Flynn's Paws: My Thoughts, My Gripes

Tag: god

  • Contacting the…

    Well, that would explain the part about this morning’s “street theater“. These “victimization” tactics just bring out the mischievousness within me. Actually, I was having fun and love the chase and running away. And in no way did I felt any danger, except the temporary thrill and excitement mixed in with the rush of fear and dread.

    The first “contact” was earlier this year when help wasn’t signed on time. My patience wore thin and that was before I got FED up with waiting for nothing. They got me more FED up because they refused to help me after I have helped their androids and pals of the same kind that would most likely be implemented in 2012. And they keep telling me that it’s okay to be frustrated a bit. Indeed. Well, I declare!

    Oh well! If that is their way of intimidation, I’m not playing. Bring it on, fools! And I’ll keep reporting back my findings until you learn to GET ALONG or else face the wrath of God and pals with lots of love that you’d remember why y’all are still stuck on this hellish planet. Brouhaha!

  • Grim Gospel…

    What I like about attending mass are the Biblical passages. Most don’t make sense and are down right bloody and violent.

    In today’s Gospel, I would interpret the atmosphere being fried by the removal of the ozone layer (as per last night’s show on the History Channel about the end of the earth).

    But I see the usual numerical values of 1/3 and 2/3, in which households/families are divided among themselves: I am not surprised because the boy prefers hanging around the Chinese than his Filipino heritage. Wow.

    Anyway, here is the Biblical passage for reference.

    Luke 12:49-53

    49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law

  • 20111020-Weathery Ways

    This morning was cloudy — horizontal, puffy ones compacted together. Maw said it would rain. Paw said it won’t. It smelled like rain. Later the sunshine came out; the skies are clear and the winds are blowing cool and mild. The air is nice.

    And the criminals are let out because the jailhouse are too full and cheap. I figured they’d have enough money to run their loud vehicles up and down MY long stretch of road during my back yard cleaning.

    Anyway after lunch, I used the “walis” to broom the dried leaves from off the ginger rock for an hour. I finished at 2:40pm and finished my shower at 2:55pm. Now we have to say the damn rosary. Sorry, I don’t believe God would waste time with prayer beads.

  • 20111011-Weathery Ways

    At 13:30pm, Paw hollered that it was time to say the “rosary” and had  finished the yard work out back at the same time. After lunch today, I used the almighty “walis” to sweep up the dried leaves, twigs and branches off the ginger rocks. That went on for about two hours. Two hours ago there were fluffy, puffy whale-like, wall-like clouds of white. Now it’s showing crispy, clear blue skies. While sweeping out back, the winds blew gently enough to keep the slightly damp dirt/dust from kicking up. The winds were kind enough not to offend me with MORE leaves that continue to fall ever so slightly. Paw had helped sweep up the gutter on the inside part of our street-side fence.

    Maw washed the dishes and cooked some more food while I worked for those hours. I kept thanking the “weather” and pals for another nice day like Saturday.

    Of course, this morning was cloud but no smell of rain, except the strong cat urine on the tree lines located across the front lot of the parish. The drizzle of mist wasn’t strong enough to spot my eyeglasses.

  • Confessional visit…

    A nice Filipino couple came by our house and conversed with us from 11:00am until noontime. It appears that the nice guy was emotionally affected by the insane people at our local parish.

    • A Viet singer has been out of tune. She was scolded for this and took offense. In another incident, she again took offense and was ballistic — being verbally noisy, if not assaulting and loud enough for others in the main parish to hear her. Later, one of the old priest had told the nice guy that the Viet had a husband who lost the house to gambling. So you see folks, these refugees are nasty, too by projecting their problems from the mainland and at home to the public servants. Huh.
    • Addendum-Last edited by FLYNN on 20111011 at 12:48:39 PM PDT: Father Paul complained that his prayer books were not set up in time so that he could have a few minutes to prepare before mass. Oh, yeah! Then why was didn’t show up for mass last Tuesday and instead let another priest get a headache from covering him last minute? Why are you Viets good in partying, gambling, drinking and being nasty? There has been and never were priest without mortal sins and still people follow their lead as if they know everything.
    • Two Mexicanas — one with thick eyelashes and the other with a prune face — were scolded for grabbing more “daily companions” for people outside our parish. Sheesh.
    • A Filipino guy was being his nasty self again. While the nice guy was trying to get one of the books to bookmark for the celebrating priest, the nasty guy told the nice guy to bug off instead of thanking him for the support. The nice guy left everything and decided from that day NOT to speak to the insane person, who is nasty to everyone.
    • A priest and a sister are both elderly folks who might be  human but sin like everyone else. Both didn’t like using the BIG offering bowl like all the other parish and have pissed off in front of the nice guy. “Who’s idea was it? This is stupid!” ~Said the big guy.
    • The nice guy killed his nemesis — a squirrel. “You killed one of God‘s creatures! He might have had a family to feed!” ~I scolded him. He had placed a trap, thinking it was a BIG rat. He crossed himself in front of me and looked heaven ward in forgiveness.

    So, appears that the nice guy might be a bad boy after all. In his mind, he is doing the right thing BUT he stops short of “real” confrontation. It is really between him and the Lord, now.

    The moral of this story is: Don’t expect thanks and gratitude from those people who believe they are doing the right things (in life). By imposing your will upon others, your kindness might NOT be accepted with a genuine and sincere heart.

  • 20111009-More Spooks

    At 11:15pm or so, I heard a car revving up its engine and probably making rubber markings on the taxpayer‘s roads. Remember, we are ALL investors to some degree with any social welfare program being that of the government system (courtesy of the tax payers) and the same money being reinvested back in the private system of blings, sports and entertainments and then back again into the government system as a form of taxable revenue.

    At 11:06pm, I heard a slow-moving airplane, which I thought was a slow-moving blimp of some sort.

  • Karmatic life…

    As per the “Memo” apps via my cellphone at 13:49pm, we were eating lunch and watching the History Channel on karma.

    I recall that buck-teeth Landy and how he once told me LONG AGO that someone read his palm(s). According to the woman who read Landy’s palm(s), she told the creep that he would reincarnate as a dog. He got VERY angry at what the woman said and spat with his saliva spewing forth through his buckteeh and FOUL mouth when he told me LONG ago.

    The televised cable show mentioned how one’s karma could be good or bad and that death is inevitable. The light at the end of the tunnel is NOT heaven but the rebirth through a mother’s womb. Depending on a previous life, the soul who has been bad/evil/naughty will have a lifetime of torture or be reborn as an animal.

    The goal of any soul is a chance to be reborn as a human and a to choose their parents. Unfortunately for Landy, he and that fat bastard deserve to be reborn as animals (such as a chihuahua with lots of warts and wild tuffs of hair on it mangy body) and never human for screwing the lives of people on the grounds of serving themselves first and Mammon, too.

  • 20111009-Trying Theme

    Ack! I been switching themes again! One theme — Twenty-Eleven alsmot had all my elements. But it lacked two templates for “Archives” and “Links”. Plus, I needed the index page to my posts to reflect the meta data, meaning a text of the time/date stamp, which could be found in a “Sandbox” theme. So my current theme has taken on a nice purple color — dark purple for the header and light pink for the background. I guess I should be happy for now. 🙁 🙂

  • 20111009-Tweaking Again

    I’ve finished tweaking my “front/home” page, which used to be the “contents” page, now renamed “page” properly. Fourteen pages are now linked on the front page. Linking the “page” to itself as the fifteenth page doesn’t make sense. There are currently fifteen (15) static pages.

    I had to shorten each sentence of the main links to fit the narrow width of certain WordPress.com themes, which I keep switching. I found that I needed both templates for Archives and Links. That frees up the bottom/side bar from clutter. Plus I can “track” through my blog stats if these pages are being viewed.

    All the extra pages are now grand/children of the About page. The other parent pages are found as part of the main menu: POSTS, PAGES, LINKS,  and ARCHIVES, which are capitalized, just to differentiate them from the About page.

    There are currently seven widgets in the sidebar. I’ve gotten tired of reading through all the links and decided to reduce the clutter to a more manageable size. Plus it much easier to read, too. My motto: “Simple is better. Bigger is not better.”

  • 20111009-Weathery Ways

    The whole morning was a nice wall cloud of gray in the skies. Then, the rest of the day was crispy and blue with a tinge of whiteness, unlike the clearness of yesterday’s cool weather. The winds are blowing cool and a part of today was warm enough for the parakeets to get some fresh air.

    At 12:39pm, I heard the baby blue jay screeching from our tree and it flew atop the persimmon tree of the next door neighbor, who doesn’t eat persimmon but could sell it. I don’t know why God allows evil entities to co-exist with other normal people. This planet is such a waste.

    Earlier today while shopping for groceries, I saw a baby spider near the butter section. An old lady was there while Paw got his organic tub. And that’s where I saw the little one within the middle of its circular/orb web. I really love spiders and try not to vacuum up the babies near the parakeet area. Hehehe!

  • 20100331-Prayer Journal

    “Let all who are hungry come in and eat.
    Let all who are needy come and make Passover.”

    ~the Haggadah

    Master of Ceremonies … (Introductory narration)

    CANDLE BLESSING

    Master of Ceremonies … (Hostess lights the candles.)

    Mothers: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have sanctified us by your commandments and commanded us to kindle the festival lights.

    Blessed are You, our God, King of the Universe. You have kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this season. May our homes be consecrated by the light of your countenance, shine upon us in blessing and bring us peace.

    All: Amen.

    CUP OF THANKSGIVING – KIDDUSH

    Master of Ceremonies … (Host pours cups of wine or apple cider.)

    All: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have created the fruit of the vine.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Fathers: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have made of one blood all the people of the earth. You have exalted mankind by breathing life into his mind and the love of freedom into his hearts. You have sanctified us so that we might know and say what was holy and not profane, what was freedom and what was slavery.

    Blessed are You, O Lord our God, who with love has allowed us to give ourselves and you solemn days for your festivals and seasons for gladness.

    Blessed are You, O Lord our God, You allowed Israel to imagine this day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the season of our freedom as well, a holy convocation, a memorial of the departure from Egypt.

    Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Who sanctified Israel, all of mankind and all the seasons.

    (All are invited to drink from their filled cups.)

    RAHATZ AND KARPAS

    Master of Ceremonies …

    All: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. YOu created the fruit of the soil.

    Master of Ceremonies … (All are invited to perform RAHATZ (washes) the KARPAS (usually watercress or parsley) by dipping this symbol of spring into salt water, a reminder of the tears of the Israelites shed in Egypt.)

    MATZEE – MATZO

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Fathers: Behold! This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are in want come and celebrate this Passover with us. May it be God’s will to redeem us from all evil and from all servitude. For this year not only we, but all wo/men, are slaves and ALIENS — next year we pray that all wo/men shall be free. This year, wo/men eat as ALIENS in a land not wholly theirs. Next year, we pray all wo/men will celebrate in a world made one and a world made free.

    Priest: It was at this moment that Jesus made perhaps His most incredible statement and still, to this day, unbelieved and unaccepted by many. Instead of the usual words of Blessing over the matzo bread, which the fathers at each table have just prayed Jesus said: “Take this and eat it; this is My [Flesh] Body.”

    (All are invited to eat matzo and horseradish).

    CUP OF MEMORY AND HAGGADAH

    Master of Ceremonies and Children … (Host pours cups of wine or apple cider.)

    Fathers: The SYRIANS pursued our fathers who went down into Egypt and stayed there and grew into a nation great and strong and populous. The Egyptians enslaved and persecuted us, making our lives unbearable. We cried to YAHWEH, and He heard us and looked down upon our labor and distress. And He brouth us out of Egypt with a strong hand and outstretched arms, with great terror, with signs and wonders. Therefore, even if all of us were wise and men of understanding, it would still be our duty from year to year to tell the story of deliverance from Egypt. To dwell on it is praiseworthy.

    Lector: It is well for all of us, whether young or old , to consider how God’s help has been our unfailing stay and support through ages of trial and persecution. Ever since He called our father Abraham from the bondage of idolatry of His service of truth, He has been our guardian. For not in one country alone, nor in one age, have violent men risen up against us, but in every generation and in every land, tyrants have sought to destroy us. And the Holy One, blessed be He, has delivered us from their hands.

    The Torah tells us that when Jacob, our father was a homeless wanderer, he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, with few in number. All the souls of his household were three-score and ten. And Joseph was already in Egypt because he was governor over the land as Pharaoh had commanded. And Israel dwelt in the land of Goshen; and they got their possessions therein and were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly. And Joseph died and all his brethren and all that generation.

    Now there arose over Egypt a new king, one who knew not of Joseph. And he said unto his people: “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are too many and too might for us. Come, let us deal wisely with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us and so leave out country.”

    Therefore, they set over them taskmasters to afflict them with burdens. And they built for Pharaoh the store-cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more the Egyptians afflicted them, the more the Israelites multiplied and the more they spread abroad.

    And the Egyptians dealt ill with us and afflicted us and laid upon us cruel bondage. And we cried unto the Lord, the God of our fathers. And the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction and Egypt with a might hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror and with signs and with wonders. He sent before us Moses and Aaron and Miriam. And He brought forth His people, His chosen ones, with joy and with singing. And He guided them in the wilderness as a shepherd would his flock.

    He commanded us to observe this “Passover” in its season from year to year, that His law shall always remain in our mouths, and that we shall declare His might to our children and His salvation unto all generations.

    (All are invited to drink from their filled cups.)

    ELEMENTS OF THE PASSOVER FEAST

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Master of Ceremonies and Guests: What is the meaning of Pesach? (Lector’s wife picks up the lamb bone and displays it to the guests.)

    Lector: Pesach means the Paschal Lamb which our forefathers sacrificed to the Lord in memory of that night when the Holy One passed over the houses of Egypt. As it is written: “When your children ask you: What is the meaning of this ritual? You sall say to them: The sacrifice of the Passover is in honor of YAHWEH, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, striking the Egyptians, and saving our houses.” (Exodus 12:26-27)

    Master of Ceremonies and Guests: What is the meaning of Matzo? (Lector’s wife lifts up a piece of matzo and displays it to the guests.)

    Lector: This is the bread of affliction which our fathers took with them out of Egypt. As it is written: “They baked cakes with the dough which they had brought from Egypt, which was unleavened, because they had been driven out of Egypt with no time for delay and had not provided themselves with food for the journey.” (Exodus 12:39)

    Master of Ceremonies and Guests: What is the meaning of Moror? (Lector’s wife lifts up the bitter herb, which is actually horseradish, and displays it to the guests.)

    Lector: Moror means bitter herb. We eat Moror to recall that the Egyptians embittered the lives of our fathers, as it is written: “The Egyptians, then, dreaded the Israelites and reduced them to cruel slavery, making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brick and all kinds of field work.” (Exodus 1:13-14)

    Master of Ceremonies and Guests: What is the meaning of the Roasted Egg? (Lector’s wife lifts up the Roasted Egg and displays it to the guests.)

    Lector: The Roasted Egg is a symbol of life everlasting. A festive temple offering.

    Master of Ceremonies and Guests: What is the meaning of Haroses? (Lector’s wife lifts up the Haroses and displays it to the geust.)

    Lector: Haroses represents the mortar Israelites used in making bricks in Egypt.

    Lector and Wife: In every generation, each person ought to regard himself as though he had personally come out of Egypt, as it is written: “On this day you will explain to your son, “This is because of what YAHWEH did for me when I came out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:8)

    PSALM 114
    The Lord’s Wonders at the Exodus

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Lector: When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a foreign nation,

    All: Judah became His sanctuary and Israel His domain.

    Lector: The sea fled at the sight and the Jordan stopped flowing.

    All: Sea, what makes you run away? Jordan, why stop flowing? Why skip like rams, you mountains? Why like lambs, you hills?

    Lector: Tremble, O earth, at the coming of your Master, at the coming of the God of Jacob.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    All: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have created the fruit of the vine.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    THE KOREKH

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Fathers: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have sanctified us by Your commandments and commanded us concerning the eating of unleavened bread.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    All: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have sanctified us by Your commandments and commanded us concerning the eating of bitter herbs and haroses.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    (Sedar (dinner) is now served.)

    SEARCH FOR THE AFIKOMAN

    Master of Ceremonies … (Children search for Alikoman.)

    Fathers: Let us bless the name of the Lord.

    All: May the name of the Lord be blessed from now to eternity.

    Fathers: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You feed the entire world with your goodness, with grace, with loving kindness and with pity. You give bread to all flesh, for your loving kindness endures forever. In your great goodness, food has not been and shall not be lacking for us, for ever and ever. For the sake of your great goodness you are god, who feeds and supports all and does good to all and prepares food for all your creatures.

    All: Blessed are you O Lord, who feeds all your creatures.

    THE CUP OF BLESSING

    Master of Ceremonies … (Host pours cups of wine or apple cider.)

    Priest: We believe it was ata this time that the institution of the Most Precious Blood was made. “This is the Cup of My Blood of the new and everlasting covenant, which will be shed for the forgiveness of sins.”

    (All are invited to drink from their filled cups.)

    PSALM 116
    Thanksgiving to God for Help in Need

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Lector: How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me?

    All: The Cup of Salvation I will take up, calling on the name of the Lord.

    Lector: I will pay what I owe to the Lord in the presence of His whole nation.

    All: Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His faithful ones.

    Lector: O Lord, I am your servant, the son of your handmaid.

    All: To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving in the name of the Lord. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have created the fruit of the vine.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    RECEPTION OF ELIJAH

    Master of Ceremonies … (Elijah knocks on door, which is opened. Elijad’s cup is filled. Elijah arrives.)

    CUP OF FREEDOM AND FINAL BENEDICTION

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Priest: With songs of praise, we have lifted up the cups symbolizing the divine promises of salvation and have called upon the name of God. As we offer Benediction over this fourth cup, let us again lift up our souls to God in faith and in hope. May He who broke Pharaoh’s yoke forever shatter all fetters of oppression and hasten the days when swords shall, at last, be broken and wars ended.

    Soon may He cause the glad tidings of redemption to be heard in all lands, so that mankind, freed from violence and from wrong, and united in an eternal covenant of brotherhood, may celebrate the universal Passover in the name of our God of Freedom.

    In a moment, we will partake of our fourth cup of wine, the Cup of Freedom. It is a reminder of freedom, its hopes, struggles and dreams for so many enslaved nations and individuals. As committed children of God, we are called to witness this precious gift and make it known to all peoples of the earth, those who seek justice, those who lack any rights, and those who fight for freedom.

    All: Praised are You, O Lord our God, King of the Univers. You have created the fruit of the vine.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    (All are invited to drink from their filled cups.)

    Priest: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and have mercy on you. May the Lord life up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

    All: So mote it be! So mote it be! So mote it be!

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Narrator … (Closing)

    Shalom … L’Chaim …

    —

    Addendum: Draft saved at 3:23:18 pm. Last edited by FLYNN on 20111007 at 17:26:27 PM PDT. This was originally a static page, which will have been deleted. It was a Seder dinner held at our local parish hall last year.

    “Let all who are hungry come in and eat.
    Let all who are needy come and make Passover.”

    ~the Haggadah

    Master of Ceremonies … (Introductory narration)

    CANDLE BLESSING

    Master of Ceremonies … (Hostess lights the candles.)

    Mothers: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have sanctified us by your commandments and commanded us to kindle the festival lights.

    Blessed are You, our God, King of the Universe. You have kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this season. May our homes be consecrated by the light of your countenance, shine upon us in blessing and bring us peace.

    All: Amen.

    CUP OF THANKSGIVING – KIDDUSH

    Master of Ceremonies … (Host pours cups of wine or apple cider.)

    All: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have created the fruit of the vine.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Fathers: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have made of one blood all the people of the earth. You have exalted mankind by breathing life into his mind and the love of freedom into his hearts. You have sanctified us so that we might know and say what was holy and not profane, what was freedom and what was slavery.

    Blessed are You, O Lord our God, who with love has allowed us to give ourselves and you solemn days for your festivals and seasons for gladness.

    Blessed are You, O Lord our God, You allowed Israel to imagine this day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the season of our freedom as well, a holy convocation, a memorial of the departure from Egypt.

    Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Who sanctified Israel, all of mankind and all the seasons.

    (All are invited to drink from their filled cups.)

    RAHATZ AND KARPAS

    Master of Ceremonies …

    All: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. YOu created the fruit of the soil.

    Master of Ceremonies … (All are invited to perform RAHATZ (washes) the KARPAS (usually watercress or parsley) by dipping this symbol of spring into salt water, a reminder of the tears of the Israelites shed in Egypt.)

    MATZEE – MATZO

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Fathers: Behold! This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are in want come and celebrate this Passover with us. May it be God’s will to redeem us from all evil and from all servitude. For this year not only we, but all wo/men, are slaves and ALIENS — next year we pray that all wo/men shall be free. This year, wo/men eat as ALIENS in a land not wholly theirs. Next year, we pray all wo/men will celebrate in a world made one and a world made free.

    Priest: It was at this moment that Jesus made perhaps His most incredible statement and still, to this day, unbelieved and unaccepted by many. Instead of the usual words of Blessing over the matzo bread, which the fathers at each table have just prayed Jesus said: “Take this and eat it; this is My [Flesh] Body.”

    CUP OF MEMORY AND HAGGADAH

    Master of Ceremonies and Children … (Host pours cups of wine or apple cider.)

    Fathers: The SYRIANS pursued our fathers who went down into Egypt and stayed there and grew into a nation great and strong and populous. The Egyptians enslaved and persecuted us, making our lives unbearable. We cried to YAHWEH, and He heard us and looked down upon our labor and distress. And He brouth us out of Egypt with a strong hand and outstretched arms, with great terror, with signs and wonders. Therefore, even if all of us were wise and men of understanding, it would still be our duty from year to year to tell the story of deliverance from Egypt. To dwell on it is praiseworthy.

    Lector: It is well for all of us, whether young or old , to consider how God’s help has been our unfailing stay and support through ages of trial and persecution. Ever since He called our father Abraham from the bondage of idolatry of His service of truth, He has been our guardian. For not in one country alone, nor in one age, have violent men risen up against us, but in every generation and in every land, tyrants have sought to destroy us. And the Holy One, blessed be He, has delivered us from their hands.

    The Torah tells us that when Jacob, our father was a homeless wanderer, he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, with few in number. All the souls of his household were three-score and ten. And Joseph was already in Egypt because he was governor over the land as Pharaoh had commanded. And Israel dwelt in the land of Goshen; and they got their possessions therein and were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly. And Joseph died and all his brethren and all that generation.

    Now there arose over Egypt a new king, one who knew not of Joseph. And he said unto his people: “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are too many and too might for us. Come, let us deal wisely with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us and so leave out country.”

    Therefore, they set over them taskmasters to afflict them with burdens. And they built for Pharaoh the store-cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more the Egyptians afflicted them, the more the Israelites multiplied and the more they spread abroad.

    And the Egyptians dealt ill with us and afflicted us and laid upon us cruel bondage. And we cried unto the Lord, the God of our fathers. And the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction and Egypt with a might hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror and with signs and with wonders. He sent before us Moses and Aaron and Miriam. And He brought forth His people, His chosen ones, with joy and with singing. And He guided them in the wilderness as a shepherd would his flock.

    He commanded us to observe this “Passover” in its season from year to year, that His law shall always remain in our mouths, and that we shall declare His might to our children and His salvation unto all generations.

    (All are invited to drink from their filled cups.)

    ELEMENTS OF THE PASSOVER FEAST

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Master of Ceremonies and Guests: What is the meaning of Pesach? (Lector’s wife picks up the lamb bone and displays it to the guests.)

    Lector: Pesach means the Paschal Lamb which our forefathers sacrificed to the Lord in memory of that night when the Holy One passed over the houses of Egypt. As it is written: “When your children ask you: What is the meaning of this ritual? You sall say to them: The sacrifice of the Passover is in honor of YAHWEH, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, striking the Egyptians, and saving our houses.” (Exodus 12:26-27)

    Master of Ceremonies and Guests: What is the meaning of Matzo? (Lector’s wife lifts up a piece of matzo and displays it to the guests.)

    Lector: This is the bread of affliction which our fathers took with them out of Egypt. As it is written: “They baked cakes with the dough which they had brought from Egypt, which was unleavened, because they had been driven out of Egypt with no time for delay and had not provided themselves with food for the journey.” (Exodus 12:39)

    Master of Ceremonies and Guests: What is the meaning of Moror? (Lector’s wife lifts up the bitter herb, which is actually horseradish, and displays it to the guests.)

    Lector: Moror means bitter herb. We eat Moror to recall that the Egyptians embittered the lives of our fathers, as it is written: “The Egyptians, then, dreaded the Israelites and reduced them to cruel slavery, making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brick and all kinds of field work.” (Exodus 1:13-14)

    Master of Ceremonies and Guests: What is the meaning of the Roasted Egg? (Lector’s wife lifts up the Roasted Egg and displays it to the guests.)

    Lector: The Roasted Egg is a symbol of life everlasting. A festive temple offering.

    Master of Ceremonies and Guests: What is the meaning of Haroses? (Lector’s wife lifts up the Haroses and displays it to the geust.)

    Lector: Haroses represents the mortar Israelites used in making bricks in Egypt.

    Lector and Wife: In every generation, each person ought to regard himself as though he had personally come out of Egypt, as it is written: “On this day you will explain to your son, “This is because of what YAHWEH did for me when I came out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:8)

    PSALM 114
    The Lord’s Wonders at the Exodus

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Lector: When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a foreign nation,

    All: Judah became His sanctuary and Israel His domain.

    Lector: The sea fled at the sight and the Jordan stopped flowing.

    All: Sea, what makes you run away? Jordan, why stop flowing? Why skip like rams, you mountains? Why like lambs, you hills?

    Lector: Tremble, O earth, at the coming of your Master, at the coming of the God of Jacob.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    All: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have created the fruit of the vine.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    THE KOREKH

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Fathers: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have sanctified us by Your commandments and commanded us concerning the eating of unleavened bread.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    All: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have sanctified us by Your commandments and commanded us concerning the eating of bitter herbs and haroses.

    Master of Ceremonies …

    (Sedar (dinner) is now served.)

    SEARCH FOR THE AFIKOMAN

    Master of Ceremonies … (Children search for Alikoman.)

    Fathers: Let us bless the name of the Lord.

    All: May the name of the Lord be blessed from now to eternity.

    Fathers: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You feed the entire world with your goodness, with grace, with loving kindness and with pity. You give bread to all flesh, for your loving kindness endures forever. In your great goodness, food has not been and shall not be lacking for us, for ever and ever. For the sake of your great goodness you are god, who feeds and supports all and does good to all and prepares food for all your creatures.

    All: Blessed are you O Lord, who feeds all your creatures.

    THE CUP OF BLESSING

    Master of Ceremonies … (Host pours cups of wine or apple cider.)

    Priest: We believe it was ata this time that the institution of the Most Precious Blood was made. “This is the Cup of My Blood of the new and everlasting covenant, which will be shed for the forgiveness of sins.”

    (All are invited to drink from their filled cups.)

    PSALM 116
    Thanksgiving to God for Help in Need

    Master of Ceremonies …

    Lector: How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me?

    All: The Cup of Salvation I will take up, calling on the name of the Lord.

    Lector: I will pay what I owe to the Lord in the presence of His whole nation.

    All: Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His faithful ones.

    Lector: O Lord, I am your servant, the son of your handmaid.

    All: To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving in the name of the Lord. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe. You have created the fruit of the vine.

  • 20111009-Random Thoughts

    10/09/2011 08:08am: Two days ago at 1:15am, I had a conversation/inner dialogue with God and how I asked Rose at the funeral to please take away my pain. But some amount of pain is needed to prevent the bio-unit from further destruction unnaturally/accidentally. The pain threshold can be controlled by the mind or simply exercise.

    10/08/2011 10:31am: I was sitting at my computer workstation and I saw a skinny blue jay bird sitting atop the persimmon tree of the next door neighbor.

    10/08/2011 10:24am: I was sitting at my computer workstation and I saw twelve gray/white geese fly southbound.

    10/07/2011 16:16pm: When I read the blogger’s dream about his mother being pregnant, this was after the horrible/humorous imagery of Maw, my 200 pound heffer being completely naked at the bottom of the bath tub upstairs after her slip during a shower. Her tummy is so big and round from lifting patients weighing around 150 pounds during her nursing career. My little piglet of creamy skin squirmed around at the bottom of the tub.

    10/07/2011 13:14am: We had finished eating lunch at Carl’s Jr. off Hesperin Blvd. At 01:11pm this afternoon, we bought three milkshakes at $2.99 (chocolate for Maw, vanilla for Paw and strawberry banana for me).

    10/06/2011 08:41am: After that morning’s mass, we were en route to buy donuts and saw a truckload of old car with a sign on the back reading: Cashforjunkcars.net.

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