i. His name is a prayer. Don’t say it carelessly. Run your tongue around the letters. Dig your teeth in the vowels. Put it under your tongue. Swallow it. Keep it.
ii. Pray for him while you wash his feet. Keep his wrists tight in your hands. Bite in his veins. Listen to his prayers and repeat them.
iii. If he asks you to burn, do it.
iv. Kiss him on the corner of his lips. Taste the sweat of salvation in the wrinkles of his skin. Dried wine and old blood. Divinity.
v. When they hang him on the cross, don’t look back. Don’t weep. Don’t pray. Bite your lips and count the silver coins in your hand.
– manual to love a messiah (r.m)
i’m starting to realize that if i’m being honest with myself, i was never truly taught anything about christianity as a child. i got the sunday school “jesus loves you! instead of teaching you about the gospels (y’know, the main part of our religion), we’re gonna do a word search about the animals on noah’s ark, because we want you to have fun!” i mean, yeah, i learned things, but even in “adult” services, it was watered down and to be honest, kind of unimpressive. i only believed because i was supposed to, and it took stepping away for a year or two to actually understand anything.
A late night interpretation of Jesus’ thoughts about rich people by Sensitive Mark.
While we’re at it, don’t forget that one time that Jesus saw predatory lending practices going down in the temple and he actually got violent.
Yes. Jesus got violent. Over predatory lending practices.
Throwing tables and threatening people with a whip. Jesus was super pissed.
And that part is consistent across all four of the Gospels. Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John vary in a lot of places, but they’re consistent on the money changers story.
Also, the paintings that this inspired are pretty rad.
99% of the time, Jesus was all “love thy neighbor” and “turn the other cheek” and “if someone asks you to walk a mile with them, walk two,” but where usury was concerned, he’d straight up kick your ass.
Jesus: “Be chill. We should all be chill. But also don’t lend money to people and charge them ridiculously high interest rates. Don’t do that. Especially not when people borrow money for the purpose of doing the right thing and making themselves better people. I really fucking hate that. Seriously, just don’t.”
*smashcut to 2016*
Me, living in a society that is intrinsically founded upon Christian doctrine and beliefs: “Student loan debt and credit card interest rates, am I right?”
Lent in 2017 will start on Wednesday, the 1st of March and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 15th of April.
if you’re not familiar with Lent: Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday.
This time period represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.
People who participate in Lent do so to grow closer to God.
So, how do you do Lent? There are many individual ways to focus on building a closer relationship with God but what people commonly do during Lent is:
– Give up on something
– Pray more
– Give to others
You can do one of those things or combine two or all three.
Giving up on something reminds you of what Jesus had to endure. It may also make you realize how blessed you are (We are often not grateful for things until we lose them!). Additionally, it may help you live healthier (for example if you give up smoking) and honor the body God gave you. Or help you become a better person (giving up on talking badly about others, for example)!
Praying more will strengthen your relationship to God. Again, you honor Jesus with doing this as He also spent those days praying intensely! You may want to add a regular prayer you do once a day (Start each day with a prayer, for example) or pray during a certain activity (If you take a walk in nature regularly, use this quiet time to pray). Or you may like to read a page of the bible each day or listen to Christian music each day on the way to work.
Giving to others is a very Christian thing to do and Lent is a excellent reminder to do so! You’ll grow closer to God by sharing your blessings and love with others. And again: You honor Jesus who also helped others! Some ideas: Buy a homeless person something to drink or eat while on the way to work. Volunteer in a soup kitchen or animal shelter. Send a sweet text to a friend, family member or co-worker each day (choose a different person each day). Donate diapers or toys to a maternity home. Do a random act of kindness each day.
I’ve never participated in Lent before. Growing up Southern Baptist I never knew what it actually was. I think I’m gonna do it this year.
May the Holy One bless you with discomfort. Discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May the Creator bless you with anger. Anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May the Redeemer bless you with tears. Tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
May the Spirit bless you with foolishness. Enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
And the blessing of the Divine that creates, redeems and sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forever more. Amen.
folk magic is stage-whispering “bro don’t do it” to the apples threatening to boil over on the other side of the room
bennu rising 