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In reading The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity I found myself reflecting some things that were less practical than they are theological. My main reflections were upon the intersection between suffering and glory, death and life, and execution with victory. As seen in each of the visions included in this work, it is from within … Continue reading A Short Word on Perpetua, Martyrdom, and the Glory of the Cross

In Justin Martyrs First Apology written to the Emperor in defense of the Christian faith, we see a robust, holistic, and well-rounded approach to apologetics. His approach to apologetics begins with knowing the theology of the church, that of the pagan religions, and that of the complaints and allegations that have been made against the … Continue reading Patristic Apologetics – Justin Martyr

The text of the Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicity are, without a doubt, some of the raciest and most doctrinally controversial texts the church has in the patristic period - YET, these saints are hailed as saints by every church that bothers to name any saints at all. This text, containing the words, prophecies, … Continue reading On the Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua & Felicity: The Ladder, Prayers for the Dead, and Prophetic Visions, Oh My!

When one begins reading the letters of St. Ignatius (of Antioch) the first thing that they will notice is his emphasis on the Bishop and the presbyters in the church. While this offends a lot of protestants for reasons of fear of authority and clericalism, it is actually, for St. Ignatius (and all of the … Continue reading The Ignatian Emphases: Episcopacy, Authority, Unity, Submission, and Love.

In reflecting upon the marks of the holy fathers of the church (which are the marks of the church applied to the individual), we see a further application: that being the catechetical nature of fatherhood; primarily with regard to the officers of the church, such as deacons, priests, and bishops but also with an eye … Continue reading The Catechetical Nature of Fatherhood

Just as there are, in the theology of the Church, the four marks of holiness, unity, catholicity, and apostolicity, so also there are four marks of qualification for the fathers of the Church. As Payton notes in A Patristic Treasury, these four marks required for designation as a father of the church are antiquity, holiness, … Continue reading On the Marks of “The Holy Fathers” of the Church

Well, my friends, as we come to the end of this season of Lent, with all of its talk of fasting, and penitence, and its contemplation about our sinfulness and our striving to get better, and fix our eyes on the culmination and climax of it all with Jesus Christ taking all of our sins, … Continue reading The JOY of Lenten Fasts

This past Sunday in our readings we had the texts of Exodus 20 and Psalm 19. The Law of God. The 10 commandments. And every year, more or less, in the Lutheran church, we are encouraged to preach on those commandments, along with all of the rest of our Small Catechism and the faith it … Continue reading 3 Heresies and a Truth – Jesus Fulfilled the Law

Praying in the Hour of Temptation Mark 8:34-38, 14:32-42 This past Lord’s Day, and just again this evening we’ve heard Christ foretell of his death in Mark’s account of the Holy Gospel. There he said that the Son of Man had come to suffer many things, to be rejected by the chief priests, the scribes, … Continue reading A Sorrowful Mystery Reflection: The Agony in the Garden

This week the church celebrates the feast of St. Matthias, Apostle & Martyr (not today, but Friday). Now, I don’t want to look at all the readings for that feast – but I was struck by the last half of the Gospel text for that feast. Matthew 11:28-30, 28Come to Me, all you who labor … Continue reading Yokes and Burdens = Rest?