Empty Graves, Clean Feet, and the Gift of Melancholy

1/ Paul’s Prayer of Thanks for the Ephesian Christians (Ephesians 1:15-23)

Lord, teach us to pray like Paul…

For this reason, 
  because I have heard of your 
    faith in the Lord Jesus and your 
    love toward all the saints, 
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
      the Father of glory, 
   may give you the Spirit 
         of wisdom and 
         of revelation in the knowledge of him, 
      having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 
that you may know 
         what is the hope to which he has called you, 
         what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 
         and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, 
            according to the working of his great might 
               that he worked in Christ when he 
                  raised him from the dead and 
                  seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 
                     far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, 
                     and above every name that is named, 
                     not only in this age but also in the one to come. 
               And he put all things under his feet and 
               gave him as head over all things to the church, 
                  which is his body, 
                  the fullness of him who fills all in all. 

2/ With Clean Feet

Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet, Ford Madox Brown, 1852-2856

The shock and restraint of Peter, the readiness of Judas, the awe of the other disciples. Especially:

3/ Depression or Melancholy?

Sadness is epidemic. It was bad a few years ago, but Covid and all the rest have intensified and accelerated this trending unhappiness. What do we make of it?

A mental habit of mine is to translate our modern language into words that the ancient fathers would’ve understood. This helps us connect our own trouble with the wisdom of the Scriptures and the human conversation. There is, after all, nothing new under the sun. There is often wisdom simply in this translation.

How would we translate “depression”?

Consider the difference between these two sentences:

“I’ve been diagnosed with depression.”
“I’m afflicted with melancholy.”

The first is clinical. The second is a battle. One defines me, the other challenges me. The first is sterile, the second a term of art.

“I’m diagnosed with depression” is depressing.

But if you ask me what good could come from “being afflicted with melancholy,” I’d answer, “Just about every great piece of art ever created.”

In my reading of history, it seems like anyone of import wrestled with melancholy, including King David (“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” Psalm 42:5), Elijah, even Jesus (remember the prayer in the garden, “And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground,” Luke 22:44).

Depression or melancholy, it’s amazing what a difference the words make.

4/ God and Government

Luke Macias invited me to this conversation with Bill Peacock and Joel Webbon about God and Government.

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Thank you, again, for your time and attention, and for your prayers. Please keep in touch. 

Lord's Blessings, Pastor Wolfmueller

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

www.wolfmueller.co

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