Via Church Langley: Recent Episodes
Via Church Langley
This teach was a part of a teaching Eucharist during which Father Chad taught through the entirety of our Anglican liturgy.
Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel - Ray OrtlundTheology of the Body For Beginners - Christopher West
In this video Father Chad gives an introcuction to lent speaking to three questions:What is Lent?Why Lent?How do I enter into Lent?The teaching is followed by a time of discussion with 5 other pastors.
My first church service I went to was 11 years ago at the Christmas midnight mass back home in Macau. At that time, I was three months into seeking Jesus. In seeking, the question that comes off the tip of our tongue would be - where is Jesus?Where is Jesus? Do we have to look for Him like how we look for Waldo? Do we have to take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to truly experience His presence? To be honest, I have never been to the Holy Land and would love to visit someday!One simple answer would be that He is seated at the right hand of God the Father, as we normally profess in the Nicene Creed ( It is also in the additional ending of the Gospel of Mark). That is true! Does that mean he is far away somewhere in the sky? I dont think so. Remember what Jesus told His followers before he ascended into Heaven. He tells us to go, make followers of Him and He promises us that He will be with us until the end of time.This leads me into the next answer - He is with us. Throughout the Bible, God's word was with Moses at the Burning Bush, Mount Sinai, and in the Prophets throughout the history of the Israelites. Even when the Israelites turn a blind eye to Him and fail over and over again, God is with them always and continues to show grace and mercy. Even now with us when we turn a blind eye, we know that he is beside us.The third answer would be that God is in His Church - His Bride. As Christians, we are to imitate Jesus in His practice and as we do that, we can show God's love to the people around us and we can encourage each other in our faith. We are called to be salt and light - to preserve and to bear witness! As Anglicans, we also practice Holy Communion at church, which Jesus told us to do in remembrance of Him, and we believe that this means of grace shows us that Jesus is present!Right now, my immediate family still do not believe in Jesus. I am sure that some of you may also have family or friends who do not either, but I am assured that the LORD is near them and He can open their eyes to Him when the time is right.Emmanuel. God is with us.
This songs lyrics are from one of the O Antiphons, beautiful liturgical readings spoken in the last days leading up to Christmas. Each one declares an attribute of God and then invites him to come (as I recently learned from Jeff).As I walked toward Christmas this year, life never being busier than it is now with four kids, two big extended families, and all that entails, I have also never felt so much joy in the Christmas season as I did this year. Perhaps the more I experience of lifes trials makes me that much more thankful for all the small things. The small provisions. A conversation saturated with the Holy Spirit. A friend showing up with a smile at the door. Getting snowed in at my Dads house. Watching my son beam after delivering cookies. And every crack of time between making food, putting kids to bed, doing laundry, cleaning up, seeing family, felt punctuated with creative energy in celebration of Emmanuel: God with us. The anticipation of this moment in the year that means so much to us, God getting right down on our level, in our dirt, and dwelling with us.So the music to this song was written in a surprise spare evening hour when the house was quiet (for a brief time). This print was carved during my kids bath time over four days while I sat in the bathroom. That is my raw, real life, filled with thankfulness for our God and all that he did and is doing.
CompletionThe fullness of God wrapped in swaddling cloths?Omniscience, omnipotence, peacein an infant?Love, patience, grace, mercy, compassionin a babe?Holiness, justice, creativityin a newborn?Gods perfect planJesusCome carried in the armsOf those he came to save"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." Colossians 1:19-20ESV"It was in him that the full nature of God chose to live, and through him God planned to reconcile in his own person, as it were, everything on earth and everything in Heaven by virtue of the sacrifice of the cross." Phillips When God came to save those who had sinned against him, he did not ride in on a powerful horse, but in the arms of those he came to save. Marshall Segal -https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/fullness-of-god-in-helpless-babe
This is one from the archives! Janna and I recorded this a number of Christmas' ago... thought I'd dust it off :)
His Name Shall be Called JesusIt was important for the Father to name His Son, so naming Jesus wasnt left up to Mary and Joseph to choose a name from those that were trending that year. He wasnt named after a favorite grandfather or even his ancestor David. No, he was named by His Heavenly Father with a name that spelled out his destiny: He will save his people from their sins. (Mt 1:21)St Paul then tells us that something changed after Christs crucifixion and His name went from being a simple name that any Hebrew young man might have, to one that stands above all names. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth Phil 2:8-10The name Jesus is often on our tongues; we pray, worship, preach, and testify to the wonder of who Jesus is and the amazing ways he keeps on saving his people from their sins. But perhaps its fitting at the beginning of the year, to pause and reflect more deeply that this name we are so familiar with, is the name above all names. Perhaps as we do, we too might be led to bow our knee and mark this day with worship.
"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4.19One of the key moments in the story of Christs birth is when the wise men come to visit Jesus, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. At first glance, I feel as though I can relate to these guys because I too love giving gifts, and oftentimes this seems to me like the easiest way to show love to others. Spend a couple bucks on some chocolate, wrap it up, maybe write an encouraging note, and boom! Youre done.Yet when I study the wise men a bit closer, I am struck by something profound and alarming. They did not merely give presents to their Saviorthey also gave up a large chunk of their time to find him while following that star. And time is something that is undeniably much harder for me to give away.When it comes to generosity, my natural gravitation is to find something that still blesses the other person but wont cost me that much. After all, if the other person feels loved then whats the harm in taking the easy route? Jesus, however, isnt concerned with what we are doing, but rather the spirit in which we are doing it in.This means that in all that is asked of us, whether it be kindly engaging with a cashier or driving someone to the airport, we must carry out with a heart of obedience and joy. Am I willing to lay down my life in ways that are easy and hard? In the big and small? Because the truth is that Jesus Christ our Savior is the ultimate example of sacrificial generosity. By coming to us in the humble form of a baby, He has given us the biggest gift of all his eternal presence as Emmanuel, God With Us, forever.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peaceto those on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2:13-4, NIV)The angelic song to the shepherds appears all over Christmas cards and carols. The familiar themes of joy and peace blend in with the festivities. In a busy season and world surging with conflict, peace is a hopeful prospect. This year, I read Luke 2 in parallel with Pauls praise in Ephesians 1:1-14 and something changed. I noticed the two lines of angelic praise encapsulate the whole gospel: Gods redemptive plan for the world through the incarnation. Glory to God: God must be honored for his administration of all things in the spiritual and physical realms. The incarnation starts and ends with God as he planned and enacted our redemption. Peace with God: In sending Christ, God united himself with creation to restore the relationship between God and man. This peace overflows to human relationships and, eventually, all creation will be renewed. Far from simply a happy song, the angels publicly declare a mystery now accessible to allreconciliation has been initiated and will continue until its complete fulfillment. The song is a reminder that in Jesus all is made well.
Light of the StableHail, hail to the newborn KingLet our voices sing Him our praisesHail, hail to the Guiding LightThat brought us tonight to our SaviorHalle, HallelujahHalle, HallelujahHalle, HallelujahHalle, HallelujahCome now, let it shine so brightTo the knowing Light of the StableKneel close to the Child so dearCast aside your fear and Be ThankfulHalle, HallelujahHalle, HallelujahHalle, HallelujahHalle, HallelujahHail, hail to the newborn KingLet our voices sing Him our PraisesHail, hail to the Guiding LightThat brought us tonight to our SaviorHalle, HallelujahHalle, HallelujahHalle, HallelujahHalle, HallelujahSongwriters: Elizabeth Rhymer / Steven RhymerLight Of The Stable lyrics Travellers Hollow Music
Im going to take you back to something that became so familiar to all of usjust a few short months ago and that is plexiglass! Do you remember everystore, bank, restaurant, office, fast food place separating us from oneanother? It was everywhere!As we look around today many of those sheets of plexiglass are gone. Nomore separation. We feel connected again. We can actually even see oneanother better!During the four weeks of Advent we readied ourselves for the celebration ofJesus birth. We longed for His coming. We did not want any separation.Advent has been described as the preparatory period of longing. OnDecember the 25th the joyous celebration of Christmas was upon us andwe were reminded that the message of Christs birth turned the whole worldupside down. No more separation!This is why Jesus came!! To heal! To cleanse! To bring salvation. To betruth. To meet the needs of each one who seeks Him. To bring peace. To bejoy.God with us!During this Advent season these words God With Us have beenresonating with me, yet as the celebration of Jesus birth moved closer,something didnt feel right in my heart. I felt a block, a separation, like asheet of plexiglass.I could see God clearly. I could experience the words of worship and I couldresonate with the words being preached but I did not sense the fire in mybones being fanned into flame.Something was welling up in me. What was causing this sense ofdistance? What was the plexiglass?As I prayed with a trusted friend the Lord showed me what that sheet ofplexiglass was. I was always trying to minister to other people but I hadneglected in prayer to ask Him to minister to me. As I opened my heart toallow the Lord to minister to me miraculously I could see that sheet ofplexiglass dropping away right in front of me!My desire is to fully embrace all the He has for me so that I can be free togrow and experience my life in the fullest way possible.During these 12 days of Christmas I want to set aside time in prayer for theLord to continue to minister to me.I know God is with me. The plexiglass is gone.
I love the shepherds in the Christmas story (Luke 2:8-20). The angel of the Lord appears to them (to them!), telling them that a Saviour has been born for them (for them!) in Bethlehem, and an army of angels appears praising God.And once the angels leave and the dust settles, they don't just go back to hanging out with their sheep, marvelling at what they've seen and heard. No, they decide to go and see for themselves what happened. So they hurry to Bethlehem to see Jesus and then return, glorifying and praising God.My favorite picture of this scene comes from the Thai Christian artist Sawai Chinnawong. (You can see the picture here.) Sawai re-imagines the scene in a Thai setting, with Thai rice farmers playing the part of the shepherds, riding their water buffaloes to see Jesus. I appreciate this picture because it brings the Christmas story into the reality of the Thai farmer, and it invites me to consider what it means to bring ourselves... all of ourselves... to worship and adore Jesus. What would it look like for me to bring all my work, all my possessions, all my passions, all my culture to him?Over Christmas, we've read the story and heard the songs. So do we just go back to our lives as if nothing has happened? Or will we hurry to see Jesus for ourselves, bringing all of ourselves to him, to worship and adore him (and then go on changed)?
Christmas is Here! Most of us are used to the idea of celebrating Christmas with an explosion of family gatherings, gift giving/receiving, and wonderful feasting, all shoehorned into one full and rather exhausting day. A day that often, unintentionally squeezes out the holiness, the set-apartness of celebrating the Incarnation in a way that it warrants. This was the moment when everything changed. God did the unthinkable, He took on human flesh and became one of us, dwelling accessibly and vulnerably in our midst. God himself, came to save us. So then, how can we do justice to the wonder of this moment when Christmas day is so busy? We can celebrate over twelve days, rather than just one!Traditionally, the Church has seen the need to celebrate more heartily and to give the wonder of the Incarnation more attention, so has celebrated right up until Epiphany (Jan 6). Within these twelve days, a number of different feasts are celebrated which honour important events or saints, while still under the banner of Christmas. Dec 26th- The feast of St. Stephen, the first martyrDec 27th- The feast of St. John, the ApostleDec 28th- The feast of the Innocents, honouring the children slaughtered when Herod was attempting to kill the infant Christ (Mt 2:16-18).Jan 1st- The feast of the Holy Name, celebrating the occasion of Christs circumcision and naming (Lu 2:21).As a church, we at Via want to embrace a more extended celebration of Christmas, giving more space for our hearts to be captivated with Jesus at His birth. So over these 12 Days (Christmastide), we will all receive a daily email first thing in the morning, containing either a worship song or a written reflection to help mark these days. You will hear from many different voices in our community, each with a unique contribution, uniting us together to lift our hearts to the Lord. For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. (Lu 2:11) Epiphany is the day when Church celebrates Christ being revealed to the world, beginning with the adoration of the Magi.
We had the joy of welcoming +Dan Gifford from the Anglican Church in North America to join us at VIA Langley this past Sunday. Unfortunately there was a problem with the recording of his sermon, but the good news is that the powerful message he shared is a part of his Bishop's charge at the ANiC Synod at the beginning of November. If you're interested you can take in more of the synod HERE
Throughout this message I refer to an incredible book by Timothy Keller tittled The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy. I highly recommend downloading the eBook and taking some time to read it!
This recording was made during a walk through the Stations of the Cross on Hoy Saturday 2022
During Jeff's teach he references a couple of things thta might help us to engage further with what God was inviting us into during this teach. You can find those resources here: Augustines Confessions
Kindle - Translation by Maria Boulding that Jeff metions in his teach Free copy online differernt translation
Confession and LItany of Penitence - 2019 BCP pages 547-549
These days, Maria and I have been spending a fair amount of time bouncing and cuddling Zoe to sleep. One of the lullabies that have been getting a lot of air time has been "Silent Night". With that in mind, I kind of recorded it in a lullaby-like way.
Even though the lyrics are somewhat simple, themore I've sung them the more profound they have grown in my heart and spirit. What a sacred night it would have been for Mary, and Joseph as they held the Son of God in their arms; so this-worldly, but so other-worldly. Literally, heaven touched earth! Became part of it! Transfigured it,even. Lord, envelope my - envelope our - frail humanity this Christmas in a heavenlyway. From our home to yours, we pray you and your family would enjoy some restorative rest inthe presence of Jesus. We pray that you too would "sleep in heavenly peace"! Oh Lord, please let it be tonight lol. I think she just woke up...gotta go!
O Holy Night! I must confess that the advent of our Lord is perplexing. It is incomprehensible to think that the infinity of God would ever come into the finitude of "the flesh." It is with this that I find it impossible to understand that Christ, the healer and redeemer of the world, would ever come as a helpless baby. But beyond all thoughts or comprehension comes a moment in history, expressed throughthe profound words of an old hymn, in which the pain and strifeof the world encounters a bright light: "Long lay the world in sin and error pining 'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn" In the bleakness of our dim and dismal winter comes the light of the world!It is beyond all grasping that I come to the manger this year, and in the midst of my longing and pining and the throes of my life I am touched by the one who has come to draw near to me. It is so that I look at"the King of kings [who] lay thus in lowly manger" and rejoice in the fact that "in all our trials [he is] born to be our friend / [as]He knows our need, for our weakness is no stranger." My mind cannot grasp this and I come to the tide of Christmas with a mind baffled with the fact of Jesus' birth. But while my mind is confounded my heart is stirred to sing as it gazes at the one who has come to heal and save. It is with this that I enter into the manger this year to look at the one who has taken on flesh and blood. It is a mystery indeed, and I am helpless to ever understand this meaning in full. But beyond all reason I find that Emmanuel has comes to touch the depths of my heart, and as he touches me I find that I am healed. It is with such encounter that I amdrawnto worship and to"behold [my] King [and] before Him lowly bend."
You could have saved us in a second, but instead you sent a childThese words make up the final stanza of the bridge to song I came across a few years ago. Though the song is not otherwise significantly connected to the Christmas story, I find this line ringing through my mind at this time of year. Ive found it to be an invitation to ponder why God would do things this way. It is not beyond Gods ability to have brought about an adult Messiah to carry out His plan of redemption, nor was much of Jesus life overtly necessary for the act of atonement so why did God send a child?When I think of Jesus birth, and Mary holding the freshly delivered infant, I cant help but imagine her asking, Is this really the way youre going to do this God? Why have you come in the most vulnerable and dependent form of human? Why are you entrusting your physical needs to an adolescent girl? Why are you doing things this way? You may be able to list off some answers that perhaps have to do with lineage or the fulfillment of prophecies, but Ive found it helpful, and more awe inducing, to ask why this was Gods chosen means in the first place.For me, this means of entry into the world displays Gods willingness to fully participate in the human experience, the ultimate act of establishing common ground with us. It also suggests that God is okay taking His time; Jesus coming and the salvation it would ultimately bring wasnt about efficiency, God took the scenic and earthen route, one that required time for the Messiah to develop and grow physically. Finally, this means of entry is a profound moment where God actually entrusts Himself to our care. What a paradox that the One who holds the whole world in His hands would allow Himself to be held in by the hands of His own creation.
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Polish Carol E.M.G. Reed (English) Infant holy, infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall;Oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging, Angels singing, Nowells ringing, Tidings bringing: Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Flocks were sleeping, Shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new.Saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a Gospel true.Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow,Christ the Babe was born for you.
The aspect of Advent and Christmas that has always impressed me most is the way we celebrate it just when winter is starting to hit us hard. When the days are short, and it can be busy, but gloomy, I feel like hibernating. But that is when my thoughts are turned to the great giving and sharing of God with us. And when hope that was tied to the freedom of the summer has fully left me, that is when a new hope is born inside me that turns me to look forward to the new year. And while the commercialism of Christmas betrays the humility at the core of what we remember, the carols that we sing do the opposite: they express the worship and fellowship that releases hope and optimism inside me. It also kindles my gratitude when I can connect with my family, and remember how important they are to me, and how precious Gods sustaining care has been. Yet, these traditions by themselves would be empty, if it were not for the impetus that Gods Son-giving for us imparts to it all. Advent is my opportunity to pause my taking-for-granted-ness. Because of the Advent of God coming into our world to bear our flesh, mine included, incredibly,I can participate in thankfulness and hope that I would not otherwise know.
Matthew1: 22-23 All this took placeto fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall call his nameImmanuel (which means God with us). -- As I look upon the manger scene, I cant help but think: How can this tiny baby be everything we need? The answer to human suffering, struggle and sin, let alone the answer to my prayers? A baby so fragile, so small. What it must have cost you to leave all the power and glory of the heavenly realms to come to this limited human weakness. Why did you do it? You could have chosen a 1,000 other ways. Immanuel, God with us. My heart wants you to come in power to rescue me, to solve my problems, to save me from my situation, to help me. A baby? What good is that, my blinded heart cries. God with us. God with us. With us. Do I value it? Do I know what it means? God-with-us? You valued it so much you made it the center point of history. You chose this humble means: a tiny, weak, fragile form. The same God when housed in ark of covenant - no one could touch it lest they die! Or Moses when asked to see you in Exodus was told , you cannot see my face, forman shall not see me and live. And yet, here you are -the holy, untouchable, unseeable God- in the manger. You reduce yourself to a baby, to human flesh and bones. What is this mystery? My heart opens, hope again: God with us It has always been you. Genesis 3:8-9 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wifehid themselves from the presence of theLordGod among the trees of the garden.9But theLordGod called to the man and said to him, Where are you? Immanuel, God with us Matthew 28:20 And behold,I am with you always, tothe end of the age.
Rich in poetic typology, this hymn has become one of all time my favorites. See how many Old Testament figures you can identify. I'll leave the lyrics below if you want to follow along. I've often thought that no one must have beheld Christ quite like Mary did. So with her, let us give him our full attention and adoration.
Lo, how a Rose eer blooming From tender stem hath sprung, Of Jesses lineage coming, As men of old have sung. It came, a flowret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night. Isaiah twas foretold it, The Rose I have in mind; With Mary we behold it, The virgin mother kind. To show Gods love aright, She bore to men a Savior, When half spent was the night.
Imagine you were thereI stand before the baby. Above him I stand. Standing well is what I know. If I dont stand I collapse. Standing is good.The presence of this baby makes me uneasy. I feel his eyes. Recalling all my truths, I straighten up tall.He cries. The mom asks for my help. I avoid cuz this is awkward. My focus darts away into shadow.In sudden absence of overthought, I reach down and lift him up. I feel proud. I hold him well.His dark eyes speak to mine, Im with you.My stance buckles and I collapse to my shins.My body slumped over, he remains secure. My weeping hidden, but not from him.God lays content in my arms. His spirit prompting mine, Rest. Im here."What?!I dont understand.Rest now.
With Covid restrictions being increased so close to Christmas (after weeks of thinking wed be able to gather and celebrate more freely), it has felt very easy to be discouraged.And into all of this comes the store of Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus is so near and intimately acquainted with our grief and sorrow, and the deep needs and longings of our hearts.
The lyrics of this song have been standing out to me in light of that. It truly is my prayer that each of us would have a merry, however little, Christmas; that our troubles would feel miles away as we look to the light of Christ; that the stars that decorate our homes and the sky would remind us that Christ has come. God is with us!
This season of life in the world will pass. May we find that the quiet places of our hearts were the very places where we saw and celebrated with Christ, in and through the height, depth, and breadth of this experience.
As I was reflecting on what it would have been like to be present at the birth of Jesus, the character of Joseph came to mind. Despite what Silent Night would have us believe, the birth of Jesus must have been a crazy moment. Joseph was probably in the thick of the chaos just trying to keep everything from falling apart. When you think about his situation, its pretty insane. Heres a guy who is getting ready to be married and start a life together with Mary, when his life gets totally turned upside down by Marys surprise cosmic pregnancy. He was surely confused and disoriented at the news, probably asking a lot of questions beginning with why and how.
We cant know exactly what went through Josephs head, but we do know that his response eventually was to simply say yes. He said yes to Mary in supporting her through what Im sure was a scary situation for her, and by doing so, he was partnering with the work of God. He looked at what was dropped into his lap, and despite his lack of understanding, chose to believe that God was in it and moving through it. He chose to rest his worries on the truth of the sovereignty of God. And in that moment in the stable, Joseph got to see the culmination of his trust in God firsthand; in the eyes of the one who would go on to reconcile Joseph and all humanity back to God.
In that moment in the stable, I think that Joseph would have taken great comfort in the words of Psalm 131: 1 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. 3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore. Its not our job to understand the great matters or things too wonderful that God is doing. It is our calling to simply say yes, putting our hope in the Lord, both now and forevermore.
After an incredible journey over the past few years we're ready to officially launch as a church. On Saturday September 18 we gathered together with many who have been a part of our journey along the way, and with those who currently call Via Church Langley home, to give thanks for all God's done and to prayerfully establish the church in a time of commissioning.
This teach didn't start recording till about 5min in... If you take some time to read Romans 8.12-17 you will be in good shape to jump in where it starts :)
It is necessary for you first to hold the rank of human and then to participate in the glory of God. For you do not create God, but God creates you. If, then, you are the work of God, await the hand of God, who does everything at the appropriate time, the appropriate time for you, who are being made. Offer to him your heart, soft and pliable, and retain the shape with which the Fashioner shaped you, having in yourself his Water, lest you turn dry and lose the imprint of his fingers. By guarding this conformation, you will ascend to perfection; the mud in you will be concealed by the art of God. His Hand created your substance; it will gild you, inside and out, with pure gold and silver, and so adorn you that the King himself will desire your beauty . . . If, therefore, you offer to him what is yours, that is, faith in him . . . you will receive his art and become a perfect work of God. St. Irenaeus of Lyon (Against Heresies, 4.39.2)
Here are a couple of quotes related to this message on Overshadowed Revelation "Lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Their eyes were covered by a cloud, in order to inform them, that they were not yet prepared for beholding the brightness of the heavenly glory. For, when the Lord agave tokens of his presence, he employed, at the same time, some coverings to restrain the arrogance of the human mind. So now, with the view of teaching his disciples a lesson of humility, he withdraws from their eyes the sight of the heavenly glory. This admonition is likewise addressed to us, that we may not seek to pry into the secrets which lie beyond our senses, but, on the contrary, that every man may keep within the limits of sobriety, according to the measure of his faith. In a word, this cloud ought to serve us as a bridle, that our curiosity may not indulge in undue wantonness. The disciples, too, were warned that they must return to their former warfare, and therefore must not expect a triumph before the time." John Calvin
It is necessary for you first to hold the rank of human and then to participate in the glory of God. For you do not create God, but God creates you. If, then, you are the work of God, await the hand of God, who does everything at the appropriate time, the appropriate time for you, who are being made. Offer to him your heart, soft and pliable, and retain the shape with which the Fashioner shaped you, having in yourself his Water, lest you turn dryand lose the imprint of his fingers. By guarding this conformation, you will ascend to perfection; the mud in you will be concealed by the art of God. His Hand created your substance; it will gild you, inside and out, with pure gold and silver, and so adorn you that the King himself will desire your beauty . . . If, therefore, you offer to him what is yours, that is, faith in him . . . you will receive his art and become a perfect work of God. Irenaus