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fics-and-quotes-andthelike · 1 year

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Better Late Than Never

Title: Better Late Than Never

Pairing: Dean Winchester x female reader

Word Count: ~2,143

In which the reader’s love language is physical touch, but has never touched Dean…in public.

A/N: I really hope you guys like this one! Thanks so much for reading and for your support. If you have any requests for a fic, feel free to give me a character and a prompt/explanation for what you’d like!

Your love language has always been physical touch. A quick brush of hands here, an innocent kiss to the cheek there. Whether it was your friend or your significant other, touch was just something you used to show that you cared.

So it meant a lot to you when, after you moved in with the Winchesters, Sam had quickly picked up on your love language and allowed you to give him occasional hugs. He’d also gone out of his way to hug you, or even just put a reassuring hand on your shoulder once in a while.

But even though you felt more than comfortable with Sam, you were the first to admit that you’d never so much as given Dean a high five.

In front of others.

In the privacy of an empty bunker or motel room, you and Dean had no problem brushing against each other and exchanging brief touches. Eventually, the brief touches had turned into longer ones, and hands drifted from your shoulder to the small of your back. Then those touches turned into sitting right beside each other, your head resting on his shoulder as he peppered kisses on the top of your head. And after that, kisses on your head turned to kisses on your lips, while hands on your back turned into hands grasping your hips.

But as soon as Sam, Cas, Charlie, or anyone else walked through the door, you would revert back to no touches at all.

It’s not that you didn’t want to. He truly meant the world to you. But every time someone would walk into the room, he would pull away. And you never wanted to make Dean feel uncomfortable, even if it was killing you inside. So, to respect his space, you’d never so much as given Dean a high five in front of other people.

Until today.

A hunt had gone sideways when a djinn had outsmarted the three of you and gotten its hands on Dean while you and Sam had been out getting dinner.

When you got back to the motel room to see that Dean was gone and not answering his phone, you and Sam had come up with a plan. A questionable plan, for sure, but it was all that you could come up with in the limited time that you were allowed.

Now, the two of you sat in Baby, reviewing the plan before you burst into the abandoned warehouse where Dean was being kept.

“Whatever you do, don’t engage with the djinn, got it? I’ll take care of him, you take care of Dean.”

You nodded stiffly, your eyes on the building ahead. “I hear you, I got it. But if you’re in any trouble-”

Sam sighed in exasperation. “Would you just listen to me for a second-”

You looked up at him, fury in your gaze. “I will not let that djinn take you, too.”

Sam’s gaze softened. For all of the sweet touches that you passed around, you were still a hunter, willing to hurt anything that came between you and your family.

He placed a comforting hand on your shoulder and leaned towards you. “Hey. We’re going to be okay, alright? Us and Dean, we’re getting out of here. And that djinn isn’t gonna know what hit him.”

He kept his hand on your shoulder until you finally nodded in agreement, a half smile taking shape on your lips. You took a deep breath and checked the bullets in your gun and the knife hidden in your jacket as Sam checked the knife dipped in lamb’s blood and the colt in his holster one last time.

As you went through your mental checklist, you couldn’t help the bolt of fear that shot through you when you realized that the djinn could have easily killed Dean hours ago.

You shook your head at the thought. Dean was tough, and if the djinn was probably desperate to make his life force last as long as possible.

You shook out your nerves one last time before you straightened up and looked towards Sam. “Alright,” you muttered. “Let’s get this thing.”

The two of you got out of the car quietly before making your way to the door of the warehouse. Sam put a finger to his lips as he tried the door. You both made a face of surprise when the door gave way easily. Sam led the way as you crept inside, hoping against all odds that the rest of the revue would go this smoothly.

But of course, it wouldn’t really be a Winchester hunt if nothing went wrong.

As soon as you and Sam entered the building, you were ambushed by the waiting djinn. With the advantage of surprise on its side, it quickly overpowered Sam and tossed him to the side before it turned its attention toward you.

You cursed under your breath and raised your gun, knowing full well that it and your knife would do nothing to save you, since the plan had been that you would never have to face the djinn. The djinn smiled at your panic, pacing towards you swiftly.

Suddenly, Sam appeared once again behind the djinn. The djinn whirled around and just barely managed to dodge the knife that Sam swung its way.

Sam risked a glance over to you. “Go! Get Dean!”

You nodded, though he had already turned back to face the djinn.

You looked around wildly, hoping for some kind of sign as to where Dean could be. You startled when you heard faint gasping coming from one of the rooms to your right.

Dean. You sighed in relief as you followed the sound. He had probably saved himself from his fantasy world. You shuddered as you remembered what he’d had to do to escape his dream, and started moving faster.

You entered the room cautiously, gun in hand. From your left, a weak voice croaked out your name.

You whirled around to find Dean weak and bound, but utterly alive. You felt tears well up in your eyes as you ran over to him, shoving your gun back in its holster so that you could grab your knife and cut through his bindings.

Dean looked up at you and smiled weakly. “Hey, sweetheart.”

You ignored him, focused solely on setting him free. Your hands were shaking, making it harder to cut through the ropes. Finally, with an extra push, your knife cut through. You dropped it so that you could catch Dean, who slumped forward as soon as he was able to move again.

You slowly lowered the two of you to the ground, allowing him to catch his breath. “Are you okay?” you asked, a slight tremor in your voice.

Dean looked up at you, his eyes soft as he searched your face. “I’m alright.”

His gaze sharpened suddenly, and he looked around the room. “Where’s Sammy?”

Your head snapped over to the door, through which you could hear sounds of a fight. You cursed lightly under your breath as you stood.

Dean moved to stand as well, but you placed your hands on his shoulders and pushed him back lightly. “Stay here,” you ordered. “I’ll help Sam.”

“I’m not gonna-”

“Stay. Here.”

Dean eyed you stubbornly, but seemed to think better of himself, and nodded once for you to go on. He watched as you picked up your knife and handed it to him before you exited the room, jumping straight into the fight.

He sighed and leaned back against the wall behind him. Normally, he wouldn’t have stayed behind, regardless of what you or Sam said. But as he lay still against the wall, he couldn’t help but remember the dream that he’d been forced into.

You, him, and Sam. There’d been no more monsters. No fighting, no war. Just the three of you, living peacefully.

Jess had been there. She and Sam had gotten married, and Sam was the happiest man around. Or maybe not the happiest. Dean himself had been pretty happy too, with you by his side, through sickness and health. Finally free to hug and love each other freely, regardless of who was around.

He smiled as he looked back on it, but immediately broke out of his memory and jerked to attention as he heard footsteps enter the room.

Panic filled his body. Was it the djinn? Had he gotten to you and Sam? He clutched the knife you had given him in his hand, ready to make good use of it.

He heard Sam call out his name, relief filling his body. Dean opened his eyes and stood slowly, smiling at the two hunters watching him with concerned eyes. “Hey, Sammy.”

You heard Sam laugh breathlessly in relief while your eyes raked over Dean’s body, making sure that he wasn’t hiding an injury.

Dean tilted his head slightly, meeting your eyes. “I’m fine. Honest.”

You nodded, not trusting yourself to speak. You were aware of Sam saying something next to you, but you couldn’t focus on his words, your attention solely on Dean.

When Dean looked over at you again, a small smile on his lips and concern in his eyes, you couldn’t help yourself. You threw down your weapon and ran over, throwing yourself into his arms.

You’d never been hugged like that before.

His arms wound themselves around your body and tightened, pressing you against him. His hands were open, one resting on your shoulder and one on your side, both tugging you closer than you thought possible. His head rested on top of yours, and he murmured reassurances into your ear as he slowly rocked you side to side.

Through it all, you could faintly hear the sound of Sam leaving the room, giving the two of you some space.

When you finally pulled back, Dean’s hands didn’t leave you, instead resting on your hips as he pressed his forehead to yours.

Your hands fluttered between his shoulders, his neck, and his face as you closed your eyes and inhaled a shaky breath. “I thought you were dead.”

Dean chuckled and gave the barest shake of his head, bringing his hands up to rest them on yours where they sat cradling his face. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

You laughed. “Because my life revolves around you?”

“Because then we’d never be able to tell Sam about us.”

You felt your face change, your smile dropping as you stepped away from Dean.

He looked back at you as his arms dropped down to his sides, hurt evident on his face. “What did I do? Are we not…?”

“No!” You exclaimed, shaking your head quickly.

You saw disappointment and shame flit across his features. You shook your head again. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant…I just…I wasn’t sure.”

“Sure about what?”

“It’s just…” You steeled yourself. “You always pull away from me. I thought maybe you were embarrassed or something. Or maybe you just wanted me to help you feel better-”

Dean’s whole body jerked with surprise and he stepped towards you, arms outstretched. “No, sweetheart, that’s not it at all. I’m just…” He hesitated, only a step away from you as his arms dropped. “I’m not good with mushy gushy crap. You know that.”

You smiled cautiously. “I know. Nothing wrong with that.”

He nodded, unmoving.

You took a step towards him. “Maybe we could…work on it together?”

A smirk crossed his face as he reached an arm around your back and pulled you closer. “Oh, yeah?”

A laugh crossed your lips. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

Dean leaned his head down to softly brush his lips against yours. “I know.”

You felt him stiffen as you both heard footsteps re-enter the room, with Sam loudly complaining, “You guys good to go?”

You moved to pull away, muscle memory taking over, when Dean suddenly cupped your face with one hand and pressed his other hand against your back. His eyes searched yours. “Is this okay?”

Your heart was hammering against your chest, the knowledge that what you said could determine your whole relationship with both Winchesters weighing on your brain.

You heard Sam’s footsteps moving closer and smiled breathlessly. “Yeah,” you managed to say before he connected his lips to yours.

“Guys,” Sam repeated as he stepped into the room. His eyes landed on the two of you, your hands cupping Dean’s face as he pulled you closer still. He chuckled and turned away, but not before shouting, “It’s about time!”

He could hear Dean telling him where to shove it as he walked away, and he couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that the two of you genuinely believed that nobody had noticed your secret relationship these past two years.

Oh well, he thought to himself. Better late than never.

#supernatural #supernatural x reader #supernatural fic #dean winchester #sam winchester #dean x reader #supernatural fluff #dean x reader fluff #sam and dean #fanfic #fic #castiel #supernatural charlie #supernatural imagines #incorrect supernatural #dean winchester x reader #dean winchester x female!reader #fem reader #fluff

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clanwarrior-tumbly · 2 years

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I saw that you write for Cult of the Lamb- you are doin Narinder's work bro/pos

anyways- would you mind doin a Narinder x reader?

Like, (as cliche as this is gonna be) Reader was one of Narinder's followers before his exile, and was adamant that he not be sealed away, and was killed for it(Maybe Narinder even watched them die)? How would he react to seeing them again after he's freed(like a reincarnation)? Obv reader doesn't remember, but is like, "you seem cool, wanna be friends?"

I'm a sucker for cliche immortal x mortal stuff nil. hope this made sense! Have a wonderful day/night!

"Fools!! All of you!! How dare you betray your own brethren?!!"

"This is for the best, Narinder. For the preservation of the Old Faith!" Leshy vowed, staring at the catlike bishop, who tried in vain to tear the chains free from the earth.

"My word is good! You lot are merely blind and despise those who challenge your teachings.." He gnashed his teeth.

"No. You only lead them astray with your hypocrisies and lies." Heket snapped at him. "But don't worry..your followers will be guided by our word alone. Be grateful we didn't choose to slaughter them en mass."

"Now only one remains! And with their abandonment of your teachings, your cult will vanish. You will no longer exist to us." Kallamar declared as his followers dragged out someone all-too-familiar to Narinder.

He could only look on in shock, seeing you thrown into the center of the room, forced to kneel on a pentagram.

You were his first and last ever follower. He thought he hid you well, told you to flee the lands of the Old Faith. But you must have been found somehow.

His failure to protect his last disciple crushed him more than his imminent exile.

You trembled as you looked up at the bishops, before seeing your master--shackled as you are right now. “M-My lord, I’m-”

"He's not your lord anymore!" Leshy huffed, looming over you with bristled leaves. "He has misguided you, child. And for that you must place your faith elsewhere..in one of us.”

“It’s time to choose.” Shamura whispered. “Abandon your faith in this heretic and he shall receive the just punishment--banishment to the depths below.”

"..why?"

"Pardon?" They blinked, seeing you uncover your hood to reveal your face.

You were terrified to your very core, yet adamant about their decision as you looked them in the eye. "Why seal him away? Why not compromise? Or..are you all just afraid of him and what he represents?”

“Are you..suggesting that we are cowards?!!” Heket sneered, though you ignored her, knowing you were essentially signing your death certificate as you spoke out.

But you couldn’t surrender your loyalty to Narinder. It would last until the very end.

“You can’t expect to control Death by locking him away. It is inevitable..all of your followers will eventually meet him. You may have convinced my brothers and sisters that he doesn’t exist anymore, but I will always believe in him. I will not yield to any teachings but my one true lord’s.”

Kallamar's eyes widened, outraged. "He has infested your mind like a parasite..a vile sickness that makes you speak such blasphemy!! We cannot tolerate that!”

“That’s right, brother.” Heket sneered, a smug grin on her face. “Don’t think you will get to embrace your lord in death..because we will ensure that you feel nothing but suffering.”

"He will not be there to comfort you. Say your last prayers, child.” Shamura rasped.

Narinder realized what was going to happen as the bishops summoned their executioner, and struggled against his chains. "NO!! RELEASE THEM!!!"

"It's okay, my lord. I am not afraid."

"..hm..?" Staring down at you, he saw your smile and teary eyes. Despite everything, you weren't going to abandon your faith in him. You might’ve been scared deep down but you didn’t want him to see that.

"I swear to carry your gospel with me in both this life..and the next-”

Your words were cut short as the axe suddenly swung down on your neck.

And just like that..his power and strength died with you. Your blood was drawn and the Bishops chanted an incantation that would finally banish him to the depths below.

His haunting screams were heard across every land.

.............

“You weak, sniveling, foul thing! You--wait...! WAAAIIIIT!!” After Narinder was dropped through the portal, Lamb sighed in relief, closing it up. Then they went to help their followers, who praised them for defeating the fearsome god.

Deep down, they wonder if they did the right thing by sparing his life after betraying them.

But they knew that killing him would only give him exactly what he wanted--to become him. They believed becoming a follower was a more fitting punishment. To show him how much their servants toiled for many days and nights, working and worshipping in his name.

Narinder was less-than-pleased upon being unceremoniously thrown into the cult, a crowd immediately forming around him. He hissed at their attempts to help him up, swatting at the kind hands and paws they offered.

How dare they look at him that way?

With such pity?

Then the damned Lamb came down the steps--the followers he kidnapped in tow--and used the Red Crown to clothe him in a ragged red shirt. And they ordered him to go worship at the shrine.

How humiliating.

His immediate thought was to dissent, as he had observed a few of the followers do. But he saw the nearby stocks and recalled the shackles that held him down below for ages...and thought better.

With a huff, he went to the statue in the center of the cult and kneeled in front of it. He could stare up at it with envy; the stone structure was clad in gold with holy fire in its empty eyes.

That should’ve been him-

"It’s beautiful, is it not?”

Jumping at the new voice, he looked to see you kneel down beside him, hands clasped together in prayer. He would have replied with snarkiness...had you not looked so familiar to him.

‘Wait...don’t I know them?’ He blinked, staring at you closely.

And he realized that..it was you.

The very same faithful follower he saw executed ages ago. Now you were here, in the living flesh.

“[Y/n]..?”

You were surprised he knew your name, but then you remembered who this guy was. “Oh-! Yeah that’s me. Lucky guess.”

His was even further confused. Were you being sarcastic or did you not recognize him?

“[Y/n]..it’s me. I understand this new vessel is difficult to take in, but you remember me, don’t you?”

“I..don’t remember ever seeing you face-to-face. You’re The One Who Waits, correct?” Your eyebrows furrowed, wondering if he had his memories mixed up.

Narinder was growing infuriated. How did you not know his real name? Did you not recall your servitude to him?

“No. You never called me that..”

“Oh, um..I’m sorry..?”

“You were my disciple. The first whom I bestowed my teachings upon. You always called me Narinder. When the bishops found you after I was condemned I..I watched you perish.” He growled, turning to you fully before suddenly grabbing your collar. “Why do you look at me as a stranger? Did you forget who your master was?!! It was never that damned Lamb!!” His third eye snapped open, forcing you to stare at it with fear coursing through your veins.

“I-It wasn’t?” You stammered.

“NO! YOU MADE A VOW TO ME!! You swore to carry my gospel from one life to the next!! Did you only say that to make me feel better in my moment of-?!!”

Narinder was abruptly yanked away by a shadowy hand grabbing him by the foot, dangling him upside down. He came face-to-face with an annoyed Lamb, and the Red Crown glaring at him. Immediately he was paralyzed by fear as his third eye closed, knowing this was how they dragged the cultists to prison.

He had forgotten that he wasn’t the one in control anymore.

“Unhand me, wretched Lamb!”

Yet the leader only shook their head, huffing as they pointed to you. He knew what they meant and just scowled at them. “Apologize to them? But they..they’re....”

However, he trailed off, seeing you merely pick yourself up and smooth out the wrinkles on your robes. Although a little shaken by his hostilities, a polite smile remained on your face.

He realized that you simply weren’t them. You may look and act like them..but you didn’t hold the same memories.

Perhaps you were reincarnated by a different god? That would explain why he’s never seen you, even in death.

Regardless, there was no point in getting angry at you anymore. So he sighed and gazed back at Lamb, who set him down before attending to other matters. Then he looked at you, rubbing his paws together awkwardly.

“..my apologies..I thought you were a loyal disciple I once knew. And I’m still coming to grips with this new life Lamb has given me. It’s a lot to take in...in such a short amount of time.”

“Don’t worry,” you reassured him. “I’m flattered that I look like somebody you knew. I..would’ve been honored to serve you and carry your gospel with me.”

“Indeed.” He nodded somberly. “You would have been most loyal.”

You didn’t like seeing him look so down, so you stepped closer and offered your hand. “How about I show you around? Though..you might’ve seen all this stuff through the Red Crown-”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll see what your labors have wrought up-close.” He huffed with a light smile, taking your hand. “Perhaps it will grant me a new perspective.”

“Alrighty! Let’s go.” Eager, you pulled him away to a different section of the cult grounds. All the while Narinder followed along, relieved to be--in a way--reunited with you again.

Sure, you weren’t the same worshipper who was put to the blade. They were long gone.

But you carried their spirit, and that was enough for him.

#this was a GOOD plot ong #clanask #cult of the lamb x reader #cotl x reader #cotl narinder #colt the one who waits #the one who waits x reader #narinder x reader #tw death

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harringtown · 5 years

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she’s the sunset in the west

requested by anonymous

Pairing: Robin Buckley x Reader

Summary: Robin visits her girlfriend at the farm she works (aka fluff and horses!!!)

Word Count: 1.3k

Warnings: none

Robin turned onto the dirt road leading to the ranch, the tires spitting up gravel as she pulled across the small lot and parked in front of the main building. The barn and its accompanying field were sat behind the main house-turned-office, and Robin headed past it toward the closest pen, scanning the enclosure for you.

You stood on the far side of the paddock facing a horse as pitch colored as tar. He was beautiful, slender limbed and muscular, coat shining starkly against his light surroundings. You reached a hand out tentatively, fingers settling against the colt’s nose.

Robin’s stomach tumbled at the tenderness of your gesture, and she yearned for those gentle hands on her skin, those knowing fingers tangled in her hair.

“Afternoon, cowgirl!” Robin called, stepping onto the bottom slat of the wooden fence, leaning over the top. Your head snapped in her direction, a smile brightening your face. The colt nosed your back, and you reached back to run a hand along his neck before jogging to greet Robin at the fence. You stretched up on your toes to meet her at her height, drawing her in by the neck for a chaste kiss.

Robin lost her balance the moment your lips touched, and you pulled away, a knowing smile playing on your lips. You hoisted yourself up and over the fence, hitting the dirt with a thud and straightening.

“If you call me cowgirl one more time….” You warned. Robin grinned, reaching out and looping her fingers through your belt loops, drawing you against her. She didn’t have to look around to make sure no one was watching; here, on the farm, half the employees were gay, and the other half didn’t care. The ranch was the one place you could be yourself; the one place Robin could come to be herself, with you.

“Take off the cowboy boots, and I’ll consider stopping.”

“I’m not about to fuck up my sneakers,” you protested. Robin shrugged, pressing her hips into yours, pushing you against the fence.

“Then the nickname stays,” she said. You pouted and pulled away from her, but your hand found its way into hers, your fingers threaded together. You tugged Robin in the direction of the barn, and she let you pull her along, swinging your joined hands between you with exaggeration.

Since first getting the job at the horse rescue, you’d spent most your weekends and evenings on the farm, and Robin was there as much as you were. The other farmhands and employees cared little if anyone had visitors, so long as said visitors were willing to get a bit dirty. And Robin was more than willing; a little help mucking out stalls led to lots of kisses stolen against fences and pens.

The horse’s stalls were at the far end of the barn, the goats and lambs and pigs occupying the closer half. The pigs squealed happily as you both passed, and Robin stretched a hand through the fence to stroke one of the pig’s heads, continuing down past the stalls. Her favorite animals in the barn were the Shetland ponies, who butted their heads up against her in the hopes of earning food, never ceasing to draw a giggle out of either of you.

You tugged open the door to one of the stalls, and Robin followed you in. The stall was home to a silver-coated mare named Delilah, who nickered contentedly at your entrance. As you moved around the booth, straightening it up, Robin tugged a carrot out of the feed box hanging over the wooden fencing, holding it out for Delilah.

In an effort to reach the carrot in record time, Delilah knocked you out of the way and chomped on her carrot. Robin laughed and leaned around the massive beast to see you, catching your balance on Delilah’s backside.

“Christ, Liles,” you said, stepping out of the danger-zone and sweeping hay into one corner. Once Delilah was finished snacking, and you were finished cleaning, you moved to stand near the mare’s front. Delilah leaned her large head against you, and a hand wrapped up around her, tugging her against you with a laugh.

“I think I might have some competition,” Robin observed, nodding to you and Delilah. Delilah, as if knowing she was being discussed, flicked her tail and huffed.

“What can I say?” You patted her thick neck and leaned away, hand falling back to your side. “She’s obsessed.”

“I’m obsessed,” Robin said pointedly, a grin playing on her lips. Delilah snorted and tossed her head as if to say nuh-uh.

You joined her at the front of the pen, moving out into the main barn with Robin behind you, closing Delilah into her stall. The mare stuck her head out over the top of the door, nosing Robin.

“You? Obsessed?” You scoffed, and Robin snaked a hand out to take your wrist, tugging you against her. She leaned in, ghosting a kiss across your lips, pulling back to whisper, “So absolutely obsessed.”

“Mhmm.” You let her kiss you once more, stomach flopping pleasantly.

“I think we earned a break,” she murmured.

“You don’t even work here.”

“You deserve a break. With me,” she corrected. Your eyes flashed bright and excited, pupils blown, and Robin laced your fingers together before pulling you toward the wooden ladder leading up to the loft.

The loft was mostly storage, a small space packed with equipment, piles of blankets for the winter, and various bags of feed. Stablehands rarely went up, save for you, and over the last few months, you’d converted it into your own little place. Blankets spread out in a pallet, hay bales dragged out of the way, flashlights tucked along the walls.

Your lips were on Robin’s the moment she stepped off the ladder into the loft, hands gripping her waist as you backed her up against a hay bale. She traced a line down your cheek with her lips, kissing across your jaw, moving to the jut of your throat, and making your stomach twist.

Your lips parted against hers, one hand climbing to tangle in her hair, the other splayed across the small of her back, fingers cool against her skin. She didn’t even care that you’ve been working with animals all day, or that there were little pieces of hay trapped in your hair, or even that your clothes were covered in dirt; she only cares about the heat of your mouth on hers and the press of your fingertips against her skin.

Robin pulled back to look at you, your lips shiny and eyes dark with desire. She’d be content to kiss you until she ran out of breath, if that was an option. She’d kiss you until the world burned down, and even then, she’d kiss you until the flames took you both. She didn’t think she’d ever get enough.

“Maybe I should ditch the video store and come work here,” she murmured. You smiled against her lips, nudging her nose with yours.

“So we could get even less done at our respective jobs than we already do?”

“Precisely,” Robin said. You pulled back with a grin, arms wound around her neck, and tipped your forehead against hers.

“More of this,” Robin said, kissing you softly.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be enough of this.”

Robin gave you a wicked grin, hands sliding beneath the fabric of your shirt, making your stomach twist. Her heart hammered like a kick drum, so loud in her ears she was surprised you couldn’t hear.

“Luckily for you, then,” she said, “I’m in it for the long haul.”

“Yeah?” You asked, brows arching, hope shining in your eyes. Robin nodded, and you smiled.

“Then we’re on the same page, I guess,” you said. And then you kissed her again, and Robin was sure she’d never get enough. Enough of this, enough of you.

But luckily, for the time being, she had you. For the time being, there was nothing to worry about; nothing to do but kiss you back.

#brooke writes fic #robin buckley #robin buckley x reader #robin buckley x you #robin buckley x fem!reader #stranger things #petting zoo

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pamphletstoinspire · 5 years

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PALM SUNDAY (by Fr. Prosper Gueranger 1870)

Today, if ye shall hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.

Early in the morning of this day, Jesus sets out for Jerusalem, leaving Mary His Mother, and the two sisters Martha and Mary Magdalene, and Lazarus, at Bethania. The Mother of sorrows trembles at seeing her Son thus expose Himself to danger, for His enemies are bent upon His destruction; but it is not death, it is triumph, that Jesus is to receive today in Jerusalem. The Messias, before being nailed to the cross, is to be proclaimed King by the people of the great city; the little children are to make her streets echo with their Hosannas to the Son of David; and this in presence of the soldiers of Rome's emperor, and of the high priests and pharisees: the first standing under the banner of their eagles; the second, dumb with rage.

The prophet Zachary had foretold this triumph which the Son of Man was to receive a few days before His Passion, and which had been prepared for Him from all eternity. ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion! Shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold thy King will come to thee; the Just and the Saviour. He is poor, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.' [Zach. ix. 9]. Jesus, knowing that the hour has come for the fulfilment of this prophecy, singles out two from the rest of His disciples, and bids them lead to Him an ass and her colt, which they would find not far off. He has reached Bethphage, on Mount Olivet. The two disciples lose no time in executing the order given them by their divine Master; and the ass and the colt are soon brought to the place where He stands.

The holy fathers have explained to us the mystery of these two animals. The ass represents the Jewish people, which had been long under the yoke of the Law; the colt, upon which, as the evangelist says, no man yet hath sat [St. Mark xi. 2], is a figure of the Gentile world, which no one had ever yet brought into subjection. The future of these two peoples is to be decided a few days hence: the Jews will be rejected, for having refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messias; the Gentiles will take their place, to be adopted as God's people, and become docile and faithful.

The disciples spread their garments upon the colt; and our Saviour, that the prophetic figure might be fulfilled, sits upon him [Ibid. 7, and St. Luke xix. 35.], and advances towards Jerusalem. As soon as it is known that Jesus is near the city, the holy Spirit works in the hearts of those Jews, who have come from all parts to celebrate the feast of the Passover. They go out to meet our Lord, holding palm branches in their hands, and loudly proclaiming Him to be King [St. Luke xix. 38]. They that have accompanied Jesus from Bethania, join the enthusiastic crowd. Whilst some spread their garments on the way, others cut down boughs from the palm-trees, and strew them along the road. Hosanna is the triumphant cry, proclaiming to the whole city that Jesus, the Son of David, has made His entrance as her King.

Thus did God, in His power over men's hearts, procure a triumph for His Son, and in the very city which, a few days later, was to clamour for His Blood. This day was one of glory to our Jesus, and the holy Church would have us renew, each year, the memory of this triumph of the Man-God. Shortly after the birth of our Emmanuel, we saw the Magi coming from the extreme east, and looking in Jerusalem for the King of the Jews, to whom they intended offering their gifts and their adorations: but it is Jerusalem herself that now goes forth to meet this King. Each of these events is an acknowledgment of the kingship of Jesus; the first, from the Gentiles; the second, from the Jews. Both were to pay Him this regal homage, before He suffered His Passion. The inscription to be put upon the cross, by Pilate's order, will express the kingly character of the Crucified: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Pilate, the Roman governor, the pagan, the base coward, has been unwittingly the fulfiller of a prophecy; and when the enemies of Jesus insist on the inscription being altered, Pilate will not deign to give them any answer but this: ‘What I have written, I have written.' Today, it is the Jews themselves that proclaim Jesus to be their King: they will soon be dispersed, in punishment for their revolt against the Son of David; but Jesus is King, and will be so for ever. Thus were literally verified the words spoken by the Archangel to Mary, when he announced to her the glories of the Child that was to be born of her: ‘The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David, His father; and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.' [St. Luke i. 32]. Jesus begins His reign upon the earth this very day; and though the first Israel is soon to disclaim His rule, a new Israel, formed from the faithful few of the old, shall rise up in every nation of the earth, and become the kingdom of Christ, a kingdom such as no mere earthly monarch ever coveted in his wildest fancies of ambition.

This is the glorious mystery which ushers in the great week, the week of dolours. Holy Church would have us give this momentary consolation to our heart, and hail our Jesus as our King. She has so arranged the service of today, that it should express both joy and sorrow; joy, by uniting herself with the loyal hosannas of the city of David; and sorrow, by compassionating the Passion of her divine Spouse. The whole function is divided into three parts, which we will now proceed to explain.

The first is the blessing of the palms; and we may have an idea of its importance from the solemnity used by the Church in this sacred rite. One would suppose that the holy Sacrifice has begun, and is going to be offered up in honour of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Introit, Collect, Epistle, Gradual, Gospel, even a Preface, are said, as though we were, as usual, preparing for the immolation of the spotless Lamb; but, after the triple Sanctus! Sanctus! Sanctus! the Church suspends these sacrificial formulas, and turns to the blessing of the palms. The prayers she uses for this blessing are eloquent and full of instruction; and, together with the sprinkling with holy water and the incensation, impart a virtue to these branches, which elevates them to the supernatural order, and makes them means for the sanctification of our souls and the protection of our persons and dwellings. The faithful should hold these palms in their hands during the procession, and during the reading of the Passion at Mass, and keep them in their homes as an outward expression of their faith, and as a pledge of God's watchful love.

It is scarcely necessary to tell our reader that the palms or olive branches, thus blessed, are carried in memory of those wherewith the people of Jerusalem strewed the road, as our Saviour made His triumphant entry; but a word on the antiquity of our ceremony will not be superfluous. It began very early in the east. It is probable that, as far as Jerusalem itself is concerned, the custom was established immediately after the ages of persecution. St. Cyril, who was bishop of that city in the fourth century, tells us that the palm-tree, from which the people cut the branches when they went out to meet our Saviour, was still to be seen in the vale of Cedron [Cateches. x. versus fin.] Such a circumstance would naturally suggest an annual commemoration of the great event. In the following century, we find this ceremony established, not only in the churches of the east, but also in the monasteries of Egypt and Syria. At the beginning of Lent, many of the holy monks obtained permission from their abbots to retire into the desert, that they might spend the sacred season in strict seclusion; but they were obliged to return to their monasteries for Palm Sunday, as we learn from the life of Saint Euthymius, written by his disciple Cyril [Act. SS. Jan. 2O]. In the west, the introduction of this ceremony was more gradual; the first trace we find of it is in the sacramentary of St. Gregory, that is, at the end of the sixth, or the beginning of the seventh, century. When the faith had penetrated into the north, it was not possible to have palms or olive branches; they were supplied by branches from other trees. The beautiful prayers used in the blessing, and based on the mysteries expressed by the palm and olive trees, are still employed in the blessing of our willow, box, or other branches; and rightly, for these represent the symbolical ones which nature has denied us.

The second of today's ceremonies is the procession, which comes immediately after the blessing of the palms. It represents our Saviour's journey to Jerusalem, and His entry into the city. To make it the more expressive, the branches that have just been blessed are held in the hand during it. With the Jews, to hold a branch in one's hand was a sign of joy. The divine law had sanctioned this practice, as we read in the following passage from Leviticus, where God commands His people to keep the feast of tabernacles: And you shall take to you, on the first day, the fruits of the fairest tree, and branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God [Lev. xxiii. 4O]. It was, therefore, to testify their delight at seeing Jesus enter within their walls, that the inhabitants, even the little children, of Jerusalem, went forth to meet Him with palms in their hands. Let us, also, go before our King, singing our hosannas to Him as the conqueror of death, and the liberator of His people.

During the middle ages, it was the custom, in many churches, to carry the book of the holy Gospels in this procession. The Gospel contains the words of Jesus Christ, and was considered to represent Him. The procession halted at an appointed place, or station: the deacon then opened the sacred volume, and sang from it the passage which describes our Lord's entry into Jerusalem. This done, the cross which, up to this moment, was veiled, was uncovered; each of the clergy advanced towards it, venerated it, and placed at its foot a small portion of the palm he held in his hand. The procession then returned, preceded by the cross, which was left unveiled until all had re-entered the church. In England and Normandy, as far back as the eleventh century, there was practised a holy ceremony which represented, even more vividly than the one we have just been describing, the scene that was witnessed on this day at Jerusalem: the blessed Sacrament was carried in procession. The heresy of Berengarius, against the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, had been broached about that time; and the tribute of triumphant joy here shown to the sacred Host was a distant preparation for the feast and procession which were to be instituted at a later period.

A touching ceremony was also practised in Jerusalem during today's procession, and, like those just mentioned, was intended to commemorate the event related by the Gospel. The whole community of the Franciscans (to whose keeping the holy places are entrusted) went in the morning to Bethphage. There, the father guardian of the holy Land, being vested in pontifical robes, mounted upon an ass, on which garments were laid. Accompanied by the friars and the Catholics of Jerusalem, all holding palms in their hands, he entered the city, and alighted at the church of the holy sepulchre where Mass was celebrated with all possible solemnity.

This beautiful ceremony, which dated from the period of the Latin kingdom in Jerusalem, has been forbidden, for now almost two hundred years, by the Turkish authorities of the city.

We have mentioned these different usages, as we have done others on similar occasions, in order to aid the faithful to the better understanding of the several mysteries of the liturgy. In the present instance, they will learn that, in today's procession, the Church wishes us to honour Jesus Christ as though He were really among us, and were receiving the humble tribute of our loyalty. Let us lovingly go forth to meet this our King, our Saviour, who comes to visit the daughter of Sion, as the prophet has just told us. He is in our midst; it is to Him that we pay honour with our palms: let us give Him our hearts too. He comes that He may be our King; let us welcome Him as such, and fervently cry out to Him: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!'

At the close of the procession a ceremony takes place, which is full of the sublimest symbolism. On returning to the church, the doors are found to be shut. The triumphant procession is stopped; but the songs of joy are continued. A hymn in honour of Christ our King is sung with its joyous chorus; and at length the subdeacon strikes the door with the staff of the cross; the door opens, and the people, preceded by the clergy, enter the church, proclaiming the praise of Him, who is our resurrection and our life.

This ceremony is intended to represent the entry of Jesus into that Jerusalem of which the earthly one was but the figure – the Jerusalem of heaven, which has been opened for us by our Saviour. The sin of our first parents had shut it against us; but Jesus, the King of glory, opened its gates by His cross, to which every resistance yields. Let us, then, continue to follow in the footsteps of the Son of David, for He is also the Son of God, and He invites us to share His kingdom with Him. Thus, by the procession, which is commemorative of what happened on this day, the Church raises up our thoughts to the glorious mystery of the Ascension, whereby heaven was made the close of Jesus' mission on earth. Alas! the interval between these two triumphs of our Redeemer are not all days of joy; and no sooner is our procession over, than the Church, who had laid aside for a moment the weight of her grief, falls back into sorrow and mourning.

The third part of today's service is the offering of the holy Sacrifice. The portions that are sung by the choir are expressive of the deepest desolation; and the history of our Lord's Passion, which is now to be read by anticipation, gives to the rest of the day that character of sacred gloom, which we all know so well. For the last five or six centuries, the Church has adopted a special chant for this narrative of the holy Gospel. The historian, or the evangelist, relates the events in a tone that is at once grave and pathetic; the words of our Saviour are sung to a solemn yet sweet melody, which strikingly contrasts with the high dominant of the several other interlocutors and the Jewish populace. During the singing of the Passion, the faithful should hold their palms in their hands, and, by this emblem of triumph, protest against the insults offered to Jesus by His enemies. As we listen to each humiliation and suffering, all of which were endured out of love for us, let us offer Him our palm as to our dearest Lord and King. When should we be more adoring, than when He is most suffering?

These are the leading features of this great day. According to our usual plan, we will add to the prayers and lessons any instructions that seem to be needed.

This Sunday, besides its liturgical and popular appellation of Palm Sunday, has had several other names. Thus it was called Hosanna Sunday, in allusion to the acclamation wherewith the Jews greeted Jesus on His entry into Jerusalem. Our forefathers used also to call it Pascha Floridum, because the feast of the Pasch (or Easter), which is but eight days off, is today in bud, so to speak, and the faithful could begin from this Sunday to fulfil the precept of Easter Communion. It was in allusion to this name, that the Spaniards, having on the Palm Sunday of 1513, discovered the peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico, called it Florida. We also find the name of Capililavium given to this Sunday, because, during those times when it was the custom to defer till Holy Saturday the baptism of infants born during the preceding months (where such a delay entailed no danger), the parents used, on this day, to wash the heads of these children, out of respect to the holy chrism wherewith they were to be anointed. Later on, this Sunday was, at least in some churches, called the Pasch of the competents, that is, of the catechumens, who were admitted to Baptism; they assembled today in the church, and received a special instruction on the symbol, which had been given to them in the previous scrutiny. In the Gothic Church of Spain, the symbol was not given till today. The Greeks call this Sunday Baphoros, that is, Palm-bearing. (2,6)

INSTRUCTION FOR PALM-SUNDAY, BY LEONARD GOFFINE, 1871

Why is this day called Palm-Sunday?

On account of the palms with which the people strewed the Saviour's path before Him, as He entered Jerusalem; and because palms are on this day blessed before service, by the Church, which “are afterwards carried in solemn procession in commemoration of Christ's solemn entrance into Jerusalem.

Why are palms blessed?

That those who bear them with devotion, may receive protection for soul and body, as prayed for in the blessing; that the inhabitants of the place in which they are kept, may be preserved from all evils; that those who carry the palms, may, by means of the Church's prayers, adorn their souls with good works and thus, in spirit, meet the Saviour; that, through Christ whose members we are, we may conquer the kingdom of death and darkness, and be made worthy to share in His glorious resurrection and triumphant entrance into heaven. St. Augustine writes of the palms: “They are emblems of praise, and the signs of victory; because the Lord by death conquered death, and with the sign of victory, the cross, overcame the devil, the prince of death.” Therefore we go singing hymns of praise, with the cross in advance, in procession around the Church; when we come to the Church door, we find it locked, and the priest knocks at it with the cross, to show, how by Adam's sin heaven was closed to us, and that only since Jesus has killed death, and only by the cross of reconciliation, are the Church doors and the gates of paradise open to men, who love the Lord.

To infuse us with compassion for the suffering Redeemer, the Church, in the person of Christ, cries at the Introit in lamenting tones: Lord, keep not thy help far from me; look to my defence; save me from the lion's mouth, and rescue me in my distress, from the horns of unicorns. O God, my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me? They are my sins (that is, the sins of all men which I have taken upon me), that keep salvation far from me. (Ps. xxi.)

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH. O almighty and eternal God, who wouldst have our Saviour become man, and suffer on a cross, to give mankind an example of humility: mercifully grant, that we may improve by the example of His patience, and partake of His resurrection. Through, &c.

EPISTLE. (Phil. ii. 5 -11) Brethren: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery, to be equal with God: but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death; even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all namas: that in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of the Father.

INSTRUCTION. In this epistle, the apostle, as St. Chrysostom says, in a special manner urges us to humility by which we are made like to Christ, the Lord, who putting off the majesty of His divinity, became man, and obediently humbled Himself to the ignominious death of the cross. “Would that all might hear,” exclaims St. Gregory, “that God resists the proud, and gives His grace to the humble! Would that all might hear: Thou dust and ashes, why dost thou exalt thyself? Would that all might hear the words of the Lord: Learn of me, because I am humble of heart. Because for this the only begotten Son of God assumed the form of our weakness, suffered mockery, insults, and torments, for this that the humble God might teach man not to be proud.”

ASPIRATION. Ah, that my sentiments were as Thine, O my Lord Jesus! who so humbledst Thyself and wast obedient to the most ignominious death of the cross. Grant me, I beseech Thee, O my Redeemer, the grace to diligently follow Thee in humility.

In Mass instead of the gospel the Passion, as it is called, that is, the History of the Passion of our Lord, is read from Matthew chapters xxvi., xxvii., and xxviii.) And neither incense, nor lights are used, nor is the Dominus vobiscum said, thus signifying that Jesus, the Light of the world, was taken away by death, at which, as we know, the faith and devotion of the apostles shook and became almost extinct. When reading the History of the Passion, the priest, when he comes to the words: and bowing his head, he gave up the ghost, with all the congregation, falls on his knees to consider the great mystery of the death of Jesus, by which our redemption was effected, and to give God thanks for it from his inmost heart.

At the blessing of the palms, the priest reads the following

GOSPEL. (Matt. xxi. 1 – 9.) At That Time: Jesus drawing near to Jerusalem; and being come to Bethphage, at Mount Olivet, he sent two of his disciples, and said to them: Go ye into the village that is over against you, and immediately you shall find an ass tied and a colt with her: loose them and bring them to me: and if any man shall say any thing to you, say ye, that the Lord hath need of them: and forthwith he will let them go. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell ye the daughter of Sion: Behold, thy king cometh to thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass and a colt the foal of her that is used to the yoke.” And the disciples going, did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the ass and the colt: and laid their garments upon them, and made him sit thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way: and others cut down boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way: and the multitudes that went before and that followed, cried, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”‘

Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem so solemnly and yet so humble?

To show that He was the promised Messiah and King of the Jews, as foretold by the Prophet Zacliarias (ix. 9.), and that He had come to conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil, for which He used the weapons of meekness, humility, and poverty, and therefore came seated not on a proud steed, but on an ass's weak colt, like a poor person, entering Jerusalem in all humility, thus teaching us that meekness and indifference to earthly goods, are our best weapons for victory over our enemies; to fill the type of the paschal lamb, for on this day the lambs who were to be sacrificed in the temple on the following Friday, were solemnly led into the city. Thus Jesus, like a meek lamb, entered the city of Jerusalem to be sacrificed for us.

Why did the people meet Christ with palm-branches?

This happened by the inspiration of God, to indicate that Christ, the conqueror of death, hell, and the devil, would reconcile man with God, and open the heavenly Jerusalem to him, for the palm is the emblem of victory and peace. By this we learn also the inconsistency and mutability of the world; for the very people who on this day met Christ with palm-branches shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David,” a few days after shouted: “Crucify him! Crucify him!” — Learn from this to despise the world's praise, and not to imitate the inconsistency of this people by receiving at Easter your Saviour with joy in holy Communion, and soon crucify Him anew by sin. (Hebr. vi. 6.)

How should we take part to-day in the procession of blessed palms?

With the pious intention of meeting Christ in spirit, with the devout people of Jerusalem, adoring Him, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David, Hosanna to Him who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna to the Highest!” and with the heartfelt prayer to Jesus for His grace, that by it we may become blooming, and with Him conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil, and thus merit to be received into the heavenly Jerusalem.

How and why did Christ defend Himself against the slanders of the Jews?

PETITION O Jesus, Thou always fresh and fruitful Tree of Life! grant, that we may by love be like palms ever green, and by the practice of good works blossom and bring forth fruit.

INSTRUCTION FOR HOLY WEEK

Why is this week called Holy Week?

This week is called Holy Week and also the Great Week, because during it Christ consummated the most holy mystery of our redemption, and gave us such unspeakable benefits. It is besides called the Quiet Week, because of the quietness of the Church services.

What remarkable things did Christ do during the first four days of this week?

After He had entered the temple at Jerusalem on Palm Sunday amidst the greatest rejoicings of the people, and was even saluted by the children with the joyous clamor of “Hosanna”, He drove the buyers and sellers out of the temple, and when He had spent the entire day in preaching and healing the sick, He went in the evening to Bethania, where He remained over night in Lazarus' house, because in Jerusalem no one wished to receive Him for fear of His enemies. The three following days He spent in Jerusalem, teaching in the temple, and passing the night in prayer on Mount Olivet. In His sermons during these days, He especially strove to convince the Jewish priests, the lawyers and Pharisees, that He was really the Messiah, and that they would commit a terrible sin, bringing themselves and the whole Jewish nation to destruction by His death, which He foretold. This ruin of the people He illustrated to them most plainly by the withering of the fig-tree under His curse, and foretelling the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem. He disputed with them, and confounded them, openly and by parables, that out of anger and hatred, they with one mind decreed to kill Him. To the execution of their design the impious Judas aided the most, for from avarice he betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver (about fifteen dollars in our money) to the chief priests, and the next day, Thursday, became His betrayer and delivered Him over into their hands.

From: www.pamphletstoinspire.com

#palm sunday

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randomanimaticse · 7 months

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hiiiiiiii (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

Just wanted to pop in and ask for a little HC on Helop ,like ok..

Reader takes the place of the lamb (but still has the closes), and (okay sorry for the rambling that your about to be subject to) just kinda rolled out of the ritual circle and went to go buy a follower and was like

"O-OH, finAlly yoU rEstoCked!!! I have been having the worst luck keeping them alive."

And they maybe can have some tea time with sozo. And talk about drama and like The T.E.A.

Hit me up if you need ideas ♡⁠(⁠>⁠ ⁠ਊ⁠ ⁠<⁠)⁠♡(⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠)⁠♥

make sure to rest you eyes have get some water🥤

(I'm kinda dumb so bare with me here ( ꩜ ᯅ ꩜;)⁭ ) Do you want Hcs on Helop where the reader is the lamb and went to Helop for followers because they had a hard time keeping them alive?

I love water and drink it everyday! Also I get plenty of rest! ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

#masterlist #randomanimaticse #cult of the lamb x reader #colt lamb x reader #helop x reader #x reader #x you

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pamphletstoinspire · 7 years

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THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO ST. John, FROM THE LATIN VULGATE BIBLE

Chapter 12

PREFACE.

St. John, the evangelist, a native of Bathsaida, in Galilee, was the son of Zebedee and Salome. He was by profession a fisherman. Our Lord gave to John, and to James, his brother, the surname of Boanerges, or, sons of thunder; most probably for their great zeal, and for their soliciting permission to call fire from heaven to destroy the city of the Samaritans, who refused to receive their Master. St. John is supposed to have been called to the apostleship younger than any of the other apostles, not being more than twenty-five or twenty-six years old. The Fathers teach that he never married. Our Lord had for him a particular regard, of which he gave the most marked proofs at the moment of his expiring on the cross, by intrusting to his care his virgin Mother. He is the only one of the apostles that did not leave his divine Master in his passion and death. In the reign of Domitian, he was conveyed to Rome, and thrown into a caldron of boiling oil, from which he came out unhurt. He was afterwards banished to the island of Patmos, where he wrote his book of Revelations; In his gospel, St. John omits very many leading facts and circumstances mentioned by the other three evangelists, supposing his readers sufficiently instructed in points which his silence approved. It is universally agreed, that St. John had seen and approved of the other three gospels.

Chapter 12

The anointing of Christ's feet. His riding into Jerusalem upon an ass. A voice from heaven.

1 Now six days before the Pasch, Jesus came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life.

Notes & Commentary:

Ver. 1. On the tenth day of the month the Jews were accustomed to collect the lambs, and other things in preparation for the ensuing great feast. On this day, likewise, they generally had a small feast, or treat for their friends, at which time Jesus coming to Bethania, joined his friends in their entertainment. This was most likely in the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Martha served at the table herself, thinking herself happy in waiting on Jesus, whom she considered as her Lord and God. Lazarus was one of them that were at table, to shew himself alive, by speaking and eating with them, and thus confounding the inexcusable incredulity of the Jews. And Mary too shewed her loving attachment to Jesus, by anointing his feet with her precious ointment. (Theophylactus, St. Augustine, and St. Chrysostom)

2 And they made him a supper there: and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of them that were at table with him.

Ver. 2. No explanation given.

3 Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Ver. 3. No explanation given.

4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said:

Ver. 4. No explanation given.

5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

Ver. 5. No explanation given.

6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried what was put therein.

Ver. 6. Judas did not then begin to be wicked: he followed Christ, not in heart, but in body only. This our Master tolerated, to give us a lesson to tolerate the bad, rather than divide the body. (St. Augustine, in Joan. tract. 50.)

7 But Jesus said; Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of my burial.

Ver. 7. No explanation given.

8 For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always.

Ver. 8. Me you have not always with you. He speaks of his corporal presence; for by his majesty, by his providence, by his ineffable and invincible grace, he ever fulfils what he said, (Matthew xxviii.) Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. (St. Augustine, tract. 50 in Joan.)

9 A great multitude, therefore, of the Jews knew that he was there: and they came, not for Jesus's sake only, but that they might see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

Ver. 9. No explanation given.

10 But the chief priests thought to kill Lazarus also:

Ver. 10. To kill Lazarus. A foolish thought, says St. Augustine, as if Christ who had raised him to life from a natural death, could not also restore him to life, when murdered by them. (Witham) --- O foolish thought, and blinded rage! As if you could, by putting Lazarus to death, take away power from the Lord; as if Christ, who had already raised one that had died, could not as easily have raised one that was slain. But, lo! he has done both. Lazarus dead, he hath restored to life, and himself slain, he hath raised to life. (St. Augustine, tract 50. in Joan.)

11 Because many of the Jews, by reason of him, went away, and believed in Jesus.

Ver. 11. No explanation given.

12 And on the next day a great multitude, that was to come to the festival day, when they had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem;

Ver. 12. No explanation given.

13 Took branches of palm-trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried: Hosannah, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!

Ver. 13. No explanation given.

14 And Jesus found a young ass, and sat upon it, as it is written;

Ver. 14. No explanation given.

15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy king cometh, sitting on the colt of an ass.

Ver. 15. No explanation given.

16 These things his disciples did not know at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things to him.

Ver. 16. No explanation given.

17 The multitude, therefore, gave testimony, which was with him, when he called Lazarus out of the grave, and raised him from the dead.

Ver. 17. No explanation given.

18 For which reason also the people came to meet him: because they heard that he had done this miracle.

Ver. 18. No explanation given.

19 The Pharisees, therefore, said among themselves; Do you see that we prevail nothing? Behold, the whole world is gone after him.

Ver. 19. Do you see that we prevail nothing? Thus said the Pharisees, being vexed that so many followed Christ, even after they had ordered, that whosoever owned him, should be turned out of their synagogues; and after they had employed men to apprehend him, but to no purpose. (Witham)

Note:

Ver. 19. Quia nihil proficimus. In most Greek copies, and also in St. Chrysostom, we read: you see that you prevail nothing; as if these words had been spoken by some of Christ's friends, to make his adversaries desist. Theoreite oti ouk opheleite ouden.

20 Now there were certain Gentiles among them, that came up to adore on the festival day.

Ver. 20. Gentiles ... came up to adore. These either were proselytes who had been Gentiles, and now had embraced the Jewish law: or they were such among the Gentiles, who owned and served the one true God, as Cornelius did, (Acts, chap. x.) but did not submit themselves to circumcision, and all the other Jewish rites and ceremonies. These could only enter into that part of the temple, called the court of the Gentiles. (Witham)

21 These, therefore, came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida, of Galilee, and desired him, saying; Sir, we wish to see Jesus.

Ver. 21. No explanation given.

22 Philip cometh, and telleth Andrew: again Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

Ver. 22. No explanation given.

23 But Jesus answered them, saying; The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified.

Ver. 23. No explanation given.

24 Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground, die,

Ver. 24. Unless the grain of wheat. The comparison is this, that as the seed must be changed, and corrupted in the ground, before it fructify, so the world would not be converted but by Christ's death. (Witham) --- By this grain of corn our Saviour means himself, who was to die by the infidelity of the Jews, and be multiplied by the faith of the Gentiles. (St. Augustine, tract. 51. in Joan.)

25 Itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life, shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life everlasting.

Ver. 25. No explanation given.

26 If any man minister to me, let him follow me: and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour.

Ver. 26. We must minister to Jesus by seeking not our own things, but the things of Christ; that is; we must follow him, we must walk in his footsteps, we must perform the corporal works of mercy, and every other good work, for his sake, till we come to put in practice the most perfect act of charity, the laying down of our lives for our brethren. Then will he crown us with this greatest of rewards, the happiness of reigning with him. And where I am, there shall my minister be. (St. Augustine, tract. 51. in Joan.)

27 Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause I came unto this hour.

Ver. 27. Now is my soul troubled. Christ permitted this fear and horror to come upon his human nature, as he did afterwards in the garden of Gethsemani. Father, save me from this hour; yet he presently adds, but for this cause I came unto this hour; that is, I came into this world for this end, that I might die on a cross for all mankind. In like manner, when he had said in the garden, let this cup pass from me, he presently joined these words: but not my will, but thine be done. (Witham) --- Lest the disciples, upon hearing our Saviour exhorting them willingly and courageously to suffer death, should think within themselves, that he could well exhort them to these things, being himself beyond the reach of human misery, he assures them in this place, that he himself is in agony, and yet does not refuse to die for them. (St. Chrysostom, hom. lxvi. in Joan.)

28 Father, glorify thy name. A voice, therefore, came from heaven: I have both glorified it, and I will glorify it again.

Ver. 28. Father, glorify thy name, by my sufferings and death, as well as by many miracles that shall follow. A voice came from heaven, and so loud, that some there present compared it to thunder: and at the same time these words were heard: I have glorified it, thy name, and I will glorify it again, by a number of ensuing miracles at Christ's death, at his resurrection and ascension, as well as by all those miracles, which the apostles and disciples wrought afterwards. (Witham)

29 The multitude, therefore, that stood and heard, said that it thundered. Others said; An Angel spoke to him.

Ver. 29. No explanation given.

30 Jesus answered, and said; This voice came not for mine, but for your sake.

Ver. 30. As the soul of Christ was troubled, not on his own account, but for the sake of the people; so this voice came from heaven, not for his sake, but for that of the people. What it announced was already known to him; the advantage and instruction of the Jews was its end, object, and motive. (St. Augustine, 52. tract. in Joan.)

31 Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Ver. 31. Now is the judgment of the world: Their condemnation, says St. Chrysostom, for not believing. --- The prince of this world, that is, the devil, shall be cast out from that great tyranny, which he had over mankind, before Christ's incarnation. (Witham) --- By these words Christ informs the Gentiles that wished to see him, that soon he would punish the incredulous Jews, and cast off their synagogue, for their malice and insatiable hatred against him; and that the prince of this world, that is, the worship of idols, should be destroyed, and all called to the true faith. (Calmet)

32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself.

Ver. 32. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth: that is, on the cross. See the same expression, John iii. 14. and viii. 28. --- I will draw all things, all nations, to myself by faith. (Witham)

33 (Now this he said signifying what death he should die.)

Ver. 33. No explanation given.

34 The multitude answered him: We have heard out of the law, that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?

Ver. 34. How sayest thou the Son of man must be lifted up? By these words of the people, Christ, in this discourse must have called himself the Son of man, though it is not here mentioned by the evangelist. The people also tell him, they had heard that their Messias was to abide for ever: which was true as to his spiritual kingdom of grace, not as to such a glorious temporal kingdom, as they imagined. (Witham)

35 Jesus, therefore, said to them; Yet a little while, the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, that the darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in darkness, knoweth not whither he goeth.

Ver. 35. Yet a little while, that is, for a very few days, I, who am the light of the world, am with you. (Witham) --- How much do the Jews now do, and yet they know not what they do: but like men that are walking in the dark, they think they are in the right way, when alas! they are quite the contrary. (St. Chrysostom, hom. lxvi. in Joan.)

Note:

Ver. 35. Adhuc modicùm lumen in vobis est, eti mikron chronon, to phos meth umon esti. They mistake, who take modicum for an adjective, that agrees with lumen.

36 Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things Jesus spoke, and he went away, and hid himself from them.

Ver. 36. No explanation given.

37 And whereas he had done so many miracles before them, they believed not in him:

Ver. 37. No explanation given.

38 That the saying of Isaias, the prophet, might be fulfilled, which he said; Lord, who hath believed our hearing? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Ver. 38. No explanation given.

39 Therefore they could not believe, for Isaias said again;

Ver. 39. They could not believe, that is, they would not, says St. Augustine, or it could not be, considering their wilful obstinate blindness. (Witham) --- But where then is the sin, if they could not believe? They could not believe, because they would not. For as it is the glory of the will of God, that it cannot be averse to its own glory, so it is the fault of the will of man, that it cannot believe. (St. Augustine, tract. 53. in Joan.) They could not believe. Since the prophet has foretold it, and he cannot but say the truth, it is impossible that they should now believe. Not but they had it in their power to believe; and had they believed, the prophet would never have foretold the contrary. (St. Chrysostom, hom. lxvii. in Joan.)

Note:

Ver. 39. Non poterant credere. St. Augustine, (tract. 53.) Quare autem non potuerunt, si a me quæratur, citò respondeo, quia nolebant.

40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Ver. 40. He hath blinded their eyes, &c. See Matthew xiii. 14. (Witham) --- God blinded the Jews, not by filling them with malice, but by refusing them his graces, of which they had made themselves unworthy, and which they before abused and despised. It was their perverse will, their pride, presumption, and obstinacy, that brought on them this judgment. (St. Augustine)

41 These things said Isaias, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.

Ver. 41. No explanation given.

42 However, many of the chief men also believed in him: but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess it, that they might not be cast out of the synagogue.

Ver. 42. No explanation given.

43 For they loved the glory of men, more than the glory of God.

Ver. 43. For they loved the glory of men. This was one of the chief obstacles of their belief: yet many even of the chief of them believed in him; but durst not own it for fear of being disgraced, and turned out of their synagogues. Do not human considerations, and temporal advantages, hinder men from seeking out, and embracing the truth?

44 But Jesus cried out, and said; He that believeth in me, doth not believe in me, but in him that sent me.

Ver. 44. No explanation given.

45 And he that seeth me, seeth him that sent me.

Ver. 45. He that seeth me, seeth him that sent me. In what sense these words are true, see John xiv. ver. 9. where they are repeated again, and with other expressions to the same sense. (Witham)

46 I am come a light into the world; that whosoever believeth in me, may not remain in darkness.

Ver. 46. No explanation given.

47 And if any man hear my words, and keep them not, I do not judge him: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

Ver. 47. I do not judge him. To judge here, may signify to condemn. St. Augustine expounds it in this manner: I do not judge him at this my first coming. St. Chrysostom says, it is not I only that judgeth him, but the works also that I do.

48 He that despiseth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Ver. 48. No explanation given.

49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment what I should say, and what I should speak.

Ver. 49. No explanation given.

50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting. The things, therefore, that I speak, even as the Father said unto me, so do I speak.

Ver. 50. No explanation given.

#gospel of st john

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