday #reading #book review #reread #book blog #bookish #book blurb #indigenous authors #booklr #bookworm #nature books

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giurochedadomani · 1 year

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It’s not as if Billy can give him much space in the closet, and when he tries to do so he ends up tripping, a hand on Eddie as he tries to stabilize himself.

“Shit— uh, sorry”, he says, moving the hand to the side next to Eddie’s head. Billy hears Eddie swallowing. He’s stiff as a board.

He tries not to think about how he’s leaning into Eddie’s space, posture very carefully balanced so he doesn’t, you know, pin him to the door, but also without drawing attention to the obvious, lest Eddie think that he doesn’t want— Anyway.

“You looked like you’d rather die than going in here with Anne”, he explains. Truth be told, Eddie had looked profoundly uncomfortable since Billy had caught sight of him getting cornered by Anne’s group at the living room, but he hadn’t heard enough of the conversation to decide if Eddie was going along with the seven minutes in heaven lame ass thing because he wanted to diffuse the situation or because he was actually interested in Anne.

Eddie, bless his soul, reads the question into his words and mutters: “Thanks”.

Okay, Billy hasn’t gone against Cupid’s wishes then. He was right about sweeping in to the rescue. He’s trying to decide how to ask Eddie why then is he still trying to become one with the door when some asshole shouts outside: “Lovebirds, having fun!?”

He can make Eddie’s profile in the darkness, looking at some imprecise point in the ceiling. He’s trembling a little.

“People are dumb as hell”, he says, moving his hand a little bit so it doesn’t go numb, and also so it doesn’t feel as if he’s breathing by Eddie’s neck. Eddie makes a non committal sound. “This game is stupid. Nothing has to happen. Seriously, you can just invent some wild shit about how great of a kisser I am, I’ll back it up”.

Eddie lets out a very mirthless laugh.

Then kisses him.

#mungrove #billy hargrove #Wip but also how many wips do I currently have SOBS

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naturalswimmingspirit · 4 months

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centehua.sage

Diving into 2021 with renewed hope and courage. Last year was truly the best, the chaos provided deep insights into the nature of our humanness, fears and values included. Some people left and some got closer, and we all got to witness the karmic contracts of the nation as well as the failings of hierarchical power and control. So as I submerge myself into the cold sobering waters of awareness, I pray that my thoughts and actions be guided by my heart for I believe it is time to awaken our sense-abilities and realize our potential as creative beings. Amidst the division and separateness that many are still experiencing I am profoundly grateful for the people who continually show up for the conversations, for walks through the forest, for dance rituals and lovingly homegrown meals. Thank you for your gifts, for your presence and magick. Thank you for being bold in your vulnerability, for the grace you embody in spite of the rawness and tenderness of your heart. Authenticity is not common these days, therefore I appreciate and honor your willingness and ability to sit in counsel and alchemize what no longer serves, to compost the wounds and find the medicine that purifies our intentions. Your fire is sacred, may we tend it together as we hold the vision, the dream and bridge the heavens and the earth. Blessings •

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propheticeve · 2 months

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The essence of prophetic ministry lies in the power of words and faith, where belief in what is spoken becomes paramount. However, when wielded incorrectly, it can lead to delusional states. As prophets, we actively guard against attacks on our minds, preventing the allure of fantasies that may obscure reality.

In Isaiah 54:17, we boldly proclaim: "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." Speaking to these metaphorical weapons, we declare their power null and void in our lives. Choosing to be led by the spirit, we open ourselves to its guidance, finding direction through our spoken words.

A prophet's ability to speak life or death is rooted in the understanding of Words of action in prayer and Divine acclamations. Prayer amplifies discernment and enhances spiritual insight, enabling us to move more profoundly in the spirit realm (Psalm 86:17).

To start our day as prophets, we declare between 2 am and 6 am, establishing a morning ritual that transcends routine. This intentional practice sets the tone for the day, aligning our intentions with divine realms. Our declarations center on peace, protection, and awareness.

Protection against: freak accidents, ill will, negative intent, enemies, negative forces, bad vibes, malicious attacks, and car accidents.

Protection over: mind, body, spirit, home, family, and loved ones.

Peace follows us: throughout the day, covering reactions, communications, family, businesses, and jobs.

We cultivate awareness of our surroundings and movements. During this sacred moment, we speak directly to our spirit, recognizing the thin veil. It's crucial to create a waking ritual, setting the atmosphere for oneself.

Drawing from Numbers 6:24-25, we invoke blessings: "The Lord bless thee, the Lord keep thee, and make His face shine upon you."

#hoodoo #medium #witch #ancestor veneration #rootwork #black women #conjure #prophet #tutnese #luxury #prophetic

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radical-revolution · 3 months

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One of the greatest blessings of this work is how it brings feelings back online.

For much of my early life I was severely emotionally repressed. I was profoundly disconnected from my anger, my sadness, from fear and from joy. I just couldn’t feel anything. I was so numb.

Numbness - lack of feeling, the absence of humanity, compassion, and vulnerability - often gets confused with “spiritual enlightenment”, but it’s got nothing to do with it.

You can be calm, yet emotionally repressed.

You can be ‘non-reactive’, yet secretly be at war with yourself.

These days, I feel life very deeply. I weep easily. I am willing to feel my sadness, express my anger, set clear boundaries, speak my uncomfortable or inconvenient truth. I am in touch with the deepest joy of living. I love to laugh, to play, to be serious and silly and everything in-between.

Yes I am Awareness but I am also intimate with all that arises in Awareness, all that moves through it. In other words, I am in love with this world, with my humanity, with my flaws and imperfections and vulnerabilities, and with the vulnerabilities of my fellow beings. I am no longer working against my humanity, my flaws, my human power.

Do not be afraid to feel deeply, friends, and to express those feelings, even if it makes others uncomfortable or even angry. Give others their right to feel, too.

- Jeff Foster

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soracities · 9 months

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Hello. 🤍 my dearest soulmate animal just died. My bunny was the sweetest most profoundly smart creature I’ve ever been blessed to meet. I am broken, shattered and unable to sleep or eat. My soul feels empty. Do you have any poems about grief ? 🤍🙏🏻

deeply, deeply sorry for your loss, anon, i can't begin to imagine what you are trying to cope with. the most i have is a little folder here. i hope you take care of yourself and your heart as best you can as you move through this 💗

#ask #anonymous

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captain-rogers-for-president · 3 months

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My Esteemed Fellow Americans,

As we stand on the hallowed ground of history this President's Day, I am profoundly moved by the challenges that confront our great nation. The echoes of sacrifice reverberate through time, reminding us of the indomitable spirit that courses through our collective veins. In the shadows of adversity, it is both a duty and a privilege to address you with humility, gratitude, and an unwavering commitment to the responsibilities of leadership.

Acknowledging my own imperfections, I stand before you as a citizen dedicated to growth, eager to confront the complexities of our democracy. In the realm of politics, where truths and untruths intermingle, my opponent's penchant for bending reality poses a unique challenge. Yet, I extend an olive branch, recognizing that our shared values transcend the partisan discord that often characterizes our discourse.

The passion that fuels my commitment to public service stems from a genuine desire to elevate America beyond its current challenges. Confronting my own past, I pledge not only to acknowledge but to learn from my faults. The presidency, a sacred trust bestowed upon me, demands unwavering dedication to the principles that underpin our democracy – justice, equality, and compassion.

In this commitment, I go further. I pledge, unequivocally, that if ever I falter and fail to uphold the values that define our democracy, I will willingly relinquish power. The presidency is not a position of entitlement but a solemn duty requiring steadfast integrity. This pledge is not born out of fear, but out of a profound respect for the democratic ideals upon which our nation was founded.

In the spirit of unity, let me be clear: I am prepared to accept whatever outcome the democratic process yields. If my opponent emerges victorious, I will extend heartfelt congratulations with no trace of animosity. Our democracy flourishes when we respect the collective will of the people, and it is in this unity that we find our greatest strength.

Together, let us embark on a journey of national renewal, transcending the partisan divides that threaten to pull us asunder. The challenges before us are formidable, yet the resilience ingrained in the American spirit is unparalleled. As we honor the sacrifices of the past, let optimism guide us toward a future where diversity is our strength and shared aspirations bind us in the pursuit of a more perfect union.

May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Sincerely,

Steve Rogers

#president rogers #marvel rp #mcu rp #marvel role play #steve rogers rp

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namitha · 1 year

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Feeling the love of the Divine this morning. . The emotions of gratitude are flowing.. Refreshed and blessed. Profoundly grateful for all the ways in which the universe shows me I am loved… 🌻

#gratitude 🌻#bliss #thank you god #saturday 21st january

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godsofhumanity · 4 months

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Hey, I'm the Wonder Woman anon here

So apparently Modern Wonder Woman's origin story is the product of the Adultery between Zeus and her Mother and was told she was made of clay to trick a Jealous Hera

I fucking hate re-iterations when they're terrible

I like the old versions way better:

_ Diana was made of clay and given life by possibly Aphrodite since originally Aphrodite is the Mother of all Amazonians since she crafted them out of clay. One said there was a magical liquid that gave life to the clay baby Diana

_ Diana was the result of a literal virgin birth, her Mom crafted her out of clay and Zeus gave her life by striking a lightning bolt into her clay body. See the clip here:

https://youtu.be/9ogFRUg_dGA?feature=shared

(A woman literally said Hippolyta wanted a child not created out of unholy union. Which means she wanted to have a virgin birth. I think that's a beautiful cause since childbirth is a horror to women and it also brings out the femininity of the Amazon much more profoundly, it is also my fave version of Wonder Woman's origin story)

I don't think Hera would have anything against a baby who was given life to by her husband's power,it's not like he physically cheated with a Woman again, if anything she would give the child blessings, maybe that's why Wonder Woman is said to be better in some aspects than the Olympians

But the Modern version of Wonder Woman's origin is that she's an affair child and had a faked birth story so Hera won't get jealous

This is why I prefer the old ones, they're so better and not to basic

If Hera can be someone else other than a jealous, evil wife then I think Wonder Woman shouldn't be just an "affair child", considering how she's importantly known as a sacred being, almost reaching godhood

I'm not hating illegitimate children, but I can't see Queen Hippolyta having an affair with Zeus for so many reasons, cuz it literally ruins her character and the entire ideal of the Amazonians, which is to worship all the greatness of a Woman, I don't think they view unholy affair as one of the good things they have followed and preached for centuries

Also the Amazonians greatly worshipped the Olympians, Hera and Zeus ARE the rulers of Olympians, Queen Hippolyta must be willing to shame herself till the end of time if she would do something like sleeping with the God and tricking the Goddess she so greatly worshipped. It's literally Religion 101

I'm sorry but no matter what some might say, cheating with someone's spouse is never cool or it is a feminine/manly thing, it's not okay

first of all. amen to that last statement, i 100% agree with you.

honestly though. personally, the only situation where i can see Hera not going rage-mode over WW is if Zeus actually consulted her and was like, “hey theres this cool clay model of a woman and i think if i gave her life, she’d make a great hero,, if you blessed her also she’d do a lot of good..” he has to include her in it,, king and queen of Olympus creating heroes together. because then, in a sense, WW is a champion of Hera too.

but otherwise. Hera is a very vengeful, quick to anger goddess. so i think in any other situation, even if Zeus technically didn’t “biologically” make WW, she’d still be furious with both Zeus and WW. i say this because, if you look at the myths of Dionysus and Athena, even though Zeus did actually need a woman to create at least dio and thena’s foetuses, Hera sees their births as something Zeus managed on HIS OWN. and that pisses her off a LOT since he effectively renders her sacred role as a mother redundant. it’s a huge slight to her.

i am not familiar with Queen Hippolyta’s (DC) characterisation… however, in the myths, Theseus is usually portrayed as forcing himself on Hippolyta after he defeats the Amazons and they have a son, tragic Hippolytus. so, if that means anything. i’d imagine that Hippolyta (DC), in the spirit of the treatment of her namesake in myth, must also be rejecting relationships with men too. but then again, i do not remember the lore details of the WW films, i only remember that i liked the portrayal of WW herself specifically.

#anon #anonymous #asks

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1st January 2024 >> Fr. Martin's Homilies / Reflections on Todays Mass Readings (Luke 2:16-21) for the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God: ‘She treasured all these things’.

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Gospel (Except USA) Luke 2:16-21 The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and found the baby lying in the manger.

The shepherds hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told.

When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.

Gospel (USA) Luke 2:16–21 They found Mary and Joseph and the infant. When the eight days were completed, he was named Jesus.

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflections (13)

(i) Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

I am very fond of that blessing of Aaron that is to be found in the first reading. I often find myself praying it for someone who needs prayers. It is a lovely prayer of intercession. The last line of the prayer is ‘May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace’. It strikes me that this prayer has been fulfilled in a wonderful way through the birth of Jesus, Mary’s son. In and through this child, God was uncovering his face to us, and bringing us peace. When we look upon the face of Mary’s child, we are looking upon the face of God. This is why we can venerate Mary not only as the mother of Jesus but also as the mother of God. Mary was proclaimed Mother of God at the Council of Ephesus in modern day Turkey in the year 431 AD. The Council was expressing its conviction that Mary’s son was not only fully human but was also fully divine. In the frailty and vulnerability of this new-born child, God was uncovering his face. God was being revealed in a way that was profoundly new. Jesus was not only Mary’s son but God’s Son. In the words of Saint Paul in today’s second reading, ‘When the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman’. There was so much more to this new-born child than met the eye. The rich identity of this baby had been revealed to the shepherds by an angel as a ‘Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord’. According to the gospel reading, the shepherds repeated to Mary what the angel had said to them about her child. We are told that Mary treasured the words of the shepherds and pondered them in her heart. It was as if Mary was trying to come to terms with who her child really was. The feast of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, gives us all much to treasure and much to ponder in our hearts. God is uncovering his face to us through Jesus; God is drawing near to us through Jesus, the same Jesus who is now the risen Lord in our midst. We are invited to go on treasuring and pondering this good news, like Mary, and to continue glorifying and praising God for it, like the shepherds.

And/Or

(ii) Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Today is New Year’s Day. As we come to the end of one year and approach the beginning of another year, we tend to look back on the year just gone. Various kinds of T.V. programmes look back on key events in the year, whether it is in the area of current affairs or sports or film. Personally, I am not very keen on those kinds of programmes. My mother, and my grandmother before her, had a habit of saying, ‘Never look back’, and perhaps some of that attitude has rubbed off on me. Their use of the expression did not apply so much to the twelve months at the end of a calendar year but to the past in a more general sense. The expression, ‘never look back’, probably reflected the fact that the past was often something of a struggle. The present and the future was what mattered to them much more than the past. There is something to be said for that approach to life. The New Year, therefore, would be more a time for looking forward rather than for looking back.

Psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, counsellors would certainly not hold to the view that never looking back is the best approach to life. An important part of their work consists in helping people to look back over their lives so that they can face and deal with what has never been dealt with. Many people have found that kind of journey back into their lives very liberating, even if very painful at times. Institutionally, as well as personally, we have come to appreciate the need to look back and learn from the past. The church’s present procedures around the protection of children have come to birth through a painful coming to terms with past failures in this area. It has been said that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. In recent days it has been very important for people to remember the awful events of St. Stephen’s day last year, when hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives in the Tsunami. Remembering that event may help to ensure that, should this happen again, there would be procedures in place that would help to save many lives.

Looking back can also serve us well when what we look back on is something that brought us great joy at the time, or something that gave us food for thought. Parents might look back on the day when their first child was born. This was something to be savoured, an event that had profound implications for their own lives and the lives of others. Here was a joyful, mysterious moment that called out to be remembered and pondered upon. It is this kind of looking back that is attributed to Mary in today’s gospel reading. She had given birth to her child, Jesus, and the shepherds came to tell her all they had seen and heard when they were out with their flocks in the fields. The gospel reading says that ‘Mary treasured all these things (the shepherds told her) and pondered them in her heart’. What the shepherds told her and what Mary treasured and pondered was what the angels had told to the shepherds, ‘Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord’. Here indeed was a word that was worth remembering, treasuring and pondering over. Mary continued to look back to this moment when the shepherds spoke to her, and she pondered their words. She remembered with a view to understanding better, with the intention of plumbing the depths of what was said to her. This is a form of looking back that was very valid and very necessary. In the opening chapters of his gospel, Luke presents Mary as a thoughtful, reflective woman. On the occasion when the boy Jesus went missing for several days and his parents eventually found him in the temple, Jesus said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?’ Luke goes on to tell us that ‘his mother treasured all these things in her heart’.

Early last year the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission published an important agreed statement on Our Lady. One thing that statement said about Mary was that ‘she looked beneath the surface of events’. One good reason for looking back at times is to look beneath the surface of events. We look back to grasp more fully the meaning of what happened for us or to us. As believers, we do this in the Lord’s presence, inviting him to journey back with us and to help us to draw life from some moment of grace that he has given us. This is what we might call a contemplative approach to life. It is one that Mary embodies and encourages us to strive towards. The pace of life today can work against such a contemplative stance. We can find ourselves doing a lot and pondering very little. As a result, we live more on the surface of life rather than pausing to look beneath the surface. At Christmas we celebrate the good news that the Word became flesh. Human flesh, human life, is shot through with the presence of God. There is a divine depth to life that calls out to us. St. Paul in today’s second reading tells us that the divine Spirit is constantly crying out ‘Abba, Father’ deep within us. We need a contemplative attitude if we are to hear that Spirit within us, if we are to recognize the Lord when he comes to us in the events of life. On this New Year’s Day, we might resolve to grow more into Mary’s contemplative stance to life this coming year.

And/Or

(iii) Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

New Year’s Day will always have special resonances for all of us. It is a day when we may find ourselves looking back over the year that has just gone. When we think back on that year we will all have our own memories. Some of them may be happy memories and other sad memories. New Year’s Day is also a day when we look ahead to the year that is before us. We may be conscious of certain things that we would like to do differently to how we did them last year. We may find ourselves setting some goals that we would like to follow through on. In all kinds of ways, New Year’s Day can be a reflective time. It can be a time to take stock; to look back on where we have been and to look forward to where we would like to be.

New Year’s Day also encourages us to be reflective about our faith, about the Lord and his place in our lives. It is a day to ask, ‘How can I grow in my relationship with the Lord?’ ‘How can I respond more generously to his call?’ ‘How might I find ways to nurture my faith or to live it more fully, more courageously?’ Every so often we need to become more reflective about our faith, our relationship with the Lord, and how it is impacting on our day to day lives. New Year’s Day is a good time for such reflection.

The gospel reading this morning presents Mary as a very reflective woman. We are told there that the shepherds went to Bethlehem and announced to all, including Mary, the message the angels had given them, which was, ‘Do not be afraid… I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ, the Lord’. The shepherds proclaimed the gospel to Mary and all who were with her. According to the gospel reading, Mary’s response to what the shepherd’s said was a contemplative response. ‘She treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart’. It was as if there was too much in what the shepherds said to take in at once. The shepherds were conveying to Mary that her child was none other that the long awaited Jewish Messiah, whose other titles were Saviour and Lord. Here was good news of great joy, not just for Mary but for all the people. There was much to ponder there, a great deal to treasure. At the very beginning of his gospel Luke is presenting Mary as a reflective, thoughtful, contemplative woman. Indeed, a little further on in that same chapter, Luke describes her in a very similar way. When the boy Jesus went missing in Jerusalem and his parents, after much searching, eventually found him, he said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ In response to those questions of Jesus, Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph ‘did not understand what he said to them’ and that ‘his mother treasured all these things in her heart’. Once again there was much to ponder upon in what Jesus said. The meaning of his words was not immediately clear. Just as in the case of the words of the angels to the shepherds, the words of Jesus to his parents needed to be mulled over and reflected upon.

When it comes to the Lord and his relationship with us and ours with him, there is always a great deal to ponder, to reflect upon, to treasure in our hearts. Reading the gospels, for example, is not just like reading any other book. Because the gospels are God’s words in human words, there is a depth to them that cries out to be explored. The word of God can speak to us in all kinds of different ways. The same passage of Scripture may speak to us in one way at one time and in another way at another time. It is the Lord who speaks to us through the Scriptures and the Lord has different things to say to us at different times. The portrayal of Mary in today’s gospel reading encourages us to keep pondering the word, to keep treasuring it in our hearts. In that sense, we are all called to be contemplatives. Like Mary, we try to disposes ourselves to hearing what the Lord is saying to us as we go through life. Yes, our faith shows itself in good works of all kinds, but there is that other, reflective, dimension to our faith, to our relationship with the Lord, as well. Saint Therese of Lisieux wrote in her Autobiography, ‘Above all, it is the gospels that occupy my mind. I’m always finding fresh light there’. If we ponder and treasure the word like Mary, we too will find fresh light there. A saying attributed to a well-known baseball player in the States captures this contemplative attitude. He said on one occasion, ‘sometimes I just sits and thinks, and, then, sometimes I just sits’. Perhaps a resolution for the year ahead might be to create a space in our lives for a deeper encounter with the Lord.

And/Or

(iv) Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God

Because we have grown so accustomed to our yearly celebration of the feast of Christmas, it can happen that the events we celebrate at Christmas no longer surprise us. We can easily cease to be amazed at them. Today on the feast of Mary, Mother of God, which is the octave day of Christmas, we see Mary, in the gospel reading, marvelling at what has happened, treasuring the events of Christmas in her memory, and pondering them in her heart. The image of Mary put before us in this morning’s gospel reading is that of the contemplative woman who ponders the marvels the Almighty has done for her and for all people. She ponders in response to what the shepherds said to her. The shepherds had preached the gospel to her. They repeated to her what had been told to them by the angels, ‘Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord’. This is the good new of great joy, the gospel. It is this good news that she treasured and pondered over. The same gospel has been preached to us, and we are invited to treasure it, to ponder on it and to respond to it, as Mary did. Today is new year’s day, a day to make resolutions. What better new year’s resolution could we make today than that of adopting Mary’s stance before the gospel? Today’s feast invites us to share in Mary’s sense of awe and wonder before God’s merciful love, made known to us in Jesus, Mary’s son. As we look towards the new year, which begins today, we ask Mary to help us to treasure the gospel as she did, so that Jesus might come to others through us as he came to us through Mary.

And/Or

(v) Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God

Mary was declared to be Mother of God at the council of Ephesus towards the end of the fifth century. This was as much a declaration about Jesus as it was about Mary. It is because Jesus is both human and divine that Mary the mother of Jesus can be declared to be the Mother of God or in the language of the Council, the Theotokos, the God bearer. The title ‘Mother of God’ is one of Mary’s more exalted titles. Yet, at the heart of the gospel reading for this feast is the simple scene in Bethlehem of Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus lying in a manger, being visited by the shepherds who had been tending their flocks in the fields. Mary’s new born child is completely dependent on her and on Joseph for survival. Without their loving care this child would have had no future. Mary was first and foremost a mother and it was her motherly care and Joseph’s fatherly care which allowed Jesus to become the adult he became with the enormous consequences of that for all of us. As we celebrate the feast of Mary as Mother of God, the gospel reading puts the emphasis on Mary as mother. It also draws our attention to Mary as the contemplative, reflective woman. The gospel reading declares that she treasured all the things the shepherds said and pondered them in her heart. There was indeed much to ponder because her vulnerable new born child was the unique revelation of God to us; he was Emmanuel, God-with-us. The unique identity of her child meant that Mary’s own identity was special. She was mother of Emmanuel, mother of God, and there is much to ponder there, not only for Mary but for all of us.

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(vi) Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God

Today is one of the great feasts of Mary and, of course, it coincides with New Year’s day. In more recent times we have come to appreciate Mary as the disciple of Jesus, who models for us what it is to be a faithful disciple. On today’s feast, however, we focus on Mary as the mother of Jesus. Before Mary became the disciple of Jesus, he learned from her. It was through Mary and Joseph that Jesus was initiated into the religious traditions of his people. Even more fundamentally still, it was from Mary that Jesus received his human life. She was the flesh and blood from which the human body of Jesus was formed. The Word became flesh through her. As Paul in our second reading states, Jesus was born of a woman, born of Mary. Jesus’ first dwelling was in Mary’s womb. Today is new year’s day. Mary’s life was instrumental in ushering in not only a new year but a new age. This is the age when, according to Paul in that second reading, God sent his Son, born of a woman... to enable us to be adopted as sons and daughters. Because of this new age that was ushered in by the son of Mary, the Son of God, we can face each new year with hope and confidence. As Paul says in that reading, we are the adopted sons and daughters of God; the Spirit of God’s Son has been poured into our hearts, crying ‘Abba, Father’; as adopted sons and daughters of God, we are heirs to eternal life. There is a great deal to treasure and to ponder here, just as in the gospel reading today Mary is described as treasuring the words of the shepherds and pondering them in her heart. Because we are sons and daughters of God, who can look to Jesus as our brother and to Mary his mother as our mother, the door of the new year is open to new graces. We can make new resolutions, knowing that following through on them is not down to us alone. We have been greatly graced, through Mary’s son, and the Lord’s grace and power is there to enable us to follow through on our resolutions. When Mary gave birth to Jesus, it was a new beginning for her, for Joseph, for Jesus and for all humanity. Today, the feast of Mary’s motherhood, New Year’s Day, is a good day for all of us to make our own new beginning in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit.

And/Or

(vii) Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God

The gospel reading for today’s feast day is also the gospel reading for Christmas day. However, our focus today in the gospel reading is on Mary, the mother of Jesus. In one of the very early councils of the church, the council of Ephesus, Mary was proclaimed Mother of God because Jesus, her son, was understood to be God, God in human form, God with us, Emmanuel. The title ‘Mother of God’ is probably the most exalted title that Mary has been given by the church. Yet, in today’s gospel reading we are given an image of Mary as a young woman who has just given birth to her son, probably in a cave where animals were brought for shelter and feeding. The exalted is present in the simplest of settings. The shepherds who have come in from the fields have a story to tell, the story of the appearance of the angels who announced that this child was none other than a Saviour, Christ the Lord. The shepherds proclaim the gospel to Mary, Joseph and all who were present with them; they become the first evangelists. Everyone who heard this gospel, we are told, was astonished. However, Mary was not only astonished. Luke tells us that she treasured the words that the shepherds spoke and pondered them in her heart. She is reflective, even contemplative, before this extraordinary news, this gospel. The same gospel has been preached to all of us, and Mary models for us one of the ways of responding to the gospel. We too must treasure this good news and ponder it in our heart. There is an extraordinary mystery here that cannot be fully explained because it is inexhaustible. The Word became flesh; God became human; this young woman from Nazareth is the mother of God. In today’s second reading, Paul has his own way of expressing this mystery. God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law; God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba, Father’. Mary must have pondered on how greatly she had been graced by God. We have all been greatly graced through Mary’s son. Treasuring and pondering on how we have been graced allows this grace to touch us deeply so that we become channels of God’s grace, God’s favour, to each other. Having been so greatly blessed, we are to be a source of God’s blessing for others, as Aaron and his sons were a channel of God’s blessing for the people of Israel, according to this morning’s first reading.

And/Or

(viii) Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

Mary was declared to be Mother of God at the council of Ephesus towards the end of the fifth century. This was as much a declaration about Jesus as it was about Mary. It is because Jesus is both God as well as human that Mary the mother of Jesus can be declared to be the Mother of God or in the language of the Council, the Theotokos, the God bearer. The title ‘Mother of God’ is one of Mary’s most exalted titles. Yet, the gospel reading for this feast describes a very humble and simple scene. We are given a picture of Mary and Joseph and their child, lying in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. They are being visited by the shepherds of the fields, and these shepherds have a wonderful story to tell about a visitation by angels while they were watching over their sheep and who announced to them the birth of a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. The shepherds repeat this gospel that had been told to them; they become the first preachers of the gospel in Luke’s story of Jesus. It is said of Mary that she treasured all these things that the shepherds said to her and pondered them in her heart. She treasured the gospel and pondered it in her heart. She has much to ponder because the child to whom to whom she has given birth and to whom she is mother is a unique child, who has a unique relationship with God. This makes Mary’s motherhood somewhat unique. The shepherd’s proclamation of the gospel gave Mary much to ponder but it gives all of us much to ponder. The birth of Mary’s son had huge implications for us all. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading that because God sent his Son born of a woman and then sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, we have all been drawn into Jesus’ own special relationship with God. We are all sons of daughters of God, calling God ‘Abba’, Father, as Jesus did. This is our baptismal identity. There is a great deal for us to treasure and to ponder here on this New Year’s Day and during the coming year. In today’s gospel reading Mary shows us that prayerful pondering and treasuring is an important part of our response to the many ways that we have been graced by God’s sending of his Son.

And/Or

(ix) Mary, the Holy Mother of God

We have been celebrating the feast of Christmas and our focus has been on the child Jesus. Today’s feast places the focus on the mother of the child, Mary. We celebrate Mary as the Mother of God because we believe that her child, Jesus, was God in human form. The title ‘Mother of God’ affirms something very important about Mary’s child. This was, indeed, a fully human child in every sense, with all the same needs and vulnerability as any child. Yet, this particular child revealed God to us in a way no other child before or since has done. In looking upon the face of this child, we are looking upon the face of God. There is a mystery here which is not possible to fully fathom with the use of human reason alone. There is a great deal to be reflected upon here and, ultimately, surrendered to. This morning’s gospel reading presents Mary as doing just that. In response to the story that the shepherds had to tell, we are told that Mary ‘treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart’. She treasured and pondered the announcement of the angels to the shepherds, ‘to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour who is Christ, the Lord’. ‘Saviour’, ‘Christ’, ‘Lord’ – these are very striking titles for her new-born child. There is indeed a great deal here to be treasured and pondered, not just for Mary but for all of us, because Mary’s child was born ‘to you’, to each one of us. Our faith, and the content of our faith, is ultimately a gift from God, but it is a gift to be treasured and pondered. We spend our lives treasuring and plumbing the depths of God’s gift of his Son to us and of God’s relationship with us through his Son, in the Spirit. Mary’s contemplative attitude before God’s mysterious gift is a model for us all. As we begin this new year today, we pray that during the coming twelve months we might grow in our appreciation of the way God ‘has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing’, in the words of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

And/Or

(x) Mary, the Mother of God

And/Or

(xi) Mary, Mother of God

There is no reference to Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the letters of Paul. The nearest Paul comes to mentioning Mary is in today’s second reading from the letter to the Galatians where he declares that ‘God sent his Son, born of a woman’. In that succinct statement Paul sums up the meaning of today’s feast. God’s Son was born of a woman. Mary is the mother of God’s Son and because God’s Son, Jesus, is God in human form, Mary is the Mother of God. To say that Mary is the Mother of God is to make a statement not only about Mary but about Jesus. Jesus, Mary’s Son, is God with us. This is the message that was given to the shepherds by the angels, according to Luke’s gospel, ‘to you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord’. The term ‘Lord’ was the name of God in the Jewish Scriptures. This child is Lord or God, God become flesh. In today’s gospel reading, we are told that the shepherds repeated to Mary and Joseph this message that had been given to them by the angels. Just as the angels were God’s messengers to the shepherds, the shepherds now become God’s messengers to Mary and Joseph. Just as the angels proclaimed the gospel to the shepherds, they in turn proclaimed the gospel to Mary and Joseph. The gospel that the shepherds proclaimed in Bethlehem met with a two-fold response. The gospel reading says that all who heard what the shepherds said were astonished at their message, including Mary and Joseph. It is also said of Mary that she treasured the words spoken by the shepherds and pondered them in her heart. We are all invited to respond to the gospel, to the good news that God is with us through the child of Mary and Joseph, in the same two-fold way. We are to retain a sense of astonishment at this extraordinary good news that God has come among us in the frailty of human flesh, in the vulnerable child who became the vulnerable adult on Calvary. We are also to keep treasuring this gospel, and keep pondering on it so as to keep probing its wonderful richness. On this first day of a new year, we commit ourselves anew to appreciating the gospel that has been proclaimed to us, and to sharing this gospel with others.

And/Or

(xii) Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

In both today’s first reading and responsorial psalm there is a reference to the Lord’s face. In the first reading, we find that wonderful blessing, ‘May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you’. In the psalm, we pray, ‘God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us’. In each of those references, the face of God is associated with a shining light; the light of the Lord’s gracious presence shines from his face. Both the first reading and the psalm expresses the longing of the people of Israel to see the face of God, a face they knew to be a gracious source of healing and saving light. At this Christmas time, we, as Christians, celebrate the good news that the child Jesus, the son of Mary and Joseph, reveals the face of God to us. To look upon the face of this child is to look upon the face of God. God has let his face shine upon us through this child. The child Jesus is God with us, the Word who is God made flesh, and Mary, as the mother of this child, is the mother of God. In the year 431, the church at the Council of Ephesus declared Mary to be the God bearer, the mother of God. It is, perhaps, the most exalted of all Mary’s titles. Yet, the portrayal of Mary in today’s gospel reading could not be described as exalted. There she is, with Joseph, probably in one of the caves just outside Bethlehem, with her child in a manger, a feeding trough for animals, listening to the humble shepherds tell their story of what they had just seen and heard while watching over their sheep in the nearby hills. The gospel readings says of Mary that she was astonished at what the shepherds had to say, and that she treasured what they said and pondered it in her heart. Four hundred years later, the church would proclaim Mary to be the Mother of God, but that night in Bethlehem she is portrayed as struggling to come to terms with the mysterious way God was working in her life. Mary’s exalted title does not remove her from us. Like her, we are invited to be astonished at the gifts and graces that God sends us and to treasure them. We are also called, like Mary, to ponder over the sometimes mysterious ways that God may be working in our lives. It is because the Lord’s ways, his call to us, is not always crystal clear that we need to keep praying with today’s psalm, ‘God, be gracious and bless us, and let your face shed its light upon us’ - upon each of us, this coming year.

And/Or

(xiii) Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

New Year’s Day is often a time for looking back and also for looking forward. This past year has been an anxious and difficult one for most of us because of the Pandemic. We remain in the midst of the Pandemic, but we can look forward to the coming year with hope because of the vaccines that are coming on stream. In our own Diocese of Dublin, the appointment of a new Archbishop gives us another reason for looking forward in hope. We could do worse than pray the blessing in today’s first reading for him, ‘May the Lord bless him and keep him, May the Lord let his face shine on him and be gracious to him. May the Lord uncover his face to him and bring him peace’. I have always been drawn to that prayer of blessing and I often pray it for others. It was above all through the birth of Jesus, Mary’s child, that the Lord blessed us and kept us, made his face to shine upon us and was gracious to us. Today we celebrate Mary as mother, mother of Jesus, mother of God’s Son, mother of God. It was because of her ‘yes’ to God’s call that God blessed us so abundantly through Jesus, her son, and revealed the light of his face to us, displaying his gracious love. In the words of Saint Paul in today’s second reading, it was because God sent his Son, born of a woman, born of Mary, that the Spirit of God’s Son has been poured into all our hearts, drawing us into a share in Jesus’ own relationship with God, enabling us to cry out ‘Abba, Father’, alongside Jesus. There is much to treasure and ponder here, and that is what we find Mary doing in today’s gospel reading. When the shepherds share their night time experience of the visit of an angel announcing the birth of a Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord, we are told that ‘Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart’. As mother of God’s Son, mother of God, she contemplates the wonder, the mystery, of it all, and she encourages us to do the same. On this New Year’s Day, because of the way God has blessed us through Mary’s son, we all have much to treasure and much to ponder in a spirit of gratitude.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

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25th November >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Saturday. Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

Pope Saint Clement I, Martyr

Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin, Martyr

Saint Colman of Cloyne, Bishop

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Saturday. Thirty Third Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Green: A (1))

First Reading 1 Maccabees 6:1-13 'I remember the wrong I did in Jerusalem'.

King Antiochus was making his way across the upper provinces; he had heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais, renowned for its riches, its silver and gold, and its very wealthy temple containing golden armour, breastplates and weapons, left there by Alexander son of Philip, the king of Macedon, the first to reign over the Greeks. He therefore went and attempted to take the city and pillage it, but without success, since the citizens learnt of his intention, and offered him a stiff resistance, whereupon he turned about and retreated, disconsolate, in the direction of Babylon. But while he was still in Persia news reached him that the armies that had invaded the land of Judah had been defeated, and that Lysias in particular had advanced in massive strength, only to be forced to turn and flee before the Jews; these had been strengthened by the acquisition of arms, supplies and abundant spoils from the armies they had cut to pieces; they had overthrown the abomination he had erected over the altar in Jerusalem, and had encircled the sanctuary with high walls as in the past, and had fortified Bethzur, one of his cities. When the king heard this news he was amazed and profoundly shaken; he threw himself on his bed and fell into a lethargy from acute disappointment, because things had not turned out for him as he had planned. And there he remained for many days, subject to deep and recurrent fits of melancholy, until he understood that he was dying. Then summoning all his Friends, he said to them, ‘Sleep evades my eyes, and my heart is cowed by anxiety. I have been asking myself how I could have come to such a pitch of distress, so great a flood as that which now engulfs me – I who was so generous and well-loved in my heyday. But now I remember the wrong I did in Jerusalem when I seized all the vessels of silver and gold there, and ordered the extermination of the inhabitants of Judah for no reason at all. This, I am convinced, is why these misfortunes have overtaken me, and why I am dying of melancholy in a foreign land.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 9A(9):2-4,6,16,19

R/ I will rejoice in your saving help, O Lord.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will recount all your wonders. I will rejoice in you and be glad, and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.

R/ I will rejoice in your saving help, O Lord.

See how my enemies turn back, how they stumble and perish before you. You have checked the nations, destroyed the wicked; you have wiped out their name for ever and ever.

R/ I will rejoice in your saving help, O Lord.

The nations have fallen in the pit which they made, their feet caught in the snare they laid; for the needy shall not always be forgotten nor the hopes of the poor be in vain.

R/ I will rejoice in your saving help, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation cf. Luke 8:15

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart, take the word of God to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance. Alleluia!

Or: cf. 2 Timothy 1:10

Alleluia, alleluia! Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death and he has proclaimed life through the Good News. Alleluia!

Gospel Luke 20:27-40 In God all men are alive.

Some Sadducees – those who say that there is no resurrection – approached Jesus and they put this question to him, ‘Master, we have it from Moses in writing, that if a man’s married brother dies childless, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Well then, there were seven brothers. The first, having married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third married the widow. And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children. Finally the woman herself died. Now, at the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven?’

Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.’

Some scribes then spoke up. ‘Well put, Master’ they said – because they would not dare to ask him any more questions.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Pope Saint Clement I, Martyr

(Liturgical Colour: Red: A (1))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

First Reading 1 Peter 5:1-4 Watch over the flock, not simply as a duty but gladly.

Now I have something to tell your elders: I am an elder myself, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and with you I have a share in the glory that is to be revealed. Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example that the whole flock can follow. When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given the crown of unfading glory.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 88(89):2-5,21-22,25,27

R/ I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

R/ I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your dynasty for ever and set up your throne through all ages.

R/ I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

‘I have found David my servant and with my holy oil anointed him. My hand shall always be with him and my arm shall make him strong.

R/ I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

‘My truth and my love shall be with him; by my name his might shall be exalted. He will say to me: “You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me.”’

R/ I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation Mark 1:17

Alleluia, alleluia! Follow me, says the Lord, and I will make you into fishers of men. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 16:13-19 You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin, Martyr

(Liturgical Colour: Red: A (1))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

First Reading Apocalypse 21:5-7 I will give water from the well of life to anybody who is thirsty.

The One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new’ he said. ‘Write this: that what I am saying is sure and will come true.’ And then he said, ‘It is already done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water from the well of life free to anybody who is thirsty; it is the rightful inheritance of the one who proves victorious; and I will be his God and he a son to me.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 123(124):2-5,7-8

R/ Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

If the Lord had not been on our side when men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive when their anger was kindled.

R/ Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

Then would the waters have engulfed us, the torrent gone over us; over our head would have swept the raging waters.

R/ Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

Indeed the snare has been broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

R/ Our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 5:10

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia!

Or: John 17:19

Alleluia, alleluia! For their sake I consecrate myself, so that they too may be consecrated in the truth. Alleluia!

Or: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed be God, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows. Alleluia!

Or: James 1:12

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy the man who stands firm, for he has proved himself, and will win the crown of life. Alleluia!

Or: 1 Peter 4:14

Alleluia, alleluia! It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ, for the Spirit of God rests on you. Alleluia!

Or: cf. Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia! We praise you, O God, we acknowledge you to be the Lord; the noble army of martyrs praise you, O Lord. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 10:28-33 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body.

Jesus said to his apostles: ‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows. ‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint Colman of Cloyne, Bishop

(Liturgical Colour: White: A (1))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

Either:

First Reading Exodus 32:7-14 Moses pleads with the Lord his God to spare Israel.

The Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Go down now, because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have apostatised. They have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them; they have made themselves a calf of molten metal and have worshipped it and offered it sacrifice. “Here is your God, Israel,” they have cried “who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”’ the Lord said to Moses, ‘I can see how headstrong these people are! Leave me, now, my wrath shall blaze out against them and devour them; of you, however, I will make a great nation.’

But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘why should your wrath blaze out against this people of yours whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with arm outstretched and mighty hand? Why let the Egyptians say, “Ah, it was in treachery that he brought them out, to do them to death in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth”? Leave your burning wrath; relent and do not bring this disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, your servants to whom by your own self you swore and made this promise: I will make your offspring as many as the stars of heaven, and all this land which I promised I will give to your descendants, and it shall be their heritage for ever.’ So the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

OR: --------

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

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

OR: --------

First reading 1 Samuel 16:1,6-13 David is anointed by Samuel

The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen myself a king among his sons.’ Samuel purified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, he caught sight of Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed one stands there before him’, but the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Take no notice of his appearance or his height for I have rejected him; God does not see as man sees; man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.’ Jesse then called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, ‘The Lord has not chosen this one either.’ Jesse then presented Shammah, but Samuel said, ‘The Lord has not chosen this one either.’ Jesse presented his seven sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’ He then asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ He answered, ‘There is still one left, the youngest; he is out looking after the sheep.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down to eat until he comes.’ Jesse had him sent for, a boy of fresh complexion, with fine eyes and pleasant bearing. The Lord said, ‘Come, anoint him, for this is the one.’ At this, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him where he stood with his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord seized on David and stayed with him from that day on.

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 6:1-2,3-8 'Here I am: send me'

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord of Hosts seated on a high throne; his train filled the sanctuary; above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings. And they cried out to one another in this way,

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts. His glory fills the whole earth.’

The foundations of the threshold shook with the voice of the one who cried out, and the Temple was filled with smoke. I said:

‘What a wretched state I am in! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of Hosts.’

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. With this he touched my mouth and said:

‘See now, this has touched your lips, your sin is taken away, your iniquity is purged.’

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’

I answered, ‘Here I am, send me.’

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 52:7-10 Rejoice, for the Lord is consoling his people

How beautiful on the mountains, are the feet of one who brings good news, who heralds peace, brings happiness, proclaims salvation, and tells Zion, ‘Your God is king!’

Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices, they shout for joy together, for they see the Lord face to face, as he returns to Zion.

Break into shouts of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord is consoling his people, redeeming Jerusalem.

The Lord bares his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 61:1-3 He has sent me to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken;

to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison; to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord, a day of vengeance for our God,

to comfort all those who mourn and to give them for ashes a garland; for mourning robe the oil of gladness, for despondency, praise.

OR: --------

First reading Jeremiah 1:4-9 Go and say whatever I command you and do not fear

The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying,

‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you as prophet to the nations.’

I said, ‘Ah, Lord; look, I do not know how to speak: I am a child!’

But the Lord replied, ‘Do not say, “I am a child.” Go now to those to whom I send you and, say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to protect you – it is the Lord who speaks!’

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me:

‘There! I am putting my words into your mouth.’

OR: --------

First reading Ezekiel 3:17-21 Warn the wicked man, and you will live

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, I have appointed you as sentry to the House of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from me, warn them in my Name. If I say to a wicked man, “You are to die,” and you do not warn him; if you do not speak and warn him to renounce his evil ways and so live, then he shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death. If, however, you do warn a wicked man and he does not renounce his wickedness and his evil ways, then he shall die for his sin, but you yourself will have saved your life. When the upright man renounces his integrity to do evil and I set a trap for him, he too shall die; since you failed to warn him, he shall die for his sin and the integrity he practised will no longer be remembered; but I will hold you responsible for his death. If, however, you warn the upright man not to sin and he abstains from sinning, he shall live, thanks to your warning, and you too will have saved your life.’

OR: --------

First reading Ezekiel 34:11-16 I will look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view

The Lord God says this: I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view. As a shepherd keeps all his flock in view when he stands up in the middle of his scattered sheep, so shall I keep my sheep in view. I shall rescue them from wherever they have been scattered during the mist and darkness. I shall bring them out of the countries where they are; I shall gather them together from foreign countries and bring them back to their own land. I shall pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in every inhabited place in the land. I shall feed them in good pasturage; the high mountains of Israel will be their grazing ground. There they will rest in good grazing ground; they will browse in rich pastures on the mountains of Israel. I myself will pasture my sheep, I myself will show them where to rest – it is the Lord who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 88(89):2-5,21-22,25,27

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your dynasty for ever and set up your throne through all ages.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

‘I have found David my servant and with my holy oil anointed him. My hand shall always be with him and my arm shall make him strong.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

‘My truth and my love shall be with him; by my name his might shall be exalted. He will say to me: “You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me.”’

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation Mt23:9,10

Alleluia, alleluia! You have only one Father, and he is in heaven; you have only one Teacher, the Christ. Alleluia!

Or: Mt28:19,20

Alleluia, alleluia! Go, make disciples of all the nations. I am with you always; yes, to the end of time. Alleluia!

Or: Mk1:17

Alleluia, alleluia! Follow me, says the Lord, and I will make you into fishers of men. Alleluia!

Or: Lk4:18

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

Or: Jn10:14

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own sheep and my own know me. Alleluia!

Or: Jn15:5

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty, says the Lord. Alleluia!

Or: 2Co5:19

Alleluia, alleluia! God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. Alleluia!

EITHER: --------

Gospel Matthew 9:35-37 The harvest is rich but the labourers are few

Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness. And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 16:13-19 You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 23:8-12 The greatest among you must be your servant

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will exalted.’

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 28:16-20 Go and make disciples of all nations

The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’

OR: --------

Gospel Mark 1:14-20 I will make you into fishers of men

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’ As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

OR: --------

Gospel Mark 16:15-20 Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News

Jesus showed himself to the Eleven and said to them: ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’ And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 5:1-11 They left everything and followed him

Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’ Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 10:1-9 Your peace will rest on that man

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”’

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 22:24-30 I confer a kingdom on you, just as the Father conferred one on me

A dispute arose between the disciples about which should be reckoned the greatest, but Jesus said to them: ‘Among pagans it is the kings who lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are given the title Benefactor. This must not happen with you. No; the greatest among you must behave as if he were the youngest, the leader as if he were the one who serves. For who is the greater: the one at table or the one who serves? The one at table, surely? Yet here am I among you as one who serves! ‘You are the men who have stood by me faithfully in my trials; and now I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father conferred one on me: you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.’

OR: --------

Gospel John 10:11-16 The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep

Jesus said:

‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep.

‘I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, and one shepherd.’

OR: --------

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

Jesus said to his disciples:

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

Or:

Gospel John 21:15-17 Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.

Jesus showed himself to his disciples, and after they had eaten he said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Liturgical Colour: White: A (1))

(Readings for the memorial)

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

Either:

First Reading Genesis 3:9-15,20 The mother of all those who live.

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

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

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

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

OR: --------

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

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

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

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

OR: --------

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

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

OR: --------

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

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

OR: --------

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

The Wisdom of God cries aloud:

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

OR: --------

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

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

OR: --------

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

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

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

OR: --------

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

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

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

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

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

OR: --------

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

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

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

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

OR: --------

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

The Lord says this:

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

OR: --------

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

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

EITHER: --------

Responsorial Psalm 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

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

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

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

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

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

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

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

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Judith 13:18a-19

You are the highest honour of our race!

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

You are the highest honour of our race!

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

You are the highest honour of our race!

OR: --------

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

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

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

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

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

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

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

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 112(113):1-7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:46-55