#and he asked her about jewish weddings and they said 'i am my beloved's and my beloved is mine' in hebrew to each other

[dyns33]

Family honor

So Alfie x Y/N Shelby wife will be a little series now

There were several differences between a Gypsy wedding and a Jewish wedding.

The most obvious being that gypsy marriage was not recognized by anyone except gypsies.

But if it wasn't celebrated, you could walk past a priest, a rabbi, an imam or the fucking King himself, to live for years with the same person, under the same roof, with children, that would not have the slightest importance for the gypsies.

Alfie Solomons muttered several times that none of this was kosher, but he respected all the rites and traditions of Y/N's family. Even drinking alcohol, he who hated having a foggy mind.

"Already quite foggy the rest of the time, love. But if your savages of brothers insist…"

“The savages insist.” John said, giving him a whole bottle of whiskey.

“I can’t believe this asshole is going to become one of us.”

"Oh, Arthur, I'm touched that you accept me so quickly into your heart."

It took several people besides Tommy and Y/N to stop them from killing each other, when they were completely drunk.

Then they insisted on walking together in the horse field, the older Shelby brother ending up giving his blessing before falling asleep under a tree, making it clear that he would slit Alfie's throat if he did not treat his beloved little sister correctly.

The wandering jew left him to return with the others, who were dancing and singing. A perfect wedding, completely normal.

If he was offended when Y/N told him that the Jewish marriage was practically the same, he didn't show it, just made a strange sound with his nose.

There may have been less alcohol, and it was legally recognized, but the rest was a gathering of a lot of loud people, not speaking English, jumping around and congratulating them on their union.

Y/N, however, quickly noticed the biggest difference between gypsy marriage and Jewish marriage.

Although they had been a little surprised and worried by her choice of husband, her family had decided to give a chance to Alfie Solomons, whom they judged solely because of his actions. The rest didn't matter in the slightest.

With the Camden community, it wasn’t so simple.

“Your lovely wife is going to convert ?” an old woman asked, although it sounded more like an order than a question.

"Ah, frau Aldermann. It is true that I am such a pious man myself, it is a very important subject that my wife and I have talked about a lot. Isn't that right, treacle ?"

“Good, good.” sighed a man, patting his shoulder, not seeming to understand Alfie's sarcasm. "This is very important, especially for such an admired member. Perhaps your mother was of Jewish parentage ?"

She could have replied that she had not really known her mother, and therefore even less her family, but her husband saved her from this discussion, which he considered ridiculous, by inviting her to dance.

A true act of love, for him who hated dancing, in addition to suffering terribly because of his back.

It didn't take long for her entire family tree to be dissected in every way. The old harpies of Camden were like all the harpies of London.

The fact that she couldn't answer their question was almost a good thing. This mystery made it possible to say that if we could not verify that she was Jewish through her mother, we could not verify that she was not either. And everything always went through the mother.

The deplorable past of her father and the Shelby family could then have been forgotten.

The problem was mainly that her mother was not Mr. Arthur Shelby Sr. wife, which made Y/N a bastard. A gypsy bastard at that.

Even when she didn't understand the language, she guessed that people were talking about her. These looks and these laughter, she knew them well. Her brothers had suffered them when they were younger, before they used their fists to silence the ignorant and conquer Birmingham.

But she wasn't in Birmingham. Her brothers were not there, and it was her husband's kingdom.

Alfie wasn't the last to comment on gypsies.

"You know, I expected to have to sleep in a caravan for our honeymoon. It would have been terrible for my back, I don't know if Thomas took pity on us or if his petty posh side is to be thanked."

“They had a tent for us, but Finn threw up in it.”

"Fuck off, love. You're kidding me !"

“Then we would have danced naked around a fire asking the moon to give us happiness, health and above all a lot of fucking money.”

"… Yeah, you're totally kidding me, you little rascal." Alfie said, mock irritated, pulling her in for a kiss.

He didn't seem to notice that every little word spoken against her family and their traditions was beginning to weigh on her.

At least it was never completely mean when it was him. Almost innocent, full of prejudice and stupidity, but not crossing certain limits.

The rest of the community was not so kind. Many had not appreciated that the King of Camden, such a prized party, war hero, respected gangster, charming man, ended up with a girl like her. It must have been business, blackmail, or black magic.

There was no other possible explanation.

For several months, she decided to be the reasonable adult, remaining calm and polite, taking the blows as best she could. Tommy had taught her how to do it.

He had also taught her the pride of gypsies. Honor.

So there came a day when she was walking through the bakery, and some of the employees made a little joke about stealing and fortune telling, laughing like the idiots they were.

Normally, she would have ignored him. But Y/N was exhausted, and Polly's voice repeated in her head that no Shelby would ever allow themselves to be treated like this, so before they had time to react, she grabbed the hair of one of them, placing a knife to his throat.

"Tell me another joke about gypsies. Then I'll tell you a joke about Jews. Then I'll kill you."

The boy squealed, calling to his colleagues for help with his big, frightening eyes, but no one dared to move. Because they knew she would go faster. And even if she wasn't moving fast enough, she was Tommy Shelby's sister and Alfie Solomons' wife. Literally untouchable.

"Come on." she whispered in his ear. "Make me laugh. No ? No more jokes ? You're going to play the victim. It's funny, people who complain about being mistreated, then do exactly the same thing to others while thinking they're superior. You're all the same."

She didn't comment on the puddle under his legs, nor the little cry of panic when she released him.

Everyone stood still, watching her leave, and when she met Ollie's gaze, she knew she had just made a mistake. She only proved that she was indeed the savage they all described, the bad person.

Alfie probably wouldn't be happy when his right hand man told him what happened.

He did indeed seem to be in a terrible mood when she found him waiting for her in the living room, sunk into the sofa, indicating that his back was hurting badly, but that he would refuse to talk about it.

"Come, love, have a sit. Come on, sit down here."

Not wanting to act like a child, she remained silent as she took a seat in the chair he indicated to her.

This was obviously not what he expected, because he didn't speak either, staring at her intensely, hands crossed, displaying a small pout.

“Do you want to tell me what happened at the bakery today ?”

“Why ask if you already know ?”

“I would like your version.”

"I threatened to slit the throat of one of your workers and disrupted production. Do you want to spank me ?"

"Tempting. Why did you want to slit his throat ?"

“Unimportant.”

"Unimportant, uh ? Unimportant, love ? Because Ollie came to tell me that some guys were talking bad about me wife."

Groaning slightly, Alfie stood up just enough to push a piece of paper and pencil in her direction onto the table between them.

"Names."

“Alfie…”

"I want the names, treacle. I've already gone around the bakery telling everyone that insulting me wife and her family was insulting me, and I don't like being insulted. Names."

“You always make fun of gypsies.”

"Wrong." he retorted, holding up a finger as if that proved his point. "I do it when your brothers are around, because Thomas can be a little prick, and it's hilarious to see Arthur react like a mad dog. But I have nothing against gypsies. Lovely people. The proof, look at you. And look at me. The two most wonderful creatures our communities could spawn, right ?"

Despite all her strength, Y/N couldn't help but smile, which seemed to please her husband. He then placed his victorious finger on the paper, insisting on names.

If she had shown mercy by not cutting, this would not be the case with the wandering jew, king of Camden Town.

No one insulted his wife. No one looked at his wife badly, no one criticized her, no one tried to take away from her, no one thought of her with bad thoughts.

“Not even you ?” Y/N asked with a mischievous smile.

"Not at all. Now you brought up spanking. You brought it up first, love, not me."

“My brothers would be furious to hear that you beat me.”

"Don't tempt me, I can spread false rumors all the way to Birmingham just for the thrill of them all running here, and finding us…"

“You’re the one who deserves a spanking.”

"Ungrateful wife. Threatening me, under my own roof, when my back is killing me and I have just condemned half the city for the love of her."

The Shelbys never knew about their sister's difficult first months in Camden. Tommy noticed that he seemed to be treated with a little more respect when he walked the streets, but neither Y/N nor Alfie talked about what had happened before this outpouring of acceptance from the community.

On the other hand, Arthur noticed marks on his little sister's neck, and he tried to strangle Alfie, even after realizing that it wasn't what he thought, because it wasn't really better for him.

And Solomons reminding him that he was his brother-in-law didn't help at all.

#peaky blinders #alfie solomons #alfie solomons x reader #alfie solomons imagine #alfie solomons fanfiction #shelby reader

[zaynahfrozenfrost]

Enchanted To Meet You Part ||| (The Final Part)

Part ||

Part |

This is the last part of this series and I don’t know if this part's gonna be good but never mind. I'm really sorry for the long delay, I had exams and I had to find some wedding vows from Google but they weren’t good so, I had to delay it for that. I don’t know if these are Jewish vows but never mind.

Today's my wedding day and I felt scared at every single minute coming because I was coming a step closer to Edgar's dungeon. The wedding would start at 2pm and I had woken up at 9am. The maids, makeup girl and my stylist were dressing me up. It was a white strapless dress full of ruffles made of fine silk and I loved it. I had my hair in the back into a braided bun and my front into side swept bangs with my tiara and veil which was quite long. I had pearls on my dress unsystematically with some pearl earrings. I had my last conversation with Beth, Venus, Noelle and my best friend Freya. The wedding, it all felt too rushed for me.

I got into the carriage and we reached the cathedral 1 hour before the wedding. My parents were talking with Edgar's parents and they told us to go somewhere else. And so we did.

"How do you feel about the wedding? Or are just gonna run away from it like you do?" Edgar asked

"Please don't talk to me, Edgar. We both know what this marriage is for so, don't bother asking imbecile things" I said angrily

We both went silent as if we were strangers. Why did I have to see this day? Why am I marrying Edgar? Shouldn’t I be with Timothée? My mind had a lot to ask. Edgar's parents seemed like good people and most probably, they don't know about his tactics at all.

Then the guests started to come. I walked down the aisle with my father. It felt like I was going towards my birdcage.

"Dearly beloved, we gather here today to celebrate the union of Prince Edgar and Princess Y/n in marriage. In the Jewish tradition, marriage is considered a sacred covenant, and we are honored to witness this joyous occasion."

"STOP!" A voice shouted. And it was Timothée with my sister Sasha and her husband Rome. I talked with Sasha everyday so, how did Timothée know about all this?

"He's not a good man." Timothée said to everyone

"I don't understand" Edgar's father said

"What is he saying?" Edgar's mother asked

"How so? Do you have proof?" My father asked

"We do. You see, my dearest father in law, Y/n has told my wife about that man's disgusting behaviour towards her. You might ask, what happened to her left eye? He punched it and a few times, she called us and told Sasha about how he slapped her, forces her to do everything etc. Y/n never wanted to marry Edgar but because of your foolish, disgusting and greedy behaviour, she's putting herself into a bird cage. I hope this helped you" Rome said

"Edgar? How could you? You're our son and you go and do THIS?!?" Edgar's mother said

"Y/n, I never knew my son is such a sinister human being. My condolences and I deeply apologize for my son's behaviour" His mother said.

"Edgar, I guess it's time you get your dose of discipline because you were going to put another kingdom's princess in danger" His father said angrily

Then they took Edgar away and apologized to me a lot. I forgave them since they are not villainous like their son is. My father was raging with maroon on his face. My mother was shocked along with everyone.

"Y/n, what's going to happen to the ceremony? You might never be able to get married if we don’t get a groom." My mother told me

"I'll be her groom" Timothée said

Then Timothée got dressed up in his outfit. He looked so flawless and ethereal in it. Then I had to walk down the aisle again but this time, it felt safe because I knew I was walking to my soulmate. Music was playing as well.

"Dearly beloved, we gather here today to celebrate the union of Prince Timothée and Princess Y/n in marriage. In the Jewish tradition, marriage is considered a sacred covenant, and we are honored to witness this joyous occasion."

"Prince Timothée, do you take Princess Y/n to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, honor, and cherish? Do you promise to support her in times of joy and in times of sorrow, to be her partner in all of life's adventures?" Requested the priest

"I do." Said Timothée

Princess Y/n, do you take Prince Timothée to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish? Do you promise to support him in times of joy and in times of sorrow, to be his partner in all of life's adventures?

"I do." I said it and felt cathartic

"Do you both promise to create a home filled with love, kindness, and understanding? Will you build a life together based on mutual respect, compassion, and shared values?"

"We do." Timothée and I said together

"May your love be a guiding light as you embark on this sacred journey of marriage. May you find strength in each other, and may your union be a source of inspiration and blessings to all who know you. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you as spouses. You may seal your vows with a kiss."

Then we sealed it with a kiss and I felt like I was in heaven, his kiss felt so appealing. Other than my father, everyone was clapping. In evening, we were going to have our first dance ball and I felt so adrenalized because, this was going to be our first dance as a married pair. I can't believe that I actually got married with the love of my life.

Evening came around. I was wearing a off-shoulder tea length dress which was a very light shade of lavender and I had my hair down with a floral head piece. Timothée looked so charming that I couldn’t help but stare at him. Other than my father, everyone was there. The evening was so breath-taking, it was the best day of my life and I'll never forget about it.

Sorry if the ending sucked lol, I didn’t know what else to put here.

#timotheé chalamet #timothee chalamet fanfiction #prince timothée scenario #timothee x reader #timothee chalamet x you #timothee x y/n #taylor swift fanfiction

[lopez-richter-fangirl]

Okay let’s talk spies are forever it’s a musical it’s about spies

Firstly gotta say that I am so damn proud of TCB for making this happen it was so so cool to hear this songs revisited and all the original cast were SO much better than they already were in the original show. And the new additions also killed it

I was gonna try and stay on focus with the songs but immediately have to shout out Joey’s hair it really is so damn luscious. Still think there’s a little too much mustache but it is a Look and he does rock it. And while we’re at it fucking Lauren Lopez’s hair ma’am. MA’AM. God bless you and your curls I’m eternally grateful and also dead and in heaven. And the ring my god why did they need SEVEN diamonds I didn’t wanna keep looking at it but I kept looking at it it’ssofuckingsparkly. And definitely wasn’t emotional about it one bit

BUT back to the actual show lol love seeing these gay spies back together and love how much they emphasised they were gay because the subtlety makes sense in the show but we want everyone to know they were lovers

Curt has always impressed me with Spy Again and the emotional journey he goes on is perfect but hearing it live really made me appreciate his voice. Also taking someone’s drink during the song and then proceeding to accidentally spill it was a big Agent Curt Mega move

POMME I’d never seen/heard any of his performances my #1 thought with him had always been thank you but fuck you for giving us that story about them flirting, but his voice was also SO good and he was so funny. Joe’s DMA is so distinctive but this had the same essence without being an imitation it was so great. The start of Somebody’s Gotta Do It was him onstage asking Clark if it was his number and he said hi to Denise both nights (idk how many shows his parents went to but both that I was at) and made a joke about not having seen the show and been meaning to watch it for 6 years and then we get baby boy running on stage with his “sorry I’m late” and he’s just SO GOOD as Sergio. But “wife” got me just as much as I was expecting and there was a lot of hip game definitely at least the last night and doing it to emphasise wife was not it Joey. Not. It. Also didn’t think about hearing the dialogue so the wedding anniversary bit was also no. And I had an anon talk about Pomme hanging out with J&L but them singing this song together also made me like,, 🥺 But Joey’s VOICE I continue to be impressed by how much he’s improved

Then Eyes on the Prize I my beloved. Adore Lauren’s Cynthia. “Curt shut up” when he’s not saying anything? Perfect. Love the range in this song because her high notes are the most angelic thing to ever exist in this world but she controls the switches so well. And definitely the last night the growl in “die on me”,, babe do you want me to pass out? Okay and AJ!! He is so fucking funny, the way he does the “you gotta’s” and then just walks away so casually. And Lauren’s sustained notes at the end my goddd she’s fucking incredible. Really need her to not sing with her hands so much when she’s wearing the goddamn ring though

And man Tessa with Pay Attention is also perfect every time, 150% vibes and energy. Talking about Curt’s beard when he doesn’t have a beard always gonna be funny. This song was also about making sure everyone knows they’ve got great asses, apparently

Eyes on the Prize II truly sensual as FUCK. In a funny way but also a Lauren you gotta stop way

And we did get (a slightly censored) Not So Bad! They really handled it so well, and Brian really emphasised the “I’M Jewish”, it was even more over the top ridiculous, they cut the dance break to check in, and said a very explicit “fuck Nazis” at the end. Love them

Like I’ve said, fucking adore Joey’s Vanger Borschtit but AJ was so fucking great, I knew they wanted to change some but they changed a LOT of lyrics which was fun

Doing This is such a great song MK and Curt are really great (we know I’m not her biggest fan but the way MK sang the “in your mother’s home” part really hit something in my brain but are we gonna act like Lauren wasn’t the best part of it, no. She’s SO funny. Okay wait also in my head she did a really pretty riff but I’m actually 96% sure I’m making that up lol

And then my favourite part of the show, Lo coming onstage to say “best song in the show” and then “oh not that one, the one I’m about to sing”. Uproarious applause. She takes a bow. Incredible. Genuinely her stage presence and command of an audience is insane

One more shot is suchhhh a fun song and I really wish Esther could have been there but Brian was SO great

Then One Step Ahead honestly the first night I was just like my god Joey is Hot. So either I was just distracted or they did up it by the last night but like getting close enough to kiss, Joey checking out Curt’s ass, THIS is what this song is. And again, Joey’s voiceee. And the return of “time-a decide!!!” Can’t believe I almost forgot

Then Spy Dance is another really fun song and made even better by Lauren maybe fucking up and then laughing at herself bby girl I love you

And huge shoutout to Clark (and Pierce) for WRITING the most amazing songs and accompanying

This really just emphasised even more how *incredible* this show is, I’m so grateful I got to see it and I really really hope this is the start of even bigger things for them

Honourable mention to Lauren’s little runs when she was going offstage you’re the most adorable person I’ve ever seen

Everyone get the digital ticket!!

#i love this show so much #and i’m so proud

[tpanan]

My Saturday Daily Blessings

January 7, 2023

Be still quiet your heart and mind, the LORD is here, loving you talking to you...........    

Christmas Weekday (Roman Rite Calendar) Lectionary 210, Cycle A

First Reading: 1 John 5:14-21

Beloved: We have this confidence in God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life.

This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly. We know that no one begotten by God sins; but the one begotten by God he protects, and the Evil One cannot touch him.

We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One. We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. And we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Children, be on your guard against idols.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149:1-2,3-4,5,6a,9b

"The Lord takes delight in his people."

Verse before the Gospel: Luke 7:16

R: Alleluia, Alleluia

"A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people."

R: Alleluia, Alleluia

**Gospel: John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 

When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." 

Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. 

Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.  

Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Raymond of Peñafort, priest

**Meditation:

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, tells us that Jesus did many signs in the presence of his disciples. John recorded seven of these signs to strengthen our belief that 'Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name' (John 20:30-31). Jesus' first sign took place at a wedding reception in the town of Cana, which was very close to Nazareth in Galilee where Jesus grew up. What does this sign tell us about about Jesus? And what is its significance for us?

From skepticism to belief John locates his account of Jesus' first sign by telling us that it occurred on the third day (John 2:1-2). What is the significance of the third day? This is three days after skeptical Nathaniel's first encounter with Jesus. Philip had encouraged Nathaniel to "come and see" for himself who this Jesus was. When Nathaniel met Jesus, Jesus did something out of the ordinary. He revealed something personal about Nathaniel that only Nathaniel would have known. And then Jesus made a claim: 'You shall see greater things than these.' And he said to Nathaniel, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (John 1:50-51). Jesus in so many words told Nathaniel, 'You don't just have to believe my words, what I am saying here. I am going to perform signs that will back up the truth of what I'm saying and prove that I am who I claim to be.' If someone makes that kind of claim to you, you are going to closely watch whatever he does to see if he can make good on the claim. You want to find out if he is genuine or just an imposter or maybe deluded and crazy.

Turning failure into blessing Three days later Jesus takes his disciples to a wedding reception and there he does something quite out of the ordinary, right in the middle of the celebration - and during a very embarrassing moment for the bride and groom. When Jesus' mother presses Jesus to do something about the situation, Jesus seems to put her off. But she knows her son very well and understands that Jesus will handle the situation that way he thinks best.

Why did the wedding party run out of wine in the middle of the feast? Perhaps Jesus contributed to this embarrassing failure by bringing a group of his disciples to the feast at the last minute. But Jesus had a purpose in turning a wedding feast fiasco into a blessing beyond reckoning. He wanted to bless a newly-wed couple and all those at the wedding banquet as well. Everyone received in abundance the best of wine. John describes Jesus' first public miracle as a sign. It is more than simply a demonstration of his power to change nature. It is a sign of what he has come to do - to transform the lives of all who will believe in him.

Bridegroom of the new Israel Why did Jesus pick an ordinary wedding feast in a little out-of-the-way town to perform his first sign and to launch his public ministry? A wedding feast in nearly every culture is a very big event, often the biggest celebration that people experience, because it brings families, neighbors, and sometimes the whole town together. For many people it is the happiest and most memorable occasion in their life.

For the people of Israel, the wedding feast had a special spiritual significance as well. It came to symbolize God's special relationship and covenant with the people of Israel. The Old Testament describes God as the Bridegroom of Israel and presents his covenant relationship with the people of God as a spiritual marriage (Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 3:14; Hosea 2:16, 19-20). One of the most powerful images of heaven is the wedding banquet (Revelations 19:7-9). The Bible ends with the invitation to this marriage feast. "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come'" (Revelations 21:17).

So when Jesus chooses a wedding feast for his first sign, he is giving us a hint about something that will become more explicit when John the Baptist describes Jesus as the betrothed bridegroom of his people (John 3:29). In the other Gospels Jesus also alludes to his role as the bridegroom of the new people of Israel (see Mark 2:18-20; Matthew 9:14-15; Matthew 22:1-14; Matthew 25:6) when he invites both Jews and Gentiles to share in his heavenly banquet at the end of the age (Luke 13:29).

Changing water into wine What is so special about Jesus changing water into wine? Any good winemaker knows how to take a watery substance such as grape juice and turn it into wine. First you wait for the grapes to grow and mature. Then you pick the choicest grapes for the best wine you want to make. You crush the grapes into a mush. Then you add some water, yeast, and sugar. You allow this mixture to ferment over a period of several weeks. During that time you skim off the solid material until you are left with pure liquid - wine. Wine must be slightly aged to be drinkable - white wine must sit for half a year, and red wine for a full year. Some of the most famous wines are aged for many years.

Jesus didn't turn the water into a fruity grape juice, or into ordinary table wine. He instantly produced the finest and most expensive of wines - a fine vintage wine that would normally take years to age. He didn't produce just enough wine to satisfy the embarrassed bride and groom and guests. He produced 120 gallons! Abundance indeed. The instantaneous turning of water into wine shows Jesus' supernatural power to transform natural things - what is physical and material - into something of a higher order. He has the same power which God possesses - to create, transform, and change creation itself.

The gift of abundant life If Jesus can change water into wine for an embarrassed wedding couple, how much more can he change us through the transforming power of his Holy Spirit. John tells us that 'all who received him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God' (John 1:12,13). Jesus gives us abundant life. This sign at Cana points to his power not simply to improve the quality of our lives but to change and transform us to be like him - people of joy, peace, and love who do not fear death, but who know and experience even now the taste of eternal life - the life of God's kingdom. He gives us everything we need to live as his disciples - as sons and daughters of God.Jesus blessed a nameless couple in Cana, not only with his presence, but with his power. He will bless us as well, not only with his presence, but with his healing love and life-changing power.

Let go of pride and fear What might hold us back from allowing Jesus to change and transform us? Perhaps you feel that your faith is weak, or that you are unworthy to receive God's favor and gifts. Perhaps you struggle with anxiety or despair because your life feels hopelessly out of control. Jesus knows our struggles and weaknesses better than we do. And that doesn't stop him from offering us freedom and transformation through the gift and working of his Holy Spirit.

Paul the Apostle reminds us that God chooses to work in and through fragile and cracked vessels, such as us, to reveal the power of his glory and love. 'We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us' (2 Corinthians 4:7).

If there is anything holding you back from trusting in Jesus, let it go - give it to Jesus. Let go of fear - fear of losing your life. Let go of pride - wanting to always be in control and get things to go your way. And let go of unbelief - the stubborn refusal to accept Jesus on his own terms and to deny that he has the words of eternal life. Be like Nathaniel and choose to follow the master - to the wedding banquet and beyond, to even greater things.

Heavenly Father, you have revealed your glory in our Lord Jesus Christ. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may bring you glory in all that I do and say.

Sources:  

Lectionary for Mass for use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, copyright (c) 2001, 1998, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain (c) 1968, 1981, 1997, international committee on english in the liturgy, Inc All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner

**Meditations may be freely reprinted and translated into other languages for non-profit use only. Please cite copyright and original source. Copyright 2021 Daily Scripture Readings and Meditation, dailyscripture.net author Don Schwager.

[callmearcturus]

TES bonus fic preview bc fuck me i GUESS

okay some of the many many words i'm writing are the dave-karkat wedding and specifically rose and dave's slow careful reconciliation and i literally need to share this bit or i'm gonna fucking explode

Dave showed Rose outside to the porch, putting on the fire pit but otherwise leaving the lights off. He pointed out at the water, where the seals liked to come up and flop around and make ungodly fucking noise specifically to scare the shit out of him.

Rose leaned on the railing, smiling, her hair moving in the wind. It smelled like rain outside, thought so far they seemed to be missing it.

She glanced over at him. "So. Vantas."

"Yeah?" Dave glanced over his shoulder, then back at her. "What about him?"

"No, Dave. You." Her eyebrows lifted, amused. "David Vantas? Dirk will be heartbroken. He was very proud of the name he picked."

"Oh, fuck, that," Dave said, crossing his arms and leaning on the railing next to her. "You haven't heard the worst of it. I'm gonna be David Lalonde-Strider Vantas, with the middle bit hyphened."

She bit her lips into her mouth. "Mm. Mmhm."

"It was a dealbreaker," Dave explained, grinning, ducking his head. "Either I take up his name or I don't get a ring. He drives a hard bargain, but what can you do."

"Can I see it?" Rose asked, unfolding one hand to hold out to him, palm up.

Blinking, he took it. She shook her head. "Dave. Your ring."

"Oh, shit, right." He swapped hands.

She squinted, leaning in. Then, with a sigh, she dug her phone out of her pocket. With a quick two-shake, the flashlight came on. She held it up to shine on Dave's hand, the ring glinting. It was a warm, reddish gold that stood out against his skin.

"It's lovely," Rose murmured, her fingers curling under Dave's, bending his hand back slightly.

"Thanks," he said. It was really nice, he thought. "And thanks for coming. Neither of us know what we're doing, except all the shit we disagree on."

"This will be my second go-round," she pointed out. Her hand was warm as she kept loosely holding Dave's. "Perhaps I'm finding my true calling."

"What, planning Jewish-Alien weddings?"

"It's a very specific area of expertise," Rose said with a smirk. "You should know, Dirk is already making plans. Brushing up on his calligraphy. He's been at me on pester, asking about how to adapt the verbage to Alternians. And also considering doing two panels for the ketubah, one in Alternian. Which, if he is to be believed, is an absolute pain in the ass, but one he is willing to suffer through for his most beloved baby brother."

"Jesus fucking christ," Dave said with feeling.

Rose nodded. "I thought he'd thoroughly worked all of this out of his system with everything he did for Roxy's, but I fear we have yet to see the final form of his overbearing helpfulness. He mentioned buying gold ink for this one."

The headrush was intense. Turning back to the view of the beach and water beyond, Dave sagged against the railing. "Okay. Wow." When she hummed, Dave went on, "I think, like… I had the oh shit, I'm getting married moment already, like, a few months ago, and then I had the electric boogaloo of that moment when Karkat got me the ring, but now?" He pressed a hand to his face and breathed. "Holy shit, I'm going to get married, and my brother's going to put in his 100 percent and his 100 percent is a whole fuckin' lot?"

"And this is why I am here to help," Rose said firmly, her hand pressing against his spine, between his shoulder blades. "Try not to have a crisis."

"Why are we having a crisis?" Karkat asked.

Dave stood up and turned, Rose mirroring him at his side. Karkat was on the porch, holding his usual evening mug of joe.

Rose frowned. "Coffee? At this hour?"

"It's decaf," Dave and Karkat said in unison. She laughed.

"Hey," Dave said. "You know what a ketubah is?"

Karkat visibly thought about it. "No?"

"Guess Hebrew ain't one of your languages, huh."

"No, why?"

Rose waved a hand through the air. "We're discussing the nuances of your upcoming wedding. Our human traditions are a little particular, even among other humans, and adaptation will take a little work."

"I'm lapsed as fuck, but Dirk's got a bee in his fucking bonnet about marrying me off all good and proper," Dave translated.

"But you'll get to stomp on a glass, which is very fun," Rose added.

With a sigh, Karkat asked, "Can I have some terms to look up or something?"

"I'll text you a few," Rose said.

#i warned you about penrose stairs bro #this is THE most self indulgent thing i'm ever gonna write #there's a whole emotional sideplot about dave bleaching his hair #don't fucking look at me #my fic

[ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes]

The Love Yet Known Part 3

Summary: Tommy Shelby needs to make sacrifices to ensure the safety of his family. So he concocts a plan to marry off his sister to the one and only Alfie Solomons.

             Late that summer after everything was settled with Luca Changretta, Tommy invited Eliza and Alfie to visit Arrow House in Warwickshire. Since Tommy was the one who initiated it, he figured it would be a nice, quiet few days. Charlie clearly missed his aunt dearly. The little boy was used to always having her around to entertain him. He always asked after her and became cross when Tommy said she was married, that’s why she didn’t live with them anymore.

            “Well, when is she not going to be married?” Charlie would ask.

            Tommy just chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t think there will ever be a day when that happens, my boy.”

            No one was blind to the growing affection Eliza and Alfie had from their wedding day on. In fact, it was quite a sight to see when the two were together. Such a shy thing like Eliza had a calming effect on Alfie, who rarely seemed to be in a sour mood when she was around. Likewise, he seemed to bring Eliza out of her shell a little bit. She had many friends in Camden and found herself more active in the community than she ever imagined she would be.

            Tommy never gloated, well he tried not to, but he liked to boast about how he made the match between Eliza and Alfie.

            Still, Arthur and a few of the other Peaky boys were having a hard time accepting Alfie into their sacred spaces. They considered him their sister’s husband, not a brother-in-law. They had a petty habit of writing to Eliza and addressing it with her maiden name. Arthur felt sick to his stomach if he saw his dear sister’s name next to a name like Solomons.

            Alfie wasn’t very hospitable either. He wouldn’t let go of old habits of trying to rile Arthur up. He only ever invited a few of Eliza’s family members to visit them in Camden. None of them even knew the married couple shared a beachfront home in Margate. Alfie would shudder to think if the Shelbys got an idea of inviting themselves over for a holiday.

            But all things considered, life was going well.

 ~~~~~~~

            Alfie helped Eliza out of the car. “This place gets bigger every time I visit; I swear it does.” He muttered.

            His wife laughed softly. “Well, hopefully, you don’t get lost.”

            Charlie came running outside to greet his aunt. “Auntie Liza!”

            “Hello!” Eliza beamed and stooped down to pick her nephew up.

            “Oh, love, be careful.” Alfie winced. It was a good thing Eliza wasn’t easily irritated. Because once Alfie found out she was pregnant, he became overprotective. He insisted on carrying things for her, let her sleep in as long as she liked, and had someone come in to take over any housekeeping duties that she might’ve done. Not that Eliza was keen on keeping anything clean anyway. Alfie knew he was being annoying, but he wanted to make sure that his child and the mother of that child was well kept. He felt it was his duty to ensure their safety and health.

            Charlie gave Alfie a side-eye. “Hi, Uncle Alfie.” He said in a less jovial voice.

            “You well, Charlie?”

            “Mhm.” The little boy shrugged.

            Eliza set him down and reached for her suitcase but Alfie stepped in. “I’ve got it. Go on ahead.”

            She gave him a kiss on the cheek and followed Charlie inside to find Tommy.

~~~~~~~~~ 

            At dinner that night, it was just the four of them. Tommy, Lizzie, Alfie, and Eliza. They chatted casually about things, nothing too consequential. Then, during dessert, Eliza felt it was a good enough time to tell them.

            “So, Alfie and I have news.” Eliza reached for her husband’s hand under the table and gave him a smile.

            “You’re pregnant.” Tommy finished for her.

            Alfie’s brow furrowed. “And what on Earth gave you that impression?” He snapped. He knew how important and special it was for Eliza to tell everyone about the baby, so Alfie was a bit ticked off that Tommy had affectively ruined the moment.

            Tommy glanced up from his whiskey glass. “Am I wrong?”

            “Well…no.”

            “But how did you know?” Alfie asked again.

            “Because of the way you’ve been acting around her. Anyone could tell if they’ve known you long enough, Alfie.” Tommy answered casually. “I haven’t seen her carry anything at all today.”

            Eliza just chuckled. “Well, I didn’t know we made it that obvious.”

            “You and I will have a lot to talk about then,” Lizzie spoke up.         

            “Why? Oh…oh really?” Eliza’s eyes lit up. “You’re pregnant?”

            The two sisters-in-law got up to hug one another. Surely it was special knowing there was someone else walking a similar path. After all, it’s not like their husbands knew what it felt like.

            “Well, seems we’ll be coming around much more often then, Tom.” Alfie sighed. Well, if his wife was happy, then he would drive her back and forth from London to Warwickshire as many times as she liked.  

~~~~~~~~~

            Lizzie gave birth to Ruby when Eliza was still seven months along. Seeing and holding the baby girl in her arms was such a lovely occasion. It was almost like a hint at what was to come. It would be much more surreal though, that’s what Lizzie told her.

            “It’s so strange holding her. All of a sudden, you’ve got this little life. One you’ve waited so long to hold and she’s yours to care for and love. It’s really overwhelming.” Her sister-in-law tried to explain as best she could.

~~~~~~~~~~~

            Now all there was to do was wait a little longer. The nursery was all set up and ready. Meanwhile, the midwife was on call whenever the first signs of labor came.

            In the blistering cold of February, Eliza was due any day. Alfie started to work from home just in case she went into labor and he needed to be there for her. He didn’t get out of bed as early, but he was awake much earlier than his wife on most mornings.

            It was a peaceful time where he could just bask in the warm feelings of holding his beloved wife close to him, all cuddled up in bed. Cyril keeping their feet warm at the end of the bed. His soft breathing sometimes syncing up to Eliza’s heartbeat.

            Alfie would wrap an arm around her waist, resting a hand over her swollen stomach. There, he could feel his child kicking. The emotions that overcame him when he felt that little pressure against his hand were indescribable. He was thrilled, excited, nervous, afraid. He didn’t know how he would measure up as a father. Didn’t know how his line of work would impact the life of his child.  

            Every possible worst-case scenario had run through his head since Eliza told him she was pregnant. His worst fear was losing her and the baby. Or losing the baby and having to cope with their shared grief. Or losing Eliza and having to be a single father while grieving his wife.

            The possibilities kept him up at night, practically driving him mad with anxiety. But then there were the good thoughts. The joy he would feel when he first held his child. The pride of seeing every milestone from first words to first steps.

            It was overwhelming to think about and it didn’t help that the wait was making him even more anxious.

 ~~~~~~~~~

            But finally, the day came when Eliza gave birth to a healthy baby boy. It was a relief to hear that his wife and son were both going to be perfectly fine. As Alfie climbed the stairs to see them, he felt his hands trembling with anxiety and anticipation.

            What if he did something wrong?

            What if Eliza thought he wasn’t a good father?

            What if he just wasn’t enough?

            All the self-deprecating thoughts seemed to vanish into thin air when he saw his son swaddled in his mother’s arms.

            Eliza gave her husband a tired smile. “He’s beautiful, Alfie.” She whispered with tears in her eyes.

            Alfie walked over to the bed and peered over. “Fucking hell, look at all that hair, aye?” He chuckled with tears welling up in his eyes as well. “Look at him, he’s about as perfect as you can get, ain’t he?” He kissed Eliza’s forehead. “I can’t ever repay you for giving me such a perfect gift.”

            “I think you can with a few dozen nappy changes.” She teased back.

            “Done deal.” He grinned and gently cradled his son’s head.

            “You can hold him.”

            Alfie’s nerves pricked at him again as he sat down on the edge of the bed. Eliza gently placed the newborn in his arms, looking over him with such fondness.

            “There you are.” He said softly. “Been waiting quite some time for you, mate.”

            Eliza rested her cheek on her husband’s shoulder as he spoke to their son. “What should we name him?” She asked.

            They had passed around a few names over the course of her pregnancy but none of them particularly stood out to either of them.

            “How about Asher?”

            “Is that Jewish?” Eliza asked.

            Alfie nodded. “Means blessed. Was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, back in ancient times.”

            She smiled. Truly, she felt blessed. Not just by the birth of her son, but by everything. She had found her soulmate, fell in love with him, married him, and now produced such a beautiful little boy. Her heart felt so full in her chest. “I love it. I think it’s absolutely perfect.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~         

            A month after Asher was born, Eliza brought up the idea of bringing him to Warwickshire to meet her family. Tommy was apparently arranging a dinner to bring the whole family together. That way they could catch up on things without being busy with work and the children could all see their cousins.  

            Alfie bristled at the idea. It was one thing to spend a couple of days with just Tommy and Lizzie. But to be around the whole Shelby family, it was not a pleasant thought. He almost felt as if he’d be alone, surrounded by people who didn’t quite trust him. People he didn’t really trust either.

            “Won’t be a pleasant trip, tryna get there with a newborn.” He thought of the mistake on the fly.

            “It’ll be fine, it’s not too far and I’m sure Asher will sleep the whole way there. If he doesn’t then it isn’t the end of the world.” Eliza assumed her husband was just concerned about the baby’s sake.

            “Dunno…”

            “Then maybe we invite everyone here. It’ll be a little crowded but we’ll make it work.” She suggested to eliminate the idea of traveling.

            Having the Shelbys in his space, his territory was an even worse idea. “Tommy’s place is big enough, we ain’t gonna have that many people over here.”

            “So…” She looked at him. “Then we’ll go to Tommy’s.”

            Alfie didn’t want to outright say he didn’t want to be around her family. He was afraid it might break her heart. But he wasn’t going to pretend that it was a joy to be around them either. He stifled a groan, feeling backed into a corner for sure. “I mean…if it’ll make you happy, love.”

            “I want to see Ruby and I want everyone to meet Asher.” She replied, able to hold her ground against him when she chose to. “So yes, it would make me happy.”

            There was no arguing that. His wife’s happiness was one of the few things that mattered to him. “Alright then, we’ll go. I won’t be a bother about it.” He promised, earning a smile and a kiss from him.

~~~~~~~~~~~

            Asher slept through most of the car ride over to Warwickshire. Eliza appeared happy to be seeing her family and to introduce them to her son.

            The sun was starting to set as they entered the estate. Alfie felt on his guard as he walked in beside Eliza, already hearing the colorful language coming in from the parlor. There was laughing and yelling coming from upstairs, most likely the children playing with one another.

            Polly saw them coming in first and rushed over to embrace her niece. “Look at you. Motherhood suits you, my dear.” She turned to Alfie who was holding his son. “And there he is. Looks very healthy. You must be very proud, Alfie.”

            “Yeah.” He smiled slightly. Leave it to Polly to get on his good side even when he was tense. “He’s a lot of work, ain’t he, but it’s rewarding.”

            Polly could see the hesitation in Alfie’s eyes. He was holding Asher protectively to his chest, his eyes scanning across the room almost looking for potential threats. She decided he would have to warm up to the idea of handing his son over for anyone to hold.

            Eliza didn’t appear to catch onto her husband’s discomfort. “Alfie, I’ll take him.”

            “S’alright, love. I don’t mind.”

            “Well, let Polly hold him for a bit.” She suggested.

            “It’s alright,” Polly replied gently to her niece. “You two make yourselves at home. I’ll get you a drink, love. Alfie would you like something?”

            “No, thank you.” He replied a bit relieved that Polly hadn’t pushed the matter.

            But then Arthur swooped in and gave his sister a bear hug. “Glad you came, chey.”

            Eliza giggled and hugged him back. “Hi, Arthur.”

            “Good to see ya. Now, where’s the little one, aye?” The eldest Shelby’s eyes settled on Alfie with a look of slight distaste.

            Eliza stepped in to try and keep the atmosphere light and festive. “This is Asher, he just turned a month old.” She reached over to adjust the little cap on the newborn’s head. His dark hair was sticking out from underneath it.

            “A month already.” Arthur shook his head. “Well, wish we could’ve been there earlier.” He gave his brother-in-law a stern look. As if Alfie was purposefully keeping Eliza hidden away in Camden Town to keep her away from her family.

            “Arthur…” She sighed. But it was too late. The powder keg had already been lit.

            “Well, mate, it weren’t the easiest delivery. Eliza had to take a bit of time to recover.”

            “If Pol had been there like she wanted then maybe it wouldn’t have been so difficult.” Arthur wasn’t standing down from the challenge. In fact, he welcomed a reason to argue.

            “Arthur, that’s enough.” His aunt interrupted. “We’ve had this discussion before but it’s over. The baby’s already born.”

            But neither man listened to a voice of reason. “She had the best midwife in Camden Town there. Are you insinuating I wouldn’t get the best for me wife?”

            “I’m saying you’ve been keeping our sister from seeing her family.”

            “She’s got a mind of her own, mate, she can go wherever she wants whenever she wants.” Alfie crossed his arms over his chest.

            “Please, will you two just stop?” Eliza begged.

            “Did she have a choice when Tommy sold her off to you?” Arthur’s voice raised and Eliza knew she had to step in before the rest of the party started to take notice of the brewing storm between her brother and husband.

            “Alright, enough. You two are making a scene and it’s ridiculous.” She took Asher from Alfie’s arms when he was caught off guard and handed the baby to Polly. Before her husband could protest, she grabbed his arm and dragged him into another empty room of Arrow House.

            “You’re just going to leave him?” Alfie spat.

            “With my aunt who I trust with my life? Yes!” She snapped in an exasperated tone. “What on Earth has gotten into you? I thought this would be a nice visit, I didn’t think I had to tell you to be on your best behavior. But apparently, I should’ve because you’re acting like a child!”

            “Your brother started it!” His normally soft-spoken wife gave him a death glare. Alfie backtracked when he realized the childish response was exactly what Eliza was talking about. “I’m sorry.” He mumbled. “I just don’t like him treating me that way. Like I’m some monster who kidnapped you.”

            “Oh, Alfie.” She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him close. “You know Arthur and you know that’s not true. You’ve given me everything and I’ve never been so happy. But we can’t make them see that. If they don’t see it then that’s their fault.” She kissed his cheek. “We know the truth.”

            He grumbled. Of course, she was right, seldom was she wrong. It just didn’t help that when they went back to the party, Arthur would still be the same. “M’trying, love.”

            “I know you are.” She smiled. “They’re difficult. But you are too.”

            He chuckled. There was no arguing that.

            “But now Asher is sort of a buffer. You just have to let them hold him.”

            Alfie looked disgruntled. He knew intuitively that none of the Shelbys would bring harm to the child. But there was still that protective instinct that he could never totally shake. If he let his guard down, bad things happened. The only time that wasn’t the case was when he was alone with Eliza and Asher. That quiet space where everything good in the world seemed to line up. Nothing outside of their warm home mattered.

            “Alright.” He relented. It seemed reasonable that if he played along, the sooner they would be out of there.

            Eliza smiled and kissed him softly. “Try to enjoy yourself.” She said before going to return to the party.

~~~~~~~~~

            Alfie followed and found Polly was still holding Asher. But Ada and Lizzie were cooing over the baby. Tommy was sat next to his aunt, holding Ruby and smiling at his new nephew. Even Arthur was nearby smiling at Asher.

            Alfie did his best not to hover even when his son was passed from relative to relative. It seemed to make Eliza happy to see her family holding her newborn. She spoke proudly about him. The meaning of his name, his blue eyes, how much Cyril adored him, and everything else that had happened in his short life.

            After a while, Alfie began to relax slightly. Although he always kept an eye out to see who was holding Asher.

            Toward the end of the night, his son was finally placed back in his arms. Asher was fast asleep despite the Shelbys having a good time with a good amount of alcohol. Alfie gently touched his cheek with his thumb. “They can be exhausting, aye?” He murmured quietly. “Better get used to it I suppose. Don’t think they’re going anywhere.”

            Asher yawned and shifted slightly in his swaddle.

            Alfie glanced up when he heard someone clear their throat. Arthur was standing nearby, a glass of whiskey in hand. “Mind if I sit?” He gestured to the empty armchair near the sofa Alfie was sitting on.

            “Ain’t my house, mate.”

            Arthur shrugged and sat down. “So, how does it feel, aye? Must get no sleep with him. And Liza, I doubt she ever gets up. Would take a train to wake her when she was younger.”

            It was a strange olive branch but Alfie chuckled. “Yeah, it’s tough tryna get her up to nurse him. S’alright though. Never been a big sleeper myself.” He admitted.

            “Yeah, war will do that to you.” Arthur agreed after a sip of whiskey.

            They were so similar, it was a wonder that they butted heads so often. They were veterans with deep scars, liked to solve problems with their fists, hardly flinched at death, and yet fiercely cared about their kin. But bad blood was hard to wash out, especially in their line of work.

            “I’d always be up with Billy when he was that young. It’s good, keeps your mind busy.” He added.

            “They’re a good distraction.” Alfie nodded, looking down at his son. “Changes a lot of perspectives on life.”

            Arthur looked across the room to see Eliza smiling at him. Of course, she’d put him up to it, insisting that if he wanted to see more of her, he would be nicer to her husband. Arthur complained but she wasn’t hearing it. It seemed that marriage and motherhood had really taught her when to put her foot down. But sitting there with his brother-in-law, Arthur seemed to realize that there wasn’t much else he could do. Here they were, both fathers to a son, both husbands. They were too old to be the vicious fighters they were as young men. It was too tiring.

            Alfie came to a similar conclusion. They could fight about the same things that happened so long ago. There wasn’t anything new to argue about. Just the grudges they both held. Which were equally as tiring. “Here.” He held Asher out.

            Arthur looked a bit surprised but decided not to make a scene out of it. He set his whiskey glass down and cradled his nephew to his chest. “Looks like Liza when she was a baby.” He chuckled. “She had so much hair. Our mother was shocked. I hope he doesn’t cry as much as she did. God, she was noisier than John ever was.” His eyes saddened at the mention of Eliza’s twin. It felt like ages ago that they’d lost John and yet, it was still so fresh.

            “That’s his middle name, you know,” Alfie said. “Asher John.”

            Arthur got a little choked up. “He’d be thrilled if he was here.” He tried to laugh off his grief but it was obvious how much it hurt. “Don’t think he’d ever stop bragging about it.”

            Eliza came over, so happy to see the two men getting along for the first time ever. She kissed Alfie’s temple as she sat down next to him.

            A quiet lull fell over the room. The warm chatter of family radiated with the fire and drinks. Alfie felt his shoulders relax while he wrapped an arm around Eliza’s shoulders. Things could be okay if he allowed them to be. So he did.

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[nataliesnews]

and a Follow-up

 A true and amazing story. First is the email sent to me by a friend followed by my response to him after some research.

  Alvin

 Subject: Fwd: An Amazing story – Pfizer Vaccine

                                         Hard to read but worth it. 

                            An Amazing story – Pfizer Vaccine

 Sixty thousand Jews were in Thessaloniki, Greece on the eve of the outbreak of World War II. A living and vibrant Jewish community. Most of the porters in the port of Thessaloniki were Jews. The port of Thessaloniki was even closed on Saturday. Great rabbis lived there too

It was on this glorious community that the Nazi terror brutally rose.

Hitler took Greece by storm to secure his southern wing before launching Operation Barbarossa and the offensive against Russia.

Out of 60,000 Thessaloniki Jews, about 50,000were exterminated in Birkenau in a very short time…. Few survived.

Among the survivors were the Bourla family.

After the war in 1961 a son was born to the Bourla family. And they named him Israel - Abraham. (Albert).

Albert grew up and studied veterinary medicine. He received his doctorate in reproductive biotechnology from the Aristotle University of Salonika Veterinary School.

At the age of 34 he moved to the United States. He married a Jewish woman named Miriam and had two children.

In the United States, Bourla was integrated into the medical industry. He progressed very quickly and joined the Pfizer company where he became 'Head of Global Vaccines'.

From there, the road is short for his appointment as CEO of Pfizer in 2019.

Throughout the year, Bourla led the company's efforts to find a vaccine for corona in super efforts.

The vaccine that will save the lives of millions of people around the world was led and pushed by a Jew. Son of Holocaust survivors. From Thessaloniki.

His vaccine will also reach Germany, where 1000s have died from Covid, and the vaccine will also save lives there.

And THIS is why Israel is becoming the first country to receive the vaccine. In memory of Albert’s grandparents.

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

 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Sent: Fri, Mar 5, 2021 1:26 pm Subject: Fwd: A follow-up An Amazing story – Pfizer Vaccine

   Your email describing Albert Bourla's story of his family gave me the inspiration to look into it further and what follows is an expansion of his family's story.

   Albert Bourla: My Family’s Story: Why We Remember

  This week, as we do every year, we commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day so that the stories of the victims and survivors are never forgotten. Yesterday, I was deeply honored to join the Sephardic Heritage International in DC ‘s Annual Congressional Holocaust Commemoration to share my family’s story in connection with the Holocaust.

You can watch me deliver my remarks or read them below.

 Remembrance. It’s this word, perhaps more than any other, that inspired me to share my parents’ story. That’s because I recognize how fortunate I am that my parents shared their stories with me and the rest of our family.

 Many Holocaust survivors never spoke to their children of the horrors they endured because it was too painful. But we talked about it a great deal in my family. Growing up in Thessaloniki, Greece, we would get together with our cousins on the weekends, and my parents, aunts and uncles would often share their stories.

 They did this because they wanted us to remember. To remember all the lives that were lost. To remember what can happen when the virus of evil is allowed to spread unchecked. But, most important, to remember the value of a human life.

 You see, when my parents spoke of the Holocaust, they never spoke of anger or revenge. They didn’t teach us to hate those who did this to our family and friends. Instead they spoke of how lucky they were to be alive … and how we all needed to build on that feeling, celebrate life and move forward. Hatred would only stand in the way.

 So, in that spirit, I’m here to share the story of Mois and Sara Bourla, my beloved parents.

 Our ancestors had fled Spain in the late 15th century, after King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella issued the Alhambra Decree, which mandated that all Spanish Jews either convert to Catholicism or be expelled from the country. They eventually settled in the Ottoman Thessaloniki, which later became part of Greece following its liberation from the Ottoman Empire in 1912.

 Before Hitler began his march through Europe, there was a thriving Sephardic Jewish community in Thessaloniki. So much so that it was known as “La Madre de Israel” or “The Mother of Israel.” Within a week of the occupation, however, the Germans had arrested the Jewish leadership, evicted hundreds of Jewish families and confiscated their apartments. And it took them less than three years to accomplish their goal of exterminating the community. When the Germans invaded Greece, there were approximately 50,000 Jews living in the city. By the end of the war, only 2,000 had survived.

Lucky for me, both of my parents were among the 2,000.

 My father’s family, like so many others, had been forced from their home and taken to a crowded house within one of the Jewish ghettos. It was a house they had to share with several other Jewish families. They could circulate in and out of the ghetto, as long as they were wearing the yellow star.

 But one day in March 1943, the ghetto was surrounded by occupation forces, and the exit was blocked. My father, Mois, and his brother, Into, were outside when this happened. When they approached, they met their father, who also was outside. He told them what was happening and asked them to leave and hide. But he had to go in because his wife and his two other children were home. Later that day, my grandfather, Abraham Bourla, his wife, Rachel, his daughter, Graciela, and his younger son, David, were taken to a camp outside the train station. From there they left for Auschwitz-Birkenau. Mois and Into never saw them again.

 The same night, my father and uncle escaped to Athens, where they were able to obtain fake IDs with Christian names. They got the IDs from the head of police, who at the time was helping Jews escape the persecution of the Nazis. They lived there until the end of the war … all the while having to pretend that they were not Jews … that they were not Mois and Into – but rather Manolis and Vasilis. 

 When the German occupation ended, they went back to Thessaloniki and found that all their property and belongings had been stolen or sold. With nothing to their name, they started from scratch, becoming partners in a successful liquor business that they ran together until they both retired.

My mom’s story also was one of having to hide in her own land … of narrowly escaping the horrors of Auschwitz … and of family bonds that sustained her spirit and, quite literally, saved her life.

 Like my father’s family, my mom’s family was relocated to a house within the ghetto. My mother was the youngest girl of seven children. Her older sister had converted to Christianity to marry a Christian man she had fallen in love with before the war, and she and her husband were living in another city where no one knew that she had previously been a Jew. At that time mixed weddings were not accepted by society, and my grandfather wouldn’t talk to his eldest daughter because of this.

 But when it became clear that the family was going to head to Poland, where the Germans had promised a new life in a Jewish settlement, my grandfather asked his eldest daughter to come and see him. In this last meeting they ever had, he asked her to take her youngest sister – my mom – with her. 

There my mom would be safe because no one knew that she or her sister were of Jewish heritage. The rest of the family went by train straight to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

 Toward the end of the war, my mom’s brother-in-law was transferred back to Thessaloniki. People knew my mom there, so she had to hide in the house 24 hours a day out of fear of being recognized and turned over to the Germans. But she was still a teenager, and every so often, she would venture outside. Unfortunately, during one of those walks, she was spotted and arrested.

 She was sent to a local prison. It was not good news. It was well known that every day around noon, some of the prisoners would be loaded on a truck to be transferred to another location where the next dawn they would be executed. Knowing this, her brother-in-law, my dearest Christian uncle, Kostas Dimadis, approached Max Merten, a known war criminal who was in charge of the Nazi occupation forces in the city.

 He paid Merten a ransom in exchange for his promise that my mom would not be executed. But her sister, my aunt, didn’t trust the Germans. So, she would go to the prison every day at noon to watch as they loaded the truck that would transfer the prisoners to the execution site. And one day she saw what she had been afraid of: my mom being put on the truck.

 She ran home and told her husband who immediately called Merten. He reminded him of their agreement and tried to shame him for not keeping his word. Merten said he would look into it and then abruptly hung up the phone.

 That night was the longest in my aunt and uncle’s life because they knew the next morning, my mom would likely be executed. The next day – on the other side of town – my mom was lined up against a wall with other prisoners. And moments before she would have been executed, a soldier on a BMW motorcycle arrived and handed some papers to the man in charge of the firing squad.

 They removed from the line my mom and another woman. As they rode away, my mom could hear the machine gun fire slaughtering those that were left behind. It’s a sound that stayed with her for the rest of her life.

 Two or three days later, she was released from prison. And just a few weeks after that, the Germans left Greece.

 Fast forward eight years and my parents were introduced by their families in a typical-for-the-time matchmaking. They liked each other and agreed to marry. They had two children – me and my sister, Seli.

 My father had two dreams for me. He wanted me to become a scientist and was hoping I would marry a nice Jewish girl. I am happy to say that he lived long enough to see both dreams come true. Unfortunately, he died before our children were born ... but my mom did live long enough to see them, which was the greatest of blessings.

 So, that is the story of Mois and Sara Bourla. It’s a story that had a great impact on my life and my view of the world, and it is a story that, for the first time today, I share publicly.

 However, when I received the invitation to speak at this event – at this moment in time when racism and hatred are tearing at the fabric of our great nation – I felt it was the right time to share the story of two simple people who loved, and were loved by, their family and friends. Two people who stared down hatred and built a life filled with love and joy. Two people whose names are known by very few … but whose story has now been shared with the members of the United States Congress – the world’s greatest and most just legislative body. And that makes their son very proud.

 This brings me back to remembrance. As time marches on and today’s event shrinks in our rearview mirrors, I wouldn’t expect you to remember my parents’ names, but I implore you to remember their story. Because remembering gives each of us the conviction, the courage and the compassion to take the necessary actions to ensure their story is never repeated.

 Thank you again for the invitation to speak today. And thank you for remembering.

 Stay safe and stay well.

#Albert Bourla

[mangokiwitropicalswirl]

The Seventh Time He Asked

When did Mulder ask Scully to marry him? My take. (This is the final chapter, I wanted to bend the timeline just a little). 

Here’s what started the whole thing / 1. The first time he asked /2. The second time he asked / 3. The third time he asked / 4. The fourth time he asked / 5. The fifth time he asked / 6. The sixth time he asked

It took seven years for them to kiss each other. It takes another seven to finally arrive right here. The sky’s an inky dark and the sand beneath their outstretched legs is growing cool.

When this suddenly occurs to her, Scully is reminded of a story from her school days, how Jacob worked for seven years to earn the hand of his beloved Rachel, and then worked seven more when her father married him to Leah first instead. She remembers how as a young girl it had seemed foolish to her for a man to ever have agreed to such a price, doubted that any woman could live up to that level of devotion. Doubted whether any woman could return it.

She glances sideways at the outline of Mulder’s jaw against the twilight sky, at his shoulders slightly raised as his elbows prop him up in the shifting sand. It’s one of those rare moments where she feels herself rise beyond herself and sees her life’s story — the tangles and tragedies, the serendipities and what feels like fate — as the inevitable engines that have brought her her deepest joy.

Her eyes brim as she remembers something she once said to him, on the night that William was conceived, “what if there was only one choice? And all the others were wrong?” She feels her heart soften and open up again, as surely as if someone has pushed open a door between locked rooms.

Mulder isn’t thinking of any of this as they lay back on the empty beach, naming the constellations rising out of the Caribbean sea outstretched in front of them. He draws his arm across the sky toward the Pleiades that cluster like a crown in a patch of milky sky.

“They’re called the seven sisters, Scully.” He’s in show-and-tell mode now, she hears it in his voice. If he had a slide projector at his disposal he’d be launching into a planetarium display of astronomical proficiency. Scully smiles and moves closer toward him on her towel, the off-shore breeze pricking little goosebumps on her skin.

He’s animatedly sweeping his lanky arm in arcs across the horizon. She hears him call Aldebaran “the follower,” the star that forever follows the seven lights of the Pleiades through the sky.

She sympathizes with a star.

She’s shivering and his voice has become a hum she feels more than hears. She’s beside him but elsewhere, wandering through memory. The memory of Jacob’s story makes her think of Ariel, the woman who married herself to a golem, her deceased fiancé, willing him to return to life together, no matter how disfigured or decayed. She thinks how at the time she had pitied Ariel but hadn’t understood. How she couldn’t simply let him be at peace had confused her. Wouldn’t stronger love allow her to let him go?

But Mulder had returned to her a corpse, a shell emptied of its former life, and watching him now, browned and healthy, a man at his peak, she understands. She too had made bargains with her God to buy him back, and every incantation that she knew would have been worth this moment.

He’s oblivious to the circuits of her mind, just feels the pressure as her fingers glide between his own and squeeze. He turns toward her.

“What is it?” He’s startled by the serious cast that’s fallen across her face, but confused too by the way she’s smiling, unfallen tears glinting in the faint light.

She shakes her head, unable to speak, swallowing the lump in her throat. He waits.

“I love you.” She pauses at each word, the simplicity of the phrase simultaneously too much and nowhere near enough.

He nods, leaning to cup her chin and kiss her softly. “I know, Scully.” He smooths his hand along her hair. “I know.” He senses that she’s holding back, that there’s more she wants to say. “Are you okay?”

“Mulder, you asked me something a long time ago, and I said yes.”

He holds his breath. They’ve never talked about how things had been between them before he was taken. Their world’s divided neatly into epochs — the bright time together before their lives were torn apart, and this murky darkness after.

She continues. “I wonder if you would ever want to ask again?”

“Are you asking me to ask again?” He’s serious, but there’s a playful teasing lurking underneath.

She swallows and thinks about marrying him, about standing at the end of an aisle, about making vows.

“Do you know that Catholics consider marriage one of seven sacraments?” Scully pulls a tactic from his own bag of tricks, deflection by discussion.

“I know there are seven deadly sins and seven corresponding virtues. I know there were seven wonders of the ancient world. I know that Muslims circle around the Kaaba seven times during the hajj. I know that the Spanish explorers went searching for the mythical seven cities of gold. I know that in Taoism…”.

“Mulder,” she laughs, stopping his rambling with a hand on his knee. “Marry me.”

He nods and draws her to him with a spreading grin. “What took you so long?”

“I wanted to get the timing right,” she whispers against his neck before pulling him into a passionate kiss.

Together, their bodies reach for the earth. Mulder guides them down onto the blanket and Scully bends her knee to part his legs, pulling herself closer to his warmth as a dampening heat spreads from her center. After several moments of deepening kisses, Mulder pulls away and props up on his elbow.

“I just thought of another,” he pauses, “in the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony the couple is given seven blessings.”

“What are they?” Scully’s voice is quiet, expectant.

“I don’t remember,” Mulder chuckles. “You would think with the number of weddings I went to as a kid I should. Maybe it’s the fact they’re all in Hebrew?”

“What do you remember?”

She thinks of the vows she has heard friends make at a dozen different weddings. She thinks of in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live. She thinks that even though she has never said them, she’s lived them, maybe more than anyone she knows.

“There’s always one phrase that sticks in my mind, I think it’s from the Song of Songs?” His voice is quiet too, and almost reverent, as if the thousand stars themselves were witnesses.

“What’s that?”

He looks at her intently, taking both her hands in his as best he can. “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”

Scully nods and swallows softly, following her sudden impulse to repeat him. “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”

As his arms surround her and their mouths meet again, she remembers, too, that seven is the number of completion. That on the seventh day, after God made man and woman for each other -- for help, for comfort -- He looked at what He’d made and called it good. And finally rested.

#how he asked #msr fanfic #xf fanfic #x files fanfic #proposal #final chapter #fictober #mywriting

[failcdmothcr]

Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li

Ship: Clay Bailey x Jackie Spicer

Summary: after receiving some time off at the temple, Clay decides to take his girlfriend on a trip to Berlin. Fun is had and Clay learns more about his evil genius.

A/N: So I am not Jewish, but heavily headcanon that Jack/Jackie is. That being said, if I ever get something wrong please let me know so I can fix it. I was supposed to finish this for Hanukkah, but didn’t and thus only just recently finished it. But please. Enjoy.

It was rare that Clay was able to sneak away from his Xiaolin Duties. Always studying, always working hard. But it was the holidays, and while usually the monks made sure to spend it together, each of them was allowed to have some down time. So of course, when Clay was able to use the Tiger Claws to spend some days away from the temple, he made sure to text Jackie almost automatically.

He thought it was cute. He’d pick her up and automatically use the same Wu to drag the spunky genius to Berlin. He had heard stories of the Christmas Market and it’s beauty from family friends and the Internet. The two could get something to drink, explore the market, buy a few gifts. Jackie had also talked before about her family having some Germanic roots, and how she would have loved to visit the university where Einstein had taught. In his mind Berlin was perfect.

Just as he predicted, she loved the visiting of the university. They stood outside it for quite a while and Clay loved hearing her excitedly explain scientific concepts. He took her to some museums, and they made even more sure to visit a Biergarten (even if the weather wasn’t the best for it). Jackie giggled as she watched him down a stein of beer like it was water. It was seeming perfect. The two walking hand in hand through the market where they didn’t have to worry about if something got activated or that they represented different sides. They were having happy thoughts. It wasn’t until later when they stepped out of the market Clay noticed something. Jackie was playing with a ring on one of her fingers. A neutral look appeared on her face as she looked at what was in front of her. An assortment of concrete slabs. Turning her head up to Clay she seemed somewhat solemn. He stuck a hand on her shoulder. A sense of uneasiness overcoming him. It didn’t help that it seemed wherever they were, the hustle and bustle of the market’s sound disappeared.

Jackie shook her shoulder away from Clay, instead walking deeper into area. Under her breath it seemed as if she was reciting something, yet Clay didn’t know what. He was only able to pick up some words, but knew for a fact she wasn’t speaking English. Was she praying? Was this a religious spot? Clay kept his distance but followed her, not wanting to break whatever trance she was in. Instead, he followed and listened as she repeated her prayers. Not even to wipe away any tears that threatened to fall down her face did he touch her.

It wasn’t until they were leaving the mysterious spot did Jackie address him. Her hands folded in front of her. “Clay. Did I ever tell you about my family history?” She asked. There it was. The reason for what she had done. He just shook his head. Jackie removed the ring and handed it to him. His eyes scanning the inscription. “ Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li,” she recited. “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. It belonged to my grandmother Ethel. Given to her by my great Grandfather Avi Spitzer on their wedding day. 1938. They got married while traveling to America from Königsberg.” It sank in for Clay. The place she wandered, it had to have been a memorial. “My great aunt Miriam wasn’t so lucky. Ethel always felt terrible leaving her family behind. I hope you don’t mind, I went through that for her and some other family members.”

Jackie had come out to Clay about so many details about her life. Years of psychological abuse from her mother, exposure to her daily morning routine, her darkest secrets. And now this. He took her hand, sliding the ring back onto her finger and kissing her forehead. This was who she was, and every time she revealed something new about herself to him, Clay was just happy she opened up.

“You just walked through a Christmas market with me, not once saying a thing about it not being the holiday you celebrate. I can walk through a memorial with you for an event that was so negative for you and your people.” Clay tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “Come on. Why don’t we go to our hotel. You can go take a nap and I’ll find us a menorah. We’ll take this mini vacation to celebrate Hanukkah. How does that sound?” With that he wrapped his arm around her and lead her away from the memorial .

#mun writes #DFAB Jack Spicer #Jackie Spicer #ClAck #Clay Bailey #ClAckie #oneshots #shamelessly posts oneshot about my OTP

[dfroza]

some people disagree with God’s creation

including the beautiful wonder of the human body made in His image, equally as male & female. for it is that our gender can never be chosen by us no matter what we think or do to the body while here in this world, since each of us will die the same gender that we were conceived in our mother’s womb which is the start of life at the genesis spark of conception between the seeds of earthly mother & father. and regardless of sexual attraction to others, it is always sinful behavior to engage sexually with anyone of the same birth gender. for in the marital bond a man becomes as “One” body with a woman through sex, and it is impossible for a man to become “One” body with another man, or a woman with another woman. and this physical and spiritual truth doesn’t change just because people don’t agree with it.

but as it now is, people hold the ability to choose to be in a mutual relationship with whoever they want to be with in this world. yet as daughters & sons of Light we are meant to follow our Creator’s design and to still respect and be kind to others who may disagree. and we are to share truth by doing so with Love. for absolutely every single one of us is in need of the same grace, and to willingly embrace it with humility of heart, mind, & body.

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 8th and closing chapter of Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) that illuminates the significance of waiting to share the body with another:

If only I could show everyone

this passionate desire I have for you.

If only I could express it fully,

no matter who was watching me,

without shame or embarrassment.

I long to bring you to my innermost chamber—

this holy sanctuary you have formed within me.

O that I might carry you within me!

I would give you the spiced wine of my love,

this full cup of bliss that we share.

We would drink our fill until . . .

His left hand cradles my head

while his right hand holds me close.

We are at rest in this love.

Promise me, brides-to-be,

by the gentle gazelles and delicate deer,

that you’ll not disturb my love until he is ready to arise.

[The Bridegroom-King]

Who is this one?

She arises out of her desert, clinging to her beloved.

When I awakened you under the apple tree,

as you were feasting upon me,

I awakened your innermost being with the travail of birth

as you longed for more of me.

Fasten me upon your heart as a seal of fire forevermore.

This living, consuming flame

will seal you as my prisoner of love.

My passion is stronger

than the chains of death and the grave,

all consuming as the very flashes of fire

from the burning heart of God.

Place this fierce, unrelenting fire over your entire being.

Rivers of pain and persecution

will never extinguish this flame.

Endless floods will be unable

to quench this raging fire that burns within you.

Everything will be consumed.

It will stop at nothing

as you yield everything to this furious fire

until it won’t even seem to you like a sacrifice anymore.

[The Shulamite Bride]

My brothers said to me when I was young,

“Our sister is so immature.

What will we do to guard her for her wedding day?”

[The Bridegroom-King]

We will build a tower of redemption to protect her.

Since she is vulnerable,

we will enclose her with a wall of cedar boards.

[The Shulamite Bride]

But now I have grown and become a bride,

and my love for him has made me

a tower of passion and contentment for my beloved.

I am now a firm wall of protection for others,

guarding them from harm.

This is how he sees me—I am the one who brings him bliss,

finding favor in his eyes.

My bridegroom-king has a vineyard of love

made from a multitude of followers.

His caretakers of this vineyard

have given my beloved their best.

But as for my own vineyard of love,

I give all the glory to you.

And I will give double honor

to those who serve my beloved

and have watched over my soul.

My beloved, one with me in my garden,

how marvelous that my friends, the brides-to-be,

now hear your voice and song.

Let me now hear it again.

[The Bridegroom and the Bride in Divine Duet]

Arise, my darling!

Come quickly, my beloved.

Come and be the graceful gazelle with me.

Come be like a young stag with me.

We will dance in the high place of the sky,

yes, on the mountains of fragrant spice.

Forever we shall be united as one!

The Song of Solomon, Chapter 8 (The Passion Translation)

A personal poetic expression of this since my own heart has become a written proposal to a woman as a seed that i’ve had to conserve:

to be accompanied by these lines:

His left hand cradles my head,

and his right hand reaches out to embrace me.

(to the young women of Jerusalem) Heed my warning:

I charge you not to excite your love until it is ready.

Don’t stir a fire in your heart too soon, until it is ready to be satisfied.

Young Women of Jerusalem: Who is this woman coming up from the desert,

leaning on her love?

Her: Under the apple tree I roused your love for me,

in the place where your mother conceived you,

in the place where she gave birth to you.

Set me as a seal over your heart;

wear me as an emblem on your arm

For love is as strong as death,

and jealousy is as relentless as the grave.

Love flares up like a blazing fire, a very ardent flame.

No amount of water can quench love;

a raging flood cannot drown it out.

If a person tried to exchange all of his wealth for love,

then he would be surely rejected.

The Song of Solomon, Chapter 8:3-7 (The Voice)

[The Woman]

Hang my locket around your neck,

wear my ring on your finger.

Love is invincible facing danger and death.

Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.

The fire of love stops at nothing—

it sweeps everything before it.

Flood waters can’t drown love,

torrents of rain can’t put it out.

Love can’t be bought, love can’t be sold—

it’s not to be found in the marketplace.

My brothers used to worry about me:

“Our little sister has no breasts.

What shall we do with our little sister

when men come asking for her?

She’s a virgin and vulnerable,

and we’ll protect her.

If they think she’s a wall, we’ll top it with barbed wire.

If they think she’s a door, we’ll barricade it.”

Dear brothers, I’m a walled-in virgin still,

but my breasts are full—

And when my lover sees me,

he knows he’ll soon be satisfied.

The Song of Solomon, Chapter 8:6-10 (The Message)

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 9th chapter of the book of Acts that documents the conversion of Saul, from a man issuing threats of arrest into a brother in Love:

During those days, Saul, full of angry threats and rage, wanted to murder the disciples of the Lord Jesus. So he went to ask the high priest and requested a letter of authorization he could take to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, requesting their cooperation in finding and arresting any who were followers of the Way. Saul wanted to capture all of the believers he found, both men and women, and drag them as prisoners back to Jerusalem. So he obtained the authorization and left for Damascus.

Just outside the city, a brilliant light flashing from heaven suddenly exploded all around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a booming voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

The men accompanying Saul were stunned and speechless, for they heard a heavenly voice but could see no one.

Saul replied, “Who are you, Lord?”

“I am Jesus, the Victorious, the one you are persecuting. Now, get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you are to do.”

Saul stood to his feet, and even though his eyes were open he could see nothing—he was blind. So the men had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. For three days he didn’t eat or drink and couldn’t see a thing.

Living in Damascus was a believer named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling his name. “Ananias.”

“Yes, Lord,” Ananias answered.

The Lord said, “Go at once to the street called Abundance and look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. You will find him at Judah’s house. While he was praying, he saw in a supernatural vision a man named Ananias coming to lay hands upon him to restore his sight.”

“But Lord,” Ananias replied, “many have told me about his terrible persecution of those in Jerusalem who are devoted to you. In fact, the high priest has authorized him to seize and imprison all those in Damascus who call on your name.”

The Lord Yahweh answered him, “Arise and go! I have chosen this man to be my special messenger. He will be brought before kings, before many nations, and before the Jewish people to give them the revelation of who I am. And I will show him how much he is destined to suffer because of his passion for me.”

Ananias left and found the house where Saul was staying. He went inside and laid hands on him, saying, “Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me to pray for you so that you might see again and be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.”

All at once, the crusty substance that was over Saul’s eyes disappeared and he could see perfectly. Immediately, he got up and was baptized. After eating a meal, his strength returned.

Within the hour he was in the synagogues, preaching about Jesus and proclaiming, “Jesus is the Son of God!” Those who heard him were astonished, saying among themselves, “Isn’t this the Saul who furiously persecuted those in Jerusalem who called on the name of Jesus? Didn’t he come here with permission from the high priest to drag them off and take them as prisoners?”

Saul’s power increased greatly as he became more and more proficient in proving that Jesus was the anointed Messiah. Saul remained there for several days with the disciples, even though it agitated the Jews of Damascus.

As time passed, the Jews plotted together to kill Saul, but it was revealed to him what they were about to do. They closely guarded the gates of the city and tracked his every movement so they could kill him. But during the night, some of Saul’s converts helped him escape by lowering him down through an opening in the wall, hiding him in a woven basket.

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to introduce himself to the fellowship of the believers, but everyone was afraid of him because they doubted he was a true disciple. Barnabas came to his defense and brought him before the apostles. Saul shared with them his supernatural experience of seeing the Lord, who spoke with him on the road to Damascus. Barnabas also told them how boldly Saul preached throughout the city in Jesus’ mighty name.

Then they accepted him as a brother and he remained with them, joining them wherever they went in Jerusalem, boldly preaching in the power and authority of Jesus. He openly debated with some of the Jews who had adopted the Greek culture, yet they were secretly plotting to murder him. When the believers discovered their scheme, they smuggled him out of the city and took him to Caesarea and then sent him on to Tarsus.

After this, the church all over Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a season of peace. The congregations grew larger and larger, with the believers being empowered and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. They worshiped God in wonder and awe, and walked in the fear of the Lord.

As Peter was ministering from place to place, he visited God’s devoted ones in the village of Lydda. He met a man there named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Anointed One instantly and divinely heals you. Now, get up and make your bed.”

All at once he stood to his feet. And when all the people of Lydda and Sharon saw him, they became believers in the Lord.

Now, there was a follower of Jesus who lived in Joppa. Her Aramaic name, Tabitha, means “gazelle.” She lived her life doing kind things for others and serving the poor. But then she became very ill and died. After the disciples prepared her body for burial, they laid her in an upstairs room.

When the believers heard that Peter was nearby in Lydda, they sent two men with an urgent message for him to come without delay. So Peter went with them back to Joppa, and upon arriving they led him to the upper room.

There were many widows standing next to Peter, weeping. One after another showed him the tunics and other garments that Tabitha had made to bless others. Peter made them all leave the room. Then he knelt down and prayed. Turning to the dead body, he said, “Tabitha, rise up!”

At once she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers and all the widows to come and see that she was alive!

The news spread all over the city of Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Peter remained in Joppa for several more days as a guest at the house of Simon the tanner.

The Book of Acts, Chapter 9 (The Passion Translation)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Tuesday, june 8 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about this in-between time:

Sometimes we seem to forget that we are not home yet... The ancient thinker Socrates argued that philosophy, when done correctly, was "practice for death," since the passing shadows of this world pointed to an unchanging good, our true end. Likewise Yeshua our Messiah taught us to take up the cross and die daily (Luke 9:23). We are to “set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth,” for we have died and our life is hidden with Messiah in God (Col. 3:2-3).

It is difficult for us to die, to let go, however, because we are deeply attached to this world, and we often abide under the worldly illusion that we will live forever, that tomorrow will resemble today, and that heaven can wait... History is littered with crumbling monuments offered to the idols of this world. The Scriptures are clear, however: "The present form (τὸ σχῆμα) of this world is passing away" (1 Cor. 7:31), and the heart of faith seeks a city whose Designer and Builder is God Himself (Heb. 11:10). "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day... For the things that are seen are turning to dust, but the things that are unseen endure forever (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Because of our sin, creation was made "subject to vanity," though God has overcome the dust of death by giving us an unshakable hope (Rom. 8:20).

The metaphysical truth that "ha’kol oveir" (הַכּל עוֹבֵר), “everything passes” like a shadow, should help us keep our perspective regarding the various moments of testing we all face in this life. As Nachman of Breslov once said, "The whole earth is a very narrow bridge, and the important thing is never to be afraid" (כָּל־הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ גֶּשֶׁר צַר מְאד וְהָעִקָּר לא לְפַחֵד כְּלָל). Yeshua is the Bridge to the Father, the narrow way of passage that leads to life. He has overcome the meretricious world and its vanities. He calls out to us in the storm saying, “Take heart. It is I; be not afraid” (Matt. 14:27). When Peter answered the call and attempted to walk across the stormy waters, he lost courage and began to sink, but Yeshua immediately took hold of him, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt (lit., think twice)?” Resist the false assumptions that surround common worldly consciousness: Keep focused on the reality of Yeshua and the way he reveals... [Hebrew for Christians]

6.7.21 • Facebook

and another about a sacred question mark (?)

The Book of Lamentations is an acrostic (i.e., alphabetical) poem that begins with the Hebrew letter Aleph (א) in the word "eichah" (אֵיכָה), which also marks the Hebrew name of the book (מגילת איכה). "How (eichah) lonely sits the city that once was full of people!" (Lam. 1:1). The sages note that this word "how" (i.e., eichah) could also be read as "where are you?" (i.e., ayeka: אַיֶּכָּה), God's first word spoken to Adam after he broke covenant in the Garden (Gen. 3:9). Note that God's question is often our own: "Where are you God? Are you here, in the midst of this tedious moment? Do you know my loneliness, my ache for love? Do you understand the troubles of my heart? Do you know my pain?" And yet how many people have faith that God’s call is one of comfort and restoration? God uses our loneliness ("how lonely...") to search our hearts, asking each of us, ayeka – "Where are you?" "Why have you turned away from me and chosen a state of exile?" Our haunting sense of God’s absence impels us to seek for him... God awaits our only possible response, "Hashivenu!" -- an imperative (urgent appeal) for the grace to repent: "Turn us back to yourself, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old" (Lam. 5:21).

Our response to the questioning love of the LORD is called teshuvah (“turning [shuv] to God”). Teshuvah is an “answer” to a shelah, or a question. God’s love for us is the question, and our teshuvah – our turning of the heart toward Him – is the answer. As Jeremiah confessed in the hour of great trouble: "I called upon your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; You heard my voice: hide not your ear at my breathing, at my cry. You came near when I called upon you; you said, ‘Do not be afraid.’" (Lam. 3:55-57). [Hebrew for Christians]

6.8.21 • Facebook

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

June 8, 2021

Israel's Confession of Faith

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

As stated in the law, Deuteronomy 6:4-9 was to be recited by all Jews both morning and evening, for it contains God’s basic plan for passing on the message of God from generation to generation.

The primary teaching is contained in verse 4. There is only one God, indivisible, although in three persons. His divine uniqueness precludes the worship of any other deity. The response to this message is that we should love that God with our entire being. Jesus Christ recognized this as the first and greatest commandment (Mark 12:30), teaching that obedience to it fulfilled one’s duty to the entire law.

The message was so important that God even gave the mechanics for passing it on. In verse 6, we see that “these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” Each person, particularly parents (v. 7), needed a heart commitment to God’s commandments, statutes, and judgments (vv. 1-2).

Next, they had to commit themselves to raising up a godly heritage. “Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children” (v. 7). This teaching was to be first of all oral teaching. They were also to dress in such a way that it reflected their commitment to the law of God (v. 8), and they were to place visual reminders of the law of God all around their homes so that the children were constantly reminded of the things of God (v. 9).

Christians need to discover the truth of this passage. We must not merely assume the godly teaching of our children but also actively cultivate it. At stake is not only the personal walk of our children but also the eternal message of God. JDM

[janiklandre-blog]

Saturday, March 4, 2017

10:45 a.m. chilly day, Already 11:15 - remembered still other people to write to - and earlier, for the first time I got an interesting response from one of my readers - attributing the very worst qualities to me - making me worried will she want to talk to me again? - I am asking myself, how do I feel about that? Am I really the truly horrible person she describes - whose friend she has been willing to be - another reader had sent me an iterm from the Atlantic Magazine regarding the book Kate Hennessy has written about her grandmother Dorothy Day - who was praised for accepting the most undesirable people - and now is being sainted.

Accepting undesirable people. I have written how Paco said I attracted what he called subhumans - the computer is underlining the word red - perhaps it should not exist - but one woman at the CW, who definitely will remain unnamed one day to my amazement said: I know I am better than other people. She already previously had indicated to me that I definitely was worse - and that brings me back to my pet topic - earlier this morning I actually found out how many people at the CW do get labelled "mentally ill" - it is kindness sending them to Bellevue Hospital where they will "get help" - read once again urged to take medication most kindly provided to them for free - and that will make "human" - the kind of people accepted by society.

Well, I always point out the classifications Hitler and his people - millions? - found for undesirables, subhumans, mentally ill and of course all the racially defective - I one of them, with a Jewish grandfather - spending the first 13 years of my life - 1933 to 1945 - as an outcast, an alien, a stateless and powerless person - on the list to be kindly killed and society relieved of one more subhuman.

Sigh. How we classify each other - how good it felt to those who were part of the "Herrenrasse" - the pure arians - of course it is well known that Hitler and his cohorts all had some Jew in their closets. The list of undesirables was long - the camps to them to were ready - within hours the political opponents were arrested and summarily executed - same story for all dictadors  - kill your enemies as fast as possible - but close to the top of the list, also, the mentally ill - useless people - their families were told they died of pneumonia or some disease - and many families wanted to believe it and were unbelieving when the truth came out later. The Jews are the best known categories - many riches to be gained by disowning them. The homosexuals - those now known as LBTG - marked with some pink labels, off to be gassed. Gypsies - useless. And of course all the Slavic people - in the areas to the East of Germany  - the Lebensraum - space to live, Germany needed, with slave labor to work in agriculture, in the factories - well, much has been written about the class of Superior Human beings for whom only the best of the best was good enough.

In the Ph.D. dissertation I never came to write I was going to write about German women writers not very much older than I who had belonged to the superior group and described in novels and memoir the days of disillusionment - learning the truth - finding out what had been happening (some denial to this day) - and also of course they too had come to suffer from bombardment, shortages and losing their men in futile battles - the Russians of course lost millions and the allies also sacrificed many wonderful young men to the struggle.

Perhaps for me it is having been part of the subhumans  myself that makes me see value in people whom others see as useless. In the item about Dorothy Day that a friend sent me it is emphasized how much Peter Maurin, the 20 year older Frenchman who providentially entered her life when she was in her early 30's - a man who had been a hobo and often was taken for a bum - contributed to her  desire to  help the hobos and bums of this world - and effective as she was - do it in a marvelously effective way - for which I envy her.

Well, it is noon time. I once again I missed a call from C.B. - immediately called, called again, texted, emailed - dead silence  Upsetting.

All the upsets we have to deal with. Tried a third time to call. No answer.

Oh well. Yesterday I had a wonderful time with the daughter of a friend who goes back to 1955 - a friend from young days who remained a beloved fried until she died too young. We had children at the same time - alas never lived in the same place - but both were mobile enough=to meet up - twice in France, later she came to New York with some regularity and eventually I spent a summer in her house in Califiornia, alas she herself went to Germany so we did not have a lot of time together. She still came to New York. Now her daughter lives and teaches in Ithaca where I have visited her, several times she has come to New York - last Thursday she emailed me that she would be in New York the next day and she invited me for lunch at the Algonquin hotel - we spent three hours talking. Sadly she lost a most wonderful husband whom I too had dearly loved and it turned out that yesterday would have been their 23rd wedding anniversary - to a marvelous wedding in Greece where I had been invited but did not have the wherewithal at the time to go. One of several weddings I have missed. Her father is Greek and I just wrote to her, regretting that I talked a little too much yesterday - a feature of old people living alone who rarely get the chance of a great listener. Life has not been easy for her - I never came to cope with grief like her grief - I never experienced the deep love she and her husband shared. Stephen W. often quoted Buddhists saying, attachment causes suffering - and yet I regret the deep attachments I have missed in my life and at times even think, though not a Buddhist I may well have avoided attachments - caused by the fears of my childhood when I was torn from so many people, so many people died that perhaps I became afraid of being too deeply attached. She told me how her body reacted to her deep grief - and lucklly an excellent doctor recognized the symptoms for what they were and helped by natural means to deal with them.

She had mentioned going to Europe and only in parting I asked about it and it turns out that she has warm and loving relatives on her Greek father's side in Greece on an island - she also has a speaking engagement in Athens - and she hopes to be there for two months. Her one sibling, a brother, to whom she is very close lives in California where she has grown up - would have loved to get a job in California but in her field, comparative literature - she was one of 323 candidates who got the job in Ithaca. It is very cold in Ithaca and she said people find it hard to deal with here grief - she is a loving teacher to her students - but they are young. I felt very honored that she chose me to be with her on a day that was hard to her. She is a beautiful woman - also asked for my sons and hopes to meet them again.

Then I did look into the CW newspaper and happened to notice Kathy Kelly was speaking at the Friday night meeting, decided to go - about to leave my grandson called from downstairs - I am happy for people to drop in on me and I was glad I had not left yet - I suggested a quick bite for him at the diner on the corner of 5th Street and 2nd Ave - now called Kitchen Sink - we did get to talk a bit, then he walked me to CW and briefly listened to Kathy Kelly - who is an excellent speaker - only - little of it was new to the group she was addressing - meeting very well attended - she kept talking of the need to educate people - also one of my pet topics - and I would like to remind people of the Socialists of yesteryear - education was their goal - they formed groups that read books, they set up what was called "Volkshochschule" - a free people's university - my father taught there - in New York their was the Brecht Forum - now gone - and all that gets studied at the CW is the bible - the attendance has shrunk to three with enormous familiarity with biblical figures - interesting up to a point _ would like a group reading some of the books I read about on present problems.

My grandson had to leave soon to meet a friend and I left before too long - slept a bit restlessly - and it is 1 p.m. and I am hungry. C.B.eventually called, said she could not see on account of the sun - though she talked of being inside - then couldn't hear what I was saying because she was busy sorting mail - I just said, call me when you are not doing 100 other things. And, so it goes.Off to eat something - walk to Washington Square - perhaps I'll call Jimmy see what he is doing - another friend is busy with her family - the plaint of my mother - everybody is busy with their family - don't really feel like going to CW - no one there to talk to - at best to listen to talk about trivial mattes. Marianne

[tpanan]

My Saturday Daily Blessings

January 7, 2017

Be still quiet your heart and mind, the LORD is here, loving you talking to you...........

Christmas Weekday (Roman Rite Calendar)

First Reading: 1 John 5:14-21

Beloved: We have this confidence in God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours.  If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray.  All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly. We know that no one begotten by God sins; but the one begotten by God he protects, and the Evil One cannot touch him. We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One. We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to know the one who is true.  And we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.  He is the true God and eternal life.  Children, be on your guard against idols.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5, 6a and 9b

"The LORD takes delight on His people."

Verse before the Gospel: Luke 7:16

Alleluia, Alleluia

"A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people."

Alleluia, Alleluia,

Gospel: John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it.  And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

**Meditation:

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, tells us that Jesus did many signs in the presence of his disciples. John recorded seven of these signs to strengthen our belief that 'Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name' (John 20:30-31). Jesus' first sign took place at a wedding reception in the town of Cana, which was very close to Nazareth in Galilee where Jesus grew up. What does this sign tell us about about Jesus? And what is its significance for us?  

From skepticism to belief John locates his account of Jesus' first sign by telling us that it occurred on the third day (John 2:1-2). What is the significance of the third day? This is three days after skeptical Nathaniel’s first encounter with Jesus. Philip had encouraged Nathaniel to “come and see” for himself who this Jesus was. When Nathaniel met Jesus, Jesus did something out of the ordinary. He revealed something personal about Nathaniel that only Nathaniel would have known. And then Jesus made a claim: 'You shall see greater things than these.' And he said to Nathaniel, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man"  (John 1:50-51). Jesus in so many words told Nathaniel, '“You don't just have to believe my words, what I am saying here. I am going to perform signs that will back up the truth of what I’m saying and prove that I am who I claim to be.' If someone makes that kind of claim to you, you are going to closely watch whatever he does to see if he can make good on the claim. You want to find out if he is genuine or just an imposter or maybe deluded and crazy.

Turning failure into blessing Three days later Jesus takes his disciples to a wedding reception and there he does something quite out of the ordinary, right in the middle of the celebration - and during a very embarrassing moment for the bride and groom. When Jesus' mother presses Jesus to do something about the situation, Jesus seems to put her off. But she knows her son very well and understands that Jesus will handle the situation that way he thinks best.

Why did the wedding party run out of wine in the middle of the feast? Perhaps Jesus contributed to this embarrassing failure by bringing a group of his disciples to the feast at the last minute. But Jesus had a purpose in turning a wedding feast fiasco into a blessing beyond reckoning. He wanted to bless a newly-wed couple and all those at the wedding banquet as well. Everyone received in abundance the best of wine. John describes Jesus' first public miracle as a sign. It is more than simply a demonstration of his power to change nature. It is a sign of what he has come to do - to transform the lives of all who will believe in him.

Bridegroom of the new Israel Why did Jesus pick an ordinary wedding feast in a little out-of-the-way town to perform his first sign and to launch his public ministry? A wedding feast in nearly every culture is a very big event, often the biggest celebration that people experience, because it brings families, neighbors, and sometimes the whole town together. For many people it is the happiest and most memorable occasion in their life.

,

For the people of Israel, the wedding feast had a special spiritual significance as well. It came to symbolize God’s special relationship and covenant with the people of Israel. The Old Testament describes God as the Bridegroom of Israel and presents his covenant relationship with the people of God as a spiritual marriage (Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 3:14; Hosea 2:16, 19-20). One of the most powerful images of heaven is the wedding banquet (Revelations 19:7-9). The Bible ends with the invitation to this marriage feast. "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come'" (Revelations 21:17).

So when Jesus chooses a wedding feast for his first sign, he is giving us a hint about something that will become more explicit when John the Baptist describes Jesus as the betrothed bridegroom of his people (John 3:29). In the other Gospels Jesus also alludes to his role as the bridegroom of the new people of Israel (see Mark 2:18-20; Matthew 9:14-15; Matthew 22:1-14; Matthew 25:6) when he invites both Jews and Gentiles to share in his heavenly banquet at the end of the age (Luke 13:29).

Changing water into wine What is so special about Jesus changing water into wine? Any good winemaker knows how to take a watery substance such as grape juice and turn it into wine. First you wait for the grapes to grow and mature. Then you pick the choicest grapes for the best wine you want to make. You crush the grapes into a mush. Then you add some water, yeast, and sugar. You allow this mixture to ferment over a period of several weeks. During that time you skim off the solid material until you are left with pure liquid - wine. Wine must be slightly aged to be drinkable - white wine must sit for half a year, and red wine for a full year. Some of the most famous wines are aged for many years.

Jesus didn't turn the water into a fruity grape juice, or into ordinary table wine. He instantly produced the finest and most expensive of wines - a fine vintage wine that would normally take years to age. He didn’t produce just enough wine to satisfy the embarrassed bride and groom and guests. He produced 120 gallons! Abundance indeed. The instantaneous turning of water into wine shows Jesus' supernatural power to transform natural things - what is physical and material - into something of a higher order. He has the same power which God possesses - to create, transform, and change creation itself.

The gift of abundant life If Jesus can change water into wine for an embarrassed wedding couple, how much more can he change us through the transforming power of his Holy Spirit. John tells us that 'all who received him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God' (John 1:12,13). Jesus gives us abundant life. This sign at Cana points to his power not simply to improve the quality of our lives but to change and transform us to be like him - people of joy, peace, and love who do not fear death, but who know and experience even now the taste of eternal life - the life of God’s kingdom. He gives us everything we need to live as his disciples - as sons and daughters of God.Jesus blessed a nameless couple in Cana, not only with his presence, but with his power. He will bless us as well, not only with his presence, but with his healing love and life-changing power.

Let go of pride and fear What might hold us back from allowing Jesus to change and transform us? Perhaps you feel that your faith is weak, or that you are unworthy to receive God's favor and gifts. Perhaps you struggle with anxiety or despair because your life feels hopelessly out of control. Jesus knows our struggles and weaknesses better than we do. And that doesn't stop him from offering us freedom and transformation through the gift and working of his Holy Spirit.

Paul the Apostle reminds us that God chooses to work in and through fragile and cracked vessels, such as us, to reveal the power of his glory and love. 'We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us' (2 Corinthians 4:7). If there is anything holding you back from trusting in Jesus, let it go - give it to Jesus. Let go of fear - fear of losing your life. Let go of pride - wanting to always be in control and get things to go your way. And let go of unbelief - the stubborn refusal to accept Jesus on his own terms and to deny that he has the words of eternal life. Be like Nathaniel and choose to follow the master - to the wedding banquet and beyond, to even greater things.

**Prayer:

"Heavenly Father, you have revealed your glory in our Lord Jesus Christ. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may bring you glory in all that I do and say.” AMEN.

Sources:

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

**Meditations may be freely reprinted for non-commercial use. Cite copyright & source: www.dailyscripture.net author Don Schwager © 2015 Servants of the Word