The Incarnation – Vita pastoralis: Recent Episodes
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This is silly. I can’t believe I’m doing this. (So don’t do it, LeCroy.) Sigh. I’m gonna do it. There’s this song. It’s schmaltzy and sentimental, like many of the contemporary Christian songs I grew up with. If you like this song, I advise you to stop reading. Because I’m going to trash it. I … Continue reading "Just So We’re Clear, Mary Did Know"
Gregory of Nazianzus was a 4th century bishop from Cappadocia who eventually became the Archbishop of Constantinople. Together with the brothers Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa they were known as the Cappodocian Fathers. Basil, Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom are known collectively as the Three Holy Heirarchs, the Eastern Church’s version of the Four … Continue reading "Gregory of Nazianzus on the Incarnation"
This is one of my favorite Advent hymns. It has some of the most powerful lines in the history of Christian hymnody, written by one of the first to really emphasize congregational participation in worship, Ambrose of Milan. This hymn is also deeply theological. In Ambrose’s words we find the various theological controversies of the … Continue reading "St. Ambrose of Milan – Savior of the Nations, Come"
A friend reminded me today of this important aspect of theology. Fourth century theologian Gregory of Nazianzus said, “What has not been assumed is not healed.” Christ has a human mind, a human body, and a human will. He is like us in every respect, except without sin. If this is not true, if he … Continue reading "Fully Human"