Beacon of Love
As I'm seeing videos in YouTube about Judas Iscariot, the Judas/Love Tree (Cersis Siliquastrum), the Field of Blood (Akeldama) and the Gehenna Valley (Hell on Earth), I came with a thought.
To anyone who studied the Holy Books or at least know a bit of Hebrew History, Gehenna have quite a violent background (with wars and human sacrifices on the area) and even Jesus himself called this place as Hell on Earth (hence the name). So, we could say even in a holy city as Jerusalem, it took a dark part of history in this very valley.
As for Judas Iscariot, we know that after betraying Jesus, he was fill with horror, regret and sorrow. He tried to give back the coins to the priests, and they refused that. Throw the coins and ran to the place where he died.
The legend said that the tree he picked for his demise, originally had white flowers. Then when Judas committed suicide, the whole tree changed. The flowers turn white to pink/purplish color. It said it was because of Judas' blood or out of shame. Even the whole tree has detail about Judas himself. The buds where the seeds are placed looked like a hanged man. And the round leaves when fell to the ground and dry out, turn a bit of a silvery color. Reminds of the silver pieces.
This tree became the Judas Tree (Cersis siliquastrum) for the rest of history.
But also, it became a symbol beauty and romantic love. The tree is also known as the Love Tree. Also in Arabic, it means "Bride of the Forest", A very romantic symbolism for a tree where Judas Iscariot hanged himself, no?
In my honest opinion, after seeing lots of interpretations about the real reasons of Judas' actions (either in popular culture or Biblical study), could be beyond just accepting coins.
According to the Gospel of Judas, Jesus himself asked him to betray him, as Judas was especially close to him, his most devoted disciple. Surely, he could actually be the Beloved Disciple called in the Gospel of John (and people mistake this disciple as John, not Judas). Also, the fact that instead of giving any other signal, Judas kissed Jesus. That could be a possibility that Judas' feelings for Jesus was beyond a just a devotion of an apostle to their Rabbi.
Maybe romantic love.
But we know that homosexual love wasn't accepted in those times, so Judas had to hide his true feelings somehow, only expressing those when he and Jesus were alone.
If Judas' love was that intense that even transforms a whole tree... I mean, something so strong as love could even overcome any other negative feelings such a shame. There's no grief without love, and Judas grieved because he loved Jesus dearly.
As for Akeldama, the silver coins were used to purchase the area where all the unknown and non-Jew could have a resting area. A graveyard. And despite the name of Field of Blood, it became a resting place for all souls who needed somewhere to be buried properly. A place of respect and prayers. The Field of Blood became a sacred area.
And finally, Akeldama is located in the Gehenna Valley, the hellish place named in the Bible.
Maybe even in the most desperate and darkest places, there could be a beacon of light somehow?
For example, in the ending of the Comic of Judas, after accepting his new mission as the Shepeard of the lost and grieving souls in hell, he on his own became a beacon of light, of hope and love for all those who needs comfort. And Judas Iscariot became the symbol of light and divine comfort they needed in that hopeless world.
The existence of Judas, the Judas/Love Tree and Akeldama became a Beacon of Love in Gehenna on Earth.
Just as Judas Iscariot himself became the Beacon of Love in Hell for all the dammed souls trapped there.
So, even in the darkest place one could even imagine, there's still some light somewhere. Where hope and love are still possible.
Judas Iscariot became the Tree and Shepeard of Love on Earth and in Hell, to show that his intense romantic love and devotion for Jesus Christ, still resonates. And it's up to us to open arms and accepting his message of hope, forgiveness and the most beautiful feeling the universe could had ever created.
Love
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Parkers, Pots & Periods
Summary: Reader is Peter’s sister and is going on a field trip to stark industries, the catch? She’s on her period and has POTS… things go badly and Wanda and Nat step in to take care of you.
Words: 2324
TW: Periods, Pain, nausea (no puking), POTS, Cramps, Bullying, fainting, name calling, Flash (that’s its own warning), Flashes “nicknames” for peter, field trip trope.
A/n Hi guys I’m alive! Sorry for disappearing (kinda). My life is chaos incarnate. I accidently got stabbed in the thigh yesterday. But I stuck an avengers Band-Aid on it and I was fine :D
Somehow the universe decided to screw your over three times today. The first, you had POTS, whilst not a new condition it did make the next two things worse. Second you had a trip to stark towers which meant a lot of standing on a tour and being around your class and knowing the avengers would be lurking nearby. And third, the real icing on the cake … you were on your period as if you had blood to lose as someone with POTS and a low blood volume to start with.
So that was how you were doing today as you arrived at school. Sure, you had graduated about three years ago but there had been talks that someone had found out Peter’s identity and was planning something, which was how you ended up undercover to be a glorified bodyguard for peter… well a glorified babysitter with homework. You had been chosen by the team as you were the second youngest next to Peter and as a lesser-known member of the team who was young, you could pass as a high school student without raising suspicions. ‘Yay me.’ You thought sarcastically. Leaving high school was amazing and having to go back to babysit your little brother… not so much.
You skipped training this morning as you were already feeling quite awful due to your period and your POTS which was always made worse when it was shark week.
As you arrived at school with Peter, happy dropped you both at the block around the corner and you shouldered your old school backpack and sighed.
“Let’s get this over with.” You grumbled and peter nodded. Neither of you feeling particularly excited to go on a trip through your own house with classmates who hated you.
Peter was just as unhappy; flash had been giving him shit all week for his internship and wanted desperately to prove the Parker boy a liar today. When you had found out about the bullying you almost intervened before Peter had a talk with you. He reminded you of what uncle ben had said to you both before he died, and your eyes glossed over as you made the decision to respect his wishes and promise to your late uncle.
As your shoes slapped the pavement with exaggerated steps and dragging movements, a grin itched your face when Ned began waving to you from across the quad. MJ looked up and gave a single half handed wave cross salute before going back to her sketchbook, her legs kicked up on the picnic table.
You liked MJ and Ned. They had welcomed you to their group and they knew that you had already graduated but agreed to stay quiet if it meant keeping peter safe. They both knew you and your brothers’ real identities. As the second spider that protected the city aside from your brother and Natasha you had decided to keep your identity quiet until Peter graduated, knowing he would have just as many issues with the press if you were unmasked before he graduated compared to him being unmasked.
You threw your backpack down and threw your head into your arms, letting out an exaggerated groan.
“You feelin’ alright bonehead?” MJ said looking up from her sketch.
You simply grunted before turning your head, still resting on your arms to look at her through a furrowed brow.
“Shark week.” Was all you said, and MJ nodded before turning to her bag and digging around before fishing out a chocolate bar she threw at your head. Your spider sense kicked in and your hand flew up and caught it.
“Thanks MJ.” You grunted.
“Anytime Parker.” She said going back to her sketchbook. You leaned over to glance at the page and snorted. MJ simply suppressed a grin and kept working on the detailed drawing of Flash trapped in a display case at stark towers with a placard that read “Bullied Peter Stark, glass tapping encouraged.” With a drawing of Tony leaning on the display case eating a banana with Nat handing out tomatoes to the rest of the team to throw at flash. Leave it to MJ to make this trip better.
You thought maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. But curse your Parker luck because that was the moment flash began to storm over. MJ quickly shut her sketchbook as flash stood over Peter.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t penis Parker. I wasn’t expecting you to show up today. With your big lie going public today I thought you would be too much of a wuss to show up. Prepare to be publicly humiliated Parker. Today is the day your life is torn to shreds.” He said.
“Like the lie about you having a brain flash ‘cuz I think everyone knows that’s fake.” MJ said flicking a few pencil shavings at him. She glared at him, and he glared back before huffing.
“Whatever idiots. I’ll see you on the bus. Parker don’t forget I would hate for you to miss your public execution.” He spat and headed off to wherever it was Flash lurked between tormenting Peter.
“Petey…” you began.
“No y/n I’m handling it.” He said shutting you down.
“Alright. Alright. I’ll leave it alone.” You said while silently wishing a piano to miraculously fall on flash. You desperately wanted to help but you also wanted to respect Peter’s decision especially as you knew his reason was fuelled by a very personal experience that had changed both of you tremendously.
As the last class before the field trip ended you felt like death warmed over. Your head hurt and your period was only making your POTS worse. As you stood from your chair, you had to hold onto the table as your vision went fuzzy for a second. When your sight cleared Peter shot you a pointed look which you shrugged off and headed for the bus.
If there was one thing you didn’t miss from high school it was field trips, twenty sweaty teenagers in a bus for who knows how long, most likely with no air conditioning which would only contribute to you feeling worse. None of that was appealing to you in the slightest.
As you all filed onto the bus you groaned when you sat down, putting your head in your hands, and taking deep breaths. The cramps had been getting worse all day and they were toeing the line of unbearable.
MJ sat next to you and kept a close eye on your movements or lack thereof.
As the bus lurched with the traffic you suppressed any of the wounded animal noises that were trying to escape you.
After what seemed like a torturously long bus trip you felt the bus slow to a stop. Looking outside the logo of stark towers was the first thing your eyes fixed on.
As everyone filed off the bus you swayed slightly trying to fight off the dizzy lightheaded mess along with the cramping. Life really wasn’t being kind to you.
With a hand resting around your stomach, you watched Peter sidestep flashes foot and walk inside.
The building was cool when you entered which made you feel a tiny bit better but still largely awful.
As the tour guide passed out the lanyards you and Peter hung around in the back.
“I bet puny Parker won’t even have a lanyard, he’s too poor to be let in.” Flash said nearby and your fist tightened at your side in an attempt to stay there.
When all the passes were handed out Flash was the first to point out you and Peter didn’t have one.
“Hey! The Parker’s are missing their badges. We’ll have to leave them behind. Sorry no poor people allowed.” He said with a big grin and Peter looked like a deer in headlights as everyone turned to face the two of you. You just shrugged.
“Friday?” The tour guide asked. “Has there been a mistake?”
“Ms Parker and Mister Parker do not require badges as they have tier 10 clearance, access is granted to all floors, labs and rooms.” A voice said from the ceiling startling a few people.
“That’s Friday.” The tour guide explained “she’s tony starks AI and she runs the tower.”
“I don’t know how you hacked the system, but you will pay Parker’s.” Flash said sticking a finger in Peter’s face.
“Whatever flash, you’re just mad that you have level 1 clearance and can’t go in the toilets without permission.” MJ said as flash stormed off after the group.
As the tour progressed you were feeling worse and worse, all this walking was making the cramps worse, and all the standing was aggregating your POTS. Your vision had been spotty for a while now and your legs hurt. Your midsection was cramping something awful, and you saw no end in sight.
As the group was shown to the museum floor you did your best to stay rooted to your body as your head felt like it was floating away.
“Y/n/n you should really go home. If you sneak off upstairs, I’ll cover for you.” Peter said and MJ nodded.
“I know your white girl, but you’re not meant to be that white… ever.” MJ said and you shot her a small glare with did nothing to deter her.
“Can’t I have to stay with Peter.” You said swallowing down the nausea you had begun to feel.
“I can look out for myself.” He said in a soft tone. But you shook your head which was a terrible idea as you swayed, having to lean on the wall the stay upright.
“Right, that’s enough….” Peter begun but your hearing was fading as Peter seemed to keep talking.
As your hearing and vision began to drift away Peter began softly alerting Friday to the situation, as he requested Wanda of Natasha to come and get you.
As he saw a flash of red hair down the hall, his spider sense flared, and he was just in time to catch you as your body finally gave up and went slack.
Natasha seemed to arrive almost at the same time you passed out into Peter’s arms.
The group had moved on and it seemed they were none to wiser to the avenger’s presence.
Peter looked panicked for a second as he held you up.
“I’ve got her Pete.” Natasha said as she picked you up effortlessly into a bridal carry. “Go catch up with your group Wanda and I will look after her. Don’t worry.”
“Alright. Text me updates.” He said and Natasha nodded dutifully before carrying you to the elevator.
When she arrived back on your floor that you shared with the two redheads, you shifted in her arms, letting out a small whimper.
Natasha walked over to the door to her room, opening it to see Wanda already having everything set up for a movie day.
“Oh my god is she ok? I know Peter said it was bad but … is she out?” Wanda said coming over and fussing.
“She passed out as I got there. She must be feeling terrible.” Nat said as she set you down on the bed gently. Wanda came and sat next to you as Nat changed into some comfy clothes and took to your other side.
Wanda’s hands carding through your hair was the first thing you registered when you came to.
“Nat, I think she’s coming around.” Wanda said softly.
You let out a small, wounded noise as you tucked your knees to your chest in an attempt to stave off the relentless cramps.
“Shhh y/n/n it’s ok. Natty and I have you baby. You’re alright.” Wanda said softly.
You whimpered again and shifted to clutch your midsection.
“Cramps?” Wanda asked knowingly still playing with your hair.
“Mmm.” You said softly.
Before you knew it a hot pack was being slid onto your stomach and your muscles went lax as Wanda pulled you into her lap.
You opened an eye and saw her smiling down at you.
“Hello sweet girl. How are you feeling.” She said gently.
“Bad.” You hummed.
“Chocolate?” Natasha said as she offered you an already unwrapped chocolate bar. Not bothering to use your hands you began eating it while Nat still held it. Making her smile softly in amusement as she fed you the chocolate.
“Oh my god, I left Peter!” You said scrambling to sit up but Wanda kept you pinned.
“It’s alright baby. Fridays watching him and you’re in no condition to be doing anything other than cuddling and watching movies with us. Ok?” Wanda said. She could see the gears turning behind your eyes and gently turned your chin to look at her.
“Okay sweet girl?” She said again.
“Okay.” You said softly.
“Excellent. Now you pick the first movie.” Wanda said as Natasha returned with popcorn despite you not having seen her leave.
As the day went on you began to feel better. Between the salty popcorn Wanda was feeding you and the blue electrolyte drinks that were stocked in Natasha’s mini fridge you began to feel less terrible.
The girls had everything you needed, from a warm heat pack to chocolate to cuddles. You eventually drifted off feeling warm and only slightly in pain. Knowing you were safe with them.
@barbarasstar @charlie56 @vlynes @lovelyy-moonlight
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