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electronicdelusionstarlight · 4 years

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Giuseppe Stromboli Headcanons

I'm Italian and this is my time to shine.

1) The MAIN conflict here is, other thab the one between Purebloods and Halfbloods but between Regional Sectors. Northern Wizards are the Pureblood in the scenario, and the Magical School (Scuola Reale di Magia e Stregoneria di Gardaland) accepts all students equally, even if southern ones have to take the train every weekend to go up and down. The Train is made by Magical Trenitalia so it's a MESS to take, 5 hours waits, constant breaks, and who knows where they'll come?

2) Due to 1929's Pacts between the Fascist Party and the Vatican, Wizards born into center Italy are conscripted into two secret orders of Friars and Nuns. Only Muggleborns are allowed, and pure and halfblood imply the breaking of the vows of Celibacy. "Immaculate Conceptions," so to speak, are however allowed, but wizards and witches that move in Center Italy are usually kidnapped and Coscripted into the Orders.

3) Giuseppe's Parents are Livia Raggi, a Muggleborn Nun From the Roman Castles, and Nina "Angela" Stromboli, a neomelodic singer and pureblood witch from Naples. Livia was smuggled off from the Magical Vatican State alongside when still a kid, and went to School with Nina, Nina's Girl Gang, and her best friend who was smuggled alongside her, Renato Zero (No Relation).

4) Giuseppe's Best Friends are Pierino Sanguinacci and Hermione D'Annunzio. Ronaldo's family moved north a couple generations ago but is still considered southerners by the locals, Hermione's parents are a wealthy muggle doctor and her awful poet futurist husband. Then we have Luna D'amato, who is trans in this, And Nevio "Culone" Paciocco, obviously.

5) The bully is Brambilla Capretti, heir to the northern Capretti empire and general bastard.

6) The Villain, is Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai Ferretti, or Pope Pius IX for those who don't know. He managed to create 7 Horcruxes and remained, like a cancer, in Italy's shadows, messing it up in revenge of losing the temporal power of the Vatican.

7) There is the portrait in the school of a mad knight with a black raven and a underfed white horse. He's Brancaleone, and he's the one behind the Regaletti del Decesso, 3 Gifts the Grim Reaper gave to him as his witch lover tricked death into sparing his life. He's a key figure in the narrative.

8) The so called "Banda dei Peggio Pe Te" was composed by Nina "Angela" Stromboli, Corinna "Cagna Maledetta" Neri, Lapo "Lupo" Lucio, and Michele "Topolino" Ratti.

9) No house elves exist, but basically enslaved immigrants coming from outside the EU are indeed used to cultivate the fields and feed the tables of Italian Wizards. By the end of the Story, this is challenged and, if not fixed, at least on the way to be fixed.

10) Giuseppe's Stromboli main Love Interests are, of course, Gianna Sanguinacci, Diego Cedrata, and an equivalent for Pavarti and one for Cho that I'm not going to name since I feel I don't have the rights to do so. Also his moms are alive and happy, and he doesn't have to go to abusive relatives every summer.

11) Levicorpus is casted on a fascist at some point, literally hanging them upside down like they deserve.

12) the fourth book being the Chalice of VINOOOO!!! has a Tournament with 3 main tasks, The first one is a Cooking Competition (with recurring character and potion teacher Antonino Cannavacciuolo as Judge), Followed by a Singing Competition (Where one of the Judges, Singer Bugo Bagmann, mysteriously disapeaers), and concluding with a Flying Football Match (which replaces Quidditch here). Robertone "Er Cinghiale" Baratro, Diego Cedrata and Flora Enchantrix are the respective Champions.

13) There is a mysterous, secondary character, working in the shadows, and is only known by his mystical moniker of "Il Trono Del Muori," or The Throne of the Die, to translate. No one knows his real intentions.

14) Instead of goblins, we have Gobelini and Koboldi. Their ancient King, Richard Benson, rules over them with a Iron Fist, but something seems to be changing...

Can't think of much else for now.

#giuseppe stromboli #harry potter #anti jk rowling #anti harry potter #eh #italy #italian

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dfroza · 3 years

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“the time had come to rethink everything.”

because it matters what we think and believe, and what we write and speak. and in Today’s reading we see how God our heavenly Father was heard speaking from Heaven at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan river. for God speaks as creative Voice. and we have the ability to speak in the same manner, from the space of the heart, even to hold the power of Light (Spirit) transforming the heart itself, to be reborn in the image of the Son, and to be baptized as well.

we have to choose to be in eternal Love.

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is chapter 3 in the book of Luke that shares the True story of this metamorphosis:

Our story continues 15 years after Tiberius Caesar had begun his reign over the empire. Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod ruled Galilee, his brother Philip ruled Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruled Abilene.

In Jerusalem Annas and Caiaphas were high priests in the temple. And in those days, out in the wilderness, John (son of Zacharias) received a message from God.

John brought this divine message to all those who came to the Jordan River. He preached that people should be ritually cleansed through baptism as an expression of changed lives for the forgiveness of sins. As Isaiah the prophet had said,

A solitary voice is calling:

“Go into the wilderness;

prepare the road for the Eternal One’s journey.

In the desert, repair and straighten

every mile of our True God’s highway.

Every low place will be lifted

and every high mountain,

every hill will be humbled;

The crooked road will be straightened out

and rough places ironed out smooth;

Then the radiant glory of the Eternal One will be revealed.

All flesh together will take it in.”

In fulfillment of those words, crowds streamed out from the villages and towns to be baptized by John at the Jordan.

John the Baptist: You bunch of venomous snakes! Who told you that you could escape God’s coming wrath? Don’t just talk of turning to God; you’d better bear the authentic fruit of a changed life. Don’t take pride in your religious heritage, saying, “We have Abraham for our father!” Listen—God could turn these rocks into children of Abraham!

God wants you to bear fruit! If you don’t produce good fruit, then you’ll be chopped down like a fruitless tree and made into firewood. God’s ax is taking aim and ready to swing!

People: What shall we do to perform works from changed lives?

John the Baptist: The person who has two shirts must share with the person who has none. And the person with food must share with the one in need.

Some tax collectors were among those in the crowd seeking baptism.

Tax Collectors: Teacher, what kind of fruit is God looking for from us?

John the Baptist: Stop overcharging people. Only collect what you must turn over to the Romans.

Soldiers: What about us? What should we do to show true change?

John the Baptist: Don’t extort money from people by throwing around your power or making false accusations, and be content with your pay.

John’s bold message seized public attention, and many began wondering if John might himself be the Anointed One promised by God.

John the Baptist: I baptize you with water, but One is coming—One far more powerful than I, One whose sandals I am not worthy to untie—who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is coming like a farmer at harvesttime, tools in hand to separate the wheat from the chaff. He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire, and He will gather the genuine wheat into His barn.

He preached with many other provocative figures of speech and so conveyed God’s message to the people—the time had come to rethink everything. But John’s public preaching ended when he confronted Herod, the ruler of Galilee, for his many corrupt deeds, including taking Herodias, the ruler’s sister-in-law, as his own wife. Herod responded by throwing John into prison.

But before John’s imprisonment, when he was still preaching and ritually cleansing through baptism the people in the Jordan River, Jesus also came to him to be baptized. As Jesus prayed, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit came upon Him in a physical manifestation that resembled a dove. A voice echoed out from heaven.

Voice from Heaven: You are My Son, the Son I love, and in You I take great pleasure.

At this, the launch of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus was about 30 years old.

He was assumed to be the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

The Book of Luke, Chapter 3 (The Voice)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 11th chapter of the book of Job that documents Zophar’s address to Job:

Finally, Job’s third friend, Zophar the Naamathite, spoke to Job.

Zophar: Shall such a great volume of words remain unanswered

and a long-winded man be so easily acquitted?

Shall your empty prattle silence people,

and when you mock, shall no one shame you?

You’ve told us, “I have a clear understanding of things,

and I am innocent in Your eyes, O Lord.”

Ah, but I wish God would speak,

that He would address you openly, so I will argue for Him.

I wish He would show you the secrets of great wisdom—

for the two sides of sound wisdom are both found in His mercy and justice.

Know this: God forgets some of your guilt.

Can you see to the unseen side of God,

or explore the limits of the Highest One’s knowledge?

Higher than the heavens—what can you do to reach it?

Deeper than the realm of the dead—what can you know of it?

Its farthest reaches exceed the ends of the earth;

its breadth spans far beyond the sea.

If He passes by, as is His routine, and throws you into prison,

and calls you to testify about what you’ve done, who can challenge Him?

He recognizes worthless people without integrity,

so do you really think when He sees wrongdoing He doesn’t examine it?

As they say, “The empty-headed will become clever

in the day the colt of a wild donkey is born human!”

If you will focus your intentions in His direction

and open your hands and reach for Him,

Where you have guilt on your hands,

if you will send it far away and not tolerate sin in your tents,

Then you will lift up a face clean of all stains;

you will hold your head high, secure, and free of fear.

You will forget all of these troubles of yours;

they will pass beneath your memory like a drop of water that has just flowed away.

Life will become brighter than high noon;

darkness will give way to morning.

Once again, you’ll trust in the presence of hope;

you’ll scan the horizon and sleep safely.

You will lie down, and no one will terrorize you,

and many will long to be in your good graces.

But the eyes of the wicked will grow dark as they lose hope;

they’ll find no escape, and in despair,

they’ll long only to breathe their last dying breath.

The Book of Job, Chapter 11 (The Voice)

my personal reading of the Scriptures for Sunday, April 18 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible, along with Today’s Psalms and Proverbs

Today’s message from the Institute for Creation Research

April 18, 2021

The First Day of the Week

“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20:7)

Given the fact that everything about God’s Word was specifically inspired by its Author, it is appropriate that this important phrase, “the first day of the week,” occurs exactly eight times in the Bible. The first six of these (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19) all stress the fact that it was on this day that the greatest event in history (since the creation) had taken place. The creation of the universe had taken place on the first day of the week, and now its Creator had conquered sin and death itself on that day. In the Bible, of course, the number “seven” represents completeness, so “eight” represents a new beginning—a new creation, a resurrection.

The last two references tell us just how the early Christians remembered this day. Our text verse tells us this was a day on which the disciples assembled together, had a preaching service, and then “broke bread.” This was not a special assembly called just for Paul, for he had already been waiting there x days (see the previous verse). This was about 25 years after the resurrection itself, and the Jewish believers were evidently still observing the seventh day as a rest day, but then they also observed the first day of the week as the time to commemorate the Lord’s death in “breaking of bread” to celebrate His resurrection and especially to hear the preaching of His Word. The final reference tells us one other vital thing they did: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1 Corinthians 16:2). The first day of the week should always be a time of remembering Him in these joyful ways, for He is our living Lord and Savior. HMM

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fedonciadale · 6 years

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I have a theory about the bitter part. Firstly, well the entire series is already bitter, starting with Ned's death onward. I think pretty much everyone agrees that the Stark family especially swallowed the largest bitter pill. If the series were to end right now, with the remaining Starks still living and in tact, and in charge of the North. I'd still think it was a bitter ending. Secondly, I think GRRM was addressing the series as whole for the majority of the audience.

(2) I don’t think he meant that each and every single character will have a bittersweet end. Aragon and Arwen, Faramir and Eowyn, and as you mentioned Sam did not particularly have a bittersweet ending. They kind of got (mostly) a happy ending but only after MUCH hardship. With GRRMs admiration of LOTR I think it’s vital to have a happy romantic ending for at least one couple, and I think that will be Jonsa. Because Jonsa will represent the possibility of rebirth for the most meaningful and loved

(3) and DESERVING family of the series. Rebirth is an important literature device which is considered vital for quality and satisfactory story-telling because it answers the dreaded question of what happens after life? and the possibility of immortality through children. In LOTR we got that with Arwen and Aragorn, Faramir and Eowyn, and Sam’s family. They all had happy and fulfilling endings, so I am fairly certain that Jonsa will likewise end mostly happy (minus a few eyes) but the audience will

(4) will not be left in doubt of their love. Also consider the fact that they will have to life and overcome their severe traumas after the war, that’s plenty enough. Theirs will be the ‘sweet’ part of the ending. It has to be, for the sake of a remotely satisfying conclusion. I believe the bitter part will be D becoming a villian and dying a villian, with no redemption - as you pointed out much like Gollum. GRRM does not pussy foot, when he makes a character become a tyrant he won’t back-track.

(5) That would be an extremely bitter pill for the majority of the audience. Can you imagine the uproar in that part of the fandom? It’s also very GRRM like because it’s a moral lesson that every villian is a hero in their own story. But my theory is that another bitter part is that like Frodo, Arya will decide she cannot remain in Westeros, she is too changed or haunted and she will sail west. Leaving Jon and Sansa as the last two Starks standing to rebuild Winterfell and the North.

Dear nonny, I agree, there is already quite an amount of bitterness in the story and more than in the LOTR, although you have some sad deaths in LOTR as well. I think that ‘bittersweet’ might be read in several ways. I’m almost certain that magic will be gone by the end of the series, and I’m sure that Da€nerys will go down with a real bang. She is the last Targaryen and I think there will be some sadness to the fact, that with her even the remnants of Valyria will be gone. I have a very ‘Roman Empire’ feel about Valyria. It was after all a place of wisdom and knowledge as well as a place where slavers thrived. And some good things are Valyrian. It is a very ambiguous legacy!

I think that in hindsight D’s role will be seen as the role of a heroine and she’ll probably get a gloriole around her head. I’m o.k. with that as long as show viewers/readers know, that she died as an antagonist. I also think that Jonsa will have a satisfying end. Even if Jon loses an eye (highly probable) they have the chance to be happy, but will never forget what they endured. I could be a bit like Merry or Pippin in LOTR who never forgot their confrontation with the Witch King and Denethor. But it did not diminish their ability to be happy. And they were, just like Sam and Rosie, Faramir and Eowyn, and Aragorn and Arwen. I always picture Sam and especially Faramir as having sad day, where they think about Boromir and Frodo. I would expect the same for Jon and Sansa. It is my headcanon that they’ll have certain days of remembrance where the usual happy household is a bit more subdued and the memory of their beloved is cherished.

Like you, I do worry for Arya. I’m quite sure that Bran somehow will stay, and will be the last guardian of the old magic of the North, ensuring that this will last at least in part. But giants and everything else will be gone, so that a sense of sadness for the loss of everything extraordinary will remain, even if we know that the extraordinary (aka dragons) was dangerous. I could see Arya leaving Westeros, but that would be very sad.I would want her to stay, marry Gendry have only daughters and train them to be part of the King’s guard of Jon and Sansa.... But these are my wishes, and to take Arya away from Westeros might be a possible ending.

I do think that the general motive of the ending will be bittersweet in the sense that some of our heroes are alive and that the Starks have their comeuppance, but that there was a price to be paid. Some of D stans might think that her death might be the price, but to me that wouldn’t be a bitter, but a very satisfying ending. If the bitter part means the death of D and the Targaryen dynasty, it wouldn’t be bitter for me, but it might be for the casual reader or viewer. I certainly will be for the die-hard D stans... (And the uproar in that part of the fandom will be music to my ears, if I am honest...)

Still, that would be too good to be true, and I’m very much afraid that a price will have to be paid by the Starks as well. And living with their losses is difficult as it stands now, I wouldn’t want them to have more losses, but I am fully aware, that this is a possibility. But I try not to think about it, because speculating on what Stark might die or vanish yet, is too hurtful, and I’m a bit superstitious. If I don’t speculate too much, it might not happen. Of course, my brain tricks me into theorising anyway and I hate that!

Thanks for your thoughts and the ask!

#anon ask #Jonsa #Jonsa is endgame #Anti-Daenerys #Anti-Jonerys #DarkDany #Bittersweet ending #What is the bittersweet ending?

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pamphletstoinspire · 6 years

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Understanding The Bible - A Practical Guide To Each Book In The Bible - Part 44

Written by: PETER KREEFT

TWENTY-ONE

________

Standing Fast in Christ: Letters of Peter

Peter’s two letters could be called “Rocky I” and “Rocky II”, for Jesus had declared Peter to be the Rock on which He would build His Church (Mt 16:18). We see in them not the “sandy” Peter of the Gospels, the Peter with foot-in-mouth disease, but a rock-solid saint. His two letters are full of sound advice and exhortations for daily Christian living. Peter’s letters, like James’, are practical. Paul’s letters, like John’s, are more intellectual. Peter and James are exhortatory; Paul and John are expository.

There is no “Rocky III” because Peter was martyred in Rome in or around A.D. 66. The prophecy Jesus had made about how Peter was to die (Jn 21:18-19) was fulfilled when Nero crucified Peter. Tradition says Peter insisted on being crucified upside down because he did not want to seem equal to his Master.

Peter wrote these two “general epistles” to Christians scattered throughout the empire, that is, the civilized world (1:1). Peter had taken the center of Church authority to the center of the world, Rome. He spent the last decade of his life there. He refers to Rome symbolically as “Babylon” (5:13), for Babylon was the traditional enemy of the Jews, the empire that had conquered and enslaved them six hundred years earlier, just as Rome had done again. Now Rome was turning her hatred also to the new Israel, the Church, when Nero and Diocletian began persecuting Christians.

First Peter: Stand Fast in Persecution

Peter writes his first letter to advise Christians in the Roman Empire how to deal with suffering and persecution. The “fiery ordeal” (4:12) endured by these Christians was not yet martyrdom, for Nero’s killings were confined to the city of Rome. Only later did Rome begin killing Christians throughout the empire. The ordeal was probably the scorns and sneers of their neighbors, who resented Christians for being different. It was becoming increasingly clear to the pagans, just as it is to the neo-pagans in our contemporary de-Christianized society, that Christians are a dangerously different people with a dangerously different Lord, love, and lifestyle.

This kind of persecution has not ended with the end of the Roman Empire, of course. As anyone knows who has seriously attempted it, living the whole gospel in a fallen world can be harder than dying for it.

Yet Peter does not blame the state as an institution for its mistreatment of Christians. In fact, like Paul in Romans 13, he tells his readers to submit to its authority as divinely instituted (2:13-14). The state, like the whole world, is seen not as a thing in itself but as relative to God.

Peter’s tone is full of grace and encouragement. He practices what he preaches about being a pastor (shepherd) of souls, an example rather than a lord (5:1-3; compare with Jn 13:12-17). Peter had finally learned Jesus’ simple lesson and learned it well. Like Paul, he preaches service and submission: of citizens to the state, of servants to their masters, wives to their husbands, and generally of all Christians to each other (3:8).

Christian “submission” makes sense only if the state, master, husband, parent, or friend is seen as an icon of Christ. If we really believed our Lord’s words, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40), we would not balk at the idea of “submission”.

There is a consistent teaching throughout the Bible, especially in the New Testament and the Epistles, that the divine order for human society and relationships involves hierarchy, authority, and obedience. But the rivers that run in these hierarchical riverbeds are rivers of love and humility, not power (5:5; compare with Eph 5:21).

First Peter focuses most especially on the problem of suffering. Peter tells his flock three essential practical truths about Christian suffering:

First, that we should not be surprised at it: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you” (4:12). If the Head suffers, His body must also suffer, for otherwise it is not His body. Christ never promised us a rose garden without thorns. Instead, He promised that “if they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also” (Jn 15:20). George MacDonald says, “The Son of God suffered not so that we might not suffer but so that our sufferings might become his.”

Second, because of this real incorporation into His Body, suffering can become joy: “But rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (4:13). We must not be bitter or resentful to God for allowing us to suffer, but realize that sufferings are God’s blessings, not His punishments. As Saint Philip Neri said, “The cross is the gift God gives to His friends.”

Third, there is an eschatological dimension to understanding suffering. “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you” (5:10). Suffering does not weaken us but strengthens us in the long run. The biblical answer to the problem of suffering is not some abstract, timeless truth but two real historical events: the two comings of Christ, one past, one future. The full answer is something that will happen when Christ returns. In this light, read 1:3-10, probably the key passage to the whole letter.

Fourth, in order to transform suffering into joy by its incorporation into Christ, our sufferings must be for good, not for evil. Paradoxically, only unjust suffering is good; suffering justly is evil. “What credit is it if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval” (2:20; compare with 4:1-16).

Other notable and memorable passages in this little letter include the following:

1. The charter of Christian apologetics: “Always be prepared to make a defense (logos, reason) to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you” (3:15).

2. The promise that “love covers a multitude of sins” (4:8)—this is agape, not eros, of course—charity, not romance.

3. The unqualified exhortation to “cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares for you” (5:7).

4. The exhortation to “be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith” (5:8-9). This verse used to be very familiar, in the old days when the idea of spiritual warfare was as commonly taught in the Church as it is in the Scriptures. This passage was repeated every day in the daily Divine Office, prayed by all monks, most priests, and many of the laity.

5. The intriguing passage about Christ preaching to the dead “spirits in prison” (presumably Purgatory) who had lived in Noah’s time. This seems to be what Christ did between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. He was busy even then (see Jn 5:16-17)!

6. The simple statement that “baptism . . . saves you” (3:21). This is a very embarrassing one for many Protestants who teach that the sacraments are mere symbols.

Second Peter: Stand Fast against Heresy and Sin

This letter was written just before Peter’s anticipated death by martyrdom (1:14-15), between A.D. 62 and 66, from Rome. It is the last recorded words of the first recorded pope.

Peter refers to Paul’s letters (3:15-16) as already well-known in the Church, thus proving they were written quite early. By the way, if you find Paul’s writings difficult, you are in good company: so did Peter (3:16).

This short letter is Peter’s “reminder” (1:12) of the familiar, essential gospel truth and of its solid foundation in two public facts. Only Judaism and Christianity are religions of public record, eyewitnessed facts. All others are (pagan) myths, (Oriental) mysticisms, or (modernist) moralisms.

The two facts are (1) the disciples’ and Peter’s own eyewitness experience of Jesus (1:16-18) and (2) the written prophecies of Scripture that Jesus fulfilled: “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. . . . And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. First of all, you must understand that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (1:16, 19-21). This passage seems clearly to reject both the modernist view of Scripture as human interpretation rather than divine intervention, and the Protestant principle of private interpretation.

Peter’s first letter dealt with external dangers to the Church: persecution and sufferings. His second letter deals with internal dangers: heresies and sins. The early Church and the early Christians were being confused and harmed by false teaching. This is why the New Testament is so consistently harsh on false doctrine: down the road it always harms people, and Christians love people. It’s out of liberal-hearted love and compassion for people that the Church has always been so hardheadedly conservative about doctrine.

Just as there were false as well as true prophets throughout the history of Israel, they persisted in the early Church. And not only the early Church. Does anyone really doubt who they are today? Who can read without embarrassment the many passages in Scripture denouncing false teachers, and who can’t? Who do and who do not believe there are such things as false teachings because there are such things as objective truth and divine revelation?

Peter points out the connection between false doctrine and false practice. The saints are always orthodox. They are the living refutation of all who say orthopraxy alone is enough—or orthodoxy alone. For just as true doctrine naturally produces true living (since good works are the fruit of faith; see James), false doctrine always produces false living: licentiousness (2:2), greed (2:3), arrogance and the despising of authority (2:10), lust (2:10, 13, 14), and a false “freedom”: “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved” (2:19). As George MacDonald put it, “A man is a slave to whatever he cannot part with that is less than himself.”

These false teachers were also scoffing at the belief that Christ would return to judge them (3:3-10). Peter writes some very disturbingly strong words against these teachers, just as Jesus used similar words against the Pharisees and scribes—not out of hatred but out of the kind of “tough love” that shouts, “Danger!” when someone is near the edge of a cliff or on thin ice.

For God cannot change His essential nature, which is both love and justice. He delays His punishments to give us time to repent (3:9-15), but punishment for sin is inevitable (2:4-6; 3:9, 12, 17). This is a theme taught on every page of Scripture, yet one hardly taught on a single page of modern books of “religious education”. The God of infinite and unchangeable love cast His rebel angels into Hell, destroyed the world with a flood, and rained fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah. It is not possible that He will wink sleepily at New York or San Francisco.

The best antidote for Christians against heresies is the positive one: understanding the truth. That is why Peter the Rock writes this reminder of the foundations of the faith (1:12-13; 3:1-2). “Reminding” is the business of the Magisterium and the papacy, the Rock. Buildings with a strong rock as their foundation, like those on Manhattan Island, can grow to skyscrapers. A foundation has to be conservative, a “stick-in-the-mud”, like an anchor.

Also included in 2 Peter is the most explicit passage in Scripture about the high, exalted, and incredible destiny of believers actually to share God’s nature: “He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature” (1:3-4). The Eastern Orthodox churches call this theosis (“divinization”). It is only in light of this revealed destiny and ultimate identity that the uncompromisingly idealistic, otherworldly, and counter cultural moral exhortations found in every book of the New Testament make perfect sense.

#understanding the bible

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seekfirst-community · 1 year

Text

Feast of Cyril of Jerusalem, the Master Catechist.

"Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.

“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’

"But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

"I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18: 9 - 14).

Saturday March 18th 2023 in the 3rd Week of Lent is the feast of St Cyril of Jerusalem. Bishop and Doctor of the Church. (315 - 386). St Cyril was the Archbishop of Jerusalem when the Arian heresy disturbed the peace of the Church all over the Roman Empire.

Cyril vigorously defended the unchangeable teachings of the Church. For this, he suffered multiple exiles from the See of Jerusalem. St Cyril is recognized in history by his catechetical works. He prepared multitudes of Catechumens to receive Baptism and helped the Neophytes after Easter to grow in the faith. What is really providential in the work and legacy of St Cyril is that he documented his teachings which have come to us. His writings of over 1600 years ago prove that the Catholic Church is the same in teachings and beliefs in the late 300s as she is today. Nothing has changed.

Our takeaway from today's well-known Gospel sounds simple enough:

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

How does one exalt himself? You exalt yourself when you overrate yourself. You exalt yourself when you consider yourself superior to your neighbors based on the color of your skin. You exalt yourself when you consider yourself the knowall in any area of knowledge.

How does one humble himself? Simply, be like Jesus. Be like the Virgin Mary. Be like the saints. An example, our saint of today: St Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Cyril was a very humble man. Although one of the most learned in his epoch, he was a very humble man.

Examination of Conscience and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the most effective tools in acquiring humility teaches St Philip Neri.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

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seekfirst-community · 1 year

Text

Feast of Cyril of Jerusalem, the Master Catechist.

"Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.

“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

"But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

"I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18: 9 - 14).

Our takeaway from today's well-known Gospel sounds simple enough:

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Examination of Conscience and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the most effective tools in acquiring humility teaches St Philip Neri.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

0 notes

seekfirst-community · 1 year

Text

Feast of Cyril of Jerusalem, the Master Catechist.

"Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.

“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

"But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

"I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18: 9 - 14).

Our takeaway from today's well-known Gospel sounds simple enough:

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Examination of Conscience and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the most effective tools in acquiring humility teaches St Philip Neri.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

0 notes

dfroza · 4 years

Text

A baptism of the heart and body

is the pure seed of the Spirit that is (already inside) and gently waiting to be clearly chosen by those who have already been first chosen by Love to be in Love

A point of cleansing made in the paired chapters of the Testaments for Today in Luke 3 and Daniel 6

from the ancient book of Luke:

In Jerusalem Annas and Caiaphas were high priests in the temple. And in those days, out in the wilderness, John (son of Zacharias) received a message from God.

A solitary voice is calling:

“Go into the wilderness;

prepare the road for the Eternal One’s journey.

In the desert, repair and straighten

every mile of our True God’s highway