The primeval story reaches a cataclysmic climax. Genesis 5:32-6:8 introduces Noah in the midst of a world on the edge of apocalypse. And indeed the language is apocalyptic, straight out of a science-fiction movie. There are "sons of God" who seem to be angelic beings that come down to earth to take earthly women as …
Holy, Holy, Holy
Today I want to focus on the Isaiah reading, though Genesis will not be totally ignored. Isaiah 6:1-12 is the vision in the temple of God's holiness. It is an extraordinary passage. Ezekiel (chapter 1) was granted a vision of the glory of God that is much wilder and phantasmagorical than Isaiah's vision; but there too the voice …
East of Eden, Civilization Begins
Most mythological systems have some version of how crafts originated. Crafts and arts are essential to human identity, and so every attempt at history must account for the rise of human creativity. The Bible is no exception. In today's reading of Genesis 4:16-26 we have precisely that. We read of musicians, "all those who play …
Biblical and theological themes of the Sunday of Orthodoxy
The first in a short series of Bible Study classes used the liturgical texts of the First Sunday of Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy) to illustrate several theological precepts of the Orthodox Church as well as aspects of typology in biblical exegesis and iconography. An audio file of the class is attached, together with a PDF …
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The mark of humanity
Today's reading from Genesis 4:8-15 brings to a tragic conclusion the story of Cain and Abel. Murder is murder, it's a fact of daily life wherever human beings live with other human beings. What is troubling is how the Yahwist, or whoever wrote this part of Genesis, has set it up in a context of religious …
Adam’s Lament
Arvo Pärt is one of the most significant contemporary composers. He is nearly 80 years old now, but his output of extraordinary compositions continues unabated. A few years ago he set to music the opening section of Adam's Lament, by Staretz Silouan. Silouan (1866-1938) was a Russian Orthodox monk on Mount Athos and was declared a saint by …
The Root of Religious Conflict
The daily lectionary of Lent continues with three readings from the Old Testament: Genesis 3:21-4:7; Isaiah 4:2-5:7; Proverbs 3:34-4:22. For the most part I continue to use the Revised Standard Version as my basic English translation of the Bible. Occasionally I use the New Revised Standard Version when I want more inclusive or contemporary language, …
The Language of Seeing
The most remarkable words in today's Gospel reading (John 1:43-51) are these words spoken by Jesus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” In painting this picture, Jesus is alluding to an incident in the book of Genesis (28:10-22) …
Human Freedom Revealed
The mythopoeic genius of the Yahwist writer continues to unfold in today's reading, Genesis 2:20-3:20. The readings from Isaiah 3:1-14 and Proverbs 3:19-34 contain a few gems - "O my people, your leaders mislead you, and confuse the course of your paths" (Isaiah 3:12); "Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come again, tomorrow I will …
A Lower Origin?
After the exalted view of human beings made in the image and likeness of God, today's readings bring us back down to earth - literally: Genesis 2:4-19; Isaiah 2:11-21; Proverbs 3:1-18. Isaiah continues his attack on the haughtiness of men. Isaiah threatens that God will "terrify the earth." Thank you, Lord - I feel like …
Ancient Answers 