32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[b]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
At this moment I’m presently in Hawaii. It is Easter morning here. I should have posted this last night so the less than ten people who happen to know of or accidentally stumble across my humble blog post back in blue secular Vermont might see it Easter morning there. But it was a long day yesterday and I was just too tired. So Easter afternoon will have to do.
“Democracy is the word with which you must lead them by the nose,” Screwtape tells his fellow devils. “The basic principle of the new education is to be that dunces and idlers must not be made to feel inferior to intelligent and industrious pupils. That would be ‘undemocratic
“For ‘democracy’ or the ‘democratic spirit’ (diabolical sense) leads to a nation without great men, a nation mainly of subliterates, full of the cocksureness which flattery breeds on ignorance, and quick to snarl or whimper at the first sign of criticism. And that is what Hell wishes every democratic people to be. For when such a nation meets in conflict a nation where children have been made to work at school, where talent is placed in high posts, and where the ignorant mass are allowed no say at all in public affairs, only one result is possible.”
This short story could well describe Easter Sunday in certain parts of America in 2021.
WE are told by experts that, when painting in oils, we should not represent things exactly as they are: for this there exists color photography. We must, by means of broken lines and combinations of square and triangular planes, convey the idea of the thing rather than the thing itself. I can’t for my part see how color photography could make a meaningful selection of figures and compose into a single image the Easter procession at the Patriarchal church in Peredelkino as it is held today, half a century after the Revolution. Yet that picture would explain a lot, even were it painted by the most old-fashioned methods and without the use of triangular planes.
Half an hour before the chimes begin, the scene outside the railings of the Patriarchal Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord is like a wild party in the dance hall of a remote and dowdy workers’ settlement. Shrill-voiced girls in brightly colored scarves and slacks (admittedly a few wear skirts) stroll about in threes, in fives, push their way into the church. But the nave is crowded. The old women took their places early on Easter eve. They snap at each other and the girls come out. They circle around the courtyard, shout insolently, call each other from afar, and inspect the small green, pink and white flames lit outside the windows of the church and beside the tombs of canons and bishops. As for the boys—tough and mean-looking—all have an air of victory (though what victories, except perhaps knocking a ball through a goal, have they won in their 15 or 20 years?). Nearly all are wearing caps (the few who are bareheaded haven’t taken theirs off here). One out of four is tipsy, one out of ten is drunk. Every other one is smoking, and so disgustingly, with his butt stuck to his lower lip! So that long before the incense—in place of the incense—gray pillars of cigarette smoke rise from the church courtyard, with its electric lights, toward the Easter sky with its brown, motionless clouds.…Click on link to continue.
But…after 72 years of State enforced atheism the U.S.S.R. collapsed. And faith revived.
Maybe it’s God’s plan that American Christians should also be tested.
It’s quite possible that a time will come in America (No! it’s already here) when ordinary people who “profess” to believe in the living Christ will be “required by the state” to make “compromisies” in order to obtain or retain employment. Not to question the indocrination your children recieve in government school. And never speak of your faith out loud least you “trigger” and offend someone.
But is no denying that millions of people who would think of themselves as Christian are only Christian in name only. Particularly when it comes to Catholic-Democrat politicians who check their catholicism at the door and vote the party line while thumbing their noses at the Catholic church’s stand ogainst abortion. I’m talking about Andrew, Nancy, Pat. and especially dementia Joe.
They either have never believed from the begining or they think all will be forgive during their Last Rites. I hope the Catholic church refuses them. Let then explain themselves to the Allmighty on their own.
There is a fork in the road ahead, turn left and and youdecend, or turn right and you will acend. I believe the majority will turn to the left. Hang on it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Some Catholics do get it.
“I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history”
― Cardinal Francis George 1937-2015
The World is getting dark. Bur Christ is the light.
So many churches have abandoned the Gospel in favor of political correctness.
I grew up in a time when more families went to church services and children attended Sunday school than is obviously the case today.Vermont is cited as one of the most secular states in the nation. It’s not a coincidence that Vermont is also one of the most politically “progressive”i.e, socialist states in the nation.
Secularism a.k.a. athisem has always been a central pillar of Socialist ideology as it was written in the Communist Manifesto. And over the past hundred years in Socialist/Communist countries millions of people have been martyred for their faith in Christ.
The way things seem to heading it could be getting pretty dicy for Christians here in America.Back to the catacombs anyone ?
But nothing gets by Jesus. He anticipated this all along.
Sooner or later the bell tolls for all of us. Eternity is a very long time. By he’s grace I hope to pass through the narrow door.
Today is Good Friday. Remember…He took the punishment for you.
