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Treasure Hidden in a Field
Oct 22, 2012 | by Richard Lee MC ’14
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buy that field.” –Matthew 13:44, ESV
In this perhaps the shortest parable in the entire Gospel, we see a man who sells his entire possession to buy a field with the hidden treasure. It seems odd at first, for why would he sell everything? I ask this question, in part because I have struggled through many reading comprehension exams, but pause and imagine that you are walking through a field and discover a trove with gold, diamonds, gems and 500,000 shares of Apple stock. You are shocked. You want to claim the treasure, but your conscience tells you not to steal, for it is on another man’s property. If we truly “believe” or “have faith” in this situation, then it is natural that we would sell all that we have to buy the field with the hidden treasure, which is worth infinitely more than anything we have.
Fishers of Men
April 20, 2016 | by Valentina Guerrero, PC '19
The above verse is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Matthew 4:18-20 is more than just another display of Jesus's (naturally) perfect play on words. It puts me in the moment - dehydrated and dirty, hopelessly waiting for fish that never come - standing beside Simon Peter and Andrew as Jesus calls to us. In an instant, our once laughable attempt at considering ourselves fishermen bears more meaning than we could have ever imagined. Yes, we are fishermen (albeit poor ones). However, if we drop everything and follow Jesus we can be great fishers of men. All we need is a little faith.
Who Do You Say I Am: The Centrality of the Church in the Christian Faith
Jan 23, 2016 | by Armando Ghinaglia YDS '17
He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’” (Luke 9:20). Just as the Apostles before us, Christians have developed many responses to this question Jesus asked two thousand years ago. Some answers— “the way, the truth, and the life”—have become standard across all of Christianity. Others—“the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father”—became tests of orthodoxy and heresy. Foundationally, however, any response to this question must lead back to the Church—not the individual—as the normative means by which we come to know Jesus as the Christ and deepen our relationship with God.
Dead Come to Life
April 16, 2017 | By Chris Kim BK ‘20
We often like to think of ourselves as untouchable, living as if we are able to choose the day death arrives on our doorstep. We don’t realize the gift of life, and we take for granted every breath we take. For the first time in my life this past spring break, however, death flashed before my eyes, and I was reminded of the incredible fragility of life and the importance of centering our focus on what is truly important in life, which is to seek truth. Granted, I have faced near death experiences before; in Japan, my mom, sister, and I almost got hit by a motorcyclist. Another time, our car was totaled on a crowded freeway in Los Angeles. While both of these experiences could very realistically have ended in my death, I was either too young or the event too short-lived for me to truly ponder the possibility of me dying. This past week, however, I confronted death in a way that I never have before.
"Is Anything Worth Believing In?" The Veritas Forum with John Lennox
April 2, 2013 | by Travis Reginal BK '16
On Saturday, February 23rd, John Lennox rolled onto Yale’s campus for the first time to speak on the question “Is Anything Worth Believing In?” It was part of the widely popular Veritas Forum that brings speakers to campuses in the Northeast to speak on the big issues. Yale lecturer in philosophy, Greg Ganssle, helped to facilitate John Lennox’s argument for Christianity by clarifying some of the claims Lennox made and at times pushed back on them. The event was very much anticipated in the Christian community, as a way to bring skeptical friends to hear someone discuss religion logically, and for the skeptical community it was an opportunity to see a moment where John Lennox may falter and give them a reason for their unbelief.
Jesus: Friend of Sinners
Feb 2, 2016 | by Nicholas Dacosta, DC '18
Jesus Christ has been one of the most influential and controversial figures in history. Embodying a message of radical love and a system of values antithetical to that of his day, Jesus’ teachings were contentious and unpalatable in a world where legalistic obedience and worthiness were inextricably linked. The church, as conceived after the conclusion of Jesus’ ministry, was intended to be the extension and manifestation of Jesus’ message of divine reconciliation here on earth. Historically, however, the church has been a source of division and derision, often creating a dichotomy of us-versus-them between believers and non-believers. This separation between the ecclesiastical and secular flies in the face of the message of the Gospel. Looking closely at the life and teachings of Jesus, we see that isolating oneself from those who are perceived to be “unclean” is completely contrary to the Gospel. Jesus Christ, rightly understood, has always been the defender of the downtrodden, the champion of the disinherited, and a friend of sinners.
Upcoming Events:
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Weekly Meetings
THURSDAYS 5-7PM, Branford College Trumbull Room
Discuss with us what it means to think Christianly and write for our publication.
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Philosophy of Everyday Life Seminar
THURSDAY SEPT 11TH 6:15-7:45PM, Elm Institute
Join us at the Elm Institute for a private version of the Elm’s popular seminar “The Philosophy of Everyday Life”. Readings will be focused on Friendship. No prior reading required. Food provided.
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Divinity School Private Archival Tour
THURSDAY SEPT 18th, 9AM, Yale Divinity School
We will be looking at the Yale Divinity School’s missionary collection, specifically focusing on letters from international ecumenical movements from America to China. We will be looking at how these relate to our theme of freidnship in a more nuanced way. We will be walking up from cross-campus at 8:30 am, but you can also meet at the YDS gates at 9 am.
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William Blake Private Exhibition Tour
THURSDAY OCT 2ND, TIME TBA
Peter Wicks of the Elm Institute will guide us through the traveling exhibition ‘William Blake: Burning Bright’ at Yale Center for British Art. No previous experience with art or William Blake required.