Beginnings and Endings

Souls remembered lost to the Spanish civil war.

Explanation

The Francoist regime has been described by other scholars as a “Fascismo a la española” (“Spanish-style Fascism”) or as a specific variant of Fascism marked by the preponderance of the Catholic Church, the Armed Forces and Traditionalism.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francoist_Spain

Greetings on this the Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; Ps 11:4, 5 and 7; Jn 21:20-25

Summary

I want to present to you the endings of the four Gospels and of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Like the Beginnings, some with a prologue, but all start with a particular phrase that sets the stage for the script to follow. Any serious reader and study of scripture should take a look at these things as a collection and ponder the specificity of the message as a framework to be remembered as they read.

Your life too has a framework. You have a beginning and one day (hopefully in a happy old age) an ending. You decide what type of life you have and the things you control you design. What is your beginning? Who do you belong to? Who loved you into being? What is your ‘Good News’? Do people run from you or are they attracted to your goodness?

What is the end you want written about you?

Bikini Atoll – testing of nuclear bombs – then the name of swimwear

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikini_Atoll

Alfred Nobel had loathed war all his life and was stunned when his obituary referred to him as a "merchant of death." He vowed that he would not be remembered as such! So he decided to leave his immense fortune to foster science, literature and peace. The Nobel Prizes were born! All because a journalist did not check his facts. Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history/how-dynamite-spawned-nobel-prizes

Tomorrow is Pentecost and the end of the Easter season. The gift of the Holy Spirit is given. Given so that the ending of your story will be a good ending for all.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Endings

Gospel Mark

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

Gospel Matthew

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Gospel Luke

Then he led them [out] as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.

Acts of the Apostles

Let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel John

It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.