A Sacrament for youth

Among the many winds of doctrine of this age stand the Ordinances and Sacraments of the historic Church. In a time of chaos, fear, and reaction, the Church stands as a pillar of Truth, presenting to the world Divine scripture, the epistles of the Doctors of the Church, the Apostles. The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony remains at the heart of Church life, and its Divine purposes remain unchanged by popular opinion. Countercultural to western evangelicalism, the timely ministry of the Sacrament brings youths under Divine Grace and allows them to flourish as God intended them to. When fully prepared and catechized, youth are better positioned to fulfill the Divine purposes of marriage than older adults are.

Procreation (Genesis 1:28) is the first purpose of Holy Matrimony, according to the scriptures and the historic Church. Clearly foundational, those who are of a more fertile age are better suited to this purpose. When in a life-embracing community of faith, youth are able to contribute to the Church in this meaningful and spiritual way, offering back to God a most Sacred and beautiful gift, the icon of God that is humanity. Embracing the wisdom of the aged, young people are better equipped to fulfill this purpose by God’s Divine providence.

Mutual help and intimacy is the second purpose of Holy Matrimony. In Genesis 2:18, God saw Adam’s solitary state as “not good” and preceded to make a helpmate suitable for him. The intimacy of unified purpose is ultimate. For the vast majority of young men, the establishment of a Christ-centered home is a purpose to which the female counterpart is critical. A helper may be legitimately needed to provide the stability and mutual help to make a full transition into adult life. Though the aged need support as well, the timely application of the Sacrament provides this for a lifetime.

Avoiding sexual immorality is the third purpose of Holy Matrimony. 1 Corinthians 7 verse 2 and 9 are expressed in many historic marriage rites. Marriage is given as a remedy against fornication and a path to bring the body under the Lordship of Christ. A means of Divine Grace, Holy Matrimony sanctifies and purifies the Christian by the power of the Holy Spirit. Being especially susceptible to sexual desires in an unchaste culture, youth need this Sacrament more than the aged, their biological state requiring a healthy and secure sexual environment. Without the Sacrament, the neurological marriage bed cannot be kept pure, thus thwarting its purpose and resulting in moral chaos in the Church.

The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony remains a pillar of the Church. Its catechization to youth the responsibility of the elders and deacons, it will always be supported and encouraged by the historic Church. As the Church’s lifeblood is the purposes and Divine will of God, She will always guide youth towards the Sacramental life, teaching them how to honor God with their mind, soul, and bodies. As the strength of the body glorified in youth, it evermore must be brought under the Lordship of Jesus Christ by way of His Holy Mysteries and Sacraments. It is in this way the purposes of God will be fulfilled on earth.

Trading an inheritance for a bowl of stew

The Old Testament is a tool for spiritual transformation. The story of Jacob and Esau can be especially useful for spiritual instruction when illuminated by the New Testament. The life of Christ and the teachings of the Apostles bring to light its spiritual wealth for the Christian. The spiritual inheritance that Christ secured for mankind is beyond human imagination, a Pearl of Great Price. Unfortunately, the carnal nature despises this treasure, holding onto the comfort of the material and the immediate. As Esau, the carnal man trades his inheritance for a bowl of temporal fulfillment.

The spiritual inheritance of the Christian is none other than Christlikeness. Because of Jesus Christ, we can partake of the Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4) and thus share in His glory at the consummation of all things. Christ wore our humanity in perfect harmony with the Divine Essence. He is himself God, and we illuminate with His Light.

The glorious riches of Christ are not enough for the stubborn-hearted man. With the treasure of the very nature of God offered to him, he despises this gift of God. With the cup of Perfect Love before him, he turn up his nose in disgust. The carnal man returns to his vomit before receiving the blood of Christ. But the precious life-giving drink remains for all who will come.

As the prodigal son who comes to his senses, the Christian realises he squandered his Father’s inheritance and returns, hoping to even gaze upon the banquet from a distance. From afar, the Father is waiting, hoping he will be found on the horizon. When the lost son is barely within His sights, he runs to Him and throws upon his shoulders a cloak of Righteousness.

Though carnal man misuses his Divine inheritance, the Father continually watches for his return to paradise, communion with God and peace with men. His birthright of free choice he has wasted on the satisfaction of his own kingdom, but the possibility of spiritual awakening remains. He can unite again with the Divine nature, and live in the mansion prepared for the Sons of God.

Christ’s Breath of Life

Genesis 2
7 Then the Lord God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

For the Christian, the old testament is a Christological text. This means it is viewed through the lens of the life of Christ. It is this approach that reveals the spiritual meaning of the text and discloses the great mystery of God, namely, the Incarnation. As Christ is the center of Christian Theology, the book of Genesis is illuminated by the life of Christ. In the beginning God is described as breathing life into man. For the Christian, the text is describing the transformation of the inner man to the nature of the God-Man. It is Christ’s breath of life that is forming mankind into the image and likeness of God.

The spiritual meaning of the text is fully incarnated by Jesus Christ. It is the power of Christ’s words that is transforming humanity into God’s counterpart. This transformation has been occurring since Pentecost.

John 20
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

The spiritual life that mankind is experiencing is the work of the Co-Creator, Jesus Christ. As Christ is the beginning and the end, so His life fully encompases and fulfills the scriptures. In doing so, He is making mankind into the image and likeness of God.

Genesis 1
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Jesus Christ fulfilled the old testament scriptures. His breath in John 20 verse 22 is the breath of God that breathes spiritual life where there was only dry bones in the earth. Out of the deadness of man’s spiritual state, the breath of Christ is transforming humanity by the power of the Holy Spirit.