#Ezekiel is such a bystander right now

[wheredidalltheusersgo]

The Stranded and The Scaly

Chapter 8

Day 7: Transformation.

Content warnings for chapter: Body horror? Descriptions of transformation/mutation, gore, vomit.

It was dark, very dark. He couldn't feel his legs, he couldn't feel his arms, he couldn't feel his body.

He couldn't feel his skin and flesh melting and falling off his bones, but he could see it. He could see his tendons snapping and shredding. The cartilage on his body dissolved. He didn't have the vocal chords to scream.

But all of a sudden, he was whole again. There was a nagging, burning sensation in his skin, all over his body.

The set of the Aftermath Show formed all around him, the coloured lights, that familiar couch. Bridgette was next to him, what a relief. However, she was looking away from him. He reached over and gently cupped her cheek so she could face him. He quickly regretted that move. Her face was horribly distorted, skin stretched in ways that shouldn't even be possible. He quickly jolted away from the nightmarish girl.

Big mistake.

A pair of hands roughly grabbed at his waist from behind, it was Duncan, with the same horrid facial distortion.

He wanted to scream, he wanted to scream so loudly. He wanted to run, he wanted to get away. Duncan's grip around his waist only increased as he tried to escape. Someone grabbed at his right leg. Owen. Another grab at his left leg. Tyler.

Nightmarish versions of his friends were crawling out from behind the props on set, they swarmed him and pinned him down.

He couldn't move. Bridgette and Gwen held his arms tightly.

He looked ahead, past the empty rows of seats, to the double doors, the entrance to the entire room.

There was a loud banging noise coming from behind those doors. He struggled in the grips of his friends, his fellow castmates, his allies.

Bang. Went the double doors again.

Bang. He knew they wouldn't hold.

Bang. The doors gave way and flew off the hinges.

A large, humanoid beast was hunched over at the entrance. It looked too much like him. It's wild blonde bangs obscured it's scaly features, it's long, thick tail swayed behind it. It approached slowly, and the ground shook with every step. As it got closer, he could make out more of it's features. The curved nose, the cleft chin. Those were all of HIS features. The beast was towering over him now, the distorted versions of his friends held him firmly in place. It opened it's jaws to reveal rows of sharp teeth and leaned in closer. He sobbed and closed his eyes as the jaws slowly closed in around his head and the beast's saliva dripped onto his hair. He accepted his fate as the jaws snapped shut.

Crunch.

Geoff jolted upright with a frightened scream, tears streaming down his cheeks.

His skin still burned. The nightmare was over, why did it still burn? The scream had startled Ezekiel awake, and he was staring at his blonde companion with wide eyes.

Geoff sobbed as he frantically rubbed at his arms. It was so hot, he felt like he was boiling alive.

"Z-zeke, what's going on?! What's wrong with me, man?!..."

Ezekiel didn't know what to do. He held onto Geoff's arm firmly to keep him grounded.

Both of Geoff's legs ached harshly, but that ache spread all throughout his bones. He whimpered and gasped through his tears as his entire body trembled. Ezekiel stared in horror as scales began to burst through Geoff's soft skin. They were covering his entire body. Geoff felt his bones stretch and grow, he threw his head back and planted his palms firmly on the ground as he wailed loudly. He tried to get up, but he hunched over in pain and fell to his knees.

It hurt. It hurt so bad. He just wanted this to stop.

Zeke watched as the boy grew taller and wider. His eyes were fixed on the horrific display in front of him.

Geoff felt his spine elongate and protrude from his lower back into a long tail. His nails formed into claws, his teeth sharpened, his ears grew pointier, jagged ridges grew and ran along his back and new tail. His hair almost reached past his neck now.

He screamed and clawed at the ground, the scales were still growing all over his body where smooth skin once was. His stomach churned furiously, the pain was making him nauseous.

Geoff kept his eyes screwed shut, but tears still poured down his face and dripped onto the ground.

Ezekiel was easily dwarfed by Geoff now, the boy was nearly twice as large as he had been just an hour ago.

Geoff was breathing hard, he still felt so damn nauseous. It was unbearable.

He gagged and turned away from Ezekiel before vomiting on the cave floor.

Great, now his throat burned as well.

There was a loud thud as he collapsed onto his side, he felt so weak. He panted and wheezed as he stared up at the stalactites far above him.

Ezekiel rushed to Geoff's side and pressed his cheek against his chest with a whine.

There was no response from Geoff.

The boy wasn't human anymore.

Aside from his chest, belly, and inner thighs, he was covered in smooth, slightly shiny scales. All along his spine and his long, thick tail, there were rough ridges. His ears were also long, pointed, and covered in smaller scales. While his leg had healed, the scars on his chest remained. His hands and feet were now clawed, and his hair was long and wild.

Geoff simply couldn't find the words to speak, so he gently pulled Ezekiel close for comfort. Ezekiel stayed still as the blonde boy held him.

After a few minutes of complete silence, Geoff spoke up.

"I really need some new jorts."

-------

[stfu-im-thinking-abt-blorbo]

Thoughts about each TDI Reboot episode, starting at 1. SPOILERS UNDER THE READMORE.

Chris' new voice is certainly... a change. I don't mind it, and I think Terry is getting his acting and emotes for him right, but it's definitely gonna take some time to adjust and not immediately think it's Don.

"Hey, what's up I'm here to slay" from the intro is killing me in the best and worst ways. Rip the old intro song.

Also there's a very VERY small detail for the campfire. When Raj looks back to the screen, only one of his eyes follow. Either an animation error, or he has a lazy eye.

It's been 15 years since the beginning of the show in canon?? That means the gen 1 and 2 casts are roughly between 28-31 I think?? And yet Chris and Chef Hatchet don't look any different. Also since og Island premiered in 2007, this one is taking place in 2022 and NOT 2023.

Either way this gives me a good excuse to practice character design with a 15 years timeskip and make adult designs for the gen 1 and 2 casts.

Priya. WHAT. GIRL GO TO THERAPY AND GET AWAY FROM YOUR PARENTS. Also Owen cameo.

Bowie is gay like I thought he'd be. Now way he wasn't a reference to David Bowie. Getting some vibes of him being the new Heather tbh.

I, like many others, thought Ripper was going to be the new Owen. He's only a small bit Owen with a dash of Duncan, and a whole lot of Scott. Respect to Ripper for how spicy he likes his food, tho lol.

Chase and Emma are exes. Chase is a YouTube/Twitch personality T-T. Here's hoping that Emma broke up with him bc she's a lesbian. Really want her and Bowie to be besties.

Scary Girl's real name is Lauren >:(

Zee is both the smartest and dumbest character. I want him to be the blorbo of the season, but I'm getting the feeling it's gonna be Bowie.

Wayne: "What'd you think, Rajey?" 🥺

Nichelle is the only one to not get an audition tape. Interesting. Also a Madonna reference?

Julia called herself an influencer. She better be an early boot for that.

MK, Axel, Caleb and Damien are the only ones I don't have any comments about. Sucks 'cause I was hoping I'd really like MK and Axel.

Drone of Dispair. Somehow the worst idea yet lol. Can't wait for a joke about one of the contestants flying over private airspace and getting shot.

Ripper called himself the alpha male nooooo

EVEN BOWIE IS CALLING WAYNE AND RAJ GAY LMAO

And Bowie immediately goes to the girls' side of the cabin to talk shit about Chase with Emma. Love them sm.

Ripper: "Where'd you get the soda from??"

Zee: "...I have no idea."

Rip Bowie's heart glasses, hope cartoon logic kicks in and he has a million of then.

If Damien thinks they can't show Ripper's censored ass on TV, then I wonder what his reaction would be to a show like Naked and Afraid.

Emma and Chase didn't break up over lesbianisms unfortunately. But messing up her car's breaks and causing her to crash is still a valid reason for her to break up with him and be incredibly upset. Like, he could have killed her, other bystanders, or any of the puppies at the shop she crashed into. Yet I think the show is treating Emma as being unreasonable? It's just a prank bro.

Also MK calling Emma out for saying 25% of the money instead of half like she did when talking to Bowie earlier. Maybe there's more to the break up story?? Like she's lying?? But that still wouldn't make sense if the show is already treating her as unreasonable beforehand. Idk.

Bowie really do be like "are the straights okay? 🙄"

Raj: "Wayners" 😭

Also Wayne and Raj both have the same accent as Ezekiel.

Goodbye Caleb, we barely knew ya. Have fun hanging out with Staci and getting no character development like her. Maybe one day he can come back like Justin.

BOWIE IS THE NEW HEATHER, I WAS RIGHT AND HE IS GONNA BE THE BLORBO

Overall, fun first episode. Not a smash hit or anything, but a pretty good hook. Also the animation and character design is such an upgrade. I was hesitant about the new cast's designs, but actually seeing them in the show and moving makes it work so much better to me. After rewatching the first half of og Island, it is amazing to see how far this show and its animators have come from 2007.

[industria-adastra]

With misinformed eagerness

A/N: I present, Demon Clary AU, but raised with Jocelyn. I think the sibling angel/demon blood reversal AU idea is interesting with the Morgenstern sibs but most of the time the fics I see with this idea just kind of. Flop. So I have to feed myself. (This AU is totally an excuse for found family-)

Summary: All heroes have to get their drive to help from somewhere

-----

The first time Clary saw it was when she was playing in the park. Mom– Mother was as listless as usual, only seeming to sink further into an abyss of negativity whenever she watched other parents play and interact with their squealing, giggling and innocent children. Bright-faced and bright-eyed, weren’t they truly a delight to be around? Clary stared at her for a moment, before her gaze went back to the neat sandcastle in front of her.

One, two, blink, blink.

Clary demolished the sandcastle without a second thought.

Would Mother pay more attention to her if she acted more like them? Or was it...ok to just be the same as always? (Hah. As if. It was obvious to anyone that Mother clearly didn’t like Clary for the way she was right now. Really, in Mother’s eyes she was probably nothing more than extra baggage she was obligated to take care of due to being the reason for her existence.)  Dirty little hands dug into the sandpit and scooped up dirty sand-curling into fists. Then, they unfurled back  in a flash, releasing the dirty sand, pouring it back to its original “home”. Void black eyes stared at open palms, focused yet glazed over-as if the owner of those eyes had magically become a porcelain doll.

Slowly, slowly, Clary put her hands down-still with the same glazed over look in her eyes-on the sand, and pushed herself up onto her two feet. Without a single glance to her mother, Clary walked out of the sandpit towards the (mostly) clear water of a fountain. She looked down expressionlessly at a rippling, watery reflection of herself. Then-propping her hands lightly against the edge of the fountain-she leaned in a little nearer to the water.

And smiled.

A dull, colourless thing it was. The edges of her eyes neither crinkling up nor thinning to make a playful closed eyed smile. Her aura of random, unexplainable happiness was like decaying plastic. To put it simply, Clary’s attempt at her own  “innocent, childish” smile had as much appeal as a dead horse. Any bystander could attest to that, even Clary could see and understand that. 

It was no use beating a dead horse.

It took less than a few seconds for her farce of a smile to dissipate back into her usual straight lined mouth. Rising back up from looking at the fountain water, Clary swiftly turned and walked to the direction of the swings. However, on the way there, a small scene caught her attention-nothing too out of the ordinary, it was merely an older child standing up for what could presumably be his younger sister against a group of even older children. She stopped walking, but made no move to help the other child out. It was fine to just watch and observe.

“Why’re you hurting my lil’ Sis anyways! She already said sorry to all you big meanies! Didn’t your mommy tell you hurting other people is wrong?” the boy screamed fearlessly at the small group of young teens, hands bunched into tight fists and his body standing protectively in front of his sobbing little sister.

A red shirted girl started to retort back, “Well—” she was suddenly interrupted by a furious looking woman dashing towards them. Judging from the brightening face of the young boy, she was probably his mother.

“Ezekiel! Calliope!” the woman yelled worriedly; the appearance of an adult caused the teens once circling the two children to scram and run away as fast as they could. Big as they were, picking a fight with an adult would be the height of stupidity.

“Mom!” the newly dubbed Ezekiel beamed at his mother. His emotions were a complete one-eighty from the previous anger-even little Calliope behind him had given her mother a thin watery smile. The two children both hurried over to hug their mother’s legs. “Mom! Mom! Those big kids just now,” he pointed in the direction of where said kids had run off, “were really mean and rude to me and Lili-they even hit Lili!”

“What?!” the woman,  obviously shocked at the news, immediately bent down to anxiously check her daughter. Once she spotted the bruises, her face darkened with anger, and she pulled both her  children into a tight hug. Whispering words of comfort and apologies that Clary barely heard into her children’s ear, the woman gently stroked their fine brown hair. 

Clary thought it was a rather extreme reaction for mere bruises, but perhaps… She turned and looked back at where she knew her Mother was, pondered, then stared down at smooth freckled skin. Unblemished and unbroken with injuries, any assortment of vivid colours-whether they be red, green, purple or yellow-would be a stark contrast on her skin. The key point being easily noticeable. Her thoughts rushed around in her head, creating scenarios and discarding ideas as quickly as they came.

No, it wouldn’t work. Maybe Luke would worry and fret a little, and that faint sometimes there voice would screech and fuss at her. But she sure as hell wouldn’t actually care. Why did she want her to care so much? It would’ve been better for Clary if she’d never expected anything from her at all. 

Static filled her mind, making her blank out as she tightly gripped onto her arm and wondered why was it so–

Loud voices yanked her out of her thoughts.

“...got hurt, I didn’t stop them before they hurt Lili! I’m sorry Mommy…”  Ezekiel looked forlorn, clearly unhappy about how his inability to win against a group of clearly stronger teens. 

What an idiot. Didn’t he know he did the best he could in such a situation?

“That’s…” the woman’s voice trailed off, hesitant about exactly how to respond. ”I’m proud of you for defending your little sister Ezekiel. What happened to Lili wasn’t your fault. Did you cause them to come over and choose to act like bullies to you two?” By then their mother was looking determinedly, but gently at her son.

“No..”

“Then don’t blame yourself for it. You did the right thing in that situation. Instead, be proud of yourself for being so brave and standing up to them. Alright?” With that, she stood up, holding Calliope in one arm and holding Ijekiel’s hand with her free hand. “Let’s go home now. What do you two want for dinner?”

In the shadows Clary watched them go, unseen by any mortal soul.

How strange. Was this the kind of behaviour parents wanted from their children? Would she prefer her to be that way?

Well, she’d never know if she didn’t try.

So as Clary walked back to her mother, she tried to practice along the way. Helping out others, being as kind as she could. Did you need this? That? What’s wrong? Are you ok? Before she reached the end, she would make sure she remembered well what was “good” and “right”.

And the pretty smile Mother gave her (no matter how fake and plasticine it was, no matter the stretched, trembling corners of her mouth, how doll-like it was compared to the sun that shone with Luke), was worth all the blood, sweat and tears she put into perfecting this persona.

[dfroza]

An innocent man

betrayed.

His innocence revealed in an ancient dream such as read in Today’s chapter of the New Testament (Matthew 27) that is paired with Ezekiel 34

numbers that remind me of the alphabetic number 27 of the letters AKO on the Oklahoma license plate of my former Saturn Vue and the alphabetic number 34 of the word “grace”

and we see the True Shepherd revealed in chapter 34 of Ezekiel who declares freedom from bullying toward His sheep and who in the New Covenant has declared our innocence by a sacred act of grace on the cross that we read in Today’s chapter of Matthew

to be followed by the lines of Psalm 26 and Psalm 34 that reflect the same.

the writing of the ancient book of Matthew, Chapter 27:

Eventually the chief priests and the elders looked around and saw that it was morning. They convened a council meeting whose sole purpose was to hand down Jesus’ death sentence. They tied Jesus up, took Him away, and handed Him over to the governor of Judea, a man called Pilate.

Judas—the one who had betrayed Him with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver—saw that Jesus had been condemned, and suddenly Judas regretted what he had done. He took the silver back to the chief priests and elders and tried to return it to them.

Judas Iscariot: I can’t keep this money! I’ve sinned! I’ve betrayed an innocent man! His blood will be on my hands.

Chief Priests and Elders: We’re through with you, friend. The state of your soul is really none of our affair.

Judas threw down the money in the temple, went off, and hanged himself.

The chief priests looked at the silver coins and picked them up.

Chief Priests and Elders: You know, according to the law, we can’t put blood money in the temple treasury.

After some deliberation, they took the money and bought a plot of land called Potter’s Field; they would use it to bury foreigners, suicides, and others who were unfit for a full Jewish burial. (To this day, the field is called Blood Field, because it was bought with blood money.) And when the priests bought Potter’s Field, they unwittingly fulfilled a prophecy made long ago by the prophet Jeremiah: “They took 30 pieces of silver, the price set on the head of the man by the children of Israel, and they gave them for the Potter’s Field as the Eternal One instructed.”

Jesus was standing before the governor, Pilate.

Pilate: Are You the King of the Jews?

Jesus: So you say.

The chief priests and the elders stood and poured out their accusations: that Jesus was a traitor, a seditious rebel, a crazy, a would-be Savior, and a would-be king. Jesus stood in the stream of accusations, but He did not respond.

Pilate: Do You hear these accusations they are making against You?

Still Jesus said nothing, which Pilate found rather astounding—no protests, no defense, nothing.

Now the governor had a custom. During the great Jewish festival of Passover, he would allow the crowd to pick one of the condemned men, and he, Pilate, would set the man free. Just like that. Gratuitous, gracious freedom. At this time, they had a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate offered them a choice:

Pilate: Whom do you want me to free? Barabbas or Jesus, whom some call the Anointed One?

Pilate knew the chief priests and elders hated Jesus and had delivered Him up because they envied Him.

Then Pilate sat down on his judgment seat, and he received a message from his wife: “Distance yourself utterly from the proceedings against this righteous man. I have had a dream about Him, a dream full of twisted sufferings—He is innocent, I know it, and we should have nothing to do with Him.”

But the chief priests and the elders convinced the crowd to demand that Barabbas, not Jesus, whom-some-call-the-Anointed-One, be freed and that Jesus be put to death.

Pilate (standing before the crowd): Which of these men would you have me free?

Crowd (shouting): Barabbas!

Pilate: What would you have me do with this Jesus, whom some call the Anointed One?

Crowd (shouting): Crucify Him!

Pilate: Why? What crime has this man committed?

Crowd (responding with a shout): Crucify Him!

Pilate saw that unless he wanted a riot on his hands, he now had to bow to their wishes. So he took a pitcher of water, stood before the crowd, and washed his hands.

Pilate: You will see to this crucifixion, for this man’s blood will be upon you and not upon me. I wash myself of it.

Crowd: Indeed, let His blood be upon us—upon us and our children!

So Pilate released Barabbas, and he had Jesus flogged and handed over to be crucified.

The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into a great hall, gathered a great crowd, and stripped Jesus of His clothes, draping Him in a bold scarlet cloak, the kind that soldiers sometimes wore. They gathered some thorny vines, wove them into a crown, and perched that crown upon His head. They stuck a reed in His right hand, and then they knelt before Him, this inside-out, upside-down King. They mocked Him with catcalls.

Soldiers: Hail, the King of the Jews!

They spat on Him and whipped Him on the head with His scepter of reeds, and when they had their fill, they pulled off the bold scarlet cloak, dressed Him in His own simple clothes, and led Him off to be crucified.

As they were walking, they found a man called Simon of Cyrene and forced him to carry the cross. Eventually they came to a place called Golgotha, which means “Place of the Skull.” There they gave Him a drink—wine mixed with bitter herbs. He tasted it but refused to drink it.

And so they had Him crucified. They divided the clothes off His back by drawing lots, and they sat on the ground and watched Him hang. They placed a sign over His head: “This is Jesus, King of the Jews.” And then they crucified two thieves next to Him, one at His right hand and one at His left hand.

Passersby shouted curses and blasphemies at Jesus. They wagged their heads at Him and hissed.

Passersby: You’re going to destroy the temple and then rebuild it in three days? Why don’t You start with saving Yourself? Come down from the cross if You can, if You’re God’s Son.

Chief Priests, Scribes, and Elders (mocking Him): He saved others, but He can’t save Himself. If He’s really the King of Israel, then let Him climb down from the cross—then we’ll believe Him. He claimed communion with God—well, let God save Him, if He’s God’s beloved Son.

Even the thieves hanging to His right and left poured insults upon Him. And then, starting at noon, the entire land became dark. It was dark for three hours. In the middle of the dark afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice.

Jesus: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani—My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Bystanders: He’s calling on Elijah.

One bystander grabbed a sponge, steeped it in vinegar, stuck it on a reed, and gave Jesus the vinegar to drink.

Others: We’ll see—we’ll see if Elijah is going to come and rescue Him.

And then Jesus cried out once more, loudly, and then He breathed His last breath. At that instant, the temple curtain was torn in half, from top to bottom. The earth shook; rocks split in two; tombs burst open, and bodies of many sleeping holy women and men were raised up. After Jesus’ resurrection, they came out of their tombs, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and showed themselves to people.

When the Centurion and soldiers who had been charged with guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw the rocks splitting and the tombs opening, they were, of course, terrified.

Soldiers: He really was God’s Son.

A number of women, who had been devoted to Jesus and followed Him from Galilee, were present, too, watching from a distance. Mary Magdalene was there, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

At evening time, a rich man from Arimathea arrived. His name was Joseph, and he had become a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked to be given Jesus’ body; Pilate assented and ordered his servants to turn Jesus’ body over to Joseph. So Joseph took the body, wrapped Jesus in a clean sheath of white linen, and laid Jesus in his own new tomb, which he had carved from a rock. Then he rolled a great stone in front of the tomb’s opening, and he went away. Mary Magdalene was there, and so was the other Mary. They sat across from the tomb, watching, remembering.

The next day, which is the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate. They reminded him that when Jesus was alive He had claimed that He would be raised from the dead after three days.

Chief Priests and Pharisees: So please order someone to secure the tomb for at least three days. Otherwise His disciples might sneak in and steal His body away, and then claim that He has been raised from the dead. If that happens, then we would have been better off just leaving Him alive.

Pilate: You have a guard. Go and secure the grave.

So they went to the tomb, sealed the stone in its mouth, and left the guard to keep watch.

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 27 (The Voice)

and the 31 verses of Ezekiel 34:

[When the Sheep Get Scattered]

God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherd-leaders of Israel. Yes, prophesy! Tell those shepherds, ‘God, the Master, says: Doom to you shepherds of Israel, feeding your own mouths! Aren’t shepherds supposed to feed sheep? You drink the milk, you make clothes from the wool, you roast the lambs, but you don’t feed the sheep. You don’t build up the weak ones, don’t heal the sick, don’t doctor the injured, don’t go after the strays, don’t look for the lost. You bully and badger them. And now they’re scattered every which way because there was no shepherd—scattered and easy pickings for wolves and coyotes. Scattered—my sheep!—exposed and vulnerable across mountains and hills. My sheep scattered all over the world, and no one out looking for them!

“‘Therefore, shepherds, listen to the Message of God: As sure as I am the living God—Decree of God, the Master—because my sheep have been turned into mere prey, into easy meals for wolves because you shepherds ignored them and only fed yourselves, listen to what God has to say:

“‘Watch out! I’m coming down on the shepherds and taking my sheep back. They’re fired as shepherds of my sheep. No more shepherds who just feed themselves! I’ll rescue my sheep from their greed. They’re not going to feed off my sheep any longer!

“‘God, the Master, says: From now on, I myself am the shepherd. I’m going looking for them. As shepherds go after their flocks when they get scattered, I’m going after my sheep. I’ll rescue them from all the places they’ve been scattered to in the storms. I’ll bring them back from foreign peoples, gather them from foreign countries, and bring them back to their home country. I’ll feed them on the mountains of Israel, along the streams, among their own people. I’ll lead them into lush pasture so they can roam the mountain pastures of Israel, graze at leisure, feed in the rich pastures on the mountains of Israel. And I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep. I myself will make sure they get plenty of rest. I’ll go after the lost, I’ll collect the strays, I’ll doctor the injured, I’ll build up the weak ones and oversee the strong ones so they’re not exploited.

“‘And as for you, my dear flock, I’m stepping in and judging between one sheep and another, between rams and goats. Aren’t you satisfied to feed in good pasture without taking over the whole place? Can’t you be satisfied to drink from the clear stream without muddying the water with your feet? Why do the rest of my sheep have to make do with grass that’s trampled down and water that’s been muddied?

“‘Therefore, God, the Master, says: I myself am stepping in and making things right between the plump sheep and the skinny sheep. Because you forced your way with shoulder and rump and butted at all the weaker animals with your horns till you scattered them all over the hills, I’ll come in and save my dear flock, no longer let them be pushed around. I’ll step in and set things right between one sheep and another.

“‘I’ll appoint one shepherd over them all: my servant David. He’ll feed them. He’ll be their shepherd. And I, God, will be their God. My servant David will be their prince. I, God, have spoken.

“‘I’ll make a covenant of peace with them. I’ll banish fierce animals from the country so the sheep can live safely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest. I’ll make them and everything around my hill a blessing. I’ll send down plenty of rain in season—showers of blessing! The trees in the orchards will bear fruit, the ground will produce, they’ll feel content and safe on their land, and they’ll realize that I am God when I break them out of their slavery and rescue them from their slave masters.

“‘No longer will they be exploited by outsiders and ravaged by fierce beasts. They’ll live safe and sound, fearless and free. I’ll give them rich gardens, lavish in vegetables—no more living half-starved, no longer taunted by outsiders.

“‘They’ll know, beyond doubting, that I, God, am their God, that I’m with them and that they, the people Israel, are my people. Decree of God, the Master:

You are my dear flock,

the flock of my pasture, my human flock,

And I am your God.

Decree of God, the Master.’”

The Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 34 (The Message)

to be continued by lines of Psalm 26 and Psalm 34:

[Psalm 26]

A song of David.

Declare my innocence, O Eternal One!

I have walked blamelessly down this path.

I placed my trust in the Eternal and have yet to stumble.

Put me on trial and examine me, O Eternal One!

Search me through and through—from my deepest longings to every thought that crosses my mind.

Your unfailing love is always before me;

I have journeyed down Your path of truth.

My life is not wasted among liars;

my days are not spent among cheaters.

I despise every crowd intent on evil;

I do not commune with the wicked.

I wash my hands in the fountain of innocence

so that I might join the gathering that surrounds Your altar, O Eternal One.

From my soul, I will join the songs of thanksgiving;

I will sing and proclaim Your wonder and mystery.

Your house, home to Your glory, O Eternal One, radiates its light.

I am fixed on this place and long to be nowhere else.

When Your wrath pursues those who oppose You,

those swift to sin and thirsty for blood,

spare my soul and grant me life.

These men hold deceit in their left hands,

and in their right hands, bribery and lies.

But God, I have walked blamelessly down this path,

and this is my plea for redemption.

This is my cry for Your mercy.

Here I stand secure and confident

before all the people; I will praise the Eternal.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 26 (The Voice)

Revere the Eternal, you His saints,

for those who worship Him will possess everything important in life.

Young lions may grow tired and hungry,

but those intent on knowing the Eternal God will have everything they need.

Gather around, children, listen to what I’m saying;

I will teach you how to revere the Eternal.

If you love life

and want to live a good, long time,

Take care with the things you say.

Don’t lie or spread gossip or talk about improper things.

Walk away from the evil things of the world,

and always seek peace and pursue it.

For the Eternal watches over the righteous,

and His ears are attuned to their prayers. He is always listening.

But He will punish evildoers,

and nothing they do will last. They will soon be forgotten.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 34:9-16 (The Voice)

and concluded by these lines from chapter 26 of the book of Proverbs about the significance of the words we choose:

[Watch Your Words]

The one who is caught lying to his friend

and says, “I didn’t mean it, I was only joking,”

can be compared to a madman

randomly shooting off deadly weapons.

It takes fuel to have a fire—

a fire dies down when you run out of fuel.

So quarrels disappear when the gossip ends.

Add fuel to the fire and the blaze goes on.

So add an argumentative man to the mix

and you’ll keep strife alive.

Gossip is so delicious, and how we love to swallow it!

For slander is easily absorbed into our innermost being.

Smooth talk can hide a corrupt heart

just like a pretty glaze covers a cheap clay pot.

Kind words can be a cover to conceal hatred of others,

for hypocrisy loves to hide behind flattery.

So don’t be drawn in by the hypocrite,

for his gracious speech is a charade,

nothing but a masquerade covering his hatred and evil on parade.

Don’t worry—he can’t keep the mask on for long.

One day his hypocrisy will be exposed before all the world.

Go ahead, set a trap for others—

and then watch as it snaps back on you!

Start a landslide and you’ll be the one who gets crushed.

Hatred is the root of slander

and insecurity the root of flattery.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 26:18-28 (The Passion Translation)

my personal reading of the Scriptures for October 26, the 34th day of Autumn and day 299 of the year:

accompanied by a psalm sung by Zach Winters as the closing track #13 on Love is a Garden

[tpanan]

My Thursday Daily Blessings

August 23, 2018

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

Thursday of the Twentieh Week in Ordinary Time (Roman Rite Calendar)

Lectionary: 422

First Reading: Ezekiel 36: 23-28

Thus says the LORD: I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations, in whose midst you have profaned it. Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you. For I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the foreign lands, and bring you back to your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees. You shall live in the land I gave your ancestors; you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51: 12-13, 14-15, 18-19

"I will pour clean water on you and wash away your sins."

Verse before the Gospel: Psalm 95:8

Alleluia, Alleluia

"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

Alleluia, Alleluia

Gospel Reading: Matthew 22: 1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying, "The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast."' Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.

The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then the king said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."

**Meditation:

What can a royal wedding party tell us about God's kingdom? One of the most beautiful images used in the Scriptures to depict what heaven is like is the wedding celebration and royal feast given by the King for his newly-wed son and bride. Whatever grand feast we can imagine on earth, heaven is the feast of all feasts because the Lord of heaven and earth invites us to the most important banquet of all - not simply as bystanders or guests - but as members of Christ's own body, his bride the church! The last book in the Bible ends with an invitation to the wedding feast of the Lamb - the Lord Jesus who offered his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins and who now reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come! (Revelations 22:17).  The Lord Jesus invites us to be united with himself in his heavenly kingdom of peace and righteousness.

Whose interests come first - God or mine? Why does Jesus' parable of the marriage feast seem to focus on an angry king who ends up punishing those who refused his invitation and who mistreated his servants? Jesus' parable contains two stories. The first has to do with the original guests invited to the marriage  feast. The king had sent out invitations well in advance to his subjects, so they would have plenty of time to prepare for coming to the feast. How insulting for the invited guests to then refuse when the time for celebrating came! They made light of the King's request because they put their own interests above his. They not only insulted the King but the heir to the throne as well. The king's anger is justified because they openly refused to give the king the honor he was due. Jesus directed this warning to the Jews of his day, both to convey how much God wanted them to share in the joy of his kingdom, but also to give a warning about the consequences of refusing his Son, their Messiah and Savior.

An invitation we cannot refuse! The second part of the story focuses on those who had no claim on the king and who would never have considered getting such an invitation. The "good and the bad" along the highways certainly referred to the Gentiles (non-Jews) and to sinners. This is certainly an invitation of grace - undeserved, unmerited favor and kindness! But this invitation also contains a warning for those who refuse it or who approach the wedding feast unworthily. God's grace is a free gift, but it is also an awesome responsibility.

Cheap grace or costly grace? Dieterich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor and theologian in Germany who died for his faith under Hitler's Nazi rule, contrasted "cheap grace" and "costly grace".

"Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves... the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance... grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate... Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life."

God invites each of us as his friends to his heavenly banquet that we may celebrate with him and share in his joy. Are you ready to feast at the Lord's banquet table?

**Prayer:                                                                                                                            

"Lord Jesus, may I always know the joy of living in your presence and grow in the hope of seeing you face to face in your everlasting kingdom."

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 - please cite: copyright (c) 2018 Servants of the Word, source: www.dailyscripture.net, author Don Schwager