Kath a long standing, very supportive and much loved member of Theotokos died today, Good Shepherd Sunday.
We pray that Jesus the Good Shepherd will carry her home.
Our Lady of Lourdes welcome her.
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Kath Hare R.I.P
Dear Friends,
Kath a long standing, very supportive and much loved member of Theotokos died today, Good Shepherd Sunday.
May she Rest In Peace
Kath a long standing, very supportive and much loved member of Theotokos died today, Good Shepherd Sunday.
Thursday, 26 April 2012
It is I, I am with you
Notes of Meeting on 17 April 2012
A picture of Jesus exposing His Heart and within His Heart is the Host and within the Host is a cup tipping over pouring out His Precious Blood.
The Blood cascaded down on to a woman at His feet. The Blood washed her clean.
Our Lady accompanied by Angels re-clothed this woman in a white garment.
The woman had been a great sinner but she repented with her whole heart and instantly Jesus covered her with His Blood granting her complete forgiveness. It was as though Jesus' Blood cried out to the Father and the sacrifice of His Holy Blood negated punishment. The white garment seemed to represent the wholeness received in baptism.
The picture gives us hope for ourselves and our loved ones.
Mark 14 v 3 -8
3 He was at Bethany in the house of Simon, a man who had suffered from a virulent skin-disease; he was at table when a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on his head.
4 Some who were there said to one another indignantly, 'Why this waste of ointment?
5 Ointment like this could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor'; and they were angry with her.
6 But Jesus said, 'Leave her alone. Why are you upsetting her? What she has done for me is a good work.
7 You have the poor with you always, and you can be kind to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me.
8 She has done what she could: she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.
It is I, I am with you.
Rejoice in the Lord.
A picture of Jesus exposing His Heart and within His Heart is the Host and within the Host is a cup tipping over pouring out His Precious Blood.
The Blood cascaded down on to a woman at His feet. The Blood washed her clean.
Our Lady accompanied by Angels re-clothed this woman in a white garment.
The woman had been a great sinner but she repented with her whole heart and instantly Jesus covered her with His Blood granting her complete forgiveness. It was as though Jesus' Blood cried out to the Father and the sacrifice of His Holy Blood negated punishment. The white garment seemed to represent the wholeness received in baptism.
The picture gives us hope for ourselves and our loved ones.
Mark 14 v 3 -8
3 He was at Bethany in the house of Simon, a man who had suffered from a virulent skin-disease; he was at table when a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on his head.
4 Some who were there said to one another indignantly, 'Why this waste of ointment?
5 Ointment like this could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor'; and they were angry with her.
6 But Jesus said, 'Leave her alone. Why are you upsetting her? What she has done for me is a good work.
7 You have the poor with you always, and you can be kind to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me.
8 She has done what she could: she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.
It is I, I am with you.
Rejoice in the Lord.
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Darkness and Light
Notes of meeting on 3 April 2012
A picture in two halves:
1. Jesus on the Cross in darkness and sorrow with everyone praying behind the Cross
2. Fields and the sky in brilliant colours and light - the renewal to come.
Romans 8 v 29-30
29 He decided beforehand who were the ones destined to be moulded to the pattern of his Son, so that he should be the eldest of many brothers;
30 it was those so destined that he called; those that he called, he justified, and those that he has justified he has brought into glory.
Romans 9 v 23-26
23 so that he may make known the glorious riches ready for the people who are the instruments of his faithful love and were long ago prepared for that glory.
24 We are that people, called by him not only out of the Jews but out of the gentiles too.
25 Just as he says in the book of Hosea: I shall tell those who were not my people, 'You are my people,' and I shall take pity on those on whom I had no pity.
26 And in the very place where they were told, 'You are not my people,' they will be told that they are 'children of the living God'.
Psalm 142
1 To Yahweh I cry out with my plea. To Yahweh I cry out with entreaty.
2 I pour out my worry in his presence, in his presence I unfold my troubles.
3 However faint my spirit; you are watching over my path. On the road I have to travel they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look on my right and see -- there is no one who recognises me. All refuge is denied me, no one cares whether I live or die.
5 I cry out to you, Yahweh, I affirm, 'You are my refuge, my share in the land of the living!'
6 Listen to my calling, for I am miserably weak. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
7 Lead me out of prison that I may praise your name. The upright gather round me because of your generosity to me.
Do not be afraid for I am always with you.
I did not die in vain, my death was a victory over death.
You are my chosen people and those whom I have chosen I am always close to.
Do not worry when you fall for I will pick you up.
I am with you always
Persevere in prayer
A picture in two halves:
1. Jesus on the Cross in darkness and sorrow with everyone praying behind the Cross
2. Fields and the sky in brilliant colours and light - the renewal to come.
Romans 8 v 29-30
29 He decided beforehand who were the ones destined to be moulded to the pattern of his Son, so that he should be the eldest of many brothers;
30 it was those so destined that he called; those that he called, he justified, and those that he has justified he has brought into glory.
Romans 9 v 23-26
23 so that he may make known the glorious riches ready for the people who are the instruments of his faithful love and were long ago prepared for that glory.
24 We are that people, called by him not only out of the Jews but out of the gentiles too.
25 Just as he says in the book of Hosea: I shall tell those who were not my people, 'You are my people,' and I shall take pity on those on whom I had no pity.
26 And in the very place where they were told, 'You are not my people,' they will be told that they are 'children of the living God'.
Psalm 142
1 To Yahweh I cry out with my plea. To Yahweh I cry out with entreaty.
2 I pour out my worry in his presence, in his presence I unfold my troubles.
3 However faint my spirit; you are watching over my path. On the road I have to travel they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look on my right and see -- there is no one who recognises me. All refuge is denied me, no one cares whether I live or die.
5 I cry out to you, Yahweh, I affirm, 'You are my refuge, my share in the land of the living!'
6 Listen to my calling, for I am miserably weak. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
7 Lead me out of prison that I may praise your name. The upright gather round me because of your generosity to me.
Do not be afraid for I am always with you.
I did not die in vain, my death was a victory over death.
You are my chosen people and those whom I have chosen I am always close to.
Do not worry when you fall for I will pick you up.
I am with you always
Persevere in prayer
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Jesus Light of the World
Notes of Praise and Intercession Meeting 27 March 2012
Picture of a large hill on top was Jesus crucified and all about was darkness. His body was beaten, bruised and lifeless. Then his body full of light drew men to his Cross. It was as though as they were immersed and surrounded by the light it gave to each person a feeling of warmth, peacefulness, strength and wholeness.
Imagine a peaceful quietness when the sun has relaxed you and you are just conscious of being, it is like this only more, a feeling of being at home that you have found what was missing that the Saviour is there enfolding us with his quiet saving love. Nothing else matters for this instant in time each of us is in his presence.
This is what he came to do for each and everyone of us; drawing us to himself. This perfect love is a free gift to all.
As we stand at the of the Cross we remember the first to be there, his Mother Mary who is always in his warmth and light and leading the downcast and strays to her Son Jesus so that they too might feel his presence and love her Son the Light of the World "Emmanuel"
Mathew 27 v 33-53
33 When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull,
34 they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink.
35 When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots,
36 and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him.
37 Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.'
38 Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
39 The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads
40 and said, 'So you would destroy the Temple and in three days rebuild it! Then save yourself if you are God's son and come down from the cross!'
41 The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way,
42 with the words, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.
43 He has put his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, "I am God's son." '
44 Even the bandits who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way.
45 From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'
47 When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, 'The man is calling on Elijah,'
48 and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he filled with vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink.
49 But the rest of them said, 'Wait! And see if Elijah will come to save him.'
50 But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.
51 And suddenly, the veil of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, the rocks were split,
52 the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy people rose from the dead,
53 and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the holy city and appeared to a number of people.
In our Intercessory Praise Jesus can reach into the dark places where people are suffering and in need.
Picture of a large hill on top was Jesus crucified and all about was darkness. His body was beaten, bruised and lifeless. Then his body full of light drew men to his Cross. It was as though as they were immersed and surrounded by the light it gave to each person a feeling of warmth, peacefulness, strength and wholeness.
Imagine a peaceful quietness when the sun has relaxed you and you are just conscious of being, it is like this only more, a feeling of being at home that you have found what was missing that the Saviour is there enfolding us with his quiet saving love. Nothing else matters for this instant in time each of us is in his presence.
This is what he came to do for each and everyone of us; drawing us to himself. This perfect love is a free gift to all.
As we stand at the of the Cross we remember the first to be there, his Mother Mary who is always in his warmth and light and leading the downcast and strays to her Son Jesus so that they too might feel his presence and love her Son the Light of the World "Emmanuel"
Mathew 27 v 33-53
33 When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull,
34 they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink.
35 When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots,
36 and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him.
37 Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.'
38 Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
39 The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads
40 and said, 'So you would destroy the Temple and in three days rebuild it! Then save yourself if you are God's son and come down from the cross!'
41 The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way,
42 with the words, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.
43 He has put his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, "I am God's son." '
44 Even the bandits who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way.
45 From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'
47 When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, 'The man is calling on Elijah,'
48 and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he filled with vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink.
49 But the rest of them said, 'Wait! And see if Elijah will come to save him.'
50 But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.
51 And suddenly, the veil of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, the rocks were split,
52 the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy people rose from the dead,
53 and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the holy city and appeared to a number of people.
In our Intercessory Praise Jesus can reach into the dark places where people are suffering and in need.
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
We adore You O Christ and we praise You because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the World
Notes of meeting 13 March 2012
Mary crying for her children, places her mantle around them to comfort them.. It winds around them and also the whole World. She draws all to her pierced heart and to the Cross of Jesus. We are asked to unite our hearts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and her Immaculate Heart.
We adore You O Christ and we praise You because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the World.
Matthew 26 v 47 - 75
47 And suddenly while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, and with him a large number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now the traitor had arranged a sign with them saying, 'The one I kiss, he is the man. Arrest him.'
49 So he went up to Jesus at once and said, 'Greetings, Rabbi,' and kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, 'My friend, do what you are here for.' Then they came forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
51 And suddenly, one of the followers of Jesus grasped his sword and drew it; he struck the high priest's servant and cut off his ear.
52 Jesus then said, 'Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defence?
54 But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this is the way it must be?'
55 It was at this time that Jesus said to the crowds, 'Am I a bandit, that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? I sat teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid a hand on me.'
56 Now all this happened to fulfil the prophecies in scripture. Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away.
57 The men who had arrested Jesus led him off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 Peter followed him at a distance right to the high priest's palace, and he went in and sat down with the attendants to see what the end would be.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus, however false, on which they might have him executed.
60 But they could not find any, though several lying witnesses came forward. Eventually two came forward
61 and made a statement, 'This man said, "I have power to destroy the Temple of God and in three days build it up." '
62 The high priest then rose and said to him, 'Have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you?'
63 But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, 'I put you on oath by the living God to tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.'
64 Jesus answered him, 'It is you who say it. But, I tell you that from this time onward you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.'
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'He has blasphemed. What need of witnesses have we now? There! You have just heard the blasphemy.
66 What is your opinion?' They answered, 'He deserves to die.'
67 Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists; others said as they struck him,
68 'Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you then?'
69 Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him saying, 'You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean.'
70 But he denied it in front of them all. 'I do not know what you are talking about,' he said.
71 When he went out to the gateway another servant-girl saw him and said to the people there, 'This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.'
72 And again, with an oath, he denied it, 'I do not know the man.'
73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, 'You are certainly one of them too! Why, your accent gives you away.'
74 Then he started cursing and swearing, 'I do not know the man.' And at once the cock crowed,
75 and Peter remembered what Jesus had said, 'Before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Notes of meeting 20 March 2012
As we praised God came a picture as if the roof as off the building where we meet and it was open to the night sky and the Moon and the stars. It was as if we were praising with all the angels and saints in Heaven. A dove flew into the room swooping down over us saying "Thank you My People".
Matthew 5
1 Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him.
2 Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
3 How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.
5 Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.
7 Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 'Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.
We adore You O Christ and we praise You because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the World.
Matthew 27 v 1 -31
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people met in council to bring about the death of Jesus.
2 They had him bound and led him away to hand him over to Pilate, the governor.
3 When he found that Jesus had been condemned, then Judas, his betrayer, was filled with remorse and took the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and elders
4 saying, 'I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood.' They replied, 'What is that to us? That is your concern.'
5 And flinging down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he made off, and went and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, 'It is against the Law to put this into the treasury; it is blood-money.'
7 So they discussed the matter and with it bought the potter's field as a graveyard for foreigners,
8 and this is why the field is still called the Field of Blood.
9 The word spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was then fulfilled: And they took the thirty silver pieces, the sum at which the precious One was priced by the children of Israel,
10 and they gave them for the potter's field, just as the Lord directed me.
11 Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' Jesus replied, 'It is you who say it.'
12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all.
13 Pilate then said to him, 'Do you not hear how many charges they have made against you?'
14 But to the governor's amazement, he offered not a word in answer to any of the charges.
15 At festival time it was the governor's practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose.
16 Now there was then a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas.
17 So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, 'Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?'
18 For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.
19 Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message, 'Have nothing to do with that upright man; I have been extremely upset today by a dream that I had about him.'
20 The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.
21 So when the governor spoke and asked them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release for you?' they said, 'Barabbas.'
22 Pilate said to them, 'But in that case, what am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said, 'Let him be crucified!'
23 He asked, 'But what harm has he done?' But they shouted all the louder, 'Let him be crucified!'
24 Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, 'I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your concern.'
25 And the people, every one of them, shouted back, 'Let his blood be on us and on our children!'
26 Then he released Barabbas for them. After having Jesus scourged he handed him over to be crucified.
27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him.
28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet cloak round him,
29 and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!'
30 And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it.
31 And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucifixion.
Isaiah 53 1 Who has given credence to what we have heard? And who has seen in it a revelation of Yahweh's arm?
2 Like a sapling he grew up before him, like a root in arid ground. He had no form or charm to attract us, no beauty to win our hearts;
3 he was despised, the lowest of men, a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering, one from whom, as it were, we averted our gaze, despised, for whom we had no regard.
4 Yet ours were the sufferings he was bearing, ours the sorrows he was carrying, while we thought of him as someone being punished and struck with affliction by God;
5 whereas he was being wounded for our rebellions, crushed because of our guilt; the punishment reconciling us fell on him, and we have been healed by his bruises.
6 We had all gone astray like sheep, each taking his own way, and Yahweh brought the acts of rebellion of all of us to bear on him.
7 Ill-treated and afflicted, he never opened his mouth, like a lamb led to the slaughter-house, like a sheep dumb before its shearers he never opened his mouth.
8 Forcibly, after sentence, he was taken. Which of his contemporaries was concerned at his having been cut off from the land of the living, at his having been struck dead for his people's rebellion?
9 He was given a grave with the wicked, and his tomb is with the rich, although he had done no violence, had spoken no deceit.
10 It was Yahweh's good pleasure to crush him with pain; if he gives his life as a sin offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his life, and through him Yahweh's good pleasure will be done.
11 After the ordeal he has endured, he will see the light and be content. By his knowledge, the upright one, my servant will justify many by taking their guilt on himself.
12 Hence I shall give him a portion with the many, and he will share the booty with the mighty, for having exposed himself to death and for being counted as one of the rebellious, whereas he was bearing the sin of many and interceding for the rebellious.
Mary crying for her children, places her mantle around them to comfort them.. It winds around them and also the whole World. She draws all to her pierced heart and to the Cross of Jesus. We are asked to unite our hearts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and her Immaculate Heart.
We adore You O Christ and we praise You because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the World.
Matthew 26 v 47 - 75
47 And suddenly while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, and with him a large number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now the traitor had arranged a sign with them saying, 'The one I kiss, he is the man. Arrest him.'
49 So he went up to Jesus at once and said, 'Greetings, Rabbi,' and kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, 'My friend, do what you are here for.' Then they came forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
51 And suddenly, one of the followers of Jesus grasped his sword and drew it; he struck the high priest's servant and cut off his ear.
52 Jesus then said, 'Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defence?
54 But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this is the way it must be?'
55 It was at this time that Jesus said to the crowds, 'Am I a bandit, that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? I sat teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid a hand on me.'
56 Now all this happened to fulfil the prophecies in scripture. Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away.
57 The men who had arrested Jesus led him off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 Peter followed him at a distance right to the high priest's palace, and he went in and sat down with the attendants to see what the end would be.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus, however false, on which they might have him executed.
60 But they could not find any, though several lying witnesses came forward. Eventually two came forward
61 and made a statement, 'This man said, "I have power to destroy the Temple of God and in three days build it up." '
62 The high priest then rose and said to him, 'Have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you?'
63 But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, 'I put you on oath by the living God to tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.'
64 Jesus answered him, 'It is you who say it. But, I tell you that from this time onward you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.'
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'He has blasphemed. What need of witnesses have we now? There! You have just heard the blasphemy.
66 What is your opinion?' They answered, 'He deserves to die.'
67 Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists; others said as they struck him,
68 'Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you then?'
69 Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him saying, 'You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean.'
70 But he denied it in front of them all. 'I do not know what you are talking about,' he said.
71 When he went out to the gateway another servant-girl saw him and said to the people there, 'This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.'
72 And again, with an oath, he denied it, 'I do not know the man.'
73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, 'You are certainly one of them too! Why, your accent gives you away.'
74 Then he started cursing and swearing, 'I do not know the man.' And at once the cock crowed,
75 and Peter remembered what Jesus had said, 'Before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Notes of meeting 20 March 2012
As we praised God came a picture as if the roof as off the building where we meet and it was open to the night sky and the Moon and the stars. It was as if we were praising with all the angels and saints in Heaven. A dove flew into the room swooping down over us saying "Thank you My People".
Matthew 5
1 Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him.
2 Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
3 How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.
5 Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.
7 Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 'Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.
We adore You O Christ and we praise You because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the World.
Matthew 27 v 1 -31
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people met in council to bring about the death of Jesus.
2 They had him bound and led him away to hand him over to Pilate, the governor.
3 When he found that Jesus had been condemned, then Judas, his betrayer, was filled with remorse and took the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and elders
4 saying, 'I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood.' They replied, 'What is that to us? That is your concern.'
5 And flinging down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he made off, and went and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, 'It is against the Law to put this into the treasury; it is blood-money.'
7 So they discussed the matter and with it bought the potter's field as a graveyard for foreigners,
8 and this is why the field is still called the Field of Blood.
9 The word spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was then fulfilled: And they took the thirty silver pieces, the sum at which the precious One was priced by the children of Israel,
10 and they gave them for the potter's field, just as the Lord directed me.
11 Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' Jesus replied, 'It is you who say it.'
12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all.
13 Pilate then said to him, 'Do you not hear how many charges they have made against you?'
14 But to the governor's amazement, he offered not a word in answer to any of the charges.
15 At festival time it was the governor's practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose.
16 Now there was then a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas.
17 So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, 'Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?'
18 For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.
19 Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message, 'Have nothing to do with that upright man; I have been extremely upset today by a dream that I had about him.'
20 The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.
21 So when the governor spoke and asked them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release for you?' they said, 'Barabbas.'
22 Pilate said to them, 'But in that case, what am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said, 'Let him be crucified!'
23 He asked, 'But what harm has he done?' But they shouted all the louder, 'Let him be crucified!'
24 Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, 'I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your concern.'
25 And the people, every one of them, shouted back, 'Let his blood be on us and on our children!'
26 Then he released Barabbas for them. After having Jesus scourged he handed him over to be crucified.
27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him.
28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet cloak round him,
29 and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!'
30 And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it.
31 And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucifixion.
Isaiah 53 1 Who has given credence to what we have heard? And who has seen in it a revelation of Yahweh's arm?
2 Like a sapling he grew up before him, like a root in arid ground. He had no form or charm to attract us, no beauty to win our hearts;
3 he was despised, the lowest of men, a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering, one from whom, as it were, we averted our gaze, despised, for whom we had no regard.
4 Yet ours were the sufferings he was bearing, ours the sorrows he was carrying, while we thought of him as someone being punished and struck with affliction by God;
5 whereas he was being wounded for our rebellions, crushed because of our guilt; the punishment reconciling us fell on him, and we have been healed by his bruises.
6 We had all gone astray like sheep, each taking his own way, and Yahweh brought the acts of rebellion of all of us to bear on him.
7 Ill-treated and afflicted, he never opened his mouth, like a lamb led to the slaughter-house, like a sheep dumb before its shearers he never opened his mouth.
8 Forcibly, after sentence, he was taken. Which of his contemporaries was concerned at his having been cut off from the land of the living, at his having been struck dead for his people's rebellion?
9 He was given a grave with the wicked, and his tomb is with the rich, although he had done no violence, had spoken no deceit.
10 It was Yahweh's good pleasure to crush him with pain; if he gives his life as a sin offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his life, and through him Yahweh's good pleasure will be done.
11 After the ordeal he has endured, he will see the light and be content. By his knowledge, the upright one, my servant will justify many by taking their guilt on himself.
12 Hence I shall give him a portion with the many, and he will share the booty with the mighty, for having exposed himself to death and for being counted as one of the rebellious, whereas he was bearing the sin of many and interceding for the rebellious.
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