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Wednesday, May 7th
2025
The Third Week of Easter
·
Acts 8:1-8
·
Psalms 66:1-7
·
John 6:40
·
John 6:35-40
Christians, Christ Jesus is the bread of
life and he tells us who he is throughout his entire, complete, and
full Gospel of spirit and life; moreover, he commissioned Saint
Paul, Apostle to fill up the many more things that he has had to say
unto us. Although, the works are complete and full, for Christ
Jesus tells us all that he heard from God the Heavenly Father and
also gave to us the Holy Spirit, so we may continue in their
testimony, but this testimony is to be understood as being in
accordance only with what Christ Jesus did testify. Now Christians,
as the Holy Spirit led the Apostle Phillip to go down into Samaria,
we realize that he proclaimed Christ Jesus! Yes, what more could
Saint Phillip testify other than, Christ Jesus crucified, died and
rose from the dead; is this not enough for us or do we need our own
catechism…. It is not as if Saint Phillip, Apostle was equipped
with the most excellency of speech as Saint Paul, Apostle was, even though
Saint Paul was determined not to know anything among those to who he
testified other than Christ and him crucified. Saint Paul did not
testify of Christ Jesus with enticing words or eloquence of speech;
rather, he testified with demonstrations of the Spirit and of the
power of the Holy Spirit. Christians, let us acknowledge what is
testified of Saint Phillip, Apostle: many unclean spirits were
crying out in loud voices and these came out, of those individuals
who were possessed by these unclean spirits; as well, many who were
paralyzed and crippled were cured. Moreover, God the Heavenly
Father because of the Lord Christ Jesus and through the Holy Spirit
brought great joy unto the city of Samaria; truly, if you know the
history of Samaria, at that time: there being tremendous joy in the
city is in itself a Herculean task or more pertinent, it was a David
slaying Goliath feat or Samson crushing the Philistines feat. Yet,
these being destructive events, which when these enemies were
defeated brough tremendous joy: yet, let us understand that Saint
Phillip through Christ Jesus’s Gospel of spirit and life and the
Holy Spirit defeated the oppression: this sin of error and the
pining that was manifest in the people; the Holy Spirit crushed the
spirit of evil, this spirit of error, this state of affairs, where
people were dead in their transgression, following this course of
the world, following the prince of power of the air, the spirit that
is now at work in the sons and daughters of disobedience: instead of
following the way, truth and life that the Apostle Phillip brought
unto them because of Christ Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection and
being new creatures in Jesus’s eternal kingdom of light, love,
truth, gospel and the glory that is God the Heavenly Father’s life
of spirit and eternity. Now Christians, we would be remiss if we
did not remember Saint Stephen, disciple of the Lord Christ
Jesus. Now the forming of specific duties came out of the rising,
for the testifying, the preaching of the word: some were like Martha
troubled and careful about many things but others were as Mary,
testifying, preaching the word of spirit and life, that being Christ
Jesus’s gospel of repentance for the remission of sin. Now Saint
Stephen, disciple of the Lord Christ Jesus was full of faith and
power, doing great wonders and signs, miracles among the
people. However, some of the citizens were filled with jealousy,
and envy rose among some people, then they lied about Stephen: for
they could not resist his wisdom and spirit by that he
testified. Now, these jealous men suborned the council of the
Sanhedrin. They accused him, they lied about Saint Stephen, and
when they brought Saint Stephen to testify, Saint Stephen being a
disciple of the Lord Christ Jesus, his face shown like that of an
angel. Now with this, Saint Stephen testified to all that had
happened from Abraham to Moses, but he reminded, these to who he was
testifying and to us, we who have read and heard of his faith: that
the High Priest Lord and Savior Christ Jesus does not dwell in a
temple nor a church made by human hands; as the prophets have
testified; although, Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior is present in
the Eucharist. Jesus is the bread of life! So, at the time of
Saint Stephen, disciple of the Lord Christ Jesus being brought
before the magistrates, and then after this council he was stoned to
death, by those who were jealous and hated God and were in
themselves not able to reconcile their feeling of loathsomeness: for
they knew everything Saint Stephen had testified was the truth, but
their hearts were hardened against the truth, so they had to kill
Saint Stephen, disciple of the Lord Christ Jesus. Then also
in this same period of time, seeking his own glory, Saul of Tarsus,
adjunct-Pharisee, who later did become Saint Paul, Apostle of the
Lord Christ Jesus, but before his conversion was a zealot: zealous
to drag men and women out of their residences and to hand them over
to the magistrate to be imprisoned for believing in the Lord Christ
Jesus: the way, the truth and the life! So, yes, Phillip did
sojourn over and up to Samaria and proclaimed the Gospel of spirit
and life, the Gospel of the Lord Christ Jesus to the Samaritans, and
with one accord they paid attention to what Phillip said: the
possessed who chose to be free of their evil spirits were cleansed;
the crippled who believed were healed; the paralyzed who believed
were healed; remember, Jesus Christ testifies, by your faith you are
healed! So, still, Samara a city that was in darkness saw the
wonderful light of the Lord Christ Jesus through all that Saint
Phillip, Apostle of the Lord Christ Jesus did proclaim and these
things, Saint Phillip accomplished for the glory of God the Heavenly
Father and for his Son the Lord Christ Jesus! Yes, Christians, let
us shout joyfully, to God the Heavenly Father for allowing and for
bringing the reconciliation of repentance, for the forgiveness of
sin.
This great gift
that the sacrificial death of Jesus, the Nazarene, and the
resurrection of the Lord Christ Jesus, his only begotten Son did
bring to all of humankind, that is, to those who believe. Yes,
Christians: with our entire heart, soul, strength and mind let us
remember the testimony of Saint John the Baptist and this same
testimony that Christ Jesus did testify: repent and believe in the
Gospel, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Now Christians, in
the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be
thankful. Amen.
Wednesday, May 14th
2025
Feast
of Saint Matthias, Apostle
·
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
·
Psalms 113:1-8
·
John 15:16
·
John 15:9-17
Christians, what is this life?
Were we the circumstance of something that happened or are we
the results, of the happening, of God the Heavenly Father saying,
“Let there be light and there was and God saw that it was good!”
Truly, Christians, we all must know, that when God the
Heavenly Father spoke the words, let there be light, that also,
these very words are the invisible substance through that God the
Heavenly Father took from himself and Jesus, the Nazarene was made
manifest.
Yes,
Christians, Christ Jesus is the word made flesh!
Now, Jesus testifies that God the Heavenly Father loves him,
and that Jesus loves us also in the same manner: God gave his only
begotten Son, Jesus to be a blood sacrifice for all the sins for
that we humans may ever commit and Jesus, the Christ laid down his
life for us, willingly becoming this sacrifice, Jesus testifies: no
man takes his life from him, but that he laid it down of himself.
Furthermore, he says that he had the power to lay it down,
and to pick it up again; this commandment, Jesus received from God
the Heavenly Father.
Truly, the Risen Savior Jesus Christ said as he prepared to ascend,
from the Apostles and disciples, at their last meeting at the Sea of
Tiberias: that they were to go forth beginning from Jerusalem and in
His name preach repentance for the forgiveness of sin: so indeed,
Jesus Christ is the blood sacrifice that took away the sin of the
world, but for us to be cleansed and forgiven of our sin and
sinfulness, we must repent, which means to turn away from the sin we
are committing and go and sin no more!
As Saint Paul testifies: the name of God is blasphemed when
we say vainly: thou shalt not steal, but then we continue to steal
and are being a thief; the name of God is blasphemed, when we say
vainly: thou shalt not commit adultery, but then commit adultery,
continue in adultery and are an adulterer; again, the name of God is
blasphemed, when we say vainly: thou shalt not commit idolatry, but
then we do!
Truly
Christians, if we continue in our sins and sinfulness but believe,
that is, repent without repenting or repent without turning away
from our sins, then we are blaspheming the name of the Lord Christ
Jesus and our heaping up sins upon sins on ourselves.
Yes, Christians, God the Heavenly Father and His, Son the
Lord Christ Jesus love us.
Still, Jesus the Christ testifies: if you keep my
commandments and this statement is a conditional-qualifier, meaning:
if you do this, then that will happen: so again, Jesus testifies: if
you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love | just as I
have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love!
So, Christians, again, there is a conditional-qualifier and a
directive of how to fulfill this conditional-qualifier: namely, if
we keep Jesus’s commandment as He, Jesus kept his Father’s
commandments, then we will remain in his love; we will remain in his
word.
Yes, Christians,
Christ Jesus also testifies: abide in my word and you will be my
disciples, then you will know the truth and the truth will set you
free.
Now Christians,
when we go to the testimony from Acts, we may notice something that
our forefather’s most likely did notice, when they wrote the
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of these United
States, at that they, the states at that time were numbered,
thirteen: Saint Peter, Apostle testifies that Judas Iscariot’s
replacement must not be a foreign citizen but that he must be from
among those who had been with Jesus and the Apostles from the
beginning.
Clearly
Christians, we can infer many things from this testimony, but it is
blanketed and complete in itself; still, even though Judas was among
them from the beginning, he was a betrayer, and Christ Jesus called
him a devil....
As well, it
was given to the Apostles to elect a replacement for Judas.
Now Christians, in this we must understand that Judas’s place
was made desolate, and no one may dwell in it; yet, even though it
seems not logical, we must understand that the office that Judas
occupied was washed clean and that office was appointed by the Lord
Christ Jesus and that it is Christ Jesus’s office, to whom he
appoints apostleship or to whom he takes apostleship away and that
he appointed Matthias, we understand and in faith believe, through
the Holy Spirit working, hopefully, through the eleven remaining
Apostles that they elected a faithful disciple, of the Gospel of
spirit and life of the Lord Christ Jesus.
We may also look at this office that was instituted by the
Lord Christ Jesus, as being one of the twelve: that this office was
born again, born not of men, not by their will nor by blood but born
by God the Lord Christ Jesus: so the office that was occupied by
Judas was made desolate but it was then made new through rebirth,
and Matthias was elected to serve in this office, one of twelve that
was chosen by the Lord Christ Jesus.
We should not think of this office of Judas as being set
aside, for the office remains desolate, but should think of it as:
the office was made new, into a new office, not from the old, but
the old office does tell of the history of the new office and yes
the office was made into a new existence, a new creature -- so to
speak and this existence of the office is of the share that the
Apostles were given and the office that Judas had is desolate.
Yes, Christians, Saint Peter stood up in the midst of the
brothers and sisters and instructed them to the truth: the way, the
truth and life that was to be: for the Lord Christ Jesus is the Son
of God and God is!
Yes,
Christians, there is another most interesting testimony nestled in
among this address from Saint Peter, and that is: the Apostle Peter
says that the Holy Spirit had spoke beforehand through the mouth of
King David and what God testifies will come to pass.
With foreknowledge we then also understand: that which the
Jewish people believed God the Heavenly Father would do, was nothing
like what God the Heavenly Father actually did: in metaphoric
comparison: if an archer shot his arrow, he would be no Robinhood,
because, Robinhood hits his target, but what the people thought
would come to pass completely missed the mark as to what actually
did come to pass through the Lord Christ Jesus and God the Heavenly
Father!
So, given this
absolute certainty from history, let us then apply to humankind’s
prediction or supposed knowledge of the target that will come to be
through the Revelation of God the Heavenly Father, realizing that if
the Israelites were so incorrect as what was to come to pass, how
incorrect are we as to what will come to pass as the future extends
out into eternity.
Christians, the only thing we can do fairly and truthfully is abide
in Christ Jesus’s teaching of: therefore, take no thought of
tomorrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of
itself!
Sufficient unto
the day is the evil thereof.
Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us
pray and be thankful.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 21st
2025
The Fifth Week of Easter
·
Acts 15:1-6
·
Psalm 122:1-5
·
John 15:4-5
·
John 15:1-8
Christians,
understand that these words that are written, in the Gospels, have
reoccurring structure to them, such as: “Jesus said this!” Then he,
Jesus the Lord God through whom all things were created, things that
are in the heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible: and
that all these things were created by him, and for him! Then Jesus,
the Christ, said this: of all the things of what God the Heavenly
Father gave for him to testify unto humankind! So, Christians, we
then must receive Christ Jesus’s Gospel in belief and faith and then
knowing: Jesus said this to his disciples: that he, the Lord Christ
Jesus is the true vine, and that his Father, God the Heavenly Father
is the vine grower. Christians, let us now transition quickly, to a
topic, of these two invisible meats: one that is seeking God and one
that is not: Jesus testifies that we are not to worry and we know
that worry is an invisible thing and it is not like one of the good
fruits of life; for worry is like a weed, something that comes up on
its own and something that we have to work to get rid of, and this
work of ridding ourselves of the weeds of worry is the laboring,
after the meat which does not perish and that the opposite of worry
is faith. Still, Christians, it is not faith for faith’s sake that
is blessed by the Lord Christ Jesus, but only a faith that is in
accordance with the Lord Christ Jesus’s gospel of spirit and life is
blessed: we are not to be stubborn, stiff-necked but are to be
faithful, in belief of Christ Jesus’s gospel of repentance for the
forgiveness of sin and sinfulness! So, Christians, let us realize
in faith and belief that Jesus is the true vine and that God the
Heavenly Father is the vine grower. Still, what does it mean that
Christ Jesus is the true vine: it means that Jesus, the Christ’s
Gospel is spirit and life! It means, if we have branches in our
lives that are not in accordance with Christ Jesus’s Gospel that we
must admonish ourselves, and repent: cutting this sinful branch out
of our lives through repentance and in the gift that is repentance
and through the strength that is of the grace and truth of Christ
Jesus stop this sinning and go and sin no more. For instance, if we
are stealing, being a thief, we must stop stealing and steal no
more: this than is true repentance. Moreover, if we do not make a
true repentance, disciples of the Lord Christ Jesus are to bind this
sin, and this sin, that was not truly repented will be bound -- not
only to the person on the earth but it will be bound to that person
in heaven and yes, not until a true repentance is made will the
binding be loosed or until judgment comes, when God the Lord Christ
Jesus will judge and God the Heavenly Father will reward each
according to their deeds. Now Christians, as we read this testimony
from the Book of Acts let us realize that Saint Paul, Apostle and
the twelve Apostles are not like any individuals who came after
them, for they are Christ Jesus’s Apostles through whom he testified
the Gospel of spirit and life: it is their testimony that we read
and know as Gospel; whereas, all who have followed are making
conjecture either rightfully or wrongly about what the Apostles have
testified of the Lord Christ Jesus’s way, truth, and
life. Christians, we cannot let prestige or appointment tint our
eyes, but we must look to the Gospel and their teachings, knowing
through these very words, we are warned of false shepherds: those
who do not enter through the door, namely, through the words and
teachings of the Gospel, but there are those who try to climb over
the wall, through the works of the world, which these worldly works
have no place in Christ Jesus’s kingdom! So, Christians, in this
testimony, Saint Paul is talking about something that Christ Jesus
did not abolish, but translated to spirit: for Saint Paul testifies,
that some who are circumcised are not circumcised and some thar are
not circumcised are!
For true circumcision is not of the
flesh, but it is of the spirit!
Accordingly, unless, our hearts are
circumcised in repentance and faith and belief, of the Lord Christ
Jesus’s Gospel of spirit and life, then whether our flesh is or our
flesh is not circumcised, we are not circumcised in true accordance
with God the Heavenly Father and yes, we are only rightfully
circumcised when our hearts are circumcised, that is: if we repent
of our sins and we have faith and belief of the Lord Christ Jesus’s
Gospel of spirit and life. Truly, circumcision or not being
circumcised: neither of these are sin, but were a mark, in the
flesh, of the Covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham
and to those God appointed to be accepted into the covenant! So,
again, whether we are circumcised or not, neither of these are sin;
whereas, adultery, fornication, bestiality, homosexuality, men’s
doing of things of women and the reverse all of these are sin. Now
in the truth of the Gospel all of these listed are sins unto death,
and in our today life, where man’s church has gone away from Christ
Jesus’s Holy and Eternal Church, we look at the truth of the Gospel
as being harsh, saying such things as: that is not the Jesus I know;
then unfaithfully, choose to believe statements made that are
falsely spoken. Still, Saint John, the beloved Apostle of the Lord
Christ Jesus testifies this: If any person sees his brother sin a
sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him
life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I
do not say that he shall pray for it! So, again, we understand that
some sins are unto death and although, all of humankind’s sin can be
forgiven except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit: yet, these sins that
are unto death as witnessed by Saint Paul, Apostle, who testifies:
those who do such things will in no way enter into the kingdom of
heaven. Moreover, Saint John, Apostle testifies in Revelation that
God, the Lord Christ Jesus gave space for a church to repent, but
that it did not. Christians, the Lord Christ Jesus knows our reins
and our hearts, and God the Heavenly Father will give unto every one
of us according to our deeds: to those who have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation. Christians, these deeds that are of good
and are of evil are to be understood as: Sodom and Gomorrah, their
deeds were evil and the deeds that are good are to be understood as:
when King David committed adultery; he repented. Yes, Christians,
circumcision, a Mosaic law is not the way, the truth and the life to
eternals salvation; whereas, the only way to eternal salvation is
through the Lord Christ Jesus, the Son of God the Heavenly Father,
the creator of all things. Still, the Mosaic Law and the Prophets
do witness to the righteousness of God the Heavenly Father that is
now manifest in the spirit. Still, the fact that the law is now
manifest in the spirit places all the burden upon us, we humankind;
for we no longer have an excuse, there is no cloak for our
sins. Yes, Christians, Christ Jesus through his grace and truth
that came into being through: his gospel, his death, and his
resurrection from the dead now gives us the strength to turn away
from sin and go and sin no more! If the purpose of Christ Jesus’s
crucifixion and resurrection was to make sin inclusive, he need not
bothered: for the people of Noah’s time were greatly in their sin
and sinfulness, so too were the Sodomites and the
Gomorrahians. Isaiah testifies, that at the time before the
dispersion, they were like unto the Sodomites and the Gomorrahians,
and it was only through God the Heavenly Father’s mercy that they
were not all destroyed. Truly, sin is of darkness and there is no
darkness in God the Heavenly Father only light. Why even the
heathen of old gave sacrifice for their sins, but their sacrifices
were in a manner that was not pleasing to God the Heavenly Father;
mainly, human sacrifices, immolation of children and other things
that are abhorrent to God. Still, crucifixion, in the time of
Christ Jesus, being the human choice of the day to punish, God the
Heavenly Father allowed his Son the Lord Christ Jesus to be condemn
by man! So now, Christians when we sin and if, we repent of our sin
and sinfulness, God the Heavenly Father does not look at our sin but
looks at the sacrifice that he gave unto us through his Son the Lord
Christ Jesus and as well, looks at our repentance, and if our
repentance is not sincere our sin is bound to us; yet, if our
repentance is sincere, if we turn away from our sin and go and sin
no more then through the grace of the shed blood of Christ Jesus’s
crucifixion, we are forgiven. Now Christians, in the name of the
Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.
Wednesday, May 28th
2025
The Sixth Week of Easter
·
Acts 17:16,22-18:1
·
Psalms 148:1-2 & 11-14
·
John 14:15
·
John 16:12-15
Christians, the Holy Spirit will guide us to
all truth, Christ Jesus is truth: Jesus is the way, the truth and
the life. Yes,
Christians, we must be aware that the Holy Spirit will show us and
guide us -- by the spirit of truth, but also that our consciences
can be tempted by sin and sinfulness.
Moreover, we are to be born of water and spirit.
For unless, we are born again, we cannot see the kingdom of
God and unless, we are born from above, we will in no way enter into
the kingdom of God. Now
Christians, long after the Lord Christ Jesus sent, unto the Apostles
and disciples the Holy spirit: to comfort them, and to bring, to
their remembrance, the things that Jesus Christ had testified unto
them, and to teach them in the spirit of truth of Christ Jesus’s
Gospel of spirit and life, and long after, Saint Paul, Apostle had
returned, from his three years in Arabia -- after Christ Jesus had
blinded him on the road to Damascus -- Saint Paul, Apostle testifies
to the Ephesians: that in times past they walked according to the
course of the world, according to the prince of the power of the
air, the spirit that is now at work in the children of disobedience;
whereas, we all had our conversations in times past in the lust of
the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and
were by nature the children of wrath, even as others were.
Therefore, Christians, let us now do and since, we are to be
one, in the Lord Christ Jesus’s Gospel of spirit and life, be
individuals, who do the discerning between the spirit and the flesh
and also, let us do the testing of all spirits, prove all things;
hold fast to that which is good: because, Christians, we clearly
know that not every spirit is of the spirit of God the Heavenly
Father or of his, Son the Lord Christ Jesus.
Yes, Christians, Christ Jesus is the good Shepherd and his
disciples know his voice and they follow not after the way of the
world. Rather, they have
put to death sin and sinfulness in their flesh but are alive unto
God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yes, Christians, Christ Jesus testifies: that which is born
of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is
spirit. Moreover, Saint
Paul, Apostle testifies: if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk
in the Spirit. Yes,
Christians, the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth, testifies of the
things that are of God the Heavenly Father: his commandments, his
law, statutes, ordinances, decrees and his way and these things that
the prophets have witnessed and these things that are now made known
and manifest in the spirit.
Still at the same time, moments and through many various
ways: temptations, our conscience-thoughts, our sinful desires, and
the deceiving spirit that is now at work, is tempting and deceiving
hearts and minds into believing that their sinful choices of the
flesh are acceptable; yet, Saint Paul, Apostle testifies: Walk in
the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Yet, even in this testimony from Saint Paul, the deceiver is
at work, trying to convince and deceive hearts and minds that
walking and living according to the lust of the flesh is the same as
walking and living according to the spirit of truth.
Yet, again, Jesus, the Messiah testifies what is born of the
flesh is flesh and what is born of the spirit is spirit; therefore,
Christians do not be deceived and remember, Christ Jesus told his
disciples to watch and pray that you do not fall into temptation.
Now Christians, reading next the testimony from the Book of
Acts; let us keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is a gift unto those
who are born from above, by the will of God, and then understand
that Saint Paul, Apostle is testifying and proclaiming unto the
Athenians, to what they, the Athenians called the unknown God.
Now, although, Saint Paul did not testify these following
words firstly, yet they are indeed of the first paramount
importance, Paul testifying: God the Heavenly Father has winked at
and overlooked the times of ignorance, but now the Lord Christ Jesus
demands that all people everywhere repent.
Truly, this is Saint Paul testifying what Christ Jesus did,
also, but not in the exact same words: for Jesus Christ testifies
that now, we have no cloak for our sins that we have no excuses for
our sin and sinfulness.
Yes, Christians, we now have the most wonderful gift of repentance,
which was established because Christ Jesus is a sacrifice for our
sins. Now, instead of
having to prepare a sacrifice: to take to the priest, going through
the ceremony of sacrificing a bull or a dove or lamb of such blood
sacrifice, God the Heavenly Father through the sins of men and women
suffered his Son, the Lord Christ Jesus to be the blood sacrifice
for all of humankind to make atonement, reconciliation for the sins
of humankind and even now, the way we receive or access this
atonement is if we choose: to acknowledge are sin, turn away from
our sinfulness, and go and sin no more: in other words, if we
repent! So yes,
Christians, Saint Paul, Apostle goes through the testimonies of God
the Heavenly Father: God the creator who made the world and all that
is in it: the Lord of both heaven and the earth.
God who does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands!
Nor is God the Heavenly Father served by human hands because
he needs anything! Saint
Paul then testifies that God the Heavenly Father and the Lord Christ
Jesus who sits at the right hand of God that it is, they who give to
everyone life and breath and everything.
Yes, God the Heavenly Father is truth, life, goodness and
eternal and he is of his word as is his Son, the Lord Christ Jesus.
Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us
pray and be thankful.
Amen.
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