Psalm 103:1 is a small chiasm that hints at large anthropological conclusions: A. Bless Yahweh B. O my soul B’. All that is within me A’. [Bless] His holy name. Though the verb “bless” is not repeated in the final clause, it is implied. Yahweh and “holy name” are clearly parallel. Yahweh and His Name enclose the soul of the Psalmist. What intrigues me at the moment is the B/B’ connection. Initially, it is David’s soul that blesses Yahweh; then... Read more
I have often cited this passage from Thomas Oden’s Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry (85), though I long ago forgot it came from Oden. It has some flaws, but it’s a moving statement of the privilege of pastoral vocation: “”There are five incomparable days in the believer’s life. The day one is born, when life is given. The day one is baptized, and enters anticipately into the community of faith. The day one is confirmed, when one chooses to re-affirm... Read more
Expounding on Jesus’ words about adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:27-28), John Paul II notes “a significant convergence” with as well as a “fundamental divergence” from postmodern “masters of suspicion” ( Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology Of The Body , 310-12 ). Nietzsche, Marx, and Freud all dig up the “hidden basis and the orientation” of human action. “In Nietzschean hermeneutics, the judgment and accusation of the human heart correspond in some way to what biblical language... Read more
Edward Vacek ( Spirituality and Moral Theology: Essays from a Pastoral Perspective , 103): says that “Gratitude essentially has a ‘for me’ or ‘for mine’ quality. We can, properly speaking, give thanks only when we or persons whose lives we share have been benefited. We can be happy that a stranger has won the lottery, but not thankful.” Vacek hasn’t fully absorbed the New Testament’s, especially Paul’s, theology of gratitude. Paul thanks God on behalf of many people who are... Read more
Thinking through the dynamics of gift and gratitude, linguistic analogies are useful. A statement or proposal or question is a gift. A response is supposed to be a counter-gift, an act of gratitude, grace returned for the grace given. To keep a conversation going, you need to receive the gift from the other and to offer a return gift. “Gratitude” in a linguistic context is not merely a “thank you” for an insight given. It may be initially, but if... Read more
Edward Vacek ( Spirituality and Moral Theology: Essays from a Pastoral Perspective , 102) argues that gratitude depends on right self-love: “Gratitude is . . . difficult where there is little sense of self. That may occur in cultures that are highly communal and highly structured. Even in our individualist culture, however, there are many who lack a lively self-love. When we do not love ourselves, we can observe the gift given; we can receive it; and we may even... Read more
Israel’s priests were to offer ascension offerings ( ‘olah ) continuously ( tamid ) before Yahweh. By performing these offerings, the priests were calling on God to remember His promises and act accordingly. Continuous ascension was a continuous memorial. Psalm 74 ends with this: “Forget not the clamor of your adversaries, the tumult of your enemies that ascends continually.” “Ascends continually” translates ‘alah tamid , language that carries a strong liturgical charge. The clamor of the wicked is like a... Read more
In his contribution to Spirituality and Moral Theology: Essays from a Pastoral Perspective (84) , Edward Vacek discusses the “three forms of love” that are “intermingled” in God. His summary statement is a helpful riposte to Nygren: “As an ‘agapist,’ God creates generously and without the good of getting some return. As an erotic lover, God is the center of the universe, and God blesses, rewards, or forgives in accord with what brings glory to God’s own self. As one... Read more
Bless the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits. Psalm 103 rushes on to enumerate some of those benefits: God pardons our sins. He heals our diseases. He buys us back from the pit. He crowns us with lovingkindness and renews our youth like the eagles’. He passes judgment on behalf of the oppressed. He puts our sins behind Him as... Read more
As Moses gives his final instructions to Israel, he reminds them that he will not lead them into the land (Deuteronomy 31:1-3). Instead: a. Yahweh your God will cross ahead of you b. He will destroy those nations before you b’. and you shall dispossess them a’. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you. The predicate in a/a’ is identical ( hu ‘over lefaneyka ). Only the subject is different – Yah in a and Joshua in... Read more
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