“If I Am Lifted Up…”
Posted: September 14, 2016 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: dying to self, Dying to the world system, Feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, Giving thanks for crosses in out lives, Little crosses, Take up your cross Leave a comment
September 14 marks the commemoration of the rediscovery of the Cross of Christ in Jerusalem in the fourth century. This feast day is known as the Elevation of the Precious and Life Giving Cross in the Orthodox Church. For the Christian, the Cross of Christ is always and every day to be understood as precious and life giving. As it was elevated in Jerusalem by the city’s patriarch, St. Marcarius, so today’s 21st century Christian is to elevate the Cross in his or her consciousness. Further, the Cross is not to comfort, but to challenge, to alarm, and even offend — even more, to bring about death. St. Paul writes of this: “The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but for those who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1: 18).
That We Might See
Posted: August 29, 2016 Filed under: Etcetera, The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: a dog's love and acceptance, eyesight of the child, Mt 9: 27 - 30, restoration of spiritual eyesight, seeing with the eyes of Christ, sight without prejudice, spiritual eyesight, the human through the eyes of a dog, the sight of innocence Leave a comment
The lectionary for seventh Sunday after Pentecost gives us the Gospel account of the healing of two blind men. The duo follow Jesus and cry out to him, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” Upon entering a house these two men approach Jesus. Jesus says to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They reply, “Yes, Lord.” Then “[Jesus] touched their eyes saying, ‘According to your faith let this be for you.’ “And their eyes were opened” (Mt 9: 27 — 30). For these two men the first object they see is their Healer, their Savior — the One who is God Incarnate. How blessed were those four eyes!
Others of us were born sighted. The first object we laid eyes on (however imperfectly as newborns) was likely the face of our mother, itself also a blessing. As sighted infants and then children we took in the creation around us with frequent awe and wonder. We saw creation through eyes of innocence. As a child I had eyes that took no account of the size of my friends’ houses, the cars their parents drove, and took no care of the occupation of father or mother.
Wateship Down Characters: General Woundwort
Posted: August 18, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: General Woundwort as antagonist of Watership Down, Significance of General Woundwort in Watership Down, Watership Down character General Woundwort Leave a comment
General Woundwort
Every novel needs a villain or two. Watership Down is no different — Richard Adams gives his readers General Woundwort, the dictatorial Chief Rabbit of the Efrafan Warren. Adams provides the General’s “bio” in chapter 34.
General Woundwort was a singular rabbit. Some three years before, he had been born — the strongest of a litter of five — in a burrow outside a cottage garden near Cole Henley. His father, a happy-go-lucky and reckless buck, had thought nothing of living close to human beings except that he would be able to forage in their garden in the early morning.
John 2: 1 – 11 – The Wedding at Cana, Mary’s First Act as Queen Mother
Posted: August 13, 2016 Filed under: Etcetera | Tags: Exegesis of John 4: 4, Interpretation of the Wedding at Can, John 2: 1 - 11, Mary as Intercessor, Mary as Intercessor in John 2: 4, Mary as Queen Mother, Mary as Queen Mother to Jesus, Mary's act of intercession in the Wedding at Cana, Mary's first act of intercession in John 2: 4 Leave a commentThe title Queen Mother refers to the mother of the king, or the reigning monarch. In the Ancient Near East (ANE) the king would have multiple wives, as did David, and as did Solomon. To prevent favoritism, and intrigue, the ANE kings’ mothers were the queens — the Queen Mothers. Typically, the Queen Mother was an intermediary between subjects and the monarch.
We have a biblical example found in 3 Kingdoms (1 Kings) chapter two. King David has died and has named Solomon king. He has been anointed and enthroned to the surprise of David’s eldest son, Adonijah. With Solomon as king, his mother, Bathsheba, is now Queen Mother. In the following pericope, we see Bathsheba’s role and actions as the new Queen Mother:
Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon and bowed down before her… “Now I ask one petition of you. Do not turn away your face.” Bathsheba said to him, “Speak.” Then he said to her, “Speak to King Solomon, for he will not turn his face from you; and let him give me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife.” So Bathsheba said, “Very well, I will speak for you to the king (3 Kingdoms 2: 13, 16 — 18).
Guitar Review: Fender Paramount Series Deluxe PM-1 Dreadnought
Posted: August 1, 2016 Filed under: Music and Guitars | Tags: Fender Paramount PM-1 Deluxe Dreadnought, Fender Paramount PM-1 Deluxe Dreadnought guitar review, guitar review Fender Paramount Deluxe Dreadnought Leave a commentThis is the “Golden Age” of guitar making. Acquaintances in the guitar stores I frequent enthusiastically agree with my non-professional assessment. Guitars, both acoustic and electric, have never before been so well made. America has been a leader in the innovations that produce such wonderful instruments. Manufacturers such as Taylor, Breedlove, Martin, Collings, and so many others, have changed the guitar world. However, their innovations aren’t held within the geographical boundaries of the United States — the quality of asian made guitars matches those of America and Canada. I have reviewed two Eastman guitars, two Bedell Performance Series guitars, and one Cordoba Acero Series guitar previously in this blog. All of these guitars are manufactured in China — a put-off for some guitarists — but a blessing for guitarists who want a quality instrument at a more affordable price. In this posting I review Fender’s PM-1 Deluxe Dreadnought, a guitar that is part of its new Paramount line of acoustics.
The Ever Present Present
Posted: June 30, 2016 Filed under: Etcetera | Tags: concept of time, ever present present, linear concept of time is an illusion, philosophy of time, theory of time, time is a measurement of movement Leave a comment
I recently overheard a conversation of a pair of elderly friends reminiscing about a wonderful experience they shared many years ago. One of the women wistfully commented, “I wish we could go back to those days.” She and her friend remained in the lobby — they were not whisked back to another year, say 1964 for example.
I come to a favorite topic of mental rumination: time. Time is simply the measurement of rate of movement of an object or objects within a defined spacial relationship. For example, a year is the measurement of the time it takes the earth to make a complete orbit around the sun. A day is only the amount of time it takes the earth to make a complete turn upon its axis. A day is broken down to 24 hours, each hour lasts 60 minutes, and each minutes lasts 60 seconds. Another measurement of time, for example, is the sprinters’ times to run the course of 100 meters. Time does not exist as an entity for us who are three dimensional creatures.
Watership Down Character — Fiver
Posted: June 26, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Fiver - the mystic of Watership Down, Fiver of Watership Down, Fiver's significance in Watership Down Leave a comment
Hazel and Fiver
The Character of Fiver in Richard Adams’ Watership Down can easily be overlooked. Fiver can be passed over by the reader and assigned a secondary role behind Hazel and Bigwig, or Thlayli. However, this is a mistake. In fact, Fiver’s role as prophet, seer, and mystic propels the rabbits forward on their adventure of discovery and transformation. His gifts save the rabbits and bring clarity to their encounters and their mission – to create a new type of warren for a new breed of rabbit.
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The Longest Day of the Year
Posted: June 23, 2016 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: acting in soldarity, compression of time, experience of time, solidarity 1 Comment
Foxglove
The patients of the anticoagulation and diabetes clinic in which I work often make statements which prompt some reflection. “Well,” he said, “today is the longest day of the year.” He referred to the summer solstice. This day holds out the longest period of daylight of the year. This day is not longer than any other day — it lasts only 24 hours. However, this particular day holds some degree of dread for me. With the very next day those wonderful, lingering, warm daylight hours begin to gradually shrink. They shrink to the dim, gloom, and dark of late autumn and winter (I live in western Washington).
Watership Down Characters – Bigwig (Thlayli)
Posted: June 12, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Bigwig as Champion to Hazel, Bigwig in Watership Down, Significance of Bigwig in Watership Down, Watership Down character Bigwig 1 Comment
Bigwig, or Thlayli
There are three primary rabbit characters in Richard Adams’ Watership Down. There are the two brothers, Hazel and Fiver. The third primary cunicular hero is Bigwig — his name in the lapine language is Thlayli. He is large — even imposing — and possesses great physical strength. The evening after Fiver pronounces his vision of doom and death for the Sandleford warren, Bigwig approaches Hazel and Fiver and we read this dialogue:
“Hello, Bigwig,” said Hazel. “You’re off duty?”
“Off duty,” said Bigwig, “and likely to remain off duty…The Threarah’s [name of the Chief Rabbit of their warren] rather good at making himself unpleasant when he’s been woken up…I told him that the Owsla’s privileges didn’t mean all that much to me in any case, and that a strong rabbit could always do just as well by leaving the warren…lettuce stealing isn’t my idea of a jolly life.” (p. 15).
Watership Down Characters — Hazel
Posted: June 6, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: character development of Hazel in Watership Down, Hazel in Watership Down, Hazel-rah, Significance of Hazel in Watership Down, transformation of Hazel in Watership Down, Watership Down, Watership Down character Hazel Leave a commentRichard Adams’ Watership Down is perhaps my favorite work of fiction, and is among my favorite authors. I find the book profound in its message of courage and transformation, and even salvation. It is far more than a novel about human politics. All quotes come from the Perennial Classics print of the book (2001).
The outstanding theme of Richard Adams’ Watership Down is transformation — the salvation brought about by transformation from a lesser to a greater person, or rabbit in the case of the novel’s heroes, especially the protagonist Hazel. Transformation can only come through one’s movements through challenge, struggle, hardship, and even suffering. Movement of the person (rabbit) through such situations may not lead to a transformation into a better or greater person, but may lead to the formation of a bitter, violent soul. Thus, as one moves through trials one needs a model — a guide — to imitate. “We become who we imitate.” Hazel had as his model the cunicular exemplar: Lord El-ahrairah. It is this archetypical rabbit’s character and acts that transformed Hazel from a scared, simple “bunny” to the king (Chief Rabbit) of the glorious warren named Watership Down. Read the rest of this entry »
Watership Down Characters – the Black Rabbit of Inle
Posted: May 26, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: interpretation of the Black Rabbit of Inle, The Black Rabbit of Inle of Watership Down, Watership Down characters Leave a commentRichard Adams’ Watership Down is perhaps my favorite work of fiction, and is among my favorite authors. I find the book profound in its message of courage and transformation, and even salvation. It is far more than a novel about human politics. All quotes come from the Perennial Classics print of the book (2001).
Shortly after the rabbits of Watership Down reach their new home (Watership Down), there is a frightening encounter experienced by Hazel, Speedwell, Dandelion, and Bigwig in the chapter “Fear in the Dark.” “There’s something coming up the line of the hedge,” replied Speedwell. “An animal. Making a lot of noise, too.” They discuss the possibilities of the source of threat. Then things become intense.
Watership Down Characters: El-ahrairah
Posted: May 24, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Commentary on El-ahrairah, Commentary on Watership Down, El-ahrairah, Meaning of characters in Watership Down, Significance of El-ahrairah in Watership Down, Watership Down's El-ahrairah Leave a commentRichard Adams’ Watership Down is perhaps my favorite work of fiction, and he is among my favorite authors. I find the book profound in its message of courage and transformation, and even salvation. It is far more than a novel about human politics. All quotes come from the Perennial Classics print of the book (2001).
El-ahrairah
Though it is clear that Hazel (who becomes Hazel-rah) is the primary character of Watership Down, Lord El-ahrairah is the primary background character. In fact, the story cannot be understood apart from El-ahrairah. El-ahrairah is a multifaceted character. He is a creature, a creation of Frith. He is the first rabbit. He is an archetype. He is a savior to rabbits, yet he needs salvation. He is daring and he is frail. He is bold and extremely clever, yet he can be afraid. He is mortal yet has a spiritual immortality. This is El-arhrairah.
Watership Down Characters – Frith
Posted: May 18, 2016 Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Characters of Watership Down, Frith of Watership Down, Watership Down Leave a commentFRITH
Richard Adams’ Watership Down is perhaps my favorite work of fiction, and is among my favorite authors. I find the book profound in its message of courage and transformation, and even salvation. It is far more than a novel about human politics. All quotes come from the Perennial Classics print of the book (2001).
I begin my discussion of the characters of Watership Down with Frith because Frith is Creator. Frith is both rabbit-like and sun-like. This dual character is seen in the creation narrative in the sixth chapter. It is relayed by Dandelion to the other rabbits the night they fled from the Sandleford warren.
Long ago, Frith made the world. He made all the stars, too, and the world is one of the stars. He made them by scattering his droppings of the sky and this is why the grass and the trees grow so thick on the world. Frith makes the rivers flow. They follow him as he goes through the sky, and when he leaves the sky they look for him all night. Frith made all the animals and birds, but when he first made them they were all the same…Because the world was new and Frith shone down bright and warm all day (p 27).
The Myrrh Bearing Women
Posted: May 17, 2016 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: imitation of Christ, Myrrh Bearing Women, preparing for death by living in Christ, the reality of Christ's resurrection in our lives Leave a comment
The third Sunday of Pascha commemorates the women who came to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his corpse. These are the Myrrh Bearing Women. While wondering who would role away the stone from the door of the tomb for them, they witness an astounding site: the stone has been removed, a “young man” clothed in a white robe sits and addresses them: “Do not marvel! You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him” (Mark 16: 6). Expecting the ordinary in a tomb, they encounter the extraordinary.
Sons of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church
Posted: May 11, 2016 Filed under: Etcetera | Tags: Church as spiritual hospital, clergy of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church Tacoma WA, Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church Tacoma Wa Leave a commentThe Church can be thought of as a hospital — a spiritual hospital. We participate in the life of the Church to be healed, to become whole, and holy. At this spiritual hospital Christ, the Physician, administers the medicines for the spirit, and even eternal life to his patients. We receive our medicines via the sacraments of confession and the Eucharist, by the reading and hearing of the Scriptures, and by the work of God done deep within us by our participation in the worship given God via the Divine Liturgy. Read the rest of this entry »
A HOMECOMING
Posted: May 10, 2016 Filed under: Etcetera | Tags: ordination at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, ordination of a priest, Tacoma, Wa Leave a comment
The Ramos family with Archbishop Benjamin
This year’s Paschal joy and celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ was augmented by the return home of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church’s (HROC) second deacon, Joseph Ramos. He victoriously returned to us and his family after completing a year’s special study at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, NY. Read the rest of this entry »
Lazarus, Come Out!
Posted: April 23, 2016 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: Christian as mediator, Lazarus, Lazarus Saturday, Mary as mediator, Participants in God's works Leave a comment
Raising of Lazarus by Andrea Fordice
In the Orthodox Church, Lazarus Saturday marks the end of Lent. This day commemorates the resurrection of Jesus’ friend from the dead by Jesus’ command to the corpse, “Lazarus, come out!” The resurrection of Lazarus occurs a week before Jesus’ own death and resurrection. This miracle prefigures our Lord’s resurrection, and vividly demonstrates Jesus’ deity and authority — here authority over death itself.
The account of Lazarus’ resurrection takes up the majority of the eleventh chapter of St. John’s gospel (Jn 11: 1 — 44). There is a detail in St. John’s account of Lazarus’ resurrection that has always stuck out for me. Jesus comes to Lazarus’ tomb. Its entrance is secured by a large stone (Jn 11: 38).
Three Tabernacles Of God
Posted: April 11, 2016 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: Annunciation, Christ indwells the Christian, Christian as Tabernacle and Temple of God, Christians as Bearers of Christ, Eucharist as Tabernacle of Christ, Feast of the Annunciation, Mary Tabernacle of God, Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist Leave a comment+ MARY AS TABERNACLE +
March 25 of every year marks and commemorates the Annunciation.
Icon of the Annunciation
This is the day in which the Archangel Gabriel informs Mary of God’s plan and purpose for her: that she will conceive and bear the Son of God. With her response of obedience to Gabriel’s words, “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1: 38a), Mary ushers in the salvation of humanity and creation: God the Son — her Creator — enters into creation as a creature to be its Savior:
And in answering, the angel said to her, ‘The Spirit of God will come upon [epeleusetai] you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow [episkiasei] you, therefore the One begotten is holy and shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1: 35).
“So Far Away” Lyrics
Posted: March 25, 2016 Filed under: Music and Guitars Leave a comment“So Far Away” is a song I wrote. I was inspired by the departure of an army officer who, as demanded by his country and commission, left his wife and two young children for a year to serve overseas. I imagined also the sacrifice not only of this fine man, but all others who have sacrificed for their countries. But, additionally, I thought of the sacrifice of wives, parents, and children of those left home, and often left to grieve without end. Read the rest of this entry »
Father Irenaeus Williams 
Watership Down — The Warren of the Snares
Posted: August 10, 2016 | Author: Fr. Irenaeus | Filed under: Speculative Fiction | Tags: Commentary on Warren of the Snares in Watership Down, Meaning of Warren of the Snares in Watership Down, Watership Down Warren of the Snares | Leave a commentRead the rest of this entry »