Scripture with the Fathers

Why should we read about a shepherd 4300 years ago? Why is this story and other like it in Scripture? What can we, in the 21st Century gain in wisdom from reading about a man with four wives, sheep and goats? Initially the story gives us the lineage for the Christ, but there is more, much more...

We learn of the Holy Innocents and how St. Augustine sees them as martyrs for Christ and relates this to infant baptism, which the Church had always done.

Jesus returns to Egypt and returns to Israel, but uses prudence in returning to Nazareth, even though his home town was Bethlehem. What is a Nazarene? Looking to Numbers and other passages in the Old Testament to understand what this means in reference to Christ.

We continue with St. Cyril of Alexandria relating the Scripture to the Spiritual meaning and in doing so point us to the Figure of Christ, the Divine shepherd and Bridegroom.

Leah and Rachel engage in a tit for tat competition for the affection of their husband Jacob. In the process Jacob fathers what will come to be the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. While polygamy was tolerated for a time for the purposes of progeny, this family situation illustrates the inherent problem with multiple wives, which was eventually rooted out of society as an evil practice that brings about envy and jealousy.

What would and why would Herod be afraid of a child newly born? How does he respond to this fear? The Gentile Magi, once having an encounter with Jesus, departs and return by another way. Why is this important? How did they know to search out the Christ, and how do they know not to return by another way?

We listen to Chapter 2 of the Gospel of Matthew and look into the Old Testament to Micah and Jeremiah as noted by Matthew. We read from the Church Fathers, Ambrose, Jerome and Augustine and Gregory the Great to explore who Herod was and how he came to power. The Fathers give us insight into who were the Magi and where they came from.

We hear from St. John Chrysostom and St. Augustine and define some terms and look at the virtue of Jacob even in light of polygamy. How Jacob is lovingly engages in heavy manual labor, despite of his nature for the desire of his love of Rachel.

The magi come searching for the King of the Jews, but how did they know to search for the king of the Jews? Why is Herod and all of jerusalem "greatly troubled?" We look to the Old Testament to discover the prophecy of the Davidic King being a priest king, and the time in which the Messiah was to arrivve on the scene.

Jacob continues on his journey to Laban and meets Rachel at the well. Jacob works for Laban for the bride price of Rachel and Leah. We look to St. John Chrysostom for our understanding of this text and see the foreshadowing of a scene in the Gospels.

Is there a Scriptural basis for the Perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Mother? How is it possible that mary remained a virgin and St. Joseph remain chaste during their married state? We consider the works of St. Jerome, and Psedo-Chrysostom and explore both Old Testament and New Testament excerpts to refute the idea that the words "until" and "know" indicate a change in status and carnal knowledge.