Ancient Anglican

The gospel according to the Man in Black is a gospel rooted in solidarity. The cross of Christ is an act of divine identification with the oppressed, the cursed, and the godforesaken.

At Christmas, we we too are born of God on this day.

At Christmas, the Maker of the world becomes the son of whom He created.

St. Leo tells us that Christmas is a time for joy because our redemption is at hand. We are obtaining eternal life and our fear of death had died; therefore, we must rejoice.

For our final Episode, please read 1 Kings 1-2. Here, David dies peacefully in his bed and his son Solomon (by Bathsheba) violently ascends the throne with the aid of Nathan the prophet. The King is dead, long live the King!

Thoughout David’s Saga, we see David compose songs of Thanksgiving. This post is a meditation on those Psalms.

For Episode 12, please read 2 Samuel 20-24. In this week’s episode, David crushes another rebellion and there are flashbacks to David’s war with the Philistines and David’s violent destruction of Saul’s family.

For Episode 11, please read 2 Samuel 17:15-19:43. In this week’s episode, Absalom’s Rebellion is put down with the violent death of the pretender, and David is reconciled to those who fought against him.

For Episode 10, please read 2 Samuel 15:7-17:14. This week’s story is the second part of Absolm’s Rebellion where Absolom quickly gains the upper hand but squanders his advantage by relying on the misleading advice of an agent of influence.

For Episode 9 of the David Saga, please read 2 Samuel 13:1-15:6. This episode begins with the Rape of Tamar which ultimately leads to Absalom’s Rebellion. In this episode we are faced with incestuous rape, fraternal murder, and filial rebellion.

For Episode 8 of the David Saga, please read 2 Samuel 11-12. This is the infamous story of David and Bathsheba. It is a story of rape, murder, condemnation, and ultimately contrition.

For Episode 7 of the David Saga, please read 2 Samuel 5-10. This week’s episode is the apex of David reign and is the only time in our story when David is secure from all his enemies – foreign, domestic, and, more importantly, even himself.