The Evangeliad (16:7-10)

(Click here for an introduction and previous installments of the Evangeliad)

Section 16:7-10 (corresponding to Matt. 12:43-45; Luke 11:24-26)

You asked for a sign, while I've been here healing,

And if you all, my healing receiving,

Choose not to repent, it will be like

A man delivered of a demon inside--

Yet after that demon, expelled, goes forth,

And finding no rest wherever it roams,

It returns to that man, its former home,

And finds the place clean, but empty, alone;

Out it will go, call seven spirits more,

Worse than itself, then return to that home,

And so that man will be worse in the end--

So too shall be this generation!

Photo of the Week

I waited patient for the Lord; He bow'd to hear my cry;

He saw me resting on his word, and brought salvation nigh.

When I’m afflicted, poor and low, and light and peace depart,

My God beholds my heavy woe, and bears me on his heart.

- Isaac Watts

Quote of the Week

"All men come from noble origin... If you consider your beginning, and God your Maker, no one is base unless he deserts his birthright and makes himself a slave to vice."

- Boethius, early medieval Christian philosopher

A Two-Week Break from Blogging

As I usually do around this time of year, I'm taking a quick little summer break. Normal posts will resume on Monday, July 6.

Saturday Synaxis

Vouchsafe to us, though unworthy,

A plenteous outpouring of Thy Spirit

To refresh Thy heritage;

For Thy Kingdom is now at hand,

And Thou art standing at the door.

Hear us, we beseech Thee, O Lord.

Amen.

- John Milton

Hymn of the Week: We Will Follow the Way

This week's song has the rare distinction of having me both as lyricist and composer (and, unlike my previous forays into musical composition, this one might not be all that bad). The verses are metered according to standard hymn settings (8.6.8.6), but the chorus is a bit more modern-worship in its style. It was inspired by the original name for Christianity, as found in the book of Acts: "the Way." I hope you like it!

We Will Follow the Way

Our Lord has taught us how to walk
According to his way;
To live as children of the light,
In holiness and grace.

     (Chorus):
     (So/Yes) We will follow the Way!
     We will follow the Way he gave us;
     We will follow the Way of our Savior forever!
                    (x2)

We are the servants of the King;
We love to do his will;
To follow where he beckons us,
And all his words fulfill.

     (Chorus)

Though all the earth would turn our hearts,
To lead our steps astray,
We'll never cease to walk along
Our Savior's narrow way.

     (Chorus)

When trials rise to threaten us,
When storms around us blow,
We'll stand in strength in Jesus' name,
And never lose our hope.

     (Chorus)

When worlds crumble to the dust
Upon the final day,
We'll not regret we lived to walk
Along our Master's way.

     (Chorus)

Matthew Burden · We Will Follow the Way

Heroes of the Faith: Bernard of Clairvaux

(Click here for an introduction and other installments of this series)

Lecture Audio: Bernard of Clairvaux

(click here to listen or download)

We love [God] because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  – 1 John 4:19-20

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is more delightful than wine.  – Song of Solomon 1:2

Bernard of Clairvaux: Basic Facts

- Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was one of the leading lights of the High Middle Ages, a monastic reformer, preacher, and writer whose influence shaped the course of European history and who remains one of the most-read Christian thinkers to this day.

- Bernard was extremely active for a medieval monk, entering public debates about monastic rules and the academic pursuit of theology. He was also a leading voice against several new heresies and in the culmination of the Second Crusade (in which he spoke out both as a recruiter and as an advocate against anti-Semitic violence), as well as being a supporter and mentor of several popes.

- Bernard’s writings are centered on the personal experience of the love of God. His most famous works are the classic treatise, On Loving God, and a series of sermons on the Song of Solomon.

Timeline of Bernard's Life and Ministry:

1113 – As a young man of 23 from a noble French family, Bernard decided to join the newly-founded order of Cistercian monks. The Cistercians were a reform movement within monasticism, trying to bring its monks back in line with the ideals of the original founder, Benedict (6th century AD). Bernard joined the abbey of Citeaux, and managed to convince 30 others from among his friends and family to become monks along with him. 

1115 – Bernard was such an exemplary monk that after less than three years at Citeaux, he became the abbot and founder of a new abbey at Clairvaux. (During his career as abbot, he would become the leading voice of the Cistercian order, and would personally found over 70 new monasteries and promote the founding of another 100.)

1120s – Bernard writes many of his most famous treatises, including The Steps of Humility and Pride and On Loving God.

1127 – Bernard writes On the Duties and Conduct of Bishops, launching him into a debate about the appropriate behavior of clergy in an era when many bishops had become greedy landlords.

1128 – A new semi-monastic order, the Knights Templar, is established, with a mission of protecting pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. Bernard is intimately involved in the founding of this new order and becomes an outspoken proponent of its aims.

1130-1138 – After Pope Honorius II dies, an eight-year schism ensues between rival new popes. Bernard weighs into this fight in support of Innocent II, and is instrumental in securing his victory.

1139 – Bernard joins a debate against Abelard, who advocates a radical new approach to doing theology—making it the purview of academics rather than priests, and opening it to a new spirit of questioning. Bernard’s side wins (for the time being) and Abelard is condemned.

1145 – After the death of Pope Innocent II, Bernard’s former pupil becomes Pope Eugenius III.

1146-1147 – Bernard preaches in favor of the Second Crusade (which ends in defeat in 1148).

Quotes and Thoughts from Bernard of Clairvaux:

“The reason for loving God is God Himself….When someone asks, ‘Why should I love God?’ he may mean, What is lovely in God? or What shall I gain by loving God? In either case, the same sufficient cause of love exists, namely, God Himself.” 

“In the first creation God gave me myself; but in His new creation He gave me Himself, and by that gift restored to me the self that I had lost. Created first and then restored, I owe Him myself twice over.”

“Righteousness is the natural and essential food of the soul, which can no more be satisfied by earthly treasures than the hunger of the body can be satisfied by air. If you should see a starving man standing with mouth open to the wind, inhaling draughts of air as if in hope of gratifying his hunger, you would think him a lunatic. But it is no less foolish to imagine that the soul can be satisfied with worldly things.”

“Here indeed is appeasement without weariness; here never-quenched thirst for knowledge, without distress; here eternal and infinite desire which knows no want; here, finally, is that sober inebriation which comes not from drinking wine but from enjoying God. The fourth degree of love is attained forever when we love God only and supremely, when we do not even love ourselves except for God’s sake; so that He Himself is the reward of them that love Him, the everlasting reward of an everlasting love.”

The Four Steps of Love (from "On Loving God")

1.) Loving oneself for one’s own sake (natural, self-centered desires)
2.) Loving God for one’s own sake (serving Him because it makes us feel good and gets us to heaven)
3.) Loving God for God’s own sake (seeing the majesty and goodness of God and loving Him simply because of the greatness of who He is)
4.) Loving oneself for God’s sake (as we grow closer to God, we are so full of His love that we love all that He loves—including ourselves)

St. Bernard of Clairvaux - Steps of Pride & Steps of Humility (as arranged for use by monks)
Since pride is the opposite of humility, the steps toward full pride are the opposite of the steps toward full humility. The steps to humility are the antidote to the steps to pride. One step leads to the next.

12 Steps of Pride

     (Initial Beginnings of the Sin of Pride)
1. Curiosity about what is not one's proper concern
2. Light mindedness: chatter and exclamation about things which do not matter
3. Laughing about nothing; foolish merriment
4. Boasting and talking too much
5. Trying to be different: claiming special rights
6. Thinking oneself holier than others
7. Interfering presumptuously with the affairs of others
8. Self-justification: defending one's sinful actions
9. Insincere confession
10. Rebelling against superiors
11. Feeling free to sin
12. Habitual sinning
     (Worst and Fullest Form of Pride)

12 Steps of Humility

     (Initial Beginnings of Humility)
12. Containment of one's interests, which shows itself in a humble bearing and lowered eyes
11. Quiet and restrained speech
10. Reluctance to laugh
9. Keeping silent unless asked to speak
8. Regarding oneself as having no special rights in the community
7. Thinking oneself less holy than the others
6. Thinking oneself unworthy to take initiative
5. Confessing one's sins
4. Patience in the face of accusation
3. Submission to superiors
2. Desiring no freedom to exercise one's will
1. Constant watchfulness against sin
     (Best and Fullest Form of Humility)