Eye on Faith

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Palm Sunday: Why a donkey?

One of the most memorable scenes from the original Palm Sunday is the triumphal entrance that Jesus made into Jerusalem. All four Gospels emphasize that He was riding on a donkey. Not only do they emphasize that, but the Synoptic Gospels further detail the instructions that Jesus gave concerning the donkey (and/or colt).

Matthew 21:1-3 (NIV) reports that Jesus told two disciples

to go into a nearby village on the Mount of Olives, find a

tethered donkey with her colt beside her, untie them, then bring them back to Him. Jesus even adds this explanation: If anyone says anything to you, tell them that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away. Matthew later goes on to describe the placing of cloaks upon these donkeys before Jesus sat upon them. (Note: There is still some debate as to whether Jesus rode one or both of these

donkeys into Jerusalem.)

Matthew then goes on to say that this was in fulfillment of these words from a prophet: Say to the Daughter of Zion,‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ Matthew was referring to the Book of Zechariah 9:9 – and was typically focusing upon Jesus being the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies. Zechariah 14:4 makes specific reference to the Mount of Olives. Wikipedia reports that this triumphal entry also harkens back to the description of Jewish liberation in

1 Maccabees 13:51 that was filled “with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees…”

Wikipedia also reports that in Eastern traditions the donkey had traditionally been associated with peace,

whereas the horse had traditionally been associated with war. Therefore, Jesus was entering Jerusalem as a peaceful prince, rather than as a warlike king. In the Hindu tradition, the goddess Kalaratri (the seventh aspect of Navdurga) also rides atop a donkey. Mary has been traditionally portrayed as riding a donkey when pregnant with Jesus. While on his deathbed, Saint Francis is said to have “thanked his donkey for carrying and helping him throughout his life,” and his donkey is said to have then wept.

A more recent story comes from Corrie Ten Boom, the devout Christian who helped liberate many Jews

during World War II, and then survived one of the worst Nazi death camps. At a press conference a few

years ago, she was asked if it were difficult to remain humble in light of her current fame. She replied: Young man, when Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments in the road and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered that donkey’s mind that any of that was for him?

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumphal_entry_into_Jerusalem

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi

http://hindupad.com/hindu-festivals-auspicious-days/durga-navratri-

hindu-festivals-auspicious-days-2/kalaratri-goddess-kaalratri-navadurga/

http://carmen-brown.blogspot.com/2008/06/god-help-me-to-be-donkey.html

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Lazarus Saturday: Why Jesus wept

Raising Lazarus (Bloch, 1875)

For centuries, reluctant Bible students have been choosing John 11:35 as the passage that they were willing to commit to memory. That’s because it’s the shortest passage in the King James Version, solely consisting of these two words: Jesus wept. (He wept when Lazarus of Bethany was dead.)

These two words have also been emphasized by enthusiastic Bible students. Throughout the ages, scholars have pondered the implications of a weeping Jesus. If even humans hesitate to weep for fear of weakness, why would Jesus do so?

Biblos.com not only lists some of the parallel versions of this passage (although neither the Greek New Testament nor the Textus Receptus are included, both of which have shorter passages than John 11:35) – but it also lists some of the parallel commentaries on this passage. Henry, Wesley, Barnes, Clarke, Gill, Vincent and others have all weighed in on why Jesus wept.

Back in the early 18^th century, Matthew Henry believed that Jesus wept tears of compassion for the afflicted rather than the melodramatic tears that so many humans are heir to. In the later 18^th century, John Wesley tended to agree. He, like Henry, also included a warning about the misery of sin in his commentary. Barnes further expounds by pointing out that human relationships are not inconsistent with Christianity – in fact, they are supportive of it and supported by it.

Gill wrote that Jesus was also weeping for all those who did not realize who He really was. Vincent contrasted the empathy of the “deity of Jesus” with “Homer’s gods and goddesses.” He offered this quote from the Iliad xxiv 525 to illustrate his point: The gods ordain the lot of man to suffer, while themselves are free of care.” Clarke reminds us that in Luke 19:41 Jesus is also “said to have wept over Jerusalem.”

Wikipedia adds that the death and raising of Lazarus portends the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Another stated theory is that Jesus felt the trauma that Lazarus would experience when transitioning from a short stay in Paradise back to a very troubled Earth. Pope Leo I summed it up this way: In his humanity Jesus wept for Lazarus; in his divinity he raised him from the dead.

Resources

http://bible.cc/john/11-35.htm

http://bible.cc/luke/19-41.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_wept

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus_of_Bethany

Friday, April 15, 2011

Leonardo da Vinci: His angelic side

(Tobias and the Angel)

At the age of 14, Leonardo da Vinci apprenticed with the famed artist, Andrea del Verrocchio. It is generally accepted that Leonardo painted some of Verrocchio’s Baptism of Christ. The biographer Vasari even said that Leonardo’s contribution was so superior to the rest of this painting that Verrocchio afterwards vowed to never pick up a paintbrush again (indeed, Verrocchio was mostly known for sculpture after that).

Wikipedia reports that Leonardo may have also painted portions of Verrocchio’s Tobias and the Angel (perhaps the fish and/or the dog). If so, it might be the earliest extant example of a painting partially done by Leonardo, and can be viewed today in London’s National Gallery. What’s especially interesting is that Leonardo is also said to be the model for the Archangel Raphael in this painting.

A cursory description of this painting might sound to the uninitiated like the beginning of a corny joke. (So the Archangel Raphael is walking down the road with a man, a fish, and a dog…) Many are not as familiar with this (sometimes) biblical tale from the Book of Tobit because only the Catholic and Orthodox Churches regularly include it in their canons. The Church of England considers it part of the Apocrypha - and the Protestant Christian Church considers it to be a useful text, but not one that is divinely inspired. Ancient Jews did not include it as part of the Tanakh, but it was included within the Greek Septuagint. Aramaic and Hebrew fragments of it were found within the Dead Sea Scrolls.

This Book of Tobit tells the story of a righteous Israelite named Tobit, his son named Tobias, and a damsel in spiritual distress named Sarah. Tobit is praying to die because of blindness incurred during the course of his noble service to mankind. Sarah is also praying to die because of repeated abuse from Asmodeus (king of demons). Who will somehow save them both? Tobias, of course – with a little help from the fish and dog – and a lot of help from the Archangel Raphael.

Wikipedia reports that this story is a source of wisdom concerning prayer, fasting, charity, marriage, reverence for the dead, intercession of angels, and filial piety. Perhaps that is why Verrocchio and the young Leonardo were determined to highlight it within their own artistic canon.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Tobit

http://bible.oremus.org/?version=nrsvae&vnum=yes&passage=Tobit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verrocchio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobias_and_the_Angel_(Verrocchio)

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Baisakhi: How many could pass this sacred test?

(Baisakhi Photo by Sixtybolts)

Websites such as theholidayspot.com inform readers of such festive Baisakhi traditions as harvest dancing and singing, gay-colored clothing, and traditional jewelry. There are Baisakhi recipes such as battura (deep-fried dough balls) and nariel laddu (coconut delights), decorations such as marigolds and mango leaves, ceremonial baths, fairs, processions, worship (gurdwara) visits, blessed food (prasad), and holy service (sewa).

However, the roots of Baisakhi were anything but festive. As this world goes, they were quite somber; as other worlds go, they were quite profound.

Wikipedia tells us that Baisakhi originated with the establishment of the Khalsa (“Pure” baptized Sikhs) by the tenth and last human Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. Guru Gobind Singh had deemed it necessary to take up defensive arms against Mughal persecutors that had executed his father, ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur. He therefore called for a gathering of his followers on harvest day (April 13) of 1699 CE at Anandpur, Punjab, India.

When they arrived, Guru Gobind Singh asked those who would be willing to sacrifice their heads for the good of the cause to come forward. No one answered his first and second calls. On the third call, Bhai Daya Singh (a long-term disciple of Guru Tegh Bahadur) responded. Guru Gobind Singh and Bhai Daya Singh then disappeared into a tent. After some time, Guru Gobind Singh emerged alone from the tent with blood dripping from his sword. The Guru then asked the group who would be next.

One by one, four others volunteered – and one by one, they were led off to the tent. Each time, Guru Gobind Singh again emerged alone with a bloodied sword.

However, after the last volunteer had answered this call, Guru Gobind Singh and all five of these devotees emerged together. They who (like Abraham with Isaac) were willing to make this ultimate faithful sacrifice were then called “the five beloved ones.”

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaisakhi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalsa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Gobind_Singh

http://www.theholidayspot.com/baisakhi/history.htm

http://www.theholidayspot.com/baisakhi/the_festival.htm

http://www.theholidayspot.com/baisakhi/custom.htm

http://www.theholidayspot.com/baisakhi/recipes/index.htm

http://www.theholidayspot.com/baisakhi/celebrations.htm

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Hanuman: Beating Darwin at his own game

(Hanuman)

Darwin’s preoccupation with evolution just didn’t go far enough. Had he continued, he might have discovered what the ancients knew long ago. Spiritual evolution is not necessarily equated with genetics.

At the very least, a meeting between Hanuman and Darwin could have been quite the (third) eye-opener. Although physically an ape-like humanoid, Hanuman is actually said to be the eleventh avatar of Shiva. His level of bhakti (spiritual devotion) far exceeds that of most beings. The Ramayana is filled with stories of his heroic faithfulness to King Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu.

As may be imagined, growing up wasn’t easy for Hanuman.

According to Wikipedia, he had once thought that the sun was a ripe mango and hungered for it. This eventually led to his being a disciple of the sun deity, Surya. This went fairly well except for Hanuman's mischievous habit of riling up forest sages. The sages then cursed Hanuman with a forgetfulness of his own abilities unless reminded by others about them.

It seems that many humans suffer from this same curse. It might therefore behoove them to internalize this reminder that Jambavantha gave to Hanuman: You are as powerful as the wind; You are intelligent, illustrious and an inventor. There is nothing in this world that’s too difficult for you; Whenever stuck, you are one who can help.

Talk about renewed self-esteem! Hanuman was now ready to save the day for King Rama, Queen Sita and Brother of Rama, Lakshmana. “Ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no river wide enough” could then be sung with Hanuman in mind - for he flew across an ocean and yanked up a mountain in order to achieve his noble goals.

After all this heroic devotion, a lesser being might have needed a break. Perhaps just some time to kick back and peel grapes… Not Hanuman! Wikipedia reports that he instead undertook the painstaking procedure of inscribing his version of the Ramayana into a Himalaya cliff with his bare nails.

Say what you will, but it’s a safe bet that the all-too-human Darwin couldn’t have matched that publishing feat…

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanuman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayana

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Stonewall Jackson: In battle as in bed

Stonewall Jackson (1864 Portrait by King)

When asked by General John Daniel Imboden how he could keep

so cool in the midst of raging battles, Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson replied: Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Jackson then added that if all men lived with this kind of faith, they would be equally brave.

Indeed, when it came his time to cross over from this world into the next, Jackson’s words rang especially true. After being felled by what would today be called “friendly fire,” Jackson was at first expected to recover. However, just eight days later he lay dying of pneumonia. His deathbed response was a very calm: It is the Lord’s Day; my wish is fulfilled. I have always desired to die on Sunday.

Even then, the distance between battle and bed did not seem far. The chief surgeon of Jackson’s Corps, Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire, recorded Jackson’s final words. A few moments before death, Jackson cried out in delirium: Order A. P. Hill to prepare for action! Pass the infantry to the front rapidly! Tell Major Hawks - In the midst of these “battlefield” orders, Jackson suddenly grew silent. Holmes reported that “a smile of ineffable sweetness” came over Jackson’s pale face, and then a look of relief. These last words were then quietly spoken: Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.

Just what were the religious beliefs and that Jackson adhered to so faithfully? Son of the South tells us that before being stationed in Mexico City, Jackson was an exceedingly moral man, but not a particularly religious one. It seemed to be Colonel Francis Taylor, whom Jackson reported to during the Mexican War, who first began talking with Jackson about personal religion. This must have struck a chord deep within Jackson, for he then began studying the Bible in earnest. In 1851, Jackson united with the Presbyterian Church.

In an 1858 letter to his sister, Laura Jackson Arnold, Jackson outlined his religious beliefs. He began by quoting Mark 16:16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved… He then quoted an “able theologian” by stating that believing means “feeling and acting as if there were a God, a Heaven, a Hell; as if we were sinners and must die; as if we deserve eternal death, and were in danger of it. And in view of all, casting our eternal interests on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus. To do this is to be a Christian.”

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Jackson

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Stonewall_Jackson.htm

http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=9259

Monday, April 11, 2011

Yuri Gagarin: To see or not to see

(Eta Carinae)

Here it is fifty years later, and people are still not exactly sure what Yuri Gagarin did or didn’t say about seeing God in outer space.

According to the Orthodox Outlet for Dogmatic Enquiries (OODE), the statement generally ascribed to Gagarin – I went up to space, but I didn’t encounter God – actually originated with Krushchev’s Central Committee propaganda machine. OODE goes on to claim that what “Yuri Gagarin, the Christian” actually said was this: An astronaut cannot be suspended in space and not have God in his mind and his heart.

Some of Gagarin’s cosmonaut successors actually reported seeing angels on high. The Salyut 7 was a Russian space station that remained in low Earth orbit from April 1982 to February 1991. James J. Jorgensen reports that the January 5, 1986 edition of the Parade Magazine (a long-term insert in Sunday newspapers throughout the land) ran an article titled The Best and Worst of Everything concerning the year 1985. This mainstream publication went on to list angel sightings by six of the Salyut 7 cosmonauts within the “Best International News” section.

These six cosmonauts claimed to have seen “a band of glowing angels with wings as big jumbo jets.” On their 155^th day aboard the Salyut 7, three of these cosmonauts saw “seven giant figures in the form of humans, but with wings and mist like halos…” Twelve days later, these figures were again seen by three other Salyut 7 cosmonauts. These latter cosmonauts reported that the figures “were smiling as though they

shared in a glorious secret.”

There are numerous articles circulating on the Internet that link these angel sightings to the Vatican, the NGC 3532 cluster, Eta Carinae, end-time warnings, etc. Many readers deem at least some of these theories to be “reasonable.” So keep one eye on high – and another on faith. You just never know what might appear next…

Resources

http://www.oodegr.com/english/epistimi/gagarin1.htm

http://www.slideshare.net/guest3be51c3/presence-of-angels

http://www.god-messages.com/myth.html

http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/angels_in_space.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_3532

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eta_Carinae