It is customary to talk about the history of humanity as if there were only one fall from grace, that is, the fall of Adam. While that fall, whatever it was, is significant, Scripture suggests that there were several different instances in human history in which there were other falls from grace, each time leading humanity into a worse position than it was before. Sadly, many try to take these stories as literal history, and in doing so, misunderstand them;... Read more
Music plays an important role in human society. It allows us to express ourselves in ways no other medium can achieve, giving us unique ways to present our hopes, fears, joys, sorrows, to each other. Music, likewise, can stir us up and motivate us, helping us deal with the same pains and sorrows which we express through it. Certainly, good music can help bring joy to the soul, which is why even those who are suffering greatly in life often... Read more
When speaking of the origins of Christian monasticism, most people think about St. Antony the Great, and perhaps, thanks to St. Jerome, St. Paul the Hermit. But there were many other monastic pioneers, many who are unnamed and preceded Antony, and others who were his contemporary, who also helped contribute much to the religious way of life. First among those is St. Pachomius the Great (c. 292 – 348 CE). Monasticism as we tend to think of it has much... Read more
Everything God created, God created good. Existence, being created by God, therefore is good, which is why anyone who partakes of existence also has its good in them. This is one of many reasons why nothing is absolutely evil. Thus, St. Leo the Great preached: Certainly there is no evil substance, nor is there any nature evil in itself. For the good Creator made all things good, and the Creator of all things is one, “who made the heavens and... Read more
While we now take the Nicene Creed, and the other decrees of the Nicene Council, for granted, the council did not possess universal acceptance in its immediate aftermath. It took time before it became accepted and treated as it is treated today, representing the general norm of the Christian faith. Nicea was called by St. Constantine, but he did so through his representative with the Christians, St. Ossius of Cordova. Before the council, Constantine had sent Ossius to Alexandria to... Read more
Christ, in himself, gives us God’s ultimate self- revelation; in and through him, in and through his life, we are pointed to the transcendent divine reality in which not creation not only came to be, but in which it continues to exist. This means, even though there are accidental aspects to them, his actions in history brings with them the transcendent eschaton, for the incarnation has made the eschaton immanent, and through that immanentization, capable of being revealed in it.... Read more
We cannot control the Holy Spirit. “The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit” (Jn. 3:8 RSV). This is why we must be careful when promoting various spiritual techniques, making sure people realize that they are not ways to manipulate and control the Holy Spirit. When engaged properly, they leave us... Read more
Christ’s physical or corporeal presence is the presence which he had when he lived among us in the world, that is, the presence he had with us before his ascension. He had a physical body which people could see and touch, that is, one which was not hidden from them. The sacramental presence is the presence of Jesus in the eucharist. It is the presence of his which lies hidden from the senses. It does not come to us in... Read more
When Jesus met with and healed a man who was blind since birth, Jesus revealed that the man was not blind from something he did, nor from something which his parents did, meaning, he was not being punished for the wrong someone had done: As he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that... Read more
While the church of Christ exists in history as an institution, we must make it clear that the institution is not in itself the that church. Rather, the church of Christ subsists in the institution; the two are intimately connected, which is why, through participation with the institution, we are able to participate in in and find ourselves within the church of Chris. Nonetheless, it is possible for someone to be within the church of Christ without being a part... Read more
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