Amazing words spoken by Dietrich Bonhoeffer on August 29, 1932 - 90 years ago, but just as pertinent today, as the Russian Orthodox Patriarch and several other Orthodox hierarchs in Russia and elsewhere continue to support and even promote Putin's illegal and criminal war against Ukraine. Note especially his statement: "The church forsakes obedience whenever …
8 Months Later
As I posted earlier tonight I realized that it's almost 8 months since the last time I posted on this blog, whose premium status I did not even renew when it came up for renewal earlier this year. Eight months is a long spell of silence. Except I have not been silent; I have been …
Twenty Years Later
May the peace of Christ guide your thoughts and prayers today, as we remember the attacks of September 11, 2001. As I ponder where we are twenty years later, I find myself going back not to 2001 but to the ancient times when David was king of Israel. He wrote Psalm 8 when he took …
Trinity is not a number
The feast of Epiphany in the western churches celebrates the visit of the Magi to the new-born Jesus. Hence, it is celebrated as the revelation of Jesus to the nations. In the Orthodox Church it’s celebrated as the Baptism of Jesus Christ. Theophany = the revelation of God. The revelation of God as Trinity. Baptism …
Questions about this website
Is there still a need for me to call this website Ancient Answers? What can ancient thoughts possibly offer in answer to the problems of today? My 'ancient answers' have usually come from the Bible or ecclesial/patristic theology and spirituality. But at the same time that I've looked to ancient answers, I've also been drawn …
Life in the time of Coronavirus
The psalms often speak against 'enemies' and often plead for God's protection against these enemies. Our biggest enemy today is the coronavirus pandemic which is threatening lives everywhere. So, replace 'They' in this verse with 'It' and it becomes a plea for protection against the 'enemy' coronavirus. (My Logos/Faithllife software provides me with many illustrated …
The Face of our Humanity
Happy and Blessed Palm Sunday to you who read this. A glorious day, despite the fact that most of us spent it at home, only with our thoughts and memories of Palm Sundays past and perhaps a live streamed Liturgy. No communion in our mouths, but nevertheless the Lord is with us. Joy! Joy is …
A Haiku for Now
this world of dew is yes, a world of dew and yet. . . This haiku by Issa Kobayashi (1763-1828) captures my own moments of sorrow in these days of the coronavirus devastation. I copy it here from the book haiku mind by Patricia Donegan. We know that nothing lasts forever. Not a human life, not the planet we live …
Prayer Words for Today
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. …
New Beginnings
"I believe, help my unbelief!" Those could be our words every day, especially in this time of daily fear and uncertainty. Is today the day that I will begin showing symptoms of the Covid-19 virus? Every day we ask God to help our unbelief, the attacks of fear and uncertainty in our lives. And every …
Ancient Answers 