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johnnypapa · 2025-12-17T07:47:33-0600

Every so often we must examine our intellectual patterns of thinking with the humility to admit that we can be wrong—and the wisdom to know where firm certainties of truth are found.

The Evidence of Affirmation

Intellectual honesty occasionally requires us to reconsider the foundations of our religious faith—not with Zechariah’s skepticism, but with John’s faith.

www.catholicculture.org

Desk trauma · 2025-12-17T07:44:01-0600

Factotum said:
What say you?

Michie · 2025-12-17T07:42:38-0600

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

JohnC101 · 2025-12-17T07:36:46-0600

JAM2b · 2025-12-17T07:27:51-0600

John Bauer said:
I want to know why there are no streaming services that offer Little House on the Prairie or The Waltons.

They are both on Peacock, frndly, and
Apple TV.

Melissa Gilbert has an online business called The Modern Prairie. She sells things for the kitchen and clothing. She posts videos on Facebook.

com7fy8 · 2025-12-17T07:19:12-0600

Rescued One said:
Being an example to an evil person doesn't change him.

com7fy8 said:
This means what is possible with God.

For example > 1 Peter 1-4. This means how God has this working, using our example. As you say >

Rescued One said:
God does the conforming.

Rescued One said:
Define honor. We don't honor evil.

com7fy8 said:
honor him in order to encourage him to do what is good. Be a good example.

Instead of only hating and dissing the person, honor the person by being respectful and kind to the person. Jesus says to treat others the way you want to be treated, right? Be an example of how to treat people. Have hope for the evil person. Having hope for someone is honoring, but not approving.

Could we say Jesus honored us, by suffering and dying for us? But He did not approve of us the way we have been in sin. But, also, it was an honor, to have Jesus come to us.

And Jesus is our example. God does use the example of Jesus. Among other things, how Jesus was loving on the cross is our example which we are expected to follow >

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:2)

johnnypapa · 2025-12-17T07:06:25-0600

December 17, 2025

Our Morning Offering – 17 December – Let Me Sing the Song of Love By St Thérèse

Our Morning Offering – 17 December – Let Me Sing the Song of Love By St Thérèse

Our Morning Offering – 17 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” Let Me Sing the Song of LoveBy St Thérèse of the Child Jesusand the H…

anastpaul.com

Morning Offering for December 17, 2025

www.morningoffering.com

One Minute Reflection – 17 December – ‘… Speak the word which is transitory and embrace the Word which is everlasting!’

One Minute Reflection – 17 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Ember Wednesday – Ferial Day – Isaias 7:10-15 – Luke 1:26-38 – Scr…

anastpaul.com

Wednesday in Ember Week of Advent propers (EF)

https://maternalheart.org/propers/Advent/Ember%20Wednesday%20of%20Advent/ember_wednesday_advent.pdf

Wednesday of Ember Week commentary & prayer (EF)

Wednesday Mass Edition - Ember Wednesday of Advent - Missa 'Roráte Cœli' - Magnificat Antiphon: "O Sapientia" - December 17th, 2025

Daily Propers of the Usus Antiquior, News Roundups of Catholic Interest, Traditional Latin Mass in Maryland and Environs.

tlm-md.blogspot.com

Advent Embertide

Customs and traditions of Advent Embertide, or Ember Days

www.fisheaters.com

O Antiphons of Advent

O Antiphons of Advent

The “O Antiphons” are prayed for 7 days in preparation for Christmas: December 17–23. For those familiar with the Liturgy of the Hours,

mycatholic.life

Advent Weekday readings & commentary (OF)

Fidelity to God’s Eternal Plan

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - Advent Weekday - Catholic Daily Reflections from My Catholic Life!

catholic-daily-reflections.com

Advent: December 17th O Wisdom (O Sapientia); Ember Wednesday readings & commentary (OF)
Other Commemorations: St. John of Matha, Priest; St. Josep Manyanet y Vives, Priest

December 17, O Wisdom (O Sapientia); Ember Wednesday - December 17, 2025 - Liturgical Calendar

December 17 marks the beginning of the O Antiphons, the seven jewels of our liturgy, dating back to the fourth century, one for each day until Christmas Eve. These antiphons address Christ with seven magnificent Messianic titles, based on the Old Testament prophecies and types of Christ. The

www.catholicculture.org

Daily Gospel

DAILY GOSPEL

ADVENTCAzT 2025: 18 – Ember Wednesday – 3rd Week of Advent – Embers and O and Golden Mass

ADVENTCAzT 2025: 18 – Ember Wednesday – 3rd Week of Advent – Embers and O and Golden Mass | Fr. Z's Blog

wdtprs.com

Saint Olympia of Constantinople Widow and Deaconess

Saint Olympia of Constantinople, Widow and Deaconess

Lives of the Saints for every day - Saint Olympia of Constantinople, Widow and Deaconess

sanctoral.com

St. Olympias

St. Olympias - Catholic Exchange

St. Olympias was born around 361 into a wealthy and noble family in Constantinople. Orphaned at a young age, she inherited great wealth but chose to devote

catholicexchange.com

Saints of the Day

CatholicSaints.Info » Blog Archive » 17 December

O Sapientia (December 17)
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Audio version of Gueranger
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RamiC · 2025-12-17T07:03:32-0600

Dan1988 said:
I just asked the Lord Jesus for a new Ferrari, but He didn't hear me and He didn't give me a nice red Ferrari either.

" You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:14

He will teach, he is here to show Himself to people.

Maria Billingsley · 2025-12-17T06:59:15-0600

Michie said:
Twenty years ago, I wrote my first book with the late Bishop Harry Jackson, Personal Faith: Public Policy. Among the major issues we examined were immigration and health care. And here we are — two decades later — still listening to the same debates. Some issues in Washington are like that proverbial leaking roof: everyone knows it needs fixing, and every storm reminds us of the problem. But instead of grabbing a ladder and repairing it, the buckets just get moved around.

The current storm was created when Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer used the manufactured COVID-19 crisis as cover to spend billions more taxpayer dollars to prop up the failing Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Many predicted this back in 2010, when Nancy Pelosi famously declared, “We have to pass it so we can read it,” as she pushed it through Congress without a single Republican vote. The so-called Affordable Care Act quickly became what many warned it would become — the unaffordable care act.

Democrats doubled down in March 2021 and again in August 2022, passing the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, again without a single Republican vote. The first bill created temporary subsidies to mask the ACA’s structural failures, and the second extended this bailout until December 2025. Not only has the Affordable Care Act proven unaffordable — contrary to President Obama’s promises — it was deliberately crafted to bypass the longstanding bipartisan Hyde Amendment, which kept taxpayers out of the abortion business.

That brings us to the present dilemma for Republicans, who now find themselves the property managers of this leaking roof. They have inherited a failed, government-driven health system that funds abortion and pays for controversial experimental drugs and surgeries used in gender transitions.

Continued below.

Obamacare is collapsing. Republicans should let it

Some issues in Washington are like that proverbial leaking roof everyone knows it needs fixing, and every storm reminds us of the problem

www.christianpost.com

And what about pre- existing conditions? This was a big part of the ACA. People tend to forget this .

AI Generated
Prior to the Affordable Care Act , people with pre-existing conditions faced significant difficulty obtaining individual health insurance, as insurers could legally deny them coverage, charge them substantially higher premiums, or exclude coverage for their specific health issues.

Now let's look at why the the spike in premiums. Republicans caused it......

AI Generated
The ACA's foundational financial stability rested on the Individual Mandate, which was intended to force young and healthy people into the insurance risk pool to subsidize the costs of covering sicker individuals with pre-existing conditions. When the Trump Administration effectively eliminated the Mandate's tax penalty in 2017, this critical financial mechanism was broken. This action, combined with measures like expanding less comprehensive plans, effectively gutted the intended financial basis of the ACA by disproportionately retaining sicker, more expensive enrollees while allowing healthier, lower-cost participants to exit the system, leading directly to higher premiums in the individual market.

Thanks for sharing!

MarkRohfrietsch · 2025-12-17T06:47:44-0600

High Fidelity said:
Good to see you Mark. Hope you're keeping well and have a blessed Christmas

You too!

johnnypapa · 2025-12-17T06:32:21-0600

Day 2 — December 17

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem in piercing cold.

In that hour, vouchsafe I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayers and grant my petitions through the merits of Jesus Christ and of His most blessed Mother. Amen

(Mention your intentions here)

PRAYER

O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory be....

MarkRohfrietsch · 2025-12-17T06:29:50-0600

From and article first published back in 2018 by Rev. Dr. Timothy Teuscher, our Lutheran Church Canada President. Since then, a lot has happened in the world, and yet our National Bishop's message is as relevant now as it was then.

"...in order to put Christ back into Christmas, we need, above all, to put the “Mass” back into Christmas. After all, that is what the word “Christmas” literally means: “the Mass of Christ.”

St Peters Ev. Lutheran, Stratford Ontario, 2024.

Full article can be found here:

From the President - Putting Christ Back Into Christmas - The Canadian Lutheran

By: Timothy Teuscher “Put Christ back into Christmas!” It’s a familiar exhortation we often hear at this time of year—and for good reason. After all, “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas” has become the socially accepted and politically correct form of greeting this time of...

www.canadianlutheran.ca

Blessings and peace to all!!

wing2000 · 2025-12-17T06:25:29-0600

RocksInMyHead said:
Well, we gotta make sure we check all the boxes in the playbook. It's 2003, right?

~~Iraq~~ Venezuela has terrorists and WMDs and they need regime change to remove their mustachioed dictator and bring peace and stability to the region. Oh, and also oil.

....with a bit of 1823 flavor (Monroe Doctrine).

Yusuphhai · 2025-12-17T06:16:51-0600

‌egg tart‌

Yusuphhai · 2025-12-17T06:12:52-0600

tturt · 2025-12-17T05:57:04-0600

Also, you'll want to save tidbits for the interview

HIM · 2025-12-17T05:57:00-0600

Jeesuspelastaa said:
The law of Moses is one whole, and its partial observance is the breaking of the law.

Many people ask what Law is in our hearts.Let's take a look.

Two covenants in the time of Moses, The New and the old. The old was from Sinia and the new was first establish Moab prior to entering into the promised land. according to Deut 29:1

Deut 29:1 These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.

Chapter 30 goes into details about the New Covenant that Jeremiah doesn't. In verses 6-10 it says our Lord our God will circumcise our hearts to Love Him. And That we shall return unto the Lord and obey and do all His commandments. That we are to hearken unto the voice of the Lord To keep His commandments, Statutes contained in the Book of the Law if we turn unto the Lord with all our heart. TAKE NOTE, THE JUDGEMENTS ARE NOT MENTIONED IN VERSE 10.

Deut 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

Deut 30:8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.

Deut 30:10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

And this commandment to hearken unto the voice of the Lord to keep His commandments and statutes contained in the Book of the Law is now far from us or hidden from us. That we say, who shall go into heaven or across the sea to bring it to us. But this Word, to hearken unto the voice of the Lord to keep His commandments and statutes contained in the Book of the Law is very nigh unto us. It is in our hearts and in our mouths to do it.

Deut 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Deut 30:12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deut 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deut 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

This New Covenant is in the present tense not future as in Jeremiah. But because it was only completely fulfilled in the People in that time due to the stiff necks and hard hearts like today it is repeated in Jeremiah 31:31. just in different words. There as you know it says, the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

One can plainly see that it is the Same covenant just in different words and in the future tense.

Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Both these wordings of the New covenant are repeated in the New Testament. The way it is written in Deut 29 and 30 is repeated in Romans 10:6-8. And as you are aware Jeremiah's wording is repeated in Hebrews 10 and 8. Take not of the difference emphasized in bolded print.

Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

The readers of of Romans were both Jew and Gentile. That being said they would have recognized the wording in Romans and went to Deut, 30:10-14 and seen the wording there and would have seen what was meant by the word being in their mouth and hearts through Christ. And in seeing they would have seen that it was the circumcised heart that would hearken unto the voice of the Lord to Keep His commandments and statutes contained in the Book of the Law due to the Love that He has placed there. No judgements mentioned, just a loving heart hearkening unto the voice of the Lord to keep His commandments and statutes contained in the Book of the Law through Him.

Megaduck · 2025-12-17T05:56:35-0600

Unqualified said:
I pray for you to be strong and prep. It’s uncomfortable bt many have already handled it before you and ask for a sedative. I pray you will take it moment by moment and be glad. Put yourself in Gods hands and He will see you through. And laugh. Take joy in this and laugh. A little stressful, please lord overcome in Jesus Name.

Thank you!

Normandt · 2025-12-17T05:41:12-0600

Homily Thursday, December 18 2025

Jeremiah 23:5-8

“As the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of the house of Israel up from the land of the north.”

The living Lord is with every person. Every person can benefit from the Lord’s presence.

Matthew 1:18-24

“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”

Joseph has the attitude of a true disciple. He listens, he discerns, and he realizes that it is truly the Lord who is speaking to him and inviting him to the mission. He accepts, and this is confirmed: “He took Mary home as his wife.”

Biblical texts: NAB-RE

Normand Thomas.

Christsfreeservant · 2025-12-17T05:22:36-0600

“Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:1-4 NASB1995)

This is not a condemnation against all judging, but it is against hypocritical judging. For the Bible teaches that we should not judge unjustly, by human standards, by comparing others to ourselves, in hate, with wrong motives, and/or prejudicially, but we are to judge righteously. So, this is like “the pot calling the kettle black,” i.e. when those who are guilty of certain sins stand in condemnation against others who are guilty of the same exact sins.

[Matthew 7:1-5; John 7:24,51; John 8:15-16; Romans 2:3; Galatians 6:1-5; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 10:12; James 5:19-20; Jude 1:22-23]

And it might not be the exact same sin, technically speaking, but in the same category. For example a heterosexual might condemn someone for being in a homosexual relationship but while that person is engaged in adultery and sexual immorality of a different nature. For that person might be a porn addict, and all that comes along with porn addiction, but while that person will look down upon and condemn a homosexual relationship.

And this is about people who make sin their practice. All sin is wrong, but it is those who practice sin who are condemned by God, i.e. those who deliberately and habitually return to the same sins over again and do not change course. They always return to their vomit without conscience, and without remorse, and without concern for who gets hurt in the process. For their god is their flesh, and feeding the flesh overcomes all else.

“But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:5-11 NASB1995)

And we are talking here about many people who profess faith in Jesus Christ but who are not living holy lives, pleasing to God, in walks of surrender to the will of God in obedience to his commands. But they are still walking in sin, making sin their practice, and not obedience to God. For they are those who are stubborn and unrepentant in heart and mind, many of whom are convinced that their habitual sins will not hinder their eternal life with God.

But Paul, as led by the Holy Spirit, makes it clear here that God is going to render to each person according to his deeds. For those who persevere in doing the good that God requires of us, we will have eternal life with God. But for those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth of God’s word, his gospel, but who obey unrighteousness, instead, they will face the wrath and indignation of God, and they will not have eternal life with God.

For God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” For not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God the Father in heaven (see Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 7:21-23).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Living Water

An Original Work / November 21, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Based off Various Scriptures

My people have forsaken Me,
Their Savior, who died on a tree;
Made idols, and they worshipped them;
So empty, they will ne’er fulfill.

Lord, You are the hope of Your chosen ones.
Those who turn away from You will be shamed;
The Spring of Living Water left behind.

Living Water satisfies.

The thirsty, let them come and drink;
Believe in Jesus as their King;
The gift of Jesus given them,
So they will never thirst again.

Indeed, the Living Water flows within.
It springs up like a fountain cleansing sin.
Eternal life in heaven promised them.

Living Water glorifies.

Oh people, won’t you come to Him?
Obey Him and repent of sin.
Let Jesus come and live within.
Surrender all your life to Him.

My people, won’t you turn your hearts to Me?
Forsake your idols and then you’ll be free.
Won’t you come now to Me on bended knee?

Living Water sanctifies.

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Hypocritical Judging
An Original Work / December 17, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Ophiolite · 2025-12-17T05:21:04-0600

Shemjaza said:
Don't they have a brain with most of the working parts, just smushed into a an unusually small area of the skull?

Precisely. Apparently there are several variants, which in the most extreme cases prevent anything approaching normal mental life. However, in most cases the brain stem can take care of basic functions and the plasticity of the (compressed) cortex material allows a degree of adaptation. Scans presented out of context create a false impression of the amount of brain material present. This is done either through incompetence of the commentators, or deliberate lies for sensationalist purposes.

SabbathBlessings · 2025-12-17T04:38:49-0600

truthuprootsevil said:
Encyclopedia Britannica says "the details of the development of that custom are NOT CLEAR." ODD how you leave that out! That means those who gathered this information for botanica don't know when Christians began to worship on a Sunday, information differs, as it does today.

The Bible is clear Paul worshiped on the seventh day Sabbath as was his custom
Acts 17:2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, Acts 17:2 - Paul Preaches at Thessalonica

In Antioch Paul was in the synagogue and went to the synagogue on the seventh day Sabbath versus 42-43
Acts 13-14 NIV - Now in the church at Antioch there were - Bible Gateway Bible Gateway passage: Acts 13-14 - New International Version

Paul Hill meetings with the women on the 7th Day Sabbath Acts16:13
ACTS 16:13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river... ACTS 16:13 KJV And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we...

He reasoned with the Jews every seventh day Sabbath
Acts 18:4 KJV - And he reasoned in the synagogue every - Bible Gateway Bible Gateway passage: Acts 18:4 - King James Version

Then there are those who will say Paul went to the synagogue on the Sabbath because he was preaching to the Jews. The "majority" of his preaching and teachings was to the Jews. He was being persecuted by Rome, and those countries where the Jews were that Paul preached to at that time was under the government of Rome.

No one else has complained. So I tell you what stay away from any links I post.

Okay, you've had yours say and I've had mine. As indicated in scripture by Paul don't argue over words so what you believe is your belief and what I believe is mine. To continue his repetitiously pointless.

Thank you

Amen!

The Gentiles also kept every Sabbath Acts 13:42 Acts 13:44 Acts 18:4 just as God said- His house of prayer will be for all nations -everyone who keeps the Sabbath and joins themselves to Him Isa56:6-7

Yes, there is no record of God's Sabbath and holy day being changed from Scripture- not by any of His apostles as if the servant could change the Masters "the holy day of the Lord " Isa58:13 after Jesus ratified His covenant at the Cross. The change was predicted and it wasn't coming from God. Dan 7:25 No wonder why He is calling us out of our false teachings, Rom18:4 before its too late Rev22:11. Jesus is coming soon! Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

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