How the Gospel of Matthew came to be Written

“The sun had set and finally the crowds had dispersed. The disciples gathered in the upper room, exhausted but joyful after preaching and teaching in many different languages all day, not to speak of seeing to the baptism of three thousand people. James bar Alphaeus put on a CD of the Bach Christmas Oratorio, which seemed somehow appropriate, while James and John opened the fridge and broke out cool ones for all the men, who were sitting and lying around resting their feet.

Then came a knock on the door.”

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As king fishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame

As king fishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves – goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying What I do is me: for that I came.

I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is–
Christ. For Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.

-Gerard Manley Hopkins

A Condition of Wisdom

“It is a condition of wisdom in the archer to be patient because when the arrow leaves the bow, it returns no more.”

-Sa’di

The Koran: The Table 5.27-31

Extra-biblical details on the death of Abel.

“Relate to them exactly the story of the sons of Adam when they each offered an offering; accepted from the one of them, and not accepted from the other. The one said, “I will surely slay thee.” Said the other, “God only accepted from those that fear Him. Even if thou stretch forth thine hand against me to slay me, I will not stretch forth my hand against thee to slay thee. Truly I fear God the Lord of the Worlds. Yea, rather would I that thou shouldest bear my sin and thine own sin, and that thou become an inmate of the Fire: for that is the recompense of the unjust doers.

And his passion led him to slay his brother: and he slew him; and he became one of those who perish. And God sent a raven which scratched upon the ground, to shew him how he might hide his brother’s wrong. He said: “O woe is me! am I too weak to become like this raven, and to hide away my brother’s wrong?” And he became one of the repentant.”