"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." Saint Francis De Sales

Friday, April 6, 2018

Clueless, A Cross & A Ruse




Peter Berghout had an interesting observation of Mary Magdalene and her encounter with the “Risen Jesus.”

“ … despite John’s faith, as some commenters note, the Beloved Disciple has "no narrative impact” because, in John’s Gospel, he does not communicate his discovery to others. His coming to believe affects no other character in the account.

Rather, its Mary Magdalene, who was also a devoted disciple, and who was even delivered from demonic possession by Jesus (Luke 8:2), and she was also at the Cross with John—she has the biggest “narrative impact” although she was also the most clueless on the first Easter morning!
Why is that?
Maybe it is because the clueless in you honors the clueless in me.”

Mr. Berghout then provides an “action” for us.

“Whether one believes nothing yet or has come to a partial understanding, believing is a process of uncovering errors and weaknesses and coming to a deeper, more authentic relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God.”

Amen.

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There is a cross that stands in Prince George County, Maryland. It is a monument that has been standing for over 90 years. There are 49 names at the base of the cross. They are names of veterans who died fighting in World War I. Along with the names are the words:

 “Valor,
Endurance,
Courage,
Devotion.”

It is called the “Peace Cross.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, in an 8  to 6 vote, are “saying that the cross is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.”
(Their interpretation of the law, perhaps not unlike the Pharisees of Roman times.)

When I look at the photo below, I see a cross, and a symbol of the “freedom of religion” that those veterans fought for. Why should it be taken away from them?


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Last week I was concerned that one of the local squirrels, (Sciurus carolinensis) was getting closer to getting at the bird feed. This was an apparent ruse on his part. The objective was the suet. Dee managed to catch the culprit feasting on the delectable winter feed.



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"If Spring came but once in a century, instead of once a year, or burst forth with the sound of an earthquake, and not in silence, what wonder and expectation there would be in all hearts to behold the miraculous change!  But now the silent succession suggests nothing but necessity.  To most men only the cessation of the miracle would be miraculous and the perpetual exercise of God's power seems less wonderful than its withdrawal would be."
-  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow   

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Jabberwocky
- Lewis Clark

"Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought —
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

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Everly Brothers- “Let It Be Me”


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Go over to "This Ain't the Lyceum," where Kelly is hosting more takes

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