text:
It may look like an iceberg, but there's nothing cool about it.
Utility company Thames Water says it has discovered what it calls the biggest "fatberg" ever recorded in Britain — a 15-ton blob of congealed fat and baby wipes lodged in a sewer drain.
That's enough "wrongly flushed festering food fat mixed with wet wipes" to fill a double-decker bus such as the famous London Routemaster, the company said.
Thames Water deals with fatbergs all the time, thanks to the widespread use of household oil and food fat. But few reach the mammoth size of the one found under a road in the London suburb of Kingston.
But with 108,000 kilometers (67,000 miles) of sewer pipes to monitor, and fatbergs forming around even a few wipes that catch on to a corner or a wall, Thames Water says it must be constantly vigilant.
This blockage — built up over an estimated six months — was discovered after residents in nearby apartment buildings were unable to flush their toilets.
Examination found that the mound of fat had reduced the 70-centimeter (28-inch) by 48-centimeter (19-inch) sewer to just 5 percent of its normal capacity. It damaged the sewers so badly that it will take six weeks to repair them.
The company said Tuesday it was sharing news of the massive lard lump in hopes that customers will think twice about what they dump down the drain. It also released video footage of the fatberg, filmed by a remote vehicle gliding through the sewer like an underground amusement park ride.
The company says untreated fatbergs cause flooding and backups.
"It's very lucky we caught this one," said Craig Rance, a spokesman for Thames Water.
Mind the fat.


text:
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Correction regarding infant Communion
Rather, the Latin Church encourages priests (and parents) to carefully consider whether perhaps even a young child (below the age of seven) may have a sufficient use of reason to be able to recognize what the Eucharist is and to receive Communion with devotion. If it happens that a young child is able to do so, then he ought to be given Viaticum (when the circumstances of the illness permit).
In every case, the Latin Church maintains the best tradition regarding Communion: The fruitful reception of the Sacrament requires the devotion of the faithful, either present devotion or at least past devotion (in the case of those who are at the point of death and who at that moment lack the use of reason, but who previously had devotion for the sacrament and who are able to receive without danger of vomiting).
The relevant canons from the Code of Canon Law:
Can. 913 §1. The administration of the Most Holy Eucharist to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the body of Christ with faith and devotion.
§2. The Most Holy Eucharist, however, can be administered to children in danger of death if they can distinguish the body of Christ from ordinary food and receive communion reverently.
Can. 914 It is primarily the duty of parents and those who take the place of parents, as well as the duty of pastors, to take care that children who have reached the use of reason are prepared properly and, after they have made sacramental confession, are refreshed with this divine food as soon as possible. It is for the pastor to exercise vigilance so that children who have not attained the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed do not approach holy communion.
9 comments:
- James Joseph said...
I am biting the tongue of my keyboard for within me there is a certain not too strong a word for Canon Law.
I accept Canon Law. Indeed, I accept everything my wonderfully glorious, inviolate Church teaches. But, Canon Law is a tough spouse to love. She gives me gray-hair and drives me to drink. Let me state that I understand her intent whilst rolling my eyes.
On that note, the modern conception of the seminary drives me up the wall, too; a wall with many dents in it from banging my head repeatedly. - April 24, 2012 at 9:19 PM
Dear Father,
There was a couple of weeks ago a very similar criticism in Italy towards a priest who denied the First Communion to a child affected by autism. The priest wanted to verify if the child could receive the Sacraments, but at a general proof he refused the not yet consecrated host. At that point, the priest denied him the First Communion, as he wasn't ready to receive Jesus. The parents accepted the decision, while the parents of other children accused the priest of racism and, obviously, the media supported the latter and were silent on the attitude of the child's parents, taking it for granted that they were also defending their child's "right".
This is just to show how there are (fortunately) good pastors under attack by (unfortunately) bad laypeople who believe the sacraments to be "for free", at the disposal of anybody asking for them. Confirmation and Chrismation are just two minor cases: the problem is that laypeople would also liberalize Holy Orders (to women) and Marriage (to gay people). And this is insane...
Alessandro - April 24, 2012 at 10:58 PM
- Mrs. O'Riordan said...
Have you read the story of "Little Nellie of Holy God" - here is a case where Communion was given, but as you say she was very aware of what Communion was "..when Pope St. Pius X was told about Little Nellie, and how she longed for Jesus in Holy Communion, and how lovingly she received Him, he said, "There! That is the sign for which I have been waiting." - http://www.sspx.ca/EucharisticCrusade/2002April/Nellie_of_Holy_God.htm - Rene
- April 25, 2012 at 3:30 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@Mrs. O'Riordan,
Yes, I am familiar with the inspiring story of Little Nellie! Very good to tell to children preparing for first communion!
But part of what makes her story so interesting is the very fact that it is so unusual for a child so young to be able to receive communion with devotion.
In other words, she is the exception which proves the rule -- if all children could receive communion at such a young age, we wouldn't think anything special of Little Nellie. + - April 25, 2012 at 9:43 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@James Joseph,
I too am not particularly fond of studying Canon Law [note: I love the Law, but I don't like to study it ... I prefer dogmatic theology] ... but, in this case, the Law against infant communion is theologically grounded.
In other words ... look at the dogma and the theology behind the canons. + - April 25, 2012 at 9:46 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
Yes, we must pray for our priests ... that they hold to the truth no matter the cost! + - April 25, 2012 at 9:51 AM
- James Joseph said...
Fr Erlenbush,
I defintely see what you are writing.
Perhaps, it is my dumbfoundedness as to the fact that we live in a world where such things must, despite their obviousness, be actually written down to ensure good order and discipline. - April 25, 2012 at 3:49 PM
Is it possible to explain why the orthodox church gives Holy Communion to little children (babes, infants...)?
Lion - April 26, 2012 at 8:15 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
The Eastern practice stems from the idea that the children are in the state of grace -- so they are certainly pure enough to receive communion.
Further, the practice came from an exaggerated emphasis on the necessity of the Eucharist for salvation (as though an infant who died without communion would not be saved) -- not that this is what the theologians of the East taught, but this is what many priests and people believed. - April 26, 2012 at 4:08 PM
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Entry Deadline Extended for CSNews Category Captains Awards
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- The entry deadline for Convenience Store News' newly relaunched Category Captains awards program has been extended by one week. Nominations will now be accepted through April 8.
The Category Captains awards recognize and honor suppliers for overall excellence in innovative, creative and profit-generating category management platforms. This year's program was redesigned to be more relevant to both convenience store industry retailers and suppliers.
Awards will be presented in 20 categories. Entries will be evaluated on such factors as how the supplier supported customers' needs and built sales in the category overall; what new programs, technologies, business systems, merchandising schemes or promotional tactics were employed; and what their retailer partners think of their category management platform.
Suppliers can nominate themselves using the online entry form. Entries must include an overview synopsis of 800 words or less about their category leadership, a high-resolution company logo and a photo of the products or lines offered.


text: Biography 20/20 - JOHN STOSSEL Award-winning news correspondent John Stossel is co-anchor of ABC News "20/20." Eight to 10 million people watch his program weekly. Often, he ends "20/20" with a TV column called "Give Me a Break," which challenges conventional wisdom. Stossel's prime-time specials on myths, parenting issues, sex and trends in pop culture rate among the top news programs and have earned him uncommon praise: "The most consistently thought-provoking TV reporter of our time," said The Dallas Morning News. The Orlando Sentinel said he "has the gift for entertaining while saying something profound." Stossel takes this reporting expertise and applies it to his weekly newspaper column for Creators Syndicate. Ready to cover topics newspaper readers care about, Stossel pokes fun at the ridiculous and lauds the excellent. Newspaper editors may wonder whether Stossel's incredible TV ratings will translate from TV to print. The answer to that question is a resounding yes: A few years ago, HarperCollins published Stossel's book Give Me a Break, and readers (the same ones who read newspapers) made it a New York Times bestseller for 11 weeks. His second book from Hyperion, Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity, made the list for 13 weeks. Stossel's most recent special, Stupid in America, questioned why, despite the failures of socialism, America has a government-monopoly-run K-12 education. Stossel's first special, Are We Scaring Ourselves to Death?, examined exaggerated fears of things like chemicals and crime. It was followed by The Blame Game, which looked at Americans' tendency to blame their misfortunes on others. In You Can't Say That! he looked at the battle between free speech and censorship. He focused on bogus lawsuits in The Trouble With Lawyers and bogus scientific claims in Junk Science: What You Know That May Not Be So. Stossel has received 19 Emmy Awards and has been honored five times for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club. Among his other awards are the George Polk Award for Outstanding Local Reporting and the George Foster Peabody Award. He is a graduate of Princeton University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.


text:
Screenshot Frontpage, 19 February 2008 | |
Type of site | Online Newspaper |
Available in | English |
Owner | Guardian Media Group |
Created by | The Guardian |
Website | theguardian.com |
Alexa rank | 162 (October 2016)[1] |
Commercial | Yes |
Launched | 1999 |
Current status | Active |
theguardian.com, formerly known as Guardian Unlimited and guardian.co.uk, is a British news and media website owned by the Guardian Media Group. It contains nearly all of the content of the newspapers The Guardian and The Observer, as well as a substantial body of web-only work produced by its own staff, including a rolling news service. As of November 2014, it was the second most popular online newspaper in the UK with over 17 million readers per month; with over 21 million monthly readers, Mail Online was the most popular.[2]
The site is made up of a core news site, plus a network of niche websites covering subjects including media, environment and technology, sport, education and the public sector. theguardian.com is notable for its engagement with readers, including long-running talkboards and, more recently, a network of weblogs. Its seven blogs were joined on March 14, 2006, by a new comment site, Comment is free (see below), named after the famous quote by The Guardian editor, C. P. Scott. Articles (like the talkboards until their sudden closure on 25 February 2011) accept comments without pre-moderation, although posts on Comment is Free are moderated after the event. All now require registration for comments.
The site can be viewed free and without registration, though some services such as leaving comments on articles require users to register. In March 2009, guardian.co.uk launched their API, using the OAuth protocol, and making a wide range of Guardian content available for use by web application developers.[3]
theguardian.com is part of the Guardian Media Group of newspapers, radio stations, and new media including The Guardian daily newspaper, and The Observer Sunday newspaper. All the aforementioned are owned by the Scott Trust, a charitable foundation which aims to ensure the newspaper's editorial independence in perpetuity, maintaining its financial health to ensure it does not become vulnerable to takeover by for-profit media groups, and the serious compromise of editorial independence that this often brings.
guardian.co.uk was launched in 1999, born of the Guardian New Media Lab. Its popularity soared after the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001, largely thanks to the diverse range of viewpoints published in the Guardian newspaper. The website won the Best Newspaper category in the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Webby Awards, beating the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and Variety.[4]
In 2006 guardian.co.uk reported its first profitable year, with income coming mostly from recruitment and display advertising.[5] In May 2007, guardian.co.uk begun an 18-month programme of redesigning and adding features to the entire website, starting with the travel section, then moving through the rest of the site and the front page, finally updating the blogging and community features.[6] On July 30, 2013, the website was moved from guardian.co.uk to theguardian.com as part of increasing investments to grow globally.[7]
Guardian Sport
The Guardian′s sports section is a popular and well-respected web site, providing news, results, match reports and live commentaries from a host of different sports.
theguardian.com/sport has pioneered the online newspaper industry in the United Kingdom with its live coverage of sports, including live text commentaries of 115 Premier League football matches and every FIFA World Cup match. The site also provides some live coverage of the FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League and the occasional La Liga, League Cup and playoff games.
Guardian America
"Guardian America" was an American version of the British news website Guardian Unlimited. The strategy, intended to win more US-based readers, was abandoned in October 2009. Guardianamerica.com now redirects to the website's United States topic page.
Much of the content on Guardian America was taken from Guardian Unlimited and The Guardian, although some content was produced specifically for Guardian America.
Comment is free
Comment is free (shorted to Cif) is a comment and political opinion site within theguardian.com. It contains the comment and opinion pieces from The Guardian and The Observer newspapers, plus contributions from more than 600 other writers. The site is edited by Natalie Hanman;[8] its sub-site devoted to religious affairs, Cif belief, is edited by Andrew Brown. It was launched on March 14, 2006,[9] with Georgina Henry as launch editor. The original technical design and build was by Ben Hammersley, based on the Movable Type blogging platform. Latterly, Cif runs on a bespoke Guardian-made system, using Pluck for the commenting.[10]
The site's name is derived from a sentence in a famous essay written by veteran Guardian editor C. P. Scott: "Comment is free, but facts are sacred."[11]
The site strictly enforces its talk policy by moderating comments after posting.[12] For particularly sensitive topics, comments may be moderated before posting.[13] Moderators may remove posts that violate the "Community Standards" (usually leaving a marker of the removal), but do not edit them.[13][14]
theguardian.com is one of the UK leading online newspapers, becoming the first UK newspaper to attract more than 25 million unique users in a month (October 2008).[15] On 7 July 2005, following the London bombings, 1.3 million unique users visited the site and a total of 7.8 million pages were viewed, at the time a record for guardian.co.uk.[16]
As of August 2010 it was the second-most popular UK newspaper website after Mail Online, getting almost 34.6 million unique users monthly, and 13.7 million unique British users monthly.[17] By May 2011 it reached 2.8m unique visitors per day, and 51.3m per month, behind the MailOnline's 4.4m and 77.3m.[18] As of May 2013, using National Readership Survey and comScore's statistics, it was the most popular UK newspaper website with 8.2m unique visitors per month, ahead of Mail Online with 7.6m unique monthly visitors.[2]
- British Press Awards:[19]
- "Digital Innovation of the Year" (2008, 2009)
- "Digital Journalist of the Year" (Sean Smith, 2008; Dave Hill, 2009)
The awards were created in 2008.[19]
In addition, the 2011 award of "Political Journalist of the Year" to The Guardian's Andrew Sparrow "was significant because it was a recognition of the impact of his general election live blog – a reward for innovation as well as reporting."[20]
In 2009 it was nominated for (but did not win) a Webby Award for "Best Copy/Writing".[21] However, the subsite Cif belief was nominated for, and won, the Webby in the best religion and spirituality site category.
- ↑ "theguardian.com Site Overview". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
- 1 2 "Daily Mail most popular UK newspaper". www.pressgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ↑ "The Guardian Launches Content API". idio. 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ↑ "The Webby Awards". webbyawards.com.
- ↑ "Guardian Unlimited in the black for first time". Press Gazette. 2006-03-31. Archived from the original on May 23, 2009. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
The Guardian's website, guardian.co.uk, made a profit of £1m this year
- ↑ "Guardian Unlimited – the new look explained". Guardian Unlimited news blog. London. 2007-05-10. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
...an 18-month programme to redesign and rebuild every part of GU.
- ↑ "theguardian.com is our new domain, as of today". Inside The Guardian Blog. 30 July 2013.
- ↑ Natalie Hanman, Guardian profile page.
- ↑ http://blogs.pressgazette.co.uk/fleetstreet/2006/03/11/comment-is-free-launches-tuesday/
- ↑ Laura Oliver, "Guardian implements Pluck on Comment Is Free platform", 9 June 2008, Journalism.co.uk
- ↑ "Comment is free, but facts are sacred". the Guardian.
- ↑ Andrew Brown, "A thank you note on moderation", 24 March 2010.
- 1 2 guardian.co.uk, 7 May 2009, Frequently asked questions about community on guardian.co.uk, accessed 28 July 2011.
- ↑ guardian.co.uk, 7 May 2009, Community standards and participation guidelines.
- ↑ Kiss, Jemima (2008-11-20). "ABCe: US election build-up helps UK newspaper sites to record traffic". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
The site recorded 25,976,046 unique users last month, according to the latest officially audited web figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronic.
- ↑ Plunkett, John (2005-07-08). "Record numbers visit Guardian Unlimited". MediaGuardian. London. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
Total unique users: 15,955,312
- ↑ Jemima Kiss. "ABCes: Mail Online presses ahead as rivals see post-World Cup dip". the Guardian.
- ↑ theguardian.com, 23 June 2011. ABCe: Mail Online nears 80 million monthly users
- 1 2 Press Gazette, Roll of Honour at the Wayback Machine (archived August 7, 2011), accessed 27 July 2011,
- ↑ guardian.co.uk, 6 April 2011, Press Awards 2011: let's not forget the winners.
- ↑ "The Webby Awards". webbyawards.com.
External links
- theguardian.com
- theguardian.com blogs
- Comment is Free
- Guardian Zeitgeist shows most popular current articles


text:
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Credit Repair Scams and Choosing A Credit Counselor
Credit Repair Scams & Choosing A Credit Counselor
Don't be taken in by quick fix and other offers that sound too good to be true
With a slowing economy where more people are struggling to keep their heads above water and a credit crunch that makes it harder to qualify for a loan, advertisements for credit repair help may sound enticing. In newspapers, on the radio, TV, and the Internet, the claims are familiar: "Credit problems? No problem!"... "Overhaul your credit in 30 days!"... "Erase bad credit- Guaranteed!"...Create a new credit identity-legally!" The truth is, there are no quick or easy cures for a poor credit history, and you can't buy good credit. Don't be taken in by offers for a miraculous credit repair fix. If you decide to work with a credit counseling agency to help with financial problems, research your options and carefully select a reputable agency that offers personalized services from trained counselors.
Recognizing a credit repair scam
Whether reviewing services, do it yourself guides, even software to start your own work-at-home credit repair business, be wary of companies that promise, for a fee, to clean up and fix your credit report. No one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information on a credit report. Some tell-tale signs that a credit repair offer is up to no good include:
- The offer wants you to pay for credit repair services up-front, before any services are provided. Under the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act and Michigan Credit Services Protection Act, a credit repair company cannot require payment until they have completed the services they have promised.
- The offer says the company can get rid of most or all negative credit information in your credit report, even if the information is accurate and current. A consumer reporting agency can report most accurate negative information for seven years and bankruptcy information for ten years.
- The offer includes a suggestion that you create a "new" credit identity - and then a new credit report - by applying for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security number. It is illegal to lie on a loan or credit application, to misrepresent your Social Security number, and to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses.
- The offer includes advice that you dispute all the information in your credit report, regardless of its accuracy or timeliness. The offer includes guaranteed results. Guaranteeing or stating that the company is able to delete negative credit information (which is not inaccurate or obsolete) is illegal under the Michigan Credit Services Protection Act.
Know Your Rights
If you respond to a credit repair offer, know your rights.
- You have the right to cancel a contract with a credit repair organization for any reason within three business days from the date the contract was signed.
- Before you sign a contract, a credit repair organization must provide you a copy of a one-page document that outlines consumer rights in disputing inaccurate information on their credit report, and rights in dealing with credit repair organizations (entitled Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law).
- Before providing any services, a credit repair organization must provide a written contract that spells out your rights and obligations.
- A credit repair organization cannot charge you until they have completed the promised services.
For More Information and Self-Help Credit Repair
Federal law allows consumers to ask for an investigation of information on their credit report that is disputed as inaccurate or incomplete. There is no charge for this. While some people hire a company to investigate on their behalf, anything a credit repair clinic can do legally, you may be able do for yourself at little or no cost.
- For information on how to order your credit report and what to look for when reviewing it, please refer to the Attorney General's Consumer Alert "Free Credit Reports-What Consumers Should Know."
- For information on how to ask for an investigation of information on your credit report that you dispute, and how to improve your credit worthiness, please see the following Federal Trade Commission publications.
- How to Dispute Credit Report Errors - Explains how to dispute and correct inaccurate information in your credit report, including a sample dispute letter.
- Building a Better Credit Report - Learn how legally improve your credit report, how to deal with debt, how to spot credit-related scams, and more.
Choosing a Credit Counselor
Credit counseling, if done by a reputable organization, can be a lifesaver in helping address financial problems. The right credit counselor can provide personalized advice on managing your money and debts. With the rise in consumer debt, however, disreputable or ineffective credit counseling offers abound and can actually leave you in a worse financial position. Choosing a credit counselor should be done with care.
Credit Agency Cautions:
- Check that the organization will help you manage your finances better through counseling and education. If possible, find an organization that offers in-person counseling.
- Carefully read through any written agreement that a credit counseling organization offers. It should describe in detail the services to be performed; the payment terms for these services, including their total cost; how long it will take to achieve results; any guarantees offered; and the organization's business name and address.
- Beware of high fees or required "voluntary contributions" that, with high monthly service charges, may add to your debt and defeat your efforts to pay your bills.
- Make sure that your creditors are willing to work with the agency you choose. If they are, follow up with those creditors regularly to make sure your debt is being paid off.
- Check with state agencies and your local Better Business Bureau to find out about a specific credit counseling organization's complaint record.
- Avoid offers that arrive "out of the blue" by telephone calls, email, or direct mail, as well as offers that make unrealistic promises that sound too good to be true. Promises to "help you get out debt easily" or settle your debt for "pennies on the dollar" are a red flag.
- Conduct independent research and verify company representations.
Additional Resources for Choosing a Credit Counselor
Federal Trade Commission
Please refer to the following FTC publications:
- Fiscal Fitness: Choosing a Credit Counselor - What to look for and key questions to ask when selecting a credit counselor or Debt Management Plan
- Coping with Debt - Options for dealing with debt; tips on getting back in the black
- For People on Debt Management Plans: A Must-Do List - Warnings and advice for anyone considering a Debt Management Plan
Consumers may also get free information from the Federal Trade Commission by calling, toll-free 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357); TTY: 866-653-4261.
For a list of IRS approved counseling agencies:
Please refer to Department of Justice website where consumers can search by state.
Contact the Attorney General if You Have a Complaint
If you have a consumer complaint, you may contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at:
Consumer Protection DivisionP.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form


text:
When anxious times come, follow Jesus and His practices
1. Watch: your life will be destabilized (Luke 21:5-12; 16-17; 20-26)
2. Then watch: fear and vulnerability to deception creep in (Luke 21:8-9)
3. Remember this: God will provide (Luke 21: 13-15; 18-19)
4. Remember this: Jesus is coming (Luke 21:27-28)
5. Then pray: pray like Jesus (Luke 22:39-46)
6. And watch: courage, clarity, and healing emerge (Luke 22:45-51)
Luke 21:5-22:51New International Version (NIV)
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."
7 "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
8 He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."
10 Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 "But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.
20 "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
29 He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 "Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
The Last Supper
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."
9 "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.
10 He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there."
13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[a] 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!" 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."
35 Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?"
"Nothing," they answered.
36 He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."
38 The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords."
"That's enough!" he replied.
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c]
45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Jesus Arrested
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
49 When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.
- Luke 22:20 Some manuscripts do not have given for you … poured out for you.
- Luke 22:37 Isaiah 53:12
- Luke 22:44 Many early manuscripts do not have verses 43 and 44.