David Bentley Hart
A couple of months ago a reader mentioned David Bentley Hart, an Eastern Orthodox Christian philosopher. I’ve been listening to his lectures online and been quite enjoying them:
Month: April 2015
Friday Frivolity: The Offering
Did the Apostles screw up when they appointed Matthias?
A while ago we were studying Colossians in Bible study. In preparation for this I downloaded sermons and podcasts on this epistle of Paul to aid me in my study. One such MP3 I downloaded was a sermon series by a Protestant pastor in which he said something that rather shocked me.
During his presentation, he spoke for some time about the apostleship of St. Paul. He then spoke about the replacement of Judas following the Resurrection:
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet… In those days Peter stood up…and said, “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled…concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry… So one of the men who have accompanied us…must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
And they put forward two…and they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi′as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles. – Acts 1:12-26
What shocked me was that, after recounting these events from the Acts of the Apostles, the pastor said that the Apostles made a mistake! He claimed that it was not Matthias who should have been selected, but they should have waited until the conversion of Paul! Wait…what?!
Wise Words On Wednesday: Slavery or liberty?
“To yield and give way to our passions is the lowest slavery, even as to rule over them is the only liberty”
– St Justin Martyr
How to make an icon
Have you ever wondered how icons are made?
Music Monday: Christ is risen!
I thought we’d head back to eastern chant for the next few Mondays. Here’s the “Christ is risen!”:
Christ is risen from the dead,
trampling down death by death,
and on those in the tombs bestowing life!
The Pascal Homily
I went to Vigil Mass last night and we were up late afterwards celebrating with the new members of the Church.
As a result, I didn’t get to Byzantine Liturgy this morning, which meant that I missed out on hearing St. John Chrysostom’s Pascal Homily. For those of you that don’t know, in the Byzantine Church, this Fourth Century homily is read by the priest at the Liturgy every Easter Day.
Since I didn’t get to hear it today, I decided to read it myself and put it up here for you all to enjoy. Christos anesti! Alithos anesti!
Pascal Homily (Download)
