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pooma-bible · 2 years

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Pas. Johnraj Lamech

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Greetings in the matchless Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Topic: The First Martyr, Stephen: A Study of Martyrdom.

Rhema Word: John 11:25-26 (NKJV) “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Let’s pray. Our Gracious Loving Father, thank you for giving us an opportunity to meditate Your Word today along with your children who have been called to live a holy life Father. I commit everyone who are all meditating this message into your mighty hand Father. Bless them and give them the oneness of Spirit and make their heart as a good land to receive each and every Word which is living and active Lord. Thank You Holy Spirit for helping us to understand the in-depth treasure of Your Word and helping us to live a life as per Your Word Lord. We give all the Glory and Honour to You only Father. We pray in the mighty Name of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

In the beginning of Acts chapter 6 we see Stephen was one of those leaders chosen to help with the issue related to the care of widows. After Stephen is chosen to help make sure that the widows are cared for, Scripture says of him: ”And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. (Acts 6:8 NASB)”

Stephen was a layman, an extraordinary layman, a great servant of God. His name means a “crown”. The following are the facts about Stephen – the First Martyr:

He was full of Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3,5,10).

He was full of grace (Acts 6:8).

He was full of power (Acts 6:8).

He was full of wisdom (Acts 6:3, 10).

He was a man of great reputation or testimony (Acts 6:3).

He was of great works (Acts 6:8).

He was man of great defender of faith (Acts 6:10).

He was the first deacon of the church (Acts 6:5).

He was the first martyr of the church (Acts 7:59-60; 22:20).

Let us try to understand this vivid study of martyrdom, a study that should encourage believers to stand fast in persecution, no matter the cost, with the help of Holy Spirit, today:

1] The cause of martyrdom: Reaction against God (Acts 7:54)

2] The Lord’s provision (Acts 7:55-56)

3] The insanity of murdering the believer (Acts 7:57-58)

4] The believer’s supreme confidence (Acts 7:59)

5] The believer’s forgiving spirit (Acts 7:60)

6] The believer’s peaceful departure (Acts 7:60)

1] The cause of martyrdom: Reaction against God (Acts 7:54):

The Bible says in Acts 7:54 ”When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.”

There is the cause of martyrdom – reaction against God. Remember, Stephen was on trial for his life. He had been called upon to defend himself (Acts 7:1). But instead of actually defending himself, Stephen had preached about the tragic failure of the people to follow and obey God.

(a) Yes, he had shown how God called and founded the nation of Israel to seek and inhabit the “promised land”.

(b) Yes, he had shown Israel had rejected God’s call and the hope of the promised land, rejected it time and again all through their history.

(c ) Yes, he had shown how God delivered the nation time and again, trying to stir within the people an obedience to Him.

(d) Yes, he had made eight severe charges against the nation including the murder of the righteous One, God’s very own Son:

Charge 01: The people of Israel did not worship God, but worshipped false gods (Acts 7:42).

Charge 02: The people of Israel did not carry the tabernacle of God, but of false gods (Acts 7:43).

Charge 03: The people of Israel were inexcusable. Why? Because, they were greatly blessed. (Acts 7:44-47).

Charge 04: The people of Israel did not understand the temple – God is not limited to only one particular place. (Acts 7:48-50).

Charge 05: The people of the present generation of Israel were resisting the Holy Spirit. (Acts 7:51).

Charge 06: The people of Israel persecuted all the prophets – the very servants who predicted the coming of the Righteous One (the Messiah) (Acts 7:52).

Charge 07: The people of the present generation of Israel fulfilled the prophecies. Yes, they betrayed and murdered the Righteous One, God’s very own Son (Acts 7:52).

Charge 08: The people of the present generation of Israel have not kept the law (Acts 7:53).

Stephen’s message had been effective and convicting. It had done its job. Both the leaders and the people were convicted. The response was up to them. Conviction can go either way. It can either cause a person to turn to God, confessing his sin, or cause a person to react against God. Here, the Bible says in Acts 7:54 ”When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.”

Yes, the people were in a rage, filled with anger and malice, ready to do violence, ready to unleash the fury of their emotions. When the human heart rebels against God, it becomes disturbed and tormented. Rebellion against God causes the human heart to be (i) uncertain & insecure, (ii) disturbed & troubled, (iii) indignant & reactionary, (iv) passive & inactive, (v) withdrawn & lonely and (vi) purposeless & meaningless.

Here, just see the faithfulness of Stephen in bearing witness to the truth. His purpose was not to escape condemnation, not at any price. He, of course, was not wishing to die. But he was not willing to deny the truth in order to live. His desire was to proclaim the truth, hoping the leaders and people of his beloved nation would heed the call of God and be saved. What a dynamic challenge for bearing testimony in difficult situations!

That is why Peter and John said in Acts 4:19-20 “ But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Remember, what Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:7-8 “ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.”

Peter also says in 1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

2] The Lord’s provision (Acts 7:55-56):

The Bible says in Acts 7:55-56 “ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

God is always present when one of His children is facing a crisis, especially martyrdom. But note this: the person must be a true child of God, faithful and obedient to the Lord of glory. Stephen was so faithful and obedient to the Lord. He was doing exactly what Jesus had said to do, bearing testimony to the world. Therefore, Stephen had the promise of the Lord, ”And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) Yes, Jesus was there with Stephen, there in the most wonderful way. Note the marvellous provision of God to those who face martyrdom.

i) God filled Stephen with the Holy Spirit. Stephen was a man who was always filled with the Spirit (Acts 5:3,5), but the idea here would be a very special infilling of the Holy Spirit. He received a very special presence and manifestation of the Holy Spirit: a special consciousness; an awareness; a sense surrounding, engulfing, and embracing him; a presence carrying him through the great trial. He also received a very special power and grace to bear and go through whatever lay ahead.

ii) God gave Stephen a vision into heaven; enabling him to see into the other world, the spiritual world, or spiritual dimension of being. (a) Stephen saw the glory of God. He saw God in the brilliant light of His person, full of splendour and radiance. (b) Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Jesus is usually said to be sitting at the right hand of God, symbolizing His authority as man’s Lord and Intercessor (Matthew 26:64; Mark 16:19; Luke 20:42-43; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 10:12-13). But here He is seen standing. This symbolizes His overlooking the scene. His care for His dear follower and the joyful reception of His faithful servant.

Here we need to understand this: Imagine the glorious sight! There will be no difference between the vision of Stephen and the actual experience of God’s glory for any believer. We shall all behold every sight in Stephen’s vision and much more. Yes, in a moment’s time, in the twinkling of an eye, the genuine believer will pass from this life into the next world immediately, never tasting or experiencing death.

That is what Jesus said in John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” He further said John 8:51 “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

Jesus said in John 11:26 “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Apostle Paul while writing to Timothy says in 2 Timothy 4:18 “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” He also said while writing to Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

The author of Hebrews says in Hebrews 2:9-10 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

iii) God gave Stephen a glorious testimony. Seeing such a scene, Stephen just burst forth proclaiming the glorious vision he was experiencing. It was most likely a natural outburst of joy and ecstasy, a testimony of the truth of the other world to those standing around. Note this part of the truth: the Son of Man, Jesus, is there. He is at the right hand of God.

Stephen was proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God. Yes, he was proclaiming that our faith in Jesus is not in vain. Yes, he was proclaiming that Jesus is exactly whom He claimed to be.

The Bible says in Mark 16:19 “After the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.”

Apostle Paul while writing to Ephesians says in Ephesians 1:20-21 “Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”

Paul further said while writing to Philippians in Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him (Jesus) and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

That is what Apostle John says in his vision in Revelation 5:11-12 “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honour and glory and blessing!” Hallelujah!!

3] The insanity of murdering the believer (Acts 7:57-58):

The Bible says in Acts 7:57-58 “ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

There was the insanity of murdering the believer. This is seen in two things:

(i) The insane rejection:

The persecutors were actually opposing a person who only wanted to help and minister to people and to offer the hope of living forever. The sole purpose of the believer is to minister to and meet the desperate conditions of man who is being lost, in hunger, suffering from disease, depression, loneliness, lifelessness, etc.

Whatever the predicament, the believer is called to minister. He is not out to destroy, but to build. It is utter insanity to oppose and kill such a person. For men to oppose a genuine believer, their behaviour has to reach a peak of insanity. Note what is involved here: ”yelling at the top of their voices” so as o drown out the truth, ”covering their ears” so as to keep from hearing the truth, ”rushing to him” so as to attack and take vengeance, ”dragging and stoning him” so as to get rid of the convicting message, allowing them to live as they desire instead of living for God.

(ii) The insane leadership:

A person who takes the lead in persecution is in rebellion against God. Those who follow such a leader are following a person who is actually reacting against the Lord, not against a believer. The man who took the lead in Stephen’s murder was Saul of Tarsus. He was kicking against the pricks, the conviction of conscience.

It is dangerous to follow man in rebellion against God. The path of rebellion leads to destruction. The man in rebellion shall perish. There is no exception.

That is why Jesus said in Matthew 23:33 “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”

Apostle Paul while writing to Romans said in Romans 1:28-32 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Paul further said in Romans 2:5 “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”

While writing to Galatians, Paul said in Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Apostle John while seeing the vision revealed in Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The Bible cautions about the fate of a stiff-necked person in Proverbs 29:1 “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

4] The believer’s supreme confidence (Acts 7:59):

The Bible says in Acts 7:59 “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

The believer’s supreme confidence and hope is assurance of heaven. Here note four points:

(i) Stephen experienced the pain and suffering of the trial. This is seen in that he called for the Lord’s help. Believers are not removed or relieved from the sufferings of trials, but they are given the grace and strength to endure the trials, even martyrdom.

(ii) Stephen called upon the Lord Himself. It was the Lord Jesus who was standing, ready to receive him. Jesus wishes all believers to be with Him where He is (John 14:2-3; John 17:24). This is the very reason for which Jesus humiliated Himself in coming to earth, sacrificed His life in death and prays and longs for believers to join Him in heaven.

(iii) Stephen called for Jesus to receive his spirit. Stephen was still trusting the grace of God, the righteousness of Jesus, for his salvation. He was not trusting his own works and goodness. He was still depending upon Jesus and the wonderful love of God. Yes, Stephen had trusted and lived for Christ during life so he could expect to trust and live for Christ in eternity as well.

(iv) Stephen was going to be where Jesus was. He called for Jesus to receive his spirit, to accept him where He was. Remember, where Jesus is – Jesus is in heaven and He is at the right hand of God (verse 55). Yes, Stephen and all other believers are to be with Jesus right where He is, in heaven itself.

Jesus said in John 14:2-3 “ My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Jesus while praying for His disciples prays in John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

Apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 “ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

5] The believer’s forgiving spirit (Acts 7:60)

There was the believer’s loving and forgiving spirit. Yes, Stephen’s last act was to kneel in prayer and to plead for his persecutors and murderers as recorded in Acts 7:60 “Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Yes, he possessed the very sprit of Christ Himself, who had prayed the same prayer in Luke 23:34 “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Here, the words “do not charge them with this sin” means three things:

(i) Stephen was filled with compassion for his persecutors. He warmed them to be saved.

(ii) Men will be charged with sin.

(iii) Men must have the charge of sin removed from them to be acceptable before God.

6] The believer’s peaceful departure (Acts 7:60):

There was the believer’s peaceful departure. Scripture simply says, ”He fell asleep”. Yes, there is no death for the believer. Yes, Stephen simply passed from this life into the next world, an experience that amounts to nothing more than falling asleep. Sleep is often used to describe the “death” for the believer. Jesus said in John 11:12-13 “Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.”

Jesus said to Martha in John 11:25-26 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

While writing to Corinthians Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:53-56 “For this corruptible must put on incorruptible, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible has put on incorruptible, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.”

Paul further said in 2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Here the lesson for us is: believers are to forgive men no matter what the offense may be.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:7,44 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”.. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you”.

Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 3:9 “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing.”

Prophet Micah says in Micah 6:7-8 “Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Yes, let us be ready and stand fast in persecution, no matter the cost, like Stephen.

Let us introspect ourselves.

Shall we preach the Word of God effectively so as to convict the congregation?

Whether our hearts still rebel against God?

Shall we remove our rebellion nature completely so as to allow God’s will is being manifested in our lives?

Shall we stand for the truth in order to live till the end like Stephen?

Shall we have the confidence and belief that our Lord Jesus Christ is always with us when we are facing crisis, especially martyrdom?

Shall we have the confidence and belief that in a moment’s time, we will pass from this life into the next world immediately, never tasting or experiencing death?

Shall we remove our stubbornness and unrepentant hearts today so as to pre-empt storing up wrath for the judgement day?

Shall we have the forgiving hearts to plead for persecutors and murderers as well like Stephen and our Lord Jesus Christ?

Let us Pray: Our Heavenly Gracious Father, we thank you for helping us to understand about the “The First Martyr, Stephen: A Study of Martyrdom” and introspecting ourselves today Father. Father, please help us to preach the Word of God effectively so as to convict the congregation, to remove our rebellion nature completely so as to allow God’s will is being manifested in our lives, please help us to stand for the truth in order to live till the end like Stephen, help us to have the confidence and belief that our Lord Jesus Christ is always with us when we are facing crisis, especially martyrdom, Father. Please help us to have the confidence and belief that in a moment’s time, we will pass from this life into the next world immediately, never tasting or experiencing death Father. Father, please remove our stubbornness and unrepentant hearts so as to pre-empt storing up wrath for the judgement day besides having the forgiving hearts to plead even for persecutors and murderers like Stephen and Your beloved Son Jesus Christ, Father. We give all praise, glory and honour to Your Holy Name. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

God bless you all.

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scotianostra · 2 years

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On January 8th 1697 Thomas Aikenhead was executed in Edinburgh.

So who was oor Thomas, a villain?, a murderer?, a smuggler?, or some enemy of the state? No Thomas’s crime was blasphemy who took the lord’s name in vain…….this would be comic if it wasn’t for the tragic fact that he was executed, unlike the man in Life of Brian, who uttered the words Jehova, Thomas complained that he wished he was warming himself in hell rather than that chilly night walking past the recently built Tron Kirk on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Well that’s the simple story that the tour guides that take you round the Old Town will tell you, there is a bit more to it so I will bore you with a bit more of the detail.

Thomas Aikenhead came from a well-to-do family in Edinburgh, his father being listed as a surgeon but more probably an apothecary, a dispenser of herbs and potions. Both his parents were dead by the time he became a student at Edinburgh University at the age of 16 or 17.

His mother had been a daughter of the manse, and you would think that would have made Aikenhead wary of challenging the established religion of the time, namely the all-powerful Church of Scotland, especially while still a student and under the constant gaze of professors, lecturers and, as it turned out, his fellow students.

These were the dying days of a curious period in Scottish history. Aikenhead would have been four when the ‘Wizard of the West Bow’ Major Thomas Weir was executed in 1670. Weir was by day an extreme Calvinist but by night an incestuous Satanist and it takes no great leap of reason to see that an impressionable young boy might well have been affected by the trial and execution of a local celebrity that lived not far from him.

Thomas was a keen student and an avid reader, he may or may not have known and Edinburgh bookseller, John Frazer, who had been prosecuted after admitting either reading, or being in possession of Charles Blount’s Oracles of Reason a book I know nothing about but gather it relates to Deism, which questioned the existence or more importantly, non-existence of God or Satan, Frazer had repented ad as it was a first offence was sack clothed and jailed in the old Tolbooth for a number of months.

Anyway, Thomas had a friend, well he thought he had a friend, Murdo Craig, but Murdo, on the sly had been keeping notes on Aitkenhead, and his dalliances with blasphemous ideals, we know that because they formed a large part of the indictment against Aikenhead. Craig ‘s testimony read:

“Nevertheless it is of verity, that you Thomas Aikenhead, shakeing off all fear of God and regaird to his majesties lawes, have now for more than a twelvemoneth by past, and upon severall of the dayes within the said space, and ane or other of the same, made it as it were your endeavour and work in severall compainies to vent your wicked blasphemies against God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, and against the holy Scriptures, and all revealled religione, in soe far as upon ane or other of the dayes forsaid, you said and affirmed, that divinity or the doctrine of theologie was a rapsidie of faigned and ill-invented nonsense, patched up partly of the morall doctrine of philosophers, and pairtly of poeticall fictions and extravagant chimeras, or words to this effect or purpose, with severall other such reproachfull expressions.”

That was just for starters. Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, the Lord Advocate of the day, had taken a personal interest in the case and he decided to throw the whole lot of Craig’s testimony at Aikenhead who was arrested in November, 1696, and charged under the Blasphemy Act of 1661 which carried the death penalty. He also charged Aikenhead under a more recent act, which made it a criminal offence to ‘deny, impugn or quarrel’ about the existence of God.

The prosecution papers go on to record “You have lykwayes in discourse preferred Mahomet to the blessed Jesus, and you have said that you hoped to see Christianity greatly weakened, and that you are confident that in a short tyme it will be utterly extirpate.” For Mahomet, read Muhammad, could young Thomas be an Islam convert in 17th century Edinburgh, I very much doubt it, they just needed to make an example of the young student, and he knew by now that he was in very great trouble and protested in effect that he was guilty only of the sin of being youthful and had been led astray by the books he had read. He claimed to have repented of his anti-Christian beliefs and was once again a good Presbyterian.

In this way he seems to have thrown himself upon the mercy of the court. There was none. On Christmas Eve, 1696, a jury found him guilty. Sir James Stewart asked for the death penalty and it was granted and “pronounced for doom,” as Scottish judges were still saying well into the 20th century in capital punishment cases.

Aikenhead pleaded for his life to the Privy Council emphasising his youth, his dire circumstances, and the fact that he was reconciled to the Protestant religion. There was some support for the death sentence to be commuted from at least two councillors and two Church of Scotland ministers, but the General Assembly of the Kirk intervened, demanding that Aikenhead suffer “vigorous execution to curb the abounding of impiety and profanity in this land”. These were the same type of zealots that closed down Allan Ramsay’s theatre less than 40 years later.

Back to yer man, Thomas, in his last letter to friends, written in the Tolbooth prison in Edinburgh as he awaited execution, Aikenhead at last gave a plausible explanation for his conduct – that he had been a disappointed seeker after truth.

He wrote: “It is a principle innate and co-natural to every man to have an insatiable inclination to the truth and to seek for it as for hid treasure. So I proceeded until the more I thought thereon, the further I was from finding the verity I desired.”

In truth, in a repressed society the student had just gone too far in rejecting the doctrines of Christianity calling it “feigned and ill-invented nonsense”

Aikenhead went to his death on this day, 1697, hanged on the scaffold at Shrubhill between Edinburgh and Leith. It is said that before he died he proclaimed that moral laws were the work of governments and men, ain't that the truth!

In his hand as the noose was placed around his neck was the Holy Bible.

The execution angered many people for many years afterwards. The great English historian Thomas Babington Macaulay wrote an account of the hanging and called the execution “a crime such has never since polluted the island.”

He continued: “The preachers who were the boy’s murderers crowded round him at the gallows, and, while he was struggling in the last agony, insulted Heaven with prayers more blasphemous than any thing that he had ever uttered.”

There was other evidence of church authorities being present as Aikenhead died. He was the last man in Britain to be hanged for blasphemy.

According to Arthur Herman in his book How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe’s Poorest Nation Created Our World and Everything in It the execution of Aikenhead was “the last hurrah of Scotland’s Calvinist ayatollahs” before the dawning of the age of reason in the Enlightenment.

Now we can all rejoice in The Enlightenment but a full 30 years later in the small town of Dornoch in Sutherland, Janet Horne was put on trial for the “crime” of having a daughter whose feet and hands were misshapen and who had herself given birth to a son with disabilities. She was the last woman in Britain to be burned at the stake for being a witch, her death bringing to an end the “burning time” when perhaps 4000 Scottish women were executed for the crime of witchcraft.

As with all good stories there has been a drama set to the events, I Am Thomas: A Brutal Comedy with Songs was performed at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in 2016, before going on a short tour, it received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Read one of the reviews here https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/feb/17/i-am-thomas-aikenhead-play-told-by-an-idiot-simon-armitage-blasphemy

#Scotland #scottish #execution #blasphemy #judicial murder #Edinburgh #history

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troybeecham · 4 years

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The Gospel reading for this morning, the 3rd Sunday of Easter: Luke 24:13-35

“Now on that same day two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”

Reflections on the Gospel:

This account tells us the story of two disciples of Jesus who have left Jerusalem on the same day of the Resurrection of Jesus. Early that morning, some of the women disciples had gone to anoint the body of Jesus, but find him not only alive but transformed and transfigured, having conquered death, hell, and the grave. The women run to tell the disciples that Jesus has been raised from the dead. There seems to be general agreement amongst the men that they are wrong, that the body has been taken...anything other than believing the testimony of the women who had seen the living Lord. Even after seeing Jesus raise the dead on multiple occasions, including Lazarus only a few days ago, they are unable to believe. Many of the disciples had quickly departed for home after the crucifixion, some to Galilee and others to their own villages scattered throughout Israel. To those still abiding in Jerusalem, Jesus appears to them, eats with them, tells them to touch him and see his wounds. Many of the community of the disciples believe after Jesus appears to them there in Jerusalem, but many had already fled in fear of their own lives, or in utter desolation that the one whom they thought was the Messiah was not in fact the One.

These two in this Gospel reading are among the incredulous and dejected, and so have left the company of the disciples before Jesus appears to those still waiting in Jerusalem. They had heard the testimony of the women, but that was not enough for them, and so they are heading home to Emmaus, a village about 7 miles west of Jerusalem.

Now Emmaus is a town of special importance in the history of the people of Israel. Before the Romans had conquered Israel, the Greek armies of Alexander the Great, returning from their victories in Persia, had conquered the Middle East and much of North Africa. Alexander had died, and his generals carved up the empire and set themselves up as kings. Fast forward a hundred and fifty years to the 160’s BC and we find that Israel is ruled by the descendant of one of those generals, who ruled out of Syria: Antiochus IV. Under the rule of these generals and their descendants, all the conquered territories were forcefully hellenized; that is, forced to adopt the Greek language, Greek customs, and Greek religion. In some cases, such as Israel, the conquered peoples were also allowed to maintain their own religion, but only to a point. Now Antiochus had come to believe that he was, in fact, the Son of God much in the same way that the Roman emperors would do in later years. Antiochus took the title “Theos Epiphanes”, meaning “God revealed”. In his madness, he commanded that the religion of the Jews would be forbidden and an idol of himself would be erected in the Temple in Jerusalem, and sacrifices made to him. Surprisingly, after the idol was put in place, which caused riots among the people, there was at least one priest willing to offer sacrifices to the idol. This event set of what later became known as the Maccabean Revolt, lead by a priest named Mattathias Maccabee.

Mattathias was commanded to offer sacrifices to Antiochus and the Greek gods, but he refused. When Antiochus found a priest who would comply, Mattathias killed that priest and an insurrection was born. The great miracle of Hanukkah occurred during this crisis. Here’s where Emmaus comes into this great history of the Jewish people overthrowing their conquerors and restoring their independence, and return to their own a Semitic religion, language, and culture. It all stems from a singular battle.

The Battle of Emmaus took place in 166 BC between the Maccabee forces of Judea, led by Judah Maccabee, and the third expedition of the Seleucid Empire forces under Antiochus IV Epiphanes to Lysias. Against all odds, the Maccabean Revolt is successful. For over a century, the Judeans established an autonomous state, having declared the sons of Mattathias as their new kings, thus establishing the Hasmonean dynasty, which ruled until Rome conquered Israel in 37 BC.

Now back to our Gospel reading. If you will recall, only a few days before his crucifixion, less than a week before this account, Jesus had quite spectacularly cleansed the Temple of money changers in an event not unlike that of the Maccabeans. Here’s how this connects with the Maccabean cleansing of the Temple nearly two hundred years before. The role of the priests in the Temple was inherited; priests were all descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses. And the role of High Priest was based on a rota; that is, the role of High Priest was assigned on a rotating schedule amongst all the priestly clans, and was not something that belonged to only one family. In the Maccabean restoration, the role of High Priest eventually became intimately tied with the new aristocracy (and later with the Roman occupation), and the High Priesthood became in inherited role of one family in particular, the family of Annas, whose son-in-law Caiaphas oversaw the unlawful trial of Jesus. Having become an inherited position, that clan began to amass great wealth and influence. Annas was the one who came up with the idea for setting up a money exchange in the Temple, by which his family were extorting great wealth from their own people, along with massive pens of animals for purchase for sacrifice in the Temple (previously, animals for sacrifice were obtained outside the Temple precincts). Jesus, much like the Maccabean restoration of the Temple, is incensed at the corruption of the Temple at the hands of the High Priest clan, thus calling them out as both illegitimate as a High Priests, as profiteers, using the Temple to enrich themselves, and as collaborators in collusion with the Roman occupation. Much like the Battle of Emmaus, Jesus defeated the armies of darkness, oppression, and sin on Golgotha, on the cross.

Is it any surprise that the Judean aristocracy and High Priest clan wanted Jesus dead? Is it any surprise that they were successful in murdering Jesus? Is it any surprise that they resisted anyone calling himself the Son of God, who had the authority to turn them out from their positions of power?

No wonder many of the disciples fled in fear. No wonder many of them lost their faith because Jesus had not started another Maccabean Revolt. No wonder do many of us struggle with belief and with faith, because Jesus has not yet brought about the Kingdom of God as a visible kingdom, overturning the corruption of human governments and liberating the oppressed. We, like these two disciples, still do not understand that God’s ways are not our ways, nor is God’s timetable our timetable. We reasonably desire the permanent end of oppression, corruption, and tyranny. Like these two men, we want it right now! I certainly do!

And this is why faith is a gift from God. Belief alone is insufficient because it relies on our best efforts to squeeze God into simply being the one who immediately satisfies our desires. Only faith can sustain us when our hopes are dashed, our expectations left unfulfilled, and our suffering remains real and painful day to day.

It was only after Jesus agreed to go with the men, and teaches them why he had to suffer and die, why the Resurrection was always the plan, and then celebrates what is the first Holy Eucharist after the Last Supper (in which Jesus establishes and hallows the Holy Eucharist) with them that their hearts are opened to receive the gift of faith. With their hearts and eyes opened, and their souls flooded with grace, Jesus instantly vanished and the men are compelled by joy to return to Jerusalem and tell the disciples that they have seen the Risen Lord!

In much the same way, my own journey of faith has become centered not just on correct belief but upon the objective reality that Jesus is with us in the Holy Eucharist. There are many places and ways to gather with others of shared beliefs or communal stories, where ideas can be shared, or questioned, or rejected until we find some form of agreement.

But there is only one place where Jesus promises to physically, truly, and objectively meet me to heal me, live within me, and fill me with hope, and that is in the most Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Like conquerors or governments throughout human history have done, from the armies of Alexander and of Rome, or the petit powers of hierarchies and class, I am being asked, no commanded to obey: to live, speak, eat, and believe in human powers, which are themselves subject to the “rulers...the authorities... the powers of this dark world and...the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”. We all are being commanded by these powers to comply, to obey, to be afraid, to offer sacrifice and worship.

But Jesus is walking with us, and has given us the Holy Spirit as comforter, protector, and guide as we walk our own road to Emmaus, our own walk of disillusionment, despair, and confusion. He walks with us, and will come and abide with us if we ask him, and he will be with us: truly, objectively, fully; in the Blessed Sacrament. He will set us free from the fear of all earthly and spiritual powers, and empower us and free us to worship God, and him only, no matter the cost. He will fill us with himself, and his joy will become ours. We have only to ask.

So let today be the day that you ask him to come and abide in you, that you may know true freedom from the powers of this world, and be filled with his joy.

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

#father troy beecham #christianity #troy beecham episcopal #jesus #father troy beecham episcopal #saints #god #salvation

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anastpaul · 5 years

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Saint of the Day – 29 April – St Peter of Verona OP (1205–1252) also known as St Peter Martyr – Dominican Priest and Friar, a celebrated Preacher, miracle-worker, Marian devotee. He served as Inquisitor in Lombardy, was killed by an assassin and was Canonised 11 months after his death, making his the fastest Canonisation in history. Patronages – inquisitors, midwives, Castelleone di Suasa, Italy, Verona, Italy, diocese of, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. St Peter is the the first Canonised martyr of the Dominican Order.

In the English-speaking part of the world especially, all too little is known about this illustrious Friar Preacher. Possibly this is in part due to the well-known bias in England against the old-time inquisition, which spread thence into the colonies founded by that country, for Saint Peter was closely connected with that institution. Indeed, by not a few he is considered as a man without a heart. Yet he was most compassionate. His character was rounded out by an admirable strength of will and a mind so judiciously balanced that he neither shrank from duty, whatever the sacrifice, or even danger, it involved, nor allowed his heart to control his judgement.

Father Thomas Agni of Leontino, another noted Dominican, archbishop of Cosenza and later patriarch of Jerusalem, was the first to write a life of the blessed martyr. His testimony should he all the more reliable because he lived for many years with Saint Peter of Verona, had been his superior and was an eye-witness of the principal events in his life. The work shows no signs of undue predilection. Agni’s original manuscript was for long years at Saint Mark’s Convent, Florence. Another, with some additions by Father Ambrose Taegio, was preserved in the Convent of Nostra Donna delle Grazie, Milan.

Peter was born in Verona, Italy in 1205, of parents who had embraced the heresy of Cartharism but he did attend a Catholic school. He was educated at the University of Bologna and was accepted into the Dominican Order by Dominic himself.

Because the Dominicans were theologically trained preachers, the popes entrusted the Inquisition to them. In 1234, Pope Innocent IV recognised Peter’s virtues (severity of life and doctrine, talent for preaching, and zeal for the orthodox Catholic faith) and appointed him Inquisitor in Lombardy. He spent about six months in that office and it is unclear whether he was ever involved in any trials. His one recorded act was a declaration of clemency for those confessing heresy or sympathy to heresy. In 1251 his jurisdiction was extended to most of northern Italy. Although he attracted huge crowds with his preaching, as an inquisitor he also made enemies.

Marvellously filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, he laboured continually for the propagation and defence of the true faith, being zealous for its promotion among the people. To this end he established the Association of the Faith and the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was a fervent of promoter of community and fraternal life and served the brethren wisely as a prior. He was also greatly solicitous for the spiritual good of the sisters, lovingly assisting them with his advice and exhortations to their spiritual benefit.

In his sermons he denounced heresy and also those Catholics who professed the Faith by words but acted contrary to it in deeds. Crowds came to meet him and followed him, conversions were numerous, including many Cathars who returned to orthodoxy.

Because of this, a group of Milanese Cathars conspired to kill him. They hired an assassin, one Carino of Balsamo. Carino’s accomplice was Manfredo Clitoro of Giussano. On 6 April 1252, when Peter was returning from Como to Milan, the two assassins followed Peter to a lonely spot near Barlassina and there killed him and mortally wounded his companion, a fellow friar named Domenico.

Carino struck Peter’s head with an axe and then attacked Domenico. Peter rose to his knees and recited the first article of the Symbol of the Apostles (the Apostle’s Creed). Offering his blood as a sacrifice to God, according to legend, he dipped his fingers in it and wrote on the ground: “Credo in Deum” “I believe in God”, the first words of the Apostles’ Creed. The blow that killed him cut off the top of his head but the testimony given at the inquest into his death confirms that he began reciting the Creed when he was attacked. Domenico was carried to Meda, where he died five days afterwards.

The murderer Carino, renounced heresy, became a Dominican co-operator brother and died with a reputation for sanctity. He is the subject of a local cult as Blessed Carino of Balsamo.

Wherever he went, the deaf, the dumb, the blind, the lame and people sick with every kind of ailment were brought to him. Ordinarily all were benefited by his prayers. They praised God for the power of healing which He had given His servant.

Peter of Verona and with reason, was considered a learned doctor. Yet he ever continued to store his mind with new knowledge, whether through prayer, meditation, or reading the Sacred Writings. The example which he set his religious brethren showed them by what means they could perfect themselves in their state of life and make themselves useful to the Church. Never did his degree of Master in Sacred Theology cause him to neglect study. Study never prevented him from being the first at all the regular exercises. Well did he know how to combine the practices of the cloister with the labours of the apostolic life.

In private conversation, just as in his sermons, he stimulated the faithful with his personal sentiments of love for the Blessed Virgin. Because of his influence in their favour the Servites (they were investigated to ensure their orthodoxy) have ever regarded Peter of Verona in the light of a second founder of their order. After his Canonisation, they placed him on the list of their holy patrons and protectors.

The Bull of Canonisation was sent at once to all bishops and ecclesiastical superiors, with an order that the feast of Peter of Verona should he celebrated every year on 29 April. This day was chosen for the celebration because that of his martyrdom, 6 April often falls in Holy Week, or within the octave of Easter. Alexander IV and several of his successors, prescribed that the feast should he of the same obligation as that of Saint Dominic. Finally, Clement X, by a papal decree, ordered that the feast of Saint Peter Martyr should have the rank of a duplex for the whole Church. This was in 1670 and the practice is in use today, wherever the Roman breviary is recited.

However, veneration of Peter of Verona is especially noteworthy in the Order of Friars Preacher and in that of the Servites. It is particularly the case in Italy, the land of his birth, the field of his labours and the place of his holy death. There many are the churches, chapels and confraternities erected in his honour.

The body of the martyr is still preserved and venerated in a magnificent chapel of Saint Eustorgio, Milan. Princes and noblemen of France, Germany, England and Italy (particularly the archbishops of Milan) imitated the king and queen of Cyprus with their rich gifts for the enshrinement of the saint’s relics. At each time of their various translations (1253, 1340, 1651 and 1736) many miracles were wrought. Suffice it to say that the Acta Sanctorum, in the third volume for April, where they treat of our martyr, give a long list of attested wonders worked by him.

Saint Thomas of Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, was an ardent admirer of Peter of Verona. In 1263 he visited the martyr’s sepulchre. While at Saint Eustorgio’s Convent, the great theologian and poet wrote the following verses in eulogy of the valiant athlete of the faith, which were afterwards engraved on a marble slab and placed near his tomb, where they may still he read:

Here silent is Christ’s Herald. Here quenched, the People’s Light. Here lies the martyred Champion Who fought Faith’s holy fight. The Voice the sheep heard gladly, The light they loved to see He fell beneath the weapons Of graceless Cathari.

The Saviour crowns His Soldier. His praise the people psalm. The Faith he kept adorns him With martyr’s fadeless palm.

His praise new marvels utter, New light he spreads abroad And now the whole wide city Knows well the path to God.

Saint of the Day – 29 April – St Peter of Verona OP (1205–1252) Saint of the Day - 29 April - St Peter of Verona OP (1205–1252) also known as St Peter Martyr - Dominican Priest and Friar, a celebrated Preacher, miracle-worker, Marian devotee.

#stpeterofverona/stpetermartyr

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the-dork-neko · 5 years

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The Hardest Path (Father Brown, one-shot in English)

[Sinopse] Basically, The Owl of Minerva (S03 E15, season finale) with Sid's point of view, a bit of slashy twist, and some drama that could give a nice Mexican soap opera a run for their money. Sorry for it. :3

[Word Count] 4,444

[Disclaimer] Father Brown belongs to the family of the writer G.K. Chesterton (books and short stories, published between World War I and II), and to BBC (adaptation into the very groovy TV series, since 2013). This is just a fanwork, meant for some pleasure, enjoyment, entertainment, and maybe some tears, absolutely without any intention of financial profit whatsoever.

Cross-posted to AO3 and FFN.

- Kembleford, 731.

Wasn't it easier just to say “Hello?”

He never knew how to react to any joke, to the point of making his pranks lose any trace of fun.

He also never did anything the easiest way.

Probably had never been allowed to go through the easiest path, never had been given any opportunity to play, relax, chill out, try to live a normal life. And for some reason, as absurd as the iron-hard discipline imposed on him, he just never have spared any time to complain, or to rebel.

It was unbearable, to see that stupid act of a trial, with tons of false evidences and bought testimonies, could be taken to the last consequences. Who could see a murderer in the most upstanding man in town? How could such an uptight, unable to turn a blind eye to some useless, silly rule, be unable to disrespect the sacred gift of life? Even more, the life of a fellow copper, an apprentice who also swore to serve and protect innocent civilians?

The house that they have temporarily given him would remain empty, until the arrival of the next Inspector.

For a few weeks, it'd be, again, an old, empty cottage. Just as dead as any of the graves in the cemetery behind the Church.

Regardless of how many people would be living there, for Sid, that house would never come back to life again.

The next time that the phone would ring, it wouldn't be that boyish voice, affecting cold and authority, that would answer the unlucky interlocutor. That lost expression, a tired attempt to keep people at arm's lenght, would never repeat the address, instead of trying to keep a normal conversation.

If Sid picked the lock, with his good old magic trick, instead of a key, like the previous resident, or any "honest person", he wouldn't have to worry about the nearly empty cupboards, always forgotten by the owner, neither about the ancient plumbing, which would never spend more than a month without breaking, and giving an unpleasant but never unexpected surprise.

He'd never see the well-known mugs stained of coffee or tea, or the plates of pancakes in the sink; and would never listen to the sound of big bands, easy listening or jazz, and never would get weirded out by the otherworldy voices of an opera, because any part of the small and smart collection of long-plays would spin lazily in that old turntable again.

The slim and well-known figure would never come back to nap or brood in the armchair in the sitting room. There would never be another trenchcoat, wet with dew or rain, or any well-tailored suit jacket, in any dark, austere colour, hanging in the rack by the door. And the sofa would never be laden with that mess of old books full of markers and scribblings.

The next occupant of the police cottage would never have time to stop and enjoy their own home.

And Sid would never have to worry about other nightmares but his own.

Because the person for whom he used to make the nest of blankets that was not in the bed anymore would never come back home, seeking shelter for another cold and sleepless night.

When Her Ladyship answered the phone, soon after breakfast, Sid feigned the typical mischievous smile, thinking that the call had no more news than another wave in Mrs. M's, or another of Lady F's informants, eternal river of gossiping.

However, when she fell instead of sitting in the sofa, and raised those beautiful green eyes to her loyal servant, the sadness in the precious face became a telepathic message. A single mind, heavy with affliction, multiplied into two.

To the contrary of Sid's fear, the endangered person wasn't the Father, but the person involved in his new "amateur" investigation.

The man that Sid though as gone to never be seen again; condemned to death, for a crime he'd never even think to commit. A man who finally raised in riot against the useless machine that chewed him up, and spat no more than an empty shell back into the world of the living.

Fragile, subdued, dirty, covered in bruises. He was beaten, wounded and broken, physically, mentally and spiritually, in the unjust prison. Didn't look, even in the slightest, like the equivalent guarded in Sid's memory, heart and senses.

Nevertheless, the tired voice had the same timbre, and the hazel-coloured eyes, the same innocence, for which the driver would never be able to resist.

His smart eyes devoured that exhausted shadow, and focused instantly where the suit sleeves couldn't hide parts of horrible red marks in the other man's wrists.

Blood boiled in fury, destroying impulse without a certain target, the need to protect someone who ignored his own closeness to death. An infinite conflict on sentiment, silenced by the former petty criminal.

It was easy, too easy, to fake a joke with the absurd irony of the situation, and even easier to open the cuffs, in less than five seconds.

Look into the well-known eyes and see them full of pain was hard, too hard, and fight the will to soothe the wounded innocent, dress, balm and clean his wounds, almost impossible.

Like always, the black-haired young man ignored his needs, and went on with his story. After biting back a tired sigh, he exposed the free-masons' conspiration, and his own desperate masterplan to clean his name, and get his honor back.

Good God. He still thought about going back and serving the stupid machine of "justice"? With his own life, probably??

Carter felt even angrier, and questioned the prisioner's sanity even more vehemently. The fugitive broke out of jail... to refuse all other offers of help, and go back to the enemy's lair, in a few hours, to get the only and last true evidence that still remained for the case.

A clue that costed two lifes, and his could perfectly be the third.

"Have you forgotten which one of us is the police officer?"

Why did he come and ask for help and shelter, to the found family he despised, for all the time he lived in the town, if he was planning to go alone, in a damn suicide mission, first thing in the morning?

The Father offered a conciliatory answer, soon ignored by the kamikaze; a blanket and the presbytery's sofa, and a break for sleep, and plan a more appropriate counter-attack in the morning.

Sid could see Sullivan, though the shadows in the curtains; his vague outline, curled up in a tight ball of tense muscles, painful bruises and restless nerves. Could feel him struggling in insomniac silence. Both man had been unable to sleep that night.

Sidney was already used to see the stubborn officer working until falling to exhaustion, every time an enquire proved to be more complex than usual. It was obvious that he haven't had even a nap in the previous few days, and that his conscience hasn't gotten off for even a moment of rest, since the start of that perverse circus act.

During the brief, but lovely time they spent nearly living together - in clandestinity, of course - the repentant scoundrel learned to use all sorts of silly and sly tricks and persuasions, to get his constantly tense companion some time to rest, or to eat, even if it were just once in a while. He definetely saw no bother in the fact that the only place where the enslaved policeman could have a proper night of sleep was in the warm nest between a certain thief's chest, and one or two fluffy blankets.

The few exceptions were the annoying, unnecesary situations he spared to make his very best Inspector pose, and be more resistent than his usual.

The bloke was an Atheist and came to ask for sanctuary in the Chuch; to beg for the blessed interference of a man whose kindness and wisdom he overlook and misunderstood.

But he didn't ask for help to the man who know him better than anyone, who kept the most precious and most dangerous secret of his wounded heart.

The silent rejection, a quiet goodbye, sounded loud and clear in Sid's heart. The pain in the con artist's chest was not new. Seeing the Father go back with the Army, to the War; watching Susie go in a bus to London. Biding farewell to a beloved person always hurt the same.

Although, the family had an urgent problem right now. Thomas Sullivan was an innocent man, who brought them a case to solve, and a need of justice to be attended.

The man came, in a moment of despair, to ask the protection of the family. Regardless of how many times he'd soon ask to be abandoned again, none of them would leave him in his darkest hour. Even less a penitent rascal.

When the Father organized the family's combined efforts, Sidney adored the idea of playing the living dummy, a running bait in the police's man hunt. He was already well-used to playing tag with the coppers; a fox could easily run away from a troop of mastodonts.

Throwing the recalcitrant's suit and hat in the river was just a bonus. Such a typical, perfect specimen of well-bred city boy, always obsessed in keeping an immaculate elegance, would be livid after the end of the situation, when he came back home, put his things back in order, and noticed that the coat and the fedora were missing.

Nobody needed to know about the miliseconds of hesitation spent by the young rogue, because the hat and the gabardine still smelled like their owner.

A whiff of that mixture. Cologne, tea, ink from the fountain pen, rain, aftershave. The atmosphere impregnated in the cottage, when it was still a living house. An attractive perfume, painfully calling to his missing heart, and his needy senses.

The sounds of whistles and runnings brought him back to reality.

Whoever saw the shambles of dark blue fabric, floating in the peaceful early morning currents of the river, could only think that the runaway, in an act of despair, threw himself in the cold waters of Hambleston, to avoid the hangman's rope.

When Carter got back to the presbytery, he'd expose the found family's smarts, and maybe he'd succeed at calling Sullivan back to reason.

May God have mercy of the person who needed Sidney Carter, Agnostic hedonist, professional madcap, and reformed criminal, to be adviced back to the common sense!

Lady F. brought news and evidence. The Father, a perfect deduction. Mrs. M., a newly-sewn disguise, and Sid, the overview of enemy territory, and a perfect distraction to cover the theft.

... Naturally, he didn't listen to the voice of wisdom.

He reacted just like his predecessor, Valentine. An unkown observer would think that the younger officer was interested in no more than getting another accomplishment to his starry curriculum.

A distant illusion.

Of course that he'd get back into damn "copper mode", and refuse the family's help, to carry an impossible burden alone, and risk his life in vain.

"Do you really think I'd let a cold case loose in my Evidence Room?? Besides, he doesn't know what he's looking for!"

Despite the extreme situation, the reluctant accomplice was still an adorable sight, and a lovely company. The grumpiness with which he hid the obvious vulnerability broke the trespasser's heart. And the ironic answers to all bickering amused him to no end.

Of course, that sourpuss would get even sourer if Sidney remarked on how he looked like an excited thief carring his prey, when he laid avid hands in the clue, and got distracted with the possibilities it opened.

In reality, both got distracted. They went away safe and sound, because they owned their lifes to Sgt. Goodfellow. Two more souls who'd vouch for the giant's pure heart, when God welcomed him into Heaven.

Sullivan was not an ungrateful man, although his inflexibility could inspire envy in a stone; and his stubborness, in an immortal entity.

He went alone to the station, in the pursuit of the dead jounalist's briefcase. Like that wasn't enough, followed the Father, whom he'd mistaken for an interested trader in favour of the conspirators, and nearly got both killed by Harriet Greensleaves, an evil woman successfully disguised as a victim of domestic abuse.

Sidney would like that the stubborn innocent could learn to trust the family without the cost of more lifes.

Sid would also like to be free of the need of waiting an entire week, in bitter suspense, after going back home... or to his caravan... in a cold night, of rare clean, starry sky, after drinking his last pints at the Red Lion, before the court and the stay of some months in the fridge, and finding a brown paper bag on his tiny, wobbly table.

The intact, labled package, exactly as it was in the shelf at the police station. Inside, the evidence, plus a bonus, the case file.

He still was the most upstanding, honest man in town, and paid all of his debts accordingly. On the other hand, he was susceptible to the bad influence of a cheap thief, who now smiled from ear to ear.

Immediately sober, Sidney ran up the field and the dusty road after, in a mad dash to the police cottage.

Didn't even need to think about picking locks in doors or windows. There was the lonely inhabitant, sat by the back door, with a mug of cold tea in a hand, and a star map, just like the one kept by the Father in St. Mary's library, in the other. A rare sight in shirtsleeves, an insomniac, unsheltered and placid, sitting in the cold night, playing a staring contest against the sky.

The quiet stare flew to the newcomer, just for the time needed to sign that his arrival was noticed, before it went back to the counting of stars and galaxies. Like this was more natural than a worker resting in bed, after a long, tiring day.

Regardless of the light, or its absence, around the two man, Sid known that his interlocutor hadn't slept in days, maybe weeks; and that he refused any superior orders, medical attention, or other disciplines that came with a prescription for barbiturates.

He knew and felt the extension of the dark circles under the hazel eyes, the pain and oppresion, physical and mental, the wounds, the scars, the bruises, as well as if they were upon his own flesh.

Also knew that he'd need a silver tongue to convince the benefactor of the sincerity of his gratitude, and his offer of caring feelings.

A simple, modest thief, a man of insignificant crimes and petty ambitions, had his little skills in his hands, not in his words.

There was only the easiest way to start. He sat in the stone floor, close to the back door of the cottage, and closed the distance between the policeman and himself with the package.

"Evening, Tom."

No answer, but at least now he had some attention.

Practically every single person with whom the austere Inspector had interacted with would hate the intensity of that stare. A silent, gloomy attention, thal almost never blinked, and reminded the unlucky observer of a loud, clear, constant warning of "Keep away!".

Sid also had a body language that went misunderstood by most of the people who passed through his life. And, for the sake of his hard-earned livelihood, learned to discern other postures that went off the beaten path. Among them, there was Tom's unique way to keep people at arm's lenght, to evaluate the people around him, to calculate all possiblities to reveal the minimum possible about himself, and to avoid to get even more hurt, at all costs.

Nothing could be more appealing, more unresistible, to Sid, as the potential of the shy stargazer giving him his hurt trust again.

All at his reach was gratitude and retribuition.

"Thanks, handsome. Thank you, a lot. You saved my sorry skin..."

The compliment, to his aesthetic beauty, or to his gentlemany, thankless honesty, made him look away.

Or maybe was he blushing? How sweet.

"Without your goodness, I'd spend six months in a damn cell."

The other voice failed in a hesitant answer.

"I thought you saw it as just the payment of a debt... Nothing more."

So, that was the poor sweetheart's problem, all the time. He haven't let him down, he lost all hope, before everyone, and bid him farewell. After all, he had all reasons to believe he'd come back dead, after the encounter with the "Enlighted". At the end of the hellish ordeal, the clueless upstanding didn't know how to thank the beloved accomplice for the victory.

The same innocent of always.

Relieved and even more grateful, Sid grinned and shaked the package.

"No way! We were in the thing against the Illu... Illumi... Illumi-whatever... those guys..."

It was so good to see him trying to hide a smile, trough the corner of that beautiful mouth, no matter how briefly.

"... 'cause you came to us, and asked for our help. You got into the family, you're one of us now. And we never let each other down. You'll never see any of us, left to get drown, in the boiling water..."

While his attention was still into holding back some mirth, Sid could hide his own blush, and gather the bone to say the few words still missing from his speech.

"I'd get into your thing anyway, 'cause I love you, and I wouldn't sit still and watch you get arrested for something you'd never do!"

The usual guarded expression in the stoic face opened in naive stunning.

"What??"

It wasn't typical, seeing a man who could force confessions from cold-blooded killers, getting speechless after a talk with a small-time thief. However, it was even funnier than stealing evidence, or exchanging banter with him.

"And now, because you're family, I have even more reason to love you, and take good care of you."

Sid ignored the discomfort of his burning cheeks, and smirked again, before getting up, and taking the other unprotected body with his.

"That's it, mate. When have you last slept? Or ate? Or had any medicine for these wounds??"

"I can't remember... "

Merciful Lord. He felt so cold and rigid. Felt, now more than ever, like a figure cast in stone, marble, or some rusty metal. If all he could do was answer his questions with a weak voice, he was terrible exhausted, maybe even sick.

Or just a bit stunned, with the feelings that neither of them had never confessed.

"Your working hours are already over, Tom. Get over your Inspetor mode. Let's go home. Come back to me."

The cottage was still bereft of the mismatched fusion of order and mess, zeal and forgetfullness; the environment of an inhabitant who was nearly always out, who could almost never stop for a while and enjoy its comfort. The atmosphere Sid remembered and missed was still not there.

Tom was very shy and introverted, and Sid didn't want to think on how devastated he felt, going back to the place that slowly became his home, and see it invaded, nearly destroyed, brutally ransacked by the search of evidence that had never even been there.

First, the kind-hearted rascal would take good care of the living. And after, he'd help him... as much as possible... to take care of the home. Their home, with some hope.

The door closed behind them, and he sheltered the slightly smaller body in a long, timeless embrace, a hug like they missed for uncountable days, lived by both like infinite, bitter years. Adored each inch of the body melted against his own, molded in a perfect fit, and the quiet relieved sigh, impossible to discern from whose mouth it went, and Sid didn't care; too busy in feeling dematerialize, in his body, the tension he didn't know that was guarded there for too long.

Bending down, just a little, he got drunk in Tom's smell, before kissing his hair, his forehead, his temples, his lips, and delight in the heat that slowly, so slowly, enveloped both their bodies.

Under any other circunstances he'd love to caress, spoil and venerate each little part of that delectable body, before pleasing them both in loving possession. He'd love to watch the quiet, stoic expression melting into innocent, stunned pleasure. With some reluctance, the former con man let go of the luscious mouth, and fell even more in love with it and its owner, and the needy murmur it couldn't bite back. Also let go of of their embrace, just enough to open the cuffs of the black-haired man's shirt sleeves, and to let his braces loose, before resting a hand in his still bruised wrist, and the other in the back of his neck, and call both their attentions to other needs, more urgents in that moment.

"Come here. Let's give you a nice warm bath, and put something in these wounds."

The insomniac still had some complaints, something about not being a child, neither being under no pain and suffering no wounds;and the ultimate proof of his clean bill of health was his presence at home, instead of the Cottage Hospital in the nearest town.

Or maybe that was what Sid could telepatically guess, from his lover's rough, broken voice, and the words suffocated by the face pressed against the crook of his neck, and the desperate hands squeezing his back.

“It's all right. I'm not letting go of you any sooner. Come here.”

He dozed in the warm water of the tub, and was totally unaware of Sidney's furious, horrified gaze. Was just too lost, far away from the borders of conscience, trying to find out, why was him in the water, and not in the backyard, counting stars, like usual, or in the armchair in the sitting room, curled up with a book, or in the bed, under the cocoon of blankets that he hid under in the coldest nights. Didn't notice the loving, careful hands washing and massaging his body, neither the pained eyes full of empathy, making an inventary of his cuts, bruises and wounds.

Didn't feel the ointment in his hurting flesh, nor the new bandages in the wrists, ribs and right hand. His very tired, green and naive eyes opened up on their own accord, well-fixed, but completely blind to his beloved. Like he dreamed of his presence, but the solidity of the dream was more strange than its irreality.

Wasn't used to sleeping, even less dreaming. There was never a safe, peaceful place to do it. Lived in constant alert, kept his eyes open, for the maximum of possible time, and when he closed them, only nightmares appeared before his eyelids. Usually, the creatures there were, indeed, pretty solid, and had really big hands. But their touch was cold, bloody and painful; never warm and soothing.

Since his eyes were unable to show him a logic image, they went closed again.

Sid washed himself in a hurry, quickly got rid from the smell of alcohol in his body and breath. Had years of practice into going to work, absolutely functional, after a good, long night ot drinking and brawling. Got up and off the tub, taking Tom with him, before getting them both dry, and dressing his wounds in new bandages.

Tried to tell his own heavy mind that dressing him in some pyjama bottoms was hard because he was a very, very attractive image, so perfectly into his reach, so effective at getting him distracted. Both the petty man and his conscience knew that it was the relief of finally, finally see that he was safe and resting. The usually tense muscles, the sinew that was dead cold not too long before, were now warm and malleable to the touch, like Mrs. M's homemade bread dough.

Sid chuckled with his own comparation, and with how it'd affect both people who were the subjects in his figure of speech. His delighted mirth grew when he felt Tom's hands tangling in his torso, searching for him in a tired, slack grip, treading his chest like a sleeping cat.

He retributed the kind caress, in a continuous, careful touch on the young man's naked back. His hands roamed carefully over the recent bruises, and other scars, older, probably from the War, things that Tom was terribly ashamed of talking, even more of showing. The con man delighted in feeling the body nestled in his chest relax even more, in warm docility. Threw the blankets over them both, and fell asleep, enjoying the shelter of mutual conforting, healing warmth.

Tom took several hours to get back even a shred of his conscience. Didn't remember when was the last time he slept trough the night. His head felt like full of cotton. His already very off notion of time went away, along with the sunlight streaming through the window. Tried a clumsy movement to sit up in the bed, and after waking Sid up, accidentally, ended back in the lazy brunet's chest.

"Morning, handsome. It's your day off. Come back here!"

"??"

Sid exulted. He wouldn't lose his freedom, nor the contact with the family, nor even the man he loved even more, after fighting those darn conspirators.

They were both alive, whole, free, cleaned their wounds that were slowly closing, while they could rest to fight another day.

Regardless of the adventures, news, or dangers brought by the next sun, Sid was feeling optimistic and well ready to face whatever would appear in their way. Being a petty, mediocre small-time thief haven't made him unable to fight world-level conspirators, for the sake of the safety of his beloved and his family.

Tom couldn't struggle for more than some seconds, trying in vain to awake his blurry conscience. Hands, enormous, kind and warm, ran over his back, the hands from the dream, counting, feeling, playing with his vertebrae and his shoulder blades. Their caress molded and rebuild his nerves and bones, transforming him into a shapeless, thoughtless mass of confort.Didn't stop to ask himself about why was him in bed, instead of the tub, or why Sid was there. Didn't have strenght to more than fall back asleep.

The reformed criminal smiled to his innocent lover, adoring the pleasure of watching him, and the illusion of protecting him, while he finally got some rest after his hellish ordeal.

#my fics #fanfiction #fanfics in English #Father Brown #Sid/Sullivan #otp: arrest yourself; you stole my heart

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radioteopoli · 5 years

Text

God bless you all on this Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion!

Gospel LK 22:14—23:56

When the hour came, Jesus took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, "Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. "And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table; for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed." And they began to debate among themselves who among them would do such a deed. Then an argument broke out among them about which of them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as 'Benefactors'; but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves. It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers." He said to him, "Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you." But he replied, "I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me." He said to them, "When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?" "No, nothing, " they replied. He said to them, "But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, He was counted among the wicked; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment." Then they said, "Lord, look, there are two swords here." But he replied, "It is enough!" Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them, "Pray that you may not undergo the test." After withdrawing about a stone's throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done." And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test." While he was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked, "Lord, shall we strike with a sword?" And one of them struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said in reply, "Stop, no more of this!" Then he touched the servant's ear and healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards and elders who had come for him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? Day after day I was with you in the temple area, and you did not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness." After arresting him they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest; Peter was following at a distance. They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat down with them. When a maid saw him seated in the light, she looked intently at him and said, "This man too was with him." But he denied it saying, "Woman, I do not know him." A short while later someone else saw him and said, "You too are one of them"; but Peter answered, "My friend, I am not." About an hour later, still another insisted, "Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean." But Peter said, "My friend, I do not know what you are talking about." Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly. The men who held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him. They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?" And they reviled him in saying many other things against him. When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, "If you are the Christ, tell us, " but he replied to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied to them, "You say that I am." Then they said, "What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth." Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. They brought charges against him, saying, "We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a king." Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, "I find this man not guilty." But they were adamant and said, "He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here." On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, "You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him." But all together they shouted out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us." — Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder. — Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate addressed them a third time, "What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him." With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished. As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.' At that time people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?" Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God." Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself." Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews." Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last. Here all kneel and pause for a short time. The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, "This man was innocent beyond doubt." When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events. Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.

Or LK 23:1-49

The elders of the people, chief priests and scribes, arose and brought Jesus before Pilate. They brought charges against him, saying, "We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a king." Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, "I find this man not guilty." But they were adamant and said, "He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here." On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, "You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him." But all together they shouted out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us." — Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder. — Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate addressed them a third time, "What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him." With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished. As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.' At that time people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?" Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God." Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself." Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews." Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last. Here all kneel and pause for a short time. The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, "This man was innocent beyond doubt." When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.

#Catholic #Palm Sunday #Suffering #Holy Week #Paradise

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dalyunministry · 3 years