Sword in the Fire

The Bible - the Director's Cut

2012-01-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

This was originally published for the Anglican journal Forward in Christ

The Bible - The Director’s Cut
There are a group of books of the Bible with an image problem. It is as if some budget conscious movie editor kept cutting for the right length and content, leaving the scraps on the cutting room floor. Then along comes the offended director, collecting each scrap together, compiling them for the curious, calling it the “director’s cut” for rabid fans. These extra books are commonly known as the Apocrypha, and while not considered canonical by many Christians they are profitable and should not be ignored.

Many Bibles today do not have these books, and the ones that do have placed them in an appendix between the Testaments. The English Bible Tradition originally contained these books, and from 1549 onwards the lectionary attached to the Book of Common Prayer contained lessons from them. Also, the 1611 King James Bible contained the books, and only later due to Bible demand and publishing costs were the books left in the editor’s office.

Not only do historical events cause us to ignore these books, the name of the books themselves create an air of mysterious, arcane, and forbidden knowledge. They are Apocrypha--the hidden book--the portion of a past swept under the rug. You have to be a bit of a rebel to enter these pages, and what self-respecting well-scrubed Bible believer wants that brand. Not only is Apocrypha an odd label, their other label, Deutero-canonical, is a mouthful and sounds so academic it might require a PhD and the knowledge of multiple ancient near-eastern languages to decipher the contents. The Greeks have coined another term that is more tongue-numbing, anagignoskomena, but the English translation “the readables” sounds much more agreeable, inviting the common Christian to enter these texts with an expectation of profit.

Profit is the stand we should take towards these texts, and we would be in good company. St. Athanasius recommended the reading of these books to catechumens and the newly illumined, for the reading encouraged a life of Christian heroism, a life of virtues in the face of sacrifice. This is my argument and exhortation, beyond the question of canonicity, these books are profitable, profitable because they are practical, they are entertaining, they deepen our reading of the New Testament, and ultimately they reveal Christ.

Practicality can be a dangerous yardstick, and is often an excuse given by those who do not read Scripture. By practical, I mean writing that can be readily applied to life without penetrating layers of interpretation. Much of the New Testament fits this bill and within the Old Testament Proverbs is perfect example. This is not to suggest that the Pentateuch or the Prophets lack application, they don’t, but it takes work on the part of the reader. The Wisdom of Sirach, or Ecclesiaticus, is immensely practical, perhaps more than Proverbs due to its length. Sirach is a collection of classroom notes from a famed Jewish Rabbi in the 2nd Century BC. Like other Wisdom literature, it is the practical application of the Torah into daily life. Much of the text feels contemporary, and the timelessness of its wisdom forces us to re-examine our own behavior. For example, Sirach 2:1-6 teaches:

“My son, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare your soul for temptation. 2 Set your heart aright and constantly endure and make not haste in time of trouble. 3 Cleave to him and depart not away, that you may be increased at your last end. 4 Whatsoever is brought upon you take cheerfully and be patient when you are changed to a low estate. 5 For gold is tried in the fire and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. 6 Believe in him, He will help you; order your way aright and trust in him.”

This is great advice for all who choose to carry the cross of Christ, and a great antidote to the health and wealth materialism infecting the American Christian landscape. This is but a sample, within this book alone there is advice on leadership, marital life, finances, work, friendship, and parenting.

Tobit, another book, but in a different genre, tells the story of a father and son seeking to live out their faith through tremendous strife. Application is not far removed from this story. The father gives constant admonitions and the three integral virtues, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, appear again and again in Tobit’s exhortations and life.

Entertainment was another element of profitability I mentioned, and this may seem strange. Yet engaging stories have the ability to help us transcend ourselves into the lives of others, experiencing their own struggles, and hopefully imbibing their virtue. The stories of the various Maccabean books are such stories. Early Christians embraced these books readily as reading material, because of the examples of faithful self-sacrifice which they were endured at the hands of the Roman state. Reading of old men rising up in faith against oppression, of a widow suffering through the martyrdom of her children, of virtuous believers crying out to God for salvation in the face of certain doom is as compelling as any action-packed bestseller.

Judith, Tobit, and the Maccabees may be page-turners, but they lift the heart to new heights. These men and women face such tribulation yet they rise above it all through faith in God. Their testimony enlivens the heart, forcing us to our knees in confession of our own weakened Christianity, a Christianity that knows little of sacrifice beyond the segments of expendable time we offer most weekends. What is disguised as entertainment has the ability to inspire our life into new territory, and sacrificial living.

As absorbing as many of the books can be, their nearness in chronology to the New Testament helps us understand the world where Jesus lived. The political climate comes into greater clarity after understanding the Maccabean story, a story of a remnant of God’s people throwing off the oppression of the Greek empire, creating for a period of time a restored dynasty, recalling the glory days of King David and Solomon. No doubt these days of glory were highly expected under the Roman yoke as well, and Jesus fit the profile of a man who could rise up and bring down the pagan kingdom for the establishment of a new, and perhaps, eternal, Jewish empire. On His entry into Jerusalem, the people waved palm branches, a symbol of patriotism that came from the Maccabees. The palms expressed victory and freedom, and an expectation of deliverance, but this is lost on us if we have skipped the stories in our study of the Bible.

Thoughts and hopes of resurrection were also commonplace among Jews during the time of the Apocrypha. It was this teaching that helped many Pharisees and commoner embrace the teachings of Jesus, and prepared them for His own Resurrection from the dead, becoming the first fruit of a new humanity, giving hope for all. In the book of 2 Maccabees, an elderly widowed mother watches her sons become martyrs, enduring each death as a stake to her own heart; yet she cries out to them in encouragement and with the hope of resurrection: “Therefore the Creator of the world, who formed man in the beginning and devised the origin of all things, will give both breath and life back to you again in His mercy…Don not fear this executioner, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, that in God’s mercy I may receive you back again with your brothers (2 Mac 7:23,29).”

Much of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount can be found in the Apocrypha, helping us realize that the Jews listening to the words of Christ were familiar with these teachings, the difference was that He appeared as the personification of the tradition of the Wisdom of the Torah. St. Paul and St. James seem to be affected by the Apocrypha as well and within the school of teaching that comes from these books. This should be no surprise to us given Paul’s Pharisaical background, with their belief in the Resurrection that is common to all of the “Readables”.

Understanding the life and times of Jesus and the apostles is important, but the revelation of Christ Himself in these pages is their supreme accomplishment and profit. In the small book of Baruch, there is a prophecy of God becoming man and walking among his people: “This is our God; no other shall be compared to Him. He found the whole way of knowledge and gave it to Jacob…afterwards, He was seen upon the earth and lived among men (Baruch 3:36).” In the middle of 1 Ezra, a contest erupts over the what is greatest upon the earth, emerging from the king’s court is the Jew Zerubbabel, who wins the contest by proclaiming that Truth is supreme. This is not intellectual Truth, but Truth personified, Truth that Zerubbabel identifies with the person of God, for whom we know as the God-man Jesus Christ.

These passages above are more apparent pictures of Christ, but images abound in the characters of these stories: Judith sacrifices herself for her village, her sacrifice allows her to behead the enemy; Tobias enters the bridal chamber that had produced death, defeating a demon, coming forth the next morning to the joy of the bride’s family; Susanna is falsely accused of scandal, condemned to death, only to be resurrected by the wisdom of young Daniel. The types reveal Christ, and the drama of His life, death, and resurrection play out again and again, reminding us that this is a cycle of grace, a play that sanctifies the actors courageous enough to embrace such a role.

Today, book stores dedicate their shelves to inspirational retelling of Christian tales, practical steps designed to apply Biblical teaching, theological tomes designed to deepen our knowledge of Christ, yet this has been done for us in these under-used texts called Apocrypha. When the urge to gather inspiration from the newest Christian biography strikes pick up Tobit; if steps to the successful Christian life is desired delve into Sirach; and when escape into a thrilling adventure is needed curl up with Judith or the Maccabees. Beyond these concerns, our Savior, the Alpha and Omega, the Logos, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world is present on the pages of the Apocrypha proclaimed in prophecy, clarified in proverb, and wrapped in images, like grave clothes ready to burst with resurrected glory.

The Forge 1.25.2012

2012-01-25T09:09:00.001-05:00

The Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) is a great resource, and its blog The Sounding is about to get new life. Melinda Johnson has been given the task of collecting writers from every spectrum of life to contribute, and the reboot will take place on Feb. 1.

Here's a guide to iconography in Lexington, KY.

Did you know that an Orthodox Baptism took place in the house of US President John Quincy Adams? Nicholas Chapman gives the details at OrthodoxHistory.

It's hard to beat this photo, especially if you are Orthodox and a Potter fan:

ht: Byzantine, TX

12 Great Feasts of the Church - Cliff Notes Version

2012-01-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

In the book of Joshua, upon crossing the Jordan and entering the Promised Land, Joshua commands that 12 stones be taken from the Jordan to be set as a memorial of what God accomplished, perpetuating the faith and instructing future generations. The 12 Great Feasts of the Church serve this same purpose, as we celebrate and remember the works of God in the past, present, and the future.

Several years ago, our class went through each feast looking at the Scriptures and hymns that make up these celebrations, and out this study this guide was created. This is a starting point to deepen the celebration of each feast and increase the memory of God in our lives.

1. Sept. 8 Nativity of the Theotokos

Gen 28:10-17; Ezek 43:27-44:4; Prov. 9:1-11; Lk 1:39-49,56;

Phil 2:5-11; Lk 10:38-42;11:27-28

Keys Thoughts: Wheel of Salvation Begins to Turn/ Prepare our Hearts for God

2. Sep. 14 Exaltation of the Cross

Ex. 15:22-27; 16:1-2; Prov. 3:11-18; Is. 60:11-16; John 12:28-36; 1 Cor. 1:18-24; John 19:6-35

Keys Thoughts: The Cross is Foolishness, Wisdom of God, the Power of Salvation, Path of Salvation

3. Nov. 21 Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple

Ex. 40:1-35; 1 Kings. 7:51-8:11; Ezek 43:27-44:4; Heb. 9:1-7; Matins & Lit. Gospel same as Nativity

Keys Thoughts: Mary becomes the Temple/Man is to become the Temple/ Glimpse of Christmas

4. Dec. 25 Nativity of Christ

Micah 5:2-4; Hebrews 1:1-12; Matthew 1:18-25; Baruch 3:36-4:4;

Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 2:1-20; Isaiah 7:10-16; 8:1-4, 8-10;

Hebrews 1:10-2:3; Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 9:6-7; Hebrews 2:11-18;

Matthew 2:13-23; Gal. 4:4-7

Keys Thoughts: Incarnation/ God is With Us/ Sun of Righteousness

5. Jan. 6 Theophany

Isaiah 35:1-10; Acts 13:25-32; Matt. 3:1-11; Isaiah 1:16-20;

Acts 19:1-18; Mk 1:1-8; Isaiah 12:3-6; Rom. 6:3-11; Mk 1:9-15;

Isaiah 49:8-15; Titus 2:11-14; 3.4-7; Mt 3:13-17 ; Genesis 1:1-13;

Exodus 14:15-18, 21-23, 27-29; Exodus 15:22-27, 16:1;

Joshua 3:7, 8, 15-17; 2 (4) Kings 2:6-14; 2 (4) Kings 5:9-14;

Isaiah 1:16-20; Gen 32:1-10; Exodus 2:5-10; Judges 6:36-40;

1 (3) Kings 18:30-39; 2 (4) Kings 2:19-22; Isaiah 49:8-15;

1 Cor. 9:19-27; Luke 3:1-18; 1 Cor. 10:1-4; Mark 1:9-11

Keys Thoughts: Christ’s Mission is Revealed/ Trinity is Revealed/ Baptism opens the door of Salvation/ Creation is Sanctified

6. Feb. 2 Presentation of Christ in the Temple

Exodus 12:15-13:16, Leviticus 12, and Numbers 8; Isaiah 6:1-12;

Isaiah 19:1,3-5,12,16,19-21.Heb. 7:7-17; Luke 2:22-40

Keys Thoughts: Fulfillment of the Law/ Living Sacrifice/ Waiting on God leads to an Encounter with God/ Prophecy of Christ’s Mission

7. Mar. 25 Annunciation of the Theotokos

OT readings same as Nativity of Theotokos Heb. 2:11-18; Luke 1:24-38

Keys Thoughts: Beginning of Salvation/ Hear the Word, Receive the Word, Proclaim the Word.

8. Palm Sunday (Sun before Pascha)

Gen 49:1-2; 8-12; Zeph 3:14-19; Zech 9:9-15; Matt 21:1-17; Phil 4:4-9; John 12:1-18

Keys Thoughts: Behold the King/ Accept the Kingdom/ The King is the Suffering Servant/ Innocence of Praise/ Prefigures the Gentiles/ Tragedy of the Betrayal

9. Ascension (40 days after Pascha)

Is. 2:2-3; Is. 62:10-63:9; Zech 14:1-11; Mk 16:9-20; Acts. 1:1-12; Lk 24:36-53

Keys Thoughts: Promise of the Holy Spirit and Second Coming/ Man’s Nature is Glorified

10. Pentecost (50 days after Pascha)

Num 11:16-17,24-29; Joel 2:23-32; Ezek 36-24-28; Jn. 20:19-23; Acts. 2:1-11; John 7:37-52, 8:12

Keys Thoughts: Promise of the Holy Spirit is Fulfilled/ The Holy Spirit is God; Unites the World; Bestows Wisdom; Empowers Christians; Brings Holiness/ Man should Fear God; Confess Sin/ Praise God/ Seek God.

11. Aug. 6 Transfiguration

Ex. 24:12-18; Ex. 33:11-23; 34:4-8; 1 Kgs 19:3-16; Lk 9:28-36; 2 Pet 1:10-19; Mt 17:1-9

Keys Thoughts: Trinity is Revealed/ Glory of God is Revealed/ Fulfillment of Law & Prophets/ Lord of the Living and the Dead/ Preparation for Crucifixion/ Man’s Destiny is Glory

12. Aug. 15 Dormition of the Theotokos

same as Nativity of the Theotokos readings

Keys Thoughts: The Great Example/ The Hope of Salvation

Where is Easter (Pascha)? It is the Feasts of Feasts, and contains all the above. Each of the 12 flows out of Easter.

The Pearl 4:2 - Let the Pearl Reprove in the Ass's Stead

2012-01-23T05:30:00.000-05:00

St. Ephrem's The Pearl 4:2

Because Balaam was foolish,
A foolish beast, an ass spoke with him,
Because he despised God Who spoke with him.
Thee too let the pearl reprove
In the ass's stead.

The people that had a heart of stone,
By a Stone He set at nought,
For lo, a stone hears words.
Witness its work that has reproved them ;
And you, ye deaf ones,
Let the pearl reprove to-day.

With the swallow and the crow did He put men to shame ;
With the ox, yea with the ass, did He put them to shame ;
Let the pearl reprove now,
O ye birds and things on earth and things below.

Judges: Lefty and the Fat Man

2012-01-20T05:30:00.000-05:00

The sun beat down on his head as he trudged along the rocky path to bring presents to his oppressors. Ehud was chosen from his people to be the tribute-giver, and had somehow gained a measure of trust from the enemy, but he felt like a traitor. Regularly gathering the first-fruits and prime livestock for this back-water Moabite empire that had managed to enslave his people, he loaded his cart and camels with extortion.

Entering the palace, the guards grabbed him, two brutes rifling his sacks, removing them from the pack animals, laughing at his ringlets of hair, hanging down his face in front of his ears, the marks of the devout or patriotic among his people, marks most cut long ago hide their true heritage. Ehud's small tribe had a greater secret to hide than the edges of their hairlines, for this secret forced them to embrace a clumsy existence, marking them as slow and stupid. Most of his people were cursed with the left-hand.

Some, of which Ehud was one, used both hands equally well, and if his wits were about him, this right-handedness made him appear more trustworthy and intelligent among the superstitious Moabs, branding him with the curse of tribute-giver.

Grabbing his ringlet of hair, the guard slung him onto the stairs to begin his march of humiliation. Each step was an effort because of sticks jammed into his calves or rammed in front of his feet. Finally light burst out above him, and the strange mix of incense, spiced foods, and human sweat, turned his stomach, especially the rank sweat. Tripping one last time, he fell at the feet of the laughing despot, Eglon. Years of tribute were taken advantage of, and spread like butter over the body of this behemoth. Looking more like an upright, overfed bull ready for slaughter, than a fearful ruler, his laughter shook the room.

Like most visits, Ehud patted the right side of his tunic indicating a special gift for the glutton. Eglon, fearful of the avarice of his guards, dismissed them and ushered this little peasant into his private chamber.

Once the door shut, he rubbed his hands together, excited for more. Ehud’s left hand reached into his tunic then thrust this offering into the belly of the ruler. Blood drained from Eglon’s face in shock, looking down at his belly as if he were praying to it for salvation, he saw the hilt of a dagger poking forth, held tightly by the fat of his abundance. Each move forced the dagger to tear deeper in his innards, and he saw the offerings made to this god spill forth from his gut along with his life.

Ehud stood motionless before the dead tyrant, knowing he should run, but shocked at the prospect of freedom. With the door still shut, he escaped through a window, leaving behind bewildered guards waiting for their master.

Quickly he ran home, raised an army of deliverance, and this man, cursed with the left-hand, turned that mark of trouble into a weapon of victory.

The Forge 1.18.2012

2012-01-18T05:30:00.000-05:00

This past week Fr. Stephen Damick created a mini-firestorm in response to the viral video "Why I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus" (you may have seen it on FB). His post was a brilliant response. Thank you Fr. Damick. And if you haven't picked up his book Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy, please add it to you must reads.

Fr. Jonathan over at Second Terrace, wrote one of the best pieces on the necessity of the Ever-Virginity of Mary. This can be a hangup for a lot of people, but he does a great job placing it into doctrinal context with all his usual rhetorical prowess.

Here's a snippet:

"When, in fact, the Bible does: Mary is called "blessed," and could not be called so if she were to have relations with another man while the Father of her Son was still alive."

and this

"and if someone were truly virginal like Mary ... then oughtn't I do the same? Am I not beholden to at least try?This terrifying thought is the main reason why the Ever-Virginity of Mary is so opposed. "

Another Climacus Conference is on its way to Louisville in February, and this year the focus is on Byzantium. I don't know how David does it but there is a powerhouse lineup including Kyriacos Makrides and Daniel Larison. Good Work, David!

Ecumenical Councils at a Glance (part 2)

2012-01-17T05:30:00.000-05:00

451 - 4th Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon

Heretics: Eutyches
Heroes: St. Leo (the Great) of Rome.
Decision: Condemned Monophysitism. After examination of the Tome of Leo affirmed it as "the faith of the Fathers." Affirmed completeness of the two natures of the Lord Jesus Christ: divinity and humanity (perfect God and perfect man).
Canons: Affirmed canons of previous three Ecumenical Councils. Reaffirmed New Rome (Constantinople) as second in honour (following Old Rome) of the patriarchates.

Statement: “one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, recognised in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ”

553 - 5th Ecumenical Council at Constantinople

Heretics: Theodore of Mopsuestia, Eutyches, and Origen
Heroes: Emperor (Saint) Justinian (the Great)
Decision: Condemned the person and writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia, who had been Nestorius' teacher and declared the Logos to be a different God than the one called Christ and who taught the Lord Jesus Christ was troubled by desires of human flesh and passions of the human soul. Condemned Origen, Didymus, and Evagrius for teaching the pre-existence of souls, re-incarnation, the ultimate salvation of demons, that heavenly bodies possessed souls, and other errors.

680 - 6th Ecumenical Council at Constantinople

Heretics: Monothelitism, representing Sergius, Pyrrhus, Paul, Peter, Pope Honorius, and Cyrus.
Heroes: St. Maximos the Confessor, St. Martin (Pope of Rome)
Decision: Condemned Monothelitism (a belief that the Lord Jesus Christ had only one will and one energy). Affirmed that the Lord Jesus Christ, though but one person, after His incarnation possessed two natural wills and two natural energies, just as He possessed two natures.

787 - 7th Ecumenical Council at Nicea

Heretics: Emperor Leo IV and Constantine V
Heroes: Empress Irene; St. John of Damascus; St. Germanus
Decision: Condemned Iconoclasm. Affirmed veneration (but not adoration, which was for God alone) of images.
Canons: Decreed that those secretly keeping Jewish customs (e.g. keeping the Sabbath) but pretending to be Christians should live as Jews openly, but be excluded from the Church. Established monastic regulations.
Statement: “Whenever these representations are contemplated, they will cause those who look at them to commemorate and love their prototype. We define also that they should be kissed and that they are an object of veneration and honour [timitiki proskynisis], but not of real worship [latreia], which is reserved for Him Who is the subject of our faith and is proper for the Divine Nature. The veneration accorded to an icon is in effect transmitted to the prototype; he who venerates the icon, venerated in it the reality for which it stands.”

Did you recognize any of these heresies in today's world?

The Pearl 4:1 - Trust not Scrutiny

2012-01-15T06:30:00.000-05:00

St. Ephrem's The Pearl 4:1

The thief gained the faith which gained him,

And brought him up and placed him in paradise.

He saw in the Cross a tree of life;

That was the fruit,

He was the eater in Adam's stead.

The fool, who goes astray,

Grazes the faith, as it were an eye,

By all manner of questions.

The probing of the finger blinds the eye,

And much more doth that prying blind the faith.

For even the diver pries not into his pearl.

In it do all merchants rejoice

Without prying into whence it came ;

Even the king who is crowned therewith

Does not explore it.

Your Own Personal Baal

2012-01-13T05:30:00.000-05:00

In the imagination of their hearts, the sky god Baal looked down with longing upon the earth goddess Ashtoreth, overcome with desire toward her, he took her for himself, and through this union--creation sprang forth.

The peoples of Canaan, for their own safety, security, and the fulfilling of their own desires created a system to explain, control, and placate these elemental forces. Much like we bend nature with technology to satisfy needs and passions, these ancients sought their own religious techniques based upon their own observation of their world.

If Baal was angry, life, weather, and crops would go bad--so he needed something to soothe his restless heart. Sacrifice was required to settle Baal and bring harmony once more. This was not so much as worship as it was manipulation.

Sexuality, fertility rites, and debauchery were acts that prompted Baal and his goddess Ashtoreth to move in favor toward man. And Israel was attracted to this and tempted by it, for not only could passions run amok in this system, it provided control and power over ones life. You had your own god at your disposal to grant wishes and bring gifts upon request, if you knew the right steps and formulas, binding the power of the elements for your own desires.

Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Moses, and Joshua, was not like this--He was wilder and unable to be domesticated into a beast of burden. This is harder stuff. Worship is worship not manipulation. Worship does not satisfy His wrath, it provides union with Him, but will cost you your life. Success, fruitfulness, and goodness may come as by-products of this relationship but they are no guarantees, except one--He is your God and you are His people.

The Forge 1.11.2012

2012-01-11T05:30:00.000-05:00

The Forge 1.11.2012

I shouldn't but I am going to comment on the Tebow furor. First, I am a fan. I would love him on my team. He's got character, he's positive, he's charismatic, and he is a leader. But he tends to be a lightning rod for many in the secular press, and I don't think the press's ire is intended to be directed at Tebow--it's target is the rabid fan. There's a large segment of of American Christianity that feels the need to be validated. To be validated in American society you need the stamp of celebrity, and Tebow fits the bill for many. This is a large burden for anyone including Tebow to bear, but gives a glimpse on how much of secular culture American Christians have imbibed. For another perspective, fellow blogger On Behalf of All has written of Tim Tebow and the Saints

I mentioned before the growing revival that is occurring in Russia since the collapse of Communism. This post and video shows us more Revival In Russia

Occasionally I am asked about resources used for Sunday School preparation, especially in relation to the Fathers of the Church. Here's my secret: http://www.ccel.org/fathers.html It's an online reference to the writings of much of the Fathers and early Christian writings. It's searchable and easy to use.

The other resource I use is Blue Letter Bible. Bible Gateway is another, but I like the variety of Blue Letter, and it is easy to use. I probably should do a post where I pull back the curtain on the tricks of the trade.

Ecumenical Councils at a Glance (part 1)

2012-01-10T05:37:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, during an ambitious catechism program, we tried to squeeze the most essential Christian content into 12 weeks. If nothing else, I was able to develop a couple concise handouts that have been helpful for teaching. The OT Skeleton was one of them, and I have one for the 12 Major Feasts of the Church that I should post.

Below is part one, we sketched out for the 7 Ecumenical Councils.

If you are not a history or theology nerd, the thought of the Church councils can instantly put you into a coma, yet if you are a Christian you can thank these men for preserving the faith you have received today.

Here is something to remember. These were not men huddled in coffee shops arguing over the finer points of theological minutiae, impacting little their lives or their neighbors. These men were not theorists, they were practitioners of the Faith. They embodied the Way of the Cross that was passed on to them since the time of Pentecost.

For them, the decisions at the councils were matters of life and death, and to neglect such matters would destroy man's ability to be saved.

The councils were not about theological reflection but about protecting the way of salvation.

God became man so that man could become like God, and to dilute this truth endanger's redemption.

Every council is ultimately about this statement, and therefore about Christ. Each council defends His humanity and deity. For if He is not fully God, then He has no power to save man. If He is not fully Man, then man is saved only partially, and not saved at all.

325 - 1st Ecumenical Council at Nicea

Heretics: Arius—Jesus was a created by God and not fully God, but a super-human or demi-God.
Heroes: St. Athanasius.
Decision: Established the Symbol of Faith (Nicene Creed).
Canons: Determined formula for determining Pascha (Easter). Condemned mandatory celibacy for all ranks of clergy. Determined prayers on Sundays should be offered standing.

381 - 2nd Ecumenical Council at Constantinople

Heretics: Macedonianism, Apollinarians, Eunomians, Eudoxians, Sabellians, Marcellians, Photinians.
Heroes: St. Gregory the Theologian (aka St. Gregory of Nazianzus) and St. Gregory of Nyssa
Decision: Condemned Arianism. Condemned Macedonianism which denied divinity of the Holy Spirit. Defined the Holy Trinity as one God in Three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each fully God of the same essence. Expanded Symbol of Faith from Nicaea I into what is now commonly labelled the "Nicene Creed" but is more properly known as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. Condemned Apollinarianism which taught the Lord Jesus Christ possessed the divine Logos in place of a human mind and was therefore fully divine, but not fully human. Condemned Eunomians (an extreme form of Arianism), the Eudoxians (semi-Arians), the Sabellians (who taught the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were three modes of manifestation of the one God, denying the distinction of Three Persons), the Marcellians (who taught the Logos was an impersonal divine power that issued from God and entered into a relationship with Jesus to make him the Son of God), and the Photinians (who taught that Jesus was a mere man upon whom the Logos rested).
Canons: Ranked the relative importance of the five patriarchates with Old Rome first and New Rome (Constantinople) second. Established regulations for church discipline, including standing during prayer on Sundays and the days of Pentecost. Established manner in which heretics were to be received into the Church.

431 - 3rd Ecumenical Council at Ephesus

Heretics: Nestorius
Heroes: St. Cyril of Alexandria
Decision: Condemned Nestorianism which taught a separation between the Lord Jesus Christ's divinity and humanity. Affirmed the term Theotokos. Upheld the Christology of Saint Cyril of Alexandria.
Canons: The Symbol of Faith (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed) was affirmed and changes to it were forbidden with punishment of deposition for clerics and excommunication for laity prescribed. Established that the rights of each province should be preserved and inviolate (i.e. bishops from one province have no rights over other provinces).

... to be continued

The Pearl 3:5 - A Most Precious Faith

2012-01-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

St. Ephrem's The Pearl 3:5

Who would give a pearl to the daughter of the poor?
For when it hangs on her, it becomes her not.
Gain without price that faith, all of which becomes all the limbs of men.

But for no gold would a lady exchange her pearl.
It were a great disgrace
If thou shouldst throw thy pearl away into the mire for nought!

In the pearl of time
Let us behold that of eternity;
For it is in the purse, or in the seal, or in the treasury.
Within the gate there are other gates with their locks and keys.
Thy pearl hath the High One sealed up as taking account of all.

Judges - Remember This

2012-01-05T07:35:00.001-05:00

Othniel, the first judge, presents an uneventful story, at least compared with later judges Gideon and Samson, especially considering his backstory in the previous chapters. With family like Caleb, and the support of his wife Achsah, the anticipation of greatness disappears in a whisper. Yet, he is faithful, he delivers, he rescues his people from the bondage of their idolatry.

Othniel may not have an impressive story, but a phrase, stinging with truth, is injected into the account, describing the heart of his people, the book's people, even our people--"they forgot the Lord."

Could anything be a more damning accusation? God has delivered their forbears from the greatest power of the ancient by drowning the king and his army in the same waters that were their way of escape; He rescued them from thirst and starvation by pouring water from rocks and raining bread from heaven; He marched them into their Promised Land, parting waters once again, giving them victory over every adversary under unfavorable odds--"they forgot the Lord."

We could list our own miracles, narrow escapes, deliverances, and victories--yet we forget the Lord. Standing in church before the altar or at home in our prayer corners, the fires of devotion kindle and crackle sending warmth and enthusiasm through the soul. Resolve comes quickly with courage to stand firm under life's pressure.

The badge of holiness is worn proudly but as soon as my back is turned, I am shocked how quickly the glow of that holy hearth fades. I don't dive headlong into waters of apostasy or rush into gross sin, but a fog settles over my soul, dulling the senses of righteousness and within minutes the kids agitate, work frustrates, and thoughts besiege the frail defenses of my heart.
I have forgotten--have forgotten--have fo.....

What do you do to keep from forgetting?

The Forge 1.4.2012

2012-01-04T05:30:00.000-05:00

The Forge 1.4.12

Several years ago, while working on the Orthodox Study Bible project, I met Stephen Holley. Since then he has been ordained a deacon as well as writes and speaks on Marital and Pre-Marital topics. He has finally entered the blogging fray. Here is the link to this new blog: Deacon Stephen Muses, and I have also added it as a link on my blogroll.

I love Ancient Faith Radio. I spend so much time in my, it has become a constant companion. I recently discovered Fr. Thomas Hopko's reflections on the liturgy called Worship in Spirit and Truth, and I am working my way through the series. These are excellent reflections on the Bible and Liturgy.

Here's another book recommendation, The Gospel According to Moses, , by Evangelical author Athol Dickson. This recounts his friendship with a devout Jew, and how this relationship deepened his understanding of the Old Testament, and surprisingly with Jesus. I am not finished with it, but so far so good!

2011 Year in Review

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

2012 is here, and according to some (the Mayans), it may be our last. Just like any apocalyptic, wait for the crazies to start coming out of the woodwork near the 4th quarter of this year.

2011 was the year I resurrected the blog, and committed to be consistent. My book was published, and hopefully it will do well enough for another shot.

Much of what I write is based on what I get to teach in our Adult Sunday School class, but every once in a while I venture off the reservation for reflections, rants, and ramblings.

Thank you to Ad Orientem and St. James Kids for adding me to your blogroll, it brought me more new readers than I could have found on mine own.

Here are the top ten most popular posts for the year:

1. Track 4: Unexpected Victory This keeps showing up near the top and is a surprise every month. Just like number 2 in the list, it is part of the series on the reflection of the 9 Biblical Songs, which I called the soundtrack of the Church.

2. Track 1: Deliverance The first in the Biblical Soundtrack series.

3. To Be a Father Reflections on the responsibilities of those who get to be father, Lord have mercy on us (and our kids).

4. God's Garden: our African Christian Heritage News about Fr. Moses Berry and his mission.

5. Eulogy to an American Hero. This summer my maternal grandfather passed away. He was an inspirational man, and this was a eulogy I wrote.

6. 4 Senses of Scripture. The Church has always read Scripture broader than the common grammatical-historical sense that is popular in conservative Christian circles. This post summarizes the 4 approaches that Christians from the beginning have been using to unite their hearts with God in the pages of the Bible.

7. My Kid's Entertainment Diet. Another paternal post from a father worried about the souls of his kids.

8. The First Post. This one is so old that warrants a re-read and rewrite on my part. Thank goodness none of this permanent.

9. The Tabernacle: Part 1. This is another old one based off Sunday School material several years ago. I just can't get away from the OT, and one of these days, I would love to make this post the basis of the book. I am constantly struck at the presence of Christ in the Liturgical life of ancient Israel, as well as the level of understanding it brings to the New Testament and our own contemporary worship.

10. Best Easter Sermon, Ever! Chrysostom always makes for a great standby! St. John keep praying for us.

Thanks again to all my readers. Please don't be afraid of commenting in the next year.

The Pearl 3:4 - Least Shall Be Great

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

St. Ephrem's The Pearl 3:4

There are in the sea diverse fish of many cubits,
And with all their greatness they are very small;
But by thy littleness the crown is made great,
Like as the Son, by whose littleness Adam was made great.

For the head is thy crown intended:
For the eye thy beauty,
For the ear thy goodliness.

Come up from the sea, thou neighbour to the dry land,
And come and sojourn by the [seat of] hearing.
Let the ear love the word of life as it loveth thee!
In the ear is the word,
And without it is the pearl.

Let it as being warned by thee,
By thee get wisdom, and be warned by the word of truth.
Be thou its mirror:
The beauty of the Word in thine own beauty shall it see:
In thee it shall learn how precious is the Word on High!

The ear is the leaf:
The flesh is the tree,
And thou in the midst of it are a fruit of light,
And to the womb that brings forth Light,
Thou art a type that points.

Thee He used as a parable of that kingdom, O pearl!
As He did the virgins that entered into it, five in number,
Clothed with the light of their lamps!
To thee are those bright ones like, thou that art clad in light!

An Old Testament Skeleton

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Old Testament is a huge book and as a teacher I am constantly looking for tips and tricks to help the layperson sort all these pieces together. It covers 2000+ years of recorded history, and is written by at least 40 different people. Sometimes you need mental pegs to hold all the material. Without a knowledge of the OT, it really makes the New Testament more confusing.

One resource I have used again and again is 10 keys dates to help put everything into context. You can fit everything into this historical framework.

2000 Abraham
1500 Exodus
1000 David/Solomon/Division
720 Israel Falls to Assyria
600 Judah Falls to Babylon
530 Exiles Return
300 Greek Rule
160 Maccabees
60 Roman Rule
4BC Birth of Christ

Granted, most of these dates are rounded off, but it sure makes it easier to remember.

The Forge 12.28.2011

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

If you have any money left over from Christmas, then here's a book suggestion. Fr. Andrew Damick's Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy. It's an excellent summary of the every conceivable variation of Christianity and other world religions in comparison with Orthodoxy. It is well-written and you don't need a seminary education to understand. I would easily recommend this book to any high-school or college student trying to understand their faith.

Have you heard the theory about the date of Christmas? That Christians co-opted a pagan festival for their own purposes. Here's a great article questioning that popular notion: Calculating Christmas

Even if we did adopt a pagan celebration, this article artistically says "So What", and proclaims that "Christmas means that the unconquerable god of the Romans just got conquered. A pagan Roman holiday just got stuffed with more Christianity than a December Turkey stuffed with spiced bread crumbs."

And since we are only a couple days into the feast of Christmas, here's a final article reminding us of when and how long this celebration is: When is Christmas Anyways?

Judges - Living Springs of a Broken Heart

2011-12-27T10:00:00.002-05:00

The first chapters of Judges overlap the ending of Joshua and set the stage for the remainder of the book. The tribe of Judah becomes the new leader to drive out the rest of the Canaanites, and a familiar face from the sons of Judah appears once more. Back in the wilderness, 12 spies were picked to scout out the land, and only two embraced the promise of God and the hope of victory. The rejection of conquest by the majority relegated the people to 40 yrs of wandering, but the two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, became future leaders for the people of Israel.

The last years of Caleb’s life mentioned in Joshua are recounted again in this first chapter. Aged Caleb needs help conquering the last remaining bits of his inheritance, and seeks out a man of bravery with the promise of his daughter’s hand in marriage. The man that steps forward from Caleb’s tribe of Judah is Othniel. Othniel appears a couple chapters later as the first judge mentioned in this new era of Israel, but this story bypasses Othniel’s victory to focus our attention on Caleb’s daughter Achsah.

As expected Othniel conquers the territory, winning the hand of Achsah, a woman who inherited her father’s faith, who demonstrates what a prize she must have been in the eyes of Othniel. Othniel’s portion of land was dry and barren, bereft of water that would produce food for his family, prodding him to ask his new wife Achsah to approach their patriarch Caleb for better lands, but Achsah proves wiser than this. Coming to her father, she asks for a blessing; and like a good father, he promises her the desires of her heart. Rather than asking for place of fertility, she requests the source of fruitfulness, springs of living water, an upper and lower spring flanking the boundaries of their land.

By shining the spotlight on Othniel's new wife Achsah, the author offers a piece of wisdom early in this book. Achsah, riding upon her beast of burden to petition her father for a source of life, is an image of the Christian, reigning over and domesticating the passions of the beastly body, coming to the Father of all to ask for life.

Her request is for springs of water, a consistent image of Baptism, those grace-filled waters of purification, but the Christian who has entered those waters has no need for a second baptism. Or does he?

The Fathers speak of a spiritual act that functions as a second baptism. It is a gift—the gift of tears, and these tears manifest themselves in our lives twofold. One set of tears is that of repentance and contrition, coming from a sense of our failure and sinfulness in the presence of the Holy, fearing for judgment deserved.

Following behind these tears of compunction is the relief at God’s immense love for mankind, the grace of His presence, the release from the slavery to these sins. This sense of joy springs forth from the heart into tears from the eyes. These are tears of love and longing. The lower spring of tears are from fear and failure, but the upper spring of tears are from love and the desire to be united with the Creator.

Even in this image the cycle of Judges appears, tears of sinfulness and slavery supplicate God for His salvation, then turn into joy at His great love for mankind. Achsah provides wisdom in many ways.

May we pray like her for tears to cleanse our heart and unite us with the Father above.

Christ is Born! A Song of the Virgin to her Newborn Child

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hymns on the Nativity of Christ: Hymn 11

St. Ephraim the Syrian

(The Virgin Mother to Her Child.)

I shall not be jealous, my Son, that You are with me, and also with all men. Be God to him that confesses You, and be Lord to him that serves You, and be Brother to him that loves You, that You may gain all!

When You dwelled in me, You also dwelled out of me, and when I brought You forth openly, Your hidden might was not removed from me. You are within me, and You are without me, O You that makes Your Mother amazed.

For [when] I see that outward form of Yours before my eyes, the hidden Form is shadowed forth "in my mind," O holy One. In Your visible form I see Adam, and in Your hidden form I see Your Father, who is joined with You.

Have You then shown me alone Your Beauty in two Forms? Let Bread shadow forth You, and also the mind; dwell also in Bread and in the eaters thereof. In secret, and openly too, may Your Church see You, as well as Your Mother.

He that hates Your Bread is like him that hates Your Body. He that is far off that desires Your Bread, and he that is near that loves Your Image, are alike. In the Bread and in the Body, the first and also the last have seen You.

Yet Your visible Bread is far more precious than Your Body; for Your Body even unbelievers have seen, but they have not seen Your living Bread. They that were far off rejoiced! Their portion utterly scorns that of those that are near.

Lo! Your Image is shadowed forth in the blood of the grapes on the Bread; and it is shadowed forth on the heart with the finger of love, with the colors of faith. Blessed be He that by the Image of His Truth caused the graven images to pass away.

You are not [so] the Son of Man that I should sing unto You a common lullaby; for Your Conception is new, and Your Birth marvellous. Without the Spirit who shall sing to You? A new muttering of prophecy is hot within me.

How shall I call You a stranger to us, Who is from us? Should I call You Son? Should I call You Brother? (Matthew 12:50) Husband should I call You? Lord should I call You, O Child that gave Your Mother a second birth from the waters?

For I am Your sister, of the house of David the father of us Both. Again, I am Your Mother because of Your Conception, and Your Bride am I because of Your sanctification, Your handmaid and Your daughter, from the Blood and Water wherewith You have purchased me and baptised me.

The Son of the Most High came and dwelt in me, and I became His Mother; and as by a second birth I brought Him forth so did He bring me forth by the second birth, because He put His Mother's garments on, she clothed her body with His glory.

Tamar, who was of the house of David, Amnon put to shame; and virginity fell and perished from them both. My pearl is not lost: in Your treasury it is stored, because You have put it on.

The scent of her brother-in-law slunk from Tamar, whose perfume she had stolen. As for Joseph's Bride, not even his breath exhaled from her garments, since she conceived Cinnamon. (Song of Songs 4:14) A wall of fire was Your Conception unto me, O holy Son.

The little flower was faint, because the smell of the Lily (Song of Songs 2:1) of Glory was great. The Treasure-house of spices stood in no need of flower or its smells! Flesh stood aloof because it perceived in the womb a Conception from the Spirit.

The woman ministers before the man, because he is her head. Joseph rose to minister before his Lord, Who was in Mary. The priest ministered before Your ark by reason of Your holiness.

Moses carried the tables of stone which the Lord wrote, and Joseph bare about the pure Tablet in whom the Son of the Creator was dwelling. The tables had ceased, because the world was filled with Your doctrine.

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

ht: Holy Cross OCA

click here for all 19 of Ephrem's hymns on the Nativity

Judges - No King....no God?

2011-12-22T14:35:00.000-05:00

Before reading, here are a couple thoughts about the setup for the book of Judges. Chronology is almost impossible to pin down. Even though each cycle from sin to salvation is given a number of years of oppression then a number of years for peaceful rest, to total all those years generates a calculation that either seems too long or too short for what we know about the time from Moses to King David. It appears that the author is giving us snippets and vignettes from this time, as evidence each tribe gets a representative judge. Then in the middle of the of the list of judges, full attention and space is given to the man Gideon. The structure alone suggests the author is not recounting a linear history, but has a design in place, without Gideon being highlighted as the ideal judge.

The book begins by giving the third-born tribe of Judah a new preeminence, guaranteed by God’s stamp of approval. This has been coming for some time, even in Genesis, we find the older two brothers begin abdicating their leadership responsibilities, until Judah himself, in spite of his failures, failures that may have humiliated him into leadership, takes charge in their encounter with the disguised Joseph. Judah’s tribe takes Joshua’s mantle and leads the people in another military victory, and the first judge we encounter, Othniel, is from this tribe.

Not only does Judah receive pre-eminence, but Benjamin is spotlighted for his failures. Right next to Judah’s early victory, Benjamin fails to subdues it’s inheritance and even loses a major city that was previously won. Then in the last chapters, Benjamin’s failures are placed on display before the entire nation of Israel, bookending Judges with their own disaster. The only positive light Benjamin receives is the judge Ehud who delivers his people from Moabite oppression, but even Ehud follows Judah’s Othniel.

Tradition ascribes the authorship of Judges to the prophet and final judge Samuel. Samuel transitioned the nation from a confederacy of judges to a monarchy, begrudingly anointing the Benjamite Saul as first King, only later to anoint God’s kingly choice in the unexpected David from the tribe of Judah. Samuel in organizing the material of Judges is setting us up for Judah’s ascendance and the failure of Benjamin as a choice to the rule the nation.

By choosing a judge from each tribe, Samuel reminds us that no tribe, no family, no person in Israel escapes the cycle from sin to salvation.

They are all guilty, and their failure will eventually move the nation from the ideal of theocracy to a less than desirable, but effective, monarchy.

As readers, we catch ourselves in the same spot, forgetting God, and doing what is right in our own eyes, because there is no king in our life as well.

The Forge 12.21.2011

2011-12-21T07:01:00.000-05:00

Christmas is right around the corner, and there's plenty of interesting Christmas posts floating around the ether. Mystagogy has as an interesting set of links regarding the phrase "there is no room at the inn". This has become a standard Christmas theme especially in plays, cards, and TV movies, but the meaning may be different than you think.

A good friend and fellow blogger Rick Mansfield posted a Christmas quiz that he used in his Sunday School class. Check it out and see if your Biblical Christmas knowledge is as good as you think it is. Christmas Quiz.

Here's a great Christmas post by a fellow St. Michael blogger, that has some great resources for celebrating Christmas with the kiddos, information about the Nativity Fast, and how to prepare for the coming birth of the King.

Evlogia has been crafting a series of posts on the Jesse Tree that are wonderful to read. The Jesse Tree follows the Old Testament path to the birth of Christ. This is such a brilliant set of post, it would make for a great blog project next year. Bloggers could sign up for one or two of the branches and post their reflection. (hint, hint, Melinda Johnson).

If you own an iPhone, iPad, or Android device, you can now subscribe, read, comment, and follow the blog through Google Currents. Here's the link to get started.

Here's to the Israelite Judges

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

I stumbled onto this great poem by Fr. Lawrence Farley, and because of ongoing Sunday School preparation the book of Judges is almost always on my mind. I hope you enjoy, and make sure to add Fr. Lawrence to your blog reader, and check out his books as well.

Here’s to the Israelite Judges

Here’s to the Israelite judges:

lying facedown and forgotten, buried

in the backpages, doomed to molder, their very names

left unpronounced by all save German scholars

who sit in towers of Teutonic irrelevance,

scribbling unreadable tomes for the anaemic.

They deserved better.

Here’s to the Israelite judges:

not old men who sit heavily on British benches,

white wigs perched ridiculously on bald pates

consulting books, handing out sentences,

but young men, running furiously down foothills,

their hot blood intent on their cold swords,

shouting wildly to the wind about God and death and freedom,

young men whose arms hugged their women hard

and hoisted their children high,

and brandished their swords swiftly

so that their flashing could illumine the pagan darkness.

Here’s to the Israelite judges: freedom fighters all

who died and defied their oppressors, using

an oxgoad and an ass’s jawbone to leave

their vandalizing mark

on Philistine apartheid

and Midianite swastika.

Here’s to the Israelite judges: in our day (when

every man does whatever is right in his own eyes)

may they arise again from the Bible’s backpages, throwing off

their graveclothes of obscurity

and shout to us of freedom and courage and martyr’s blood.

Here’s to them! Even now they are arising,

one after another, from their graves,

putting the dagger of daring in our trembling hands

and a shout of exultation in our too-long-silent throats.

The Pearl 3:3 - The Seed of Grace Bears Fruit

2011-12-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

St. Ephrem's The Pearl 3:3

The Queen of Sheba
Was a sheep that had come into the place of wolves;
The lamp of truth did Solomon give her,
Who also married her when he fell away.

She was enlightened and went away,
But they were dark, as their manner was.

The bright spark which went down home with that blessed [Queen],
Held on its shining amid the darkness,
Till the new Day-spring came.

The bright spark met with this shining,
And illumined the place.

The Revelation of the End of All Things - The Anagogical Sense

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

There is a rumor, that north of this barren place exists a land lush with green rolling hills dotted with flowers, bird, and butterflies, flanked by large piney forests full of wild game and run through with streams and creeks. The source of all this goodness is a river that gathers and spreads its fertile waters throughout the land.

The old ones tell of a time that at the edge of this fertile plateau, the river tumbled off into a waterfall sharing the nourishment of this northern country with our own. Some tyrant full of greed dammed the waters of this generous river, plugging off life from our little plot of earth. Now we hovel in the sides of ditches, onetime creeks fed from above, sheltering ourselves from the elements, looking for a puddle of moisture to slack our constant thirst.

Rushing at us with panicked excitement, a horseman cries out for us to climb out of our trenches and run from these cracked beds. He speaks of an unknown warrior who defeated the tyrant that had spread death into this valley. The victor is to bring us life once more, destroying the dikes that held captive those life-giving falls.

For hours we wait with our families, licking our cracked lips, seeking shade from the heat above and below, then a rumbling fills our ears. Water surges along those old banks bringing the sweetness of the mountains and the hope of new life.

Today there is a land above, where victory is complete, and evil and death has been destroyed, yet we live in its shadows, but any life, and hope, and sweetness we have flows from this kingdom above.

From time to time, the fullness of that ultimate hope and final destination of all things, burst through the veil of this life, and we see where we are to go.

This is the Anagogical sense. Anagogical means to look up and describes the heavenly, the cosmic hope, the ultimate purpose of man. It differs from typology in that the anagogical presents Christ as triumphant ruling and reigning as king. Spiritual realities that transcend earthly existence arise from mundane stories.

It may be difficult to find this sense in every passage we read, but both the type and the moral flow down from the truth it represents. Joshua crossed over Jericho with the children of Israel into the Promised land, signifying the baptism that all the people of God would experience as the first step in the life of faith, also instructing the faithful that he must embrace the death of Christ in order to experience the resurrection.

Yet all this is rooted in the Heavenly Promised Land where Christ reigns as King.

Each week we are reminded that our very life is rooted not only in the Cross, the Grave, the Third-day Resurrection, the Ascension into Heaven, the Sitting at the Right Hand, but all those things which have come to pass for us includes the Second and Glorious Coming.

Our faith flows from the future kingdom, and the anagogical reminds us of this.