A parable is told of a person who wants to eat and who feels a great hunger for a certain food. He then sees the very food he wants in a place high above him, beyond his reach. In his hunger he begins to imagine that he is eating the food that he desires. But what has he gained by such imaginings? He is only more hungry than before. The same is true of those who try to reach for the highest esoteric meaning of each prayer. They are far from such things; their minds simply cannot reach the heights for which they strive. Better not to reach for things beyond your grasp.

-Or ha-Me’ir, vol. 1, va-yera, p. 31. On early Hasidic attitudes toward esoteric prayer, see Joseph Weiss, “The Kavvanoth of Prayer in Early Hasidism,” Studies in East European Jewish Mysticism and Hasidism, ed. David Goldstein (Oxford: Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 1997), pp. 99–105, where the present text is discussed; and Menachem Kallus, “The Relation of the Baal Shem Tov to the Practice of Lurianic Kavvanot in Light of His Comments on the Siddur Rashkov,” Kabbalah 2 (1997): 151–167.

From antique myths to Tarantino and Iosseliani...

In a composition works of authors are used:

Gabriel Willow.Heron

Nguyen Hung Cuong.Water buffalo

For a radio listing for a modern take on The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders.

" ‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.

‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

– Luke 15:11-24, which is part of today's Gospel at Mass.

Stained glass from Baltimore Cathedral illustrating the parable of the Prodigal Son.

"Jesus said to the Pharisees:

"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen

and dined sumptuously each day.

And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps

that fell from the rich man's table.

Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.

When the poor man died,

he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried,

and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,

he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off

and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.

Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,

for I am suffering torment in these flames.'

Abraham replied, 'My child,

remember that you received what was good during your lifetime

while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;

but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.

Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established

to prevent anyone from crossing

who might wish to go from our side to yours

or from your side to ours.'

He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him

to my father's house,

for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,

lest they too come to this place of torment.'

But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.

Let them listen to them.'

He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,

but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

Then Abraham said,

'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded

if someone should rise from the dead.'""

– Luke 16:19-31, which is today's Gospel at Mass.

Stained glass window from Sacred Heart Seminary chapel, Detroit.

West wall

Stained glass in 14c stonework depicting the parable of the Good Samaritan & Solomon building the temple "To the pious memory of the Very Rev. Henry Parr Hamilton MA, Fellow of Trinity College Cambridge; Fellow of the Royal Society; For upwards of 20 years, rector of this parish and subsequently Dean of the Cathedral Church of New Sarum. This window is erected by his affectionate pupil Ernest Augustus Charles, 3rd Marquis of Ailesbury AD 1883 ..."

At the top is the Clan Hamilton heraldry

(Curiously earlier Ernest Augustus's father the 1st Marquis had remembered his own tutor Thomas Brand with a monument www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/B210gB - Church of St Mary, Wath, North Yorkshire

"“There was a rich man* who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores..."

– The beginning of today's Gospel parable from Luke 16:19-31, which is illustrated in this stained glass window in Washington DC's National Cathedral.

My copy of Lego set 31094 - (Creator 2019) Race Plane's box was so wet from my recent flood, that I had to scoop it up in handfuls. Thankfully, the plastic bags kept the Lego from being harmed. The manual / stickers, on the other hand, were destroyed. I wonder how the bricks would have fared if it were in paper bags, like LEGO is planning on switching to next year...

Moral of the story:

- Rock smashes scissors

- Scissors cut paper

- Paper covers rock

- plastic beats ALL!

my view in sunset

"Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury; and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.’"

– Mark 12:41-44, which is part of today's Gospel at Mass.

My sermon for Remembrance Sunday can be read here.

Mosaic from the 6th-century church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna.

(Tyto alba) B28I0324.jpg

Habitat: The Barn Owl lives in open areas, cultivated, with scattered trees, shrubs and hedges, old buildings, barns, stables, ruins and towers. She hunts along the edge of the desert and canyons.

Behaviour: The Barn Owl feeds mainly on rodents, especially at night. It traverses the fields in silent flight, and when a prey is located, she grabbed with his long talons. She swallows it whole, bones, skull and everything else. She rejects pellets including the indigestible parts, in the dorm or near the nest.

The Barn Owl can locate the rodent making small noises in the grass as she flies over the ground. Sounds are collected and brought to the ears by facial disks, as a parable. The downy feathers enable the bird to be quiet while he flies through fields, about 1.5 to 4.5 meters from the ground.

The Barn Owl is found solitary or in pairs. It is a nocturnal bird, sleeping in cavities during the day. It is a sedentary specie.

Habitat : L'Effraie des clochers vit dans des zones découvertes, cultivées, avec des arbres clairsemés, des arbustes et des haies, de vieilles bâtisses, granges, étables, ruines et clochers. Elle chasse le long de la lisière du désert et dans les canyons.

Comportements : L'Effraie des clochers se nourrit principalement de rongeurs, et surtout la nuit. Elle traverse les champs en vol silencieux, et quand une proie est localisée, elle la saisit avec ses longues serres. Elle l'avale entière, les os, le crâne et tout le reste. Elle rejette des pelotes comprenant les parties indigestes, au dortoir ou près du nid.

L'Effraie des clochers peut localiser le rongeur faisant de petits bruits dans l'herbe tandis qu'elle vole au-dessus du sol. Les sons sont collectés et portés vers les oreilles par les disques faciaux, comme une parabole. Les plumes duveteuses permettent à l'oiseau d'être silencieux tandis qu'il vole à travers champs, à environ 1,5 à 4,5 mètres du sol.

L'Effraie des clochers est solitaire ou trouvée en couples. C'est un oiseau nocturne, dormant dans des cavités pendant le jour. Elle est sédentaire.

"Hakidame ni tsuru." ("Like a crane in a garbage dump.")

:A crane in a garbage dump" is a Japanese proverb. A parable of how an exceptionally talented person or beautiful woman appears in an ugly place like a garbage dump".

twicomi.com/manga/ikkokukan0405/1627503979721822212

Tancho Kushiro Crane Reserve, Kushiro City, Hokkaido.

This is a nature park for tancho cranes, one of the world's rarest bird species. In 1970 it became the first location in the world to successfully breed tancho cranes. Here, around ten of tancho cranes, which are designated as a special natural monument of Japan, are raised permanently in an environment as close to nature as possible. The draw of this park is that visitors have the chance to watch the cranes any time of the year. You may be able to see juvenile tancho cranes between April and June. The park is located just a 10-minute drive by car from Kushiro Airport.

en.kushiro-lakeakan.com/things_to_do/3778/

---------------------------------------------------------------

Tancho Kushiro Crane Reserve, Kushiro City, Hokkaido.

The reserve's brochure says:

Special Natural Monument

Japanese Crane/Red-crowned Crane

Scientific name: Grus japonensis

Japanese cranes appear in old Japanese folk tales, and were seen in various parts of Japan until the Edo period.

In and after the Meiji era, however, the birds disappeared from view due to their dwifldling population.

In 1924, more than 10 Japanese cranes were discovered in Kushiro Marsh, and locals have endeavored to protect them ever since. Japanese cranes were designated as a special natural monument of Japan in 1952.

History of the Kushiro Crane Reserve

In August 1958, the Kushiro Crane Reserve was

opened with the release of five Japanese cranes in

Kushiro's Tsuruoka area with the aim of protecting and propagating this endangered species.

In the early days, staff at the reserve did not know the ecology of the crane and thus underwent a trial and error learning process. They finally succeeded in natural hatching after 10 years of attempts at reproduction, followed by the success of artificial hatching in 1970.

Since then, they have bred a number of cranes.

A complete overhaul of the reserve's buildings,

including the management office, started in 1987 and took two years to complete.

With the establishment of a lecture room and an exhibition space, the site was improved not only as an observation facility but also as an academic institution.

At present, about 20 Japanese cranes roam the reserve.

The site was placed under the management of

Kushiro Zoo in April 2000, and efforts have been made to promote the protection and propagation of Japanese cranes through collaboration with the zoo's Japanese Crane Conservation and Propagation Center.

it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Bruegel_il_Vecchio

"Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’"

– Matthew 13:44-52, which is today's Gospel at Mass (17th Sun)

Stained glass window from the Episcopal National Cathedral in Washington DC.

Pen : Lamy Safari Charcoal fountain pen

Ink : Noodler's Ink – Polar Black

Colours : Daler-Rowney Aquafine watercolour pocket set + Daler Rowney White Acrylic

Brush : Raphaël Red Sable, #6

on my Moleskine pocket diary.

"Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’"

– Matthew 22:1-14, which is today's Gospel at Mass.

Stained glass from the Episcopal National Cathedral in Washington DC.

Explored #234

Florabella textures. I used Reverie (warm) and Champagne (warm). This was done in Picnik. I couldn't use the overlay's in Picnik, though. BUMMER! I can't wait to figure out PS Elements and then maybe I can really work with these wonderful textures and overlays. I love them!!!!!! Shana is a genius! :0)

Please be honest! :0) If the texture work is bad........please tell me. I can take it!

Nave, south window, c1950 - Parable of the Talents : detail

So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went,

And took the fire with him, and a knife.

And as they sojourned both of them together,

Isaac the first-born spake and said, My Father,

Behold the preparations, fire and iron,

But where the lamb for this burnt-offering?

Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps,

and builded parapets and trenches there,

And stretchèd forth the knife to slay his son.

When lo! an angel called him out of heaven,

Saying, Lay not thy hand upon the lad,

Neither do anything to him. Behold,

A ram, caught in a thicket by its horns;

Offer the Ram of Pride instead of him.

But the old man would not so, but slew his son,

And half the seed of Europe, one by one.

Wilfred Owen 1893-1918

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think this is the most powerful and poignant anti-war poem ever written, Lieutenant Owen was killed 1 week before the armistice. Ironically, he was a war hero, winning a citation for conspicuous gallantry.

The Harriet Mary Ellis Memorial stained glass window may be found in the northern wall of St Jude's Church of England in Carlton. Facing out onto Palmerston Street, the window was dedicated to friends of the parish in 1948. The window features the story of Jesus in the House of Martha and Mary (also known as Christ in the House of Martha) which appears in the Gospel of Luke after the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus sits with Mary listening to his wise words at his feet, whilst Martha busies herself in the background setting out a feast on the table. Both Jesus and Mary have been depicted in classical Renaissance style. The colours in this stained glass window are especially vivid and beautiful, in particular the rich reds and pinks of Jesus'robes and the blues and purple of Mary's gown.

In 1866 the original St Jude's Church of England was simply a temporary wooden structure erected for worship on a triangular block of land between Lygon, Palmerston and Keppel Streets in the busily growing working class suburb of Carlton, in Melbourne's inner north. However, between 1866 and 1867 the church's chancel, four bays of the nave, and vestry of the church that we see today were erected. St Jude's Church of England was built to the designs of Melbourne architects Reed and Barnes. The contractor awared the building of St Jude's was John Pigdon. Between 1869 and 1870 the remaining four bays of the nave, balcony, narthex and crypt were erected. In 1874 the south porch and steps and area wall were erected, and the iron railings and Lygon Street gates were erected in the same year.

Designed in Gothic style so popular with the Victorians, St Jude's Church of England is a beautiful polychromatic brick ecclesiastical building erected on a bluestone plinth with dark hawthorn brick walls and red and cream brick quoining, diaperwork and window surrounds. The plastered interior includes a western gallery, an 1868 George Fincham pipe organ, and stained glass by several prominent glass designers and makers, including Melbourne based stained glass window manufacturers Ferguson and Urie, Rogers and Hughes, Brooks Robinson, and William Montgomery. St Jude's Church of England is of architectural significance as it is an early example of Gothic-polychrome and one of the first fully polychromatic brick churches in Australia, and the building is heritage listed.

In 2009, after much fundraising from the parish, St Jude's Church of England went under a full restoration at the cost of one million dollars, which included painstaking picking out of the bricks with newly laid mortar and a renovated slate roof. On the 18th of October 2014 in the wee hours of the morning, a fire was deliberately started in St Jude's basement. The fire was noticed around four o'clock in the morning when flames were seen engulfing the roof, chancel windows and basement. Fifty Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade trucks were required to bring the blaze under control, which they managed to do in around an hour. Whilst the fire was contained to the chancel and did not burn down the vicarage built against the chancel, St Jude's Church has lost several of its largest and most stunning original Victorian windows which were installed in the chancel. The damage bill is still estimated to be around $500,000.00 and the congregation has been forced to temporarily give up their beautiful place of worship. At the time of writing this, an appeal has been established to raise funds to restore the church and the congregation is meeting in various places within close proximity of St Jude's.

On a personal note, I was very fortunate to have visited St Jude's Church of England on my birthday, just over a month before the fire, after being granted a special request to photograph their stained glass windows in detail. I am very grateful to the staff of St Jude's for granting my request, even more so now that some of the windows are no longer there to admire. It is to the staff and congregation of St Jude's Church of England that I dedicate this set of photographs of their beautiful church; both inside and out.

"“Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned."

– Matthew 21:33-35.

Stained glass detail from Chartres Cathedral.

"Then, leaving the crowds, he went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain the parable about the darnel in the field to us.’ He said in reply, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!’"

– Matthew 13:36-43, which is part of today's Gospel at Mass.

My sermon for today can be read here.

Stained glass window from the Episcopal National Cathedral in Washington DC.

Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent. Luke 15:3-7 N.I.V. Bible.

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

– Matthew 13:44, which is part of today's Gospel.

Stained glass from the National Cathedral in Washington DC.

The Parable Of The Windmill

(Performed & Recorded by Susie McEntire)

Enjoy: carolynspreciousmemories.com/Spiritual/ParableOfTheWindmi...

Now Jesus is turning the windmills

He's turning them out on the plains

When Jesus is pumping the water

You'll never be thirsty again

A lady rode up to the windmill

Her heart was heavy and sad

And sin had been her companion

And much of her life had been bad

At noontime a stranger came riding

Up to the windmill that day

And asked for a cool drink of water

To help Him on his way

She said sir the mill is not turning

The wind is silent and still

And there will be no more water

Until the wind turns the wheel

I can give you some water dear lady

And you'll never be thirsty again

It flows from a fountain in Heaven

It'll wash your life of all sin

Now the men in your life have brought sorrow

And the shame it shows on your face

She knew then that she'd met the Master

And walked now under His grace

This lady she jumped on her pony

Her sins washed whiter than snow

And she wanted to tell all the people

From whom all her blessings would flow

She told them that she had met Jesus

Out on the plains that day

And how His spiritual water

Had made her happy to say

Now Jesus is turning the windmills

He's turning them out on the plains

When Jesus is pumping the water

You'll never be thirsty again

You'll never be thirsty again

Written by John Gaither

Enjoy: gloriousgrace.net/windmill/windmill.htm

and

dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8784522/SM/CountItAllJoy/10.mp3

See: www.susiemcentire.com/about/music/

Based on the story from the Bible in John 4 about

the woman at the well... read and enjoy:

www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4&version=NIV

Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

[Matthew 25:1-13 NLT]

5 MORE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

1. Like it or not, we are ALL sinners: As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)

2. The punishment for sin is death: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)

3. Jesus is our only hope: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)

4. SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)

5. Accept Jesus and receive eternal life: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NLT) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12 NLT)

Read the Bible for yourself. Allow the Lord to speak to you through his Word. YOUR ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!

"Some people arrived and told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices. At this he said to them, ‘Do you suppose these Galileans who suffered like that were greater sinners than any other Galileans? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell and killed them? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.’

He told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to the man who looked after the vineyard, “Look here, for three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?” “Sir,” the man replied “leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.”’"

– Luke 13:1-9, which is today's Gospel at Mass.

Stained glass from Washington DC's National Cathedral.

Nature, this world around us, the creation of God, everything has a plan, everything in nature goes accordingly, in a momentum, from the planets to the life of the tiniest living organisms, but the rebellious humans, how they rebel and divert, they hurt themselves, they sought what is not in reach, this materialistic desire, if only they stopped and thought about life, the simplicity of everything, to look at the blue skies for once and appreciate nature, the green trees that keeps us alive, if only humans would learn to be humans, if only...

"The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:

‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.

‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

‘Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. “Your brother has come” replied the servant “and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.”

‘The father said, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”’"

– Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, which is today's Gospel at Mass.

My sermon for today can be read here.

Stained glass window from Lille Cathedral.

"There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? What do you read there?’ He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘You have answered right,’ said Jesus ‘do this and life is yours.’

But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands‘ hands?’ ‘The one who took pity on him’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’"

– Luke 10:25-37, which is today's Gospel at Mass.

My sermon for today can be read here.

Stained glass from Grace Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco.

I've decide to upload my Stanley Parable Project to Ideas and it would be helpful if some people voted for it :)

Link = ideas.lego.com/projects/ad658b00-1e3c-449d-ad70-b82c6b8f434d

"Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else: ‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.” The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’"

– Luke 18:9-14, which is today's Gospel at Mass.

Stained glass in the Lady Chapel of the National Cathedral in Washington DC.

I needed 30 pieces of straight track for my Nexus Force space layout at an upcoming GatewayLUG show. So, I opened my track container and pulled out some 24 straights, and bought the remaining six from a shop near me called The Minifig Shop. There is only one issue with all that: I didn't buy enough to finish my home layout too, as I'm now nine pieces short! So now I've got to go back and buy some more track. The old woodworkers parable of "measure twice, cut once, repeat" feels oddly familiar right about now, as I was SURE I had enough track...

(Also, this is my 8,666th photo on Flickr!)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan depicted in stained glass in Chelmsford Cathedral.

Jesus told this story, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he travelled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.' Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbour to him who fell among the robbers?"

He said, "He who showed mercy on him."

Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Luke 10:30–37

World English Bible

Chelmsford Cathedral, properly known as the Cathedral of St Mary, St Peter and St Cedd, is a parish church and the Mother church for the whole Chelmsford Diocese of Essex and five Eastern London Boroughs. The second smallest Cathedral in the country, it serves the second largest diocese in the country.

The Cathedral is a busy vibrant place, hosting many large services, theological lectures, Lent courses, Prayer schools, university graduations, civil ceremonies, concerts, organ recitals and welcoming pilgrims and visitors on a daily basis. Educational visits from schools are especially welcome. All these enable the Cathedral to serve as a centre for the spiritual, teaching and artistic life of the Diocese and the community.

In this parable from the Gospel of Matthew, the devil, identified by his horns and tail, sows weeds (or tares) in the field where wheat has been planted, while the lazy peasants are sleeping. Christians considered sloth one of the Seven Deadly Sins to which mankind was subject as a result of the Original Sin of Adam and Eve, to whom the two naked sleepers allude. The dovecote (a birdhouse to attract doves or pigeons that can be trapped for food without the bother of raising them) was associated with the morally lazy who take the easy way. The goat, known for its lust, alludes to self-indulgence, and the peacock, to pride.

Bloemaert (Dutch, 1566 – 1651) was gifted in depicting natural detail, but he never painted pure landscapes, preferring pictures with a lesson. He was one of the leading artists of Utrecht and trained many major artists of the next generation.

[Oil on canvas, 100.4 x 132.5 cm]

gandalfsgallery.blogspot.com/2011/08/abraham-bloemaert-pa...

Saint Louis Abbey

The Parable Vision: Glimpse Five

Ian Arneson Photography

Model: Tanya

"He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”

– Matthew 13:31-32, which is part of today's Gospel at Mass.

My sermon for today can be read here.

Stained glass window from the Episcopal National Cathedral in Washington DC.

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself because this crack in my side causes water to leak all the way back to your house."

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

Taken from www.personal.psu.edu/staff/k/a/kah19/parable.html

Make It Interesting, Challenge #2 - Water Bearer

Starter image with thanks, from KaCey97007

Flowers: maureenolder.deviantart.com/art/STOCK-PNG-plants-104487421

Brushes: midnightstouch.deviantart.com/art/Splish-Splash-39339524?...

Background: www.flickr.com/photos/rubyblossom/6941585329/in/pool-back...