The Very Rev. Father and Doctor John Jillions has written recently concerning the interplay of experience and tradition with regards to “LGBTQ+” concerns in the Church (https://publicorthodoxy.org/good-reads/lgbtq-experience-and-orthodox-tradition/). Dominant notes in his paper include what he describes as the “messy process” of discernment, a call that careful thinkers should be prepared for “new possibilities” regarding theContinue reading “Experience, Prophetic Faithfulness, and Orthodoxy”
Author Archives: edithmhumphrey
Light from the Readable Books 24: Maccabean Resistance and Remembrance
1 Maccabees 2, Numbers 25:7-9, Psalm 106: 26-28. The first chapter of 1 Maccabees, which we considered in last episode, set the scene for us, and gave an overall picture of the atrocities suffered by the Jewish people under the oppression of the Seleucid king, Antiochus Epiphanes IV. Chapter two, which we will read inContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 24: Maccabean Resistance and Remembrance”
Light from the Readable Books 23: God’s “Timefulness” and 1 Maccabees
1 Maccabees 1, Hebrews 11:34-35, 1 Cor 10:11, Daniel 9:27 and 11:31. In our survey of the Readable Books, we have considered stories such as Susanna and Judith, poetry such as the Song of the Three, visions such as Mordecai’s dream of the dragons, sayings of wisdom such as those found in Wisdom of SolomonContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 23: God’s “Timefulness” and 1 Maccabees”
Light from the Readable Books 21: The Epistle of Jeremiah and False Gods
The Epistle of Jeremiah (found sometimes as Baruch 6), Mat 6:21; Numbers 21:4-9, 4 Kingdoms/2 Kings 18:4, Jer 2:13, 1 Cor 8 and 10, Philippians 3:18-19, Col 3:5 The Epistle of Jeremiah is an ancient work, written to encourage God’s people in the Dispersion in Babylon (and elsewhere) to remain true to the only realContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 21: The Epistle of Jeremiah and False Gods”
Light from the Readable Books 21: Baruch and the New Name
Baruch 4:9-5:9; Isaiah 60:14; 2 Tim 4:8, Rev 21:1-4, 22-26, Isaiah 61:1-4, 9-10. The prophet Jeremiah, because of the hard judgments that he had to proclaim, and because of his book of Lamentations, became the inspiration for the term “Jeremiad” –a mournful complaint or list of woes. Baruch, his secretary, follows his master’s example forContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 21: Baruch and the New Name”
Meant to be Mediators: The Communion of Saints and God’s World
Public lecture at St. John Baptist Orthodox Church, Tuesday, April 8, 7:00 p.m. (following Vespers at 6:00 p.m.)
Light from the Readable Books 20: Glimpsing Baruch’s Mystery of Wisdom
Baruch 3:9-4:8, Deuteronomy 3:11-14, Romans 10:5-13, 1 Cor 1:30-31. With Baruch 3:9-4:8, we come to the inner mystery of his prophecy. To this point in the book, we have heard of the tragic exile of the bulk of the people of God, of the exiles’ fondness for ravaged Judea and those few who still remainContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 20: Glimpsing Baruch’s Mystery of Wisdom”
Light from the Readable Books 19: Baruch’s Confession
Baruch 2:1-3:8; Dan 9:7-19, Deuteronomy 28:15-69; Deuteronomy 30; Jeremiah 24:1-10; 2 Chronicles 6:12-42. As we saw in the last episode, Baruch is a short but important book, composed of three major parts: the first (1:1-3:8) focusses upon confession, the second (3:9-4:29) commends wisdom to the people in exile, and the last (4:30-5:9) comforts the exilesContinue reading “Light from the Readable Books 19: Baruch’s Confession”
Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 18: Baruch in Babylon
Most of the Readable Books that we have been studying are found in our section of the Old Testament where other “wisdom” books are found—Psalms, Proverbs, Solomon, and so on. Like the tales of Daniel, however, the book of Baruch is found amidst the prophets, because it picks up the narrative from the book ofContinue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 18: Baruch in Babylon”
Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 17: Sirach and the Fathers
Sirach 44-50, Wisdom of Solomon 10, Hebrews 11, 2 Cor 3-4. Sirach is, as we have seen, a “wisdom” book. Because wisdom concerns all of creation, it is encyclopedic, giving instruction and wise words about almost every situation and condition of humanity. In this episode, we will find enrichment in its long hymn of praiseContinue reading “Light From (and Upon) the Readable Books 17: Sirach and the Fathers”
Edith M. Humphrey 