Epiphany (3)

Faith and Reason

2 paths, one destination

one source river, 2 branching creeks

In Christ’s epiphany in history

when child revealed to world

2 groups come

who

poor uneducated shepherds

men of wealth so wise called magi

could represent

faith

reason

both leading to same end, both guided supernaturally on diff paths

after all, as Aquinas chrysostom, even star not naturaly one

one revealed, one learned

this moment in history mirrors reality

Christ, Truth Himself incarnated, made all things

Truth fundamentally non-contradictory

consistent

two creeks from same river, going to be of same water

same unexpected place: truth found in most humble and simple

babe in manger

Faith and reason are both sources of same truth

do not conflict

not even Trinity

not having certain proof is not same thing as saying contradictory/ agaisnt logic

Church teaching

1 Pet 3:15. give apo logos for faith

Dei Filius can never be any real disagreement btwn faith reason + demonstrate God exist by reason

reasoning one noblest of human tasks Fides et Ratio

CCC 159 no conflict faith in reason b/c one God

For us

with faith, never fear good study

certainly plenty of deceivers and bad ‘scholarship’, not saying trust everyone

but fundamentally truth reason will not lead you away from truth

indeed better understand God thru it + break naitivity

dont neglect study

as much time as lesser studies?

Conclusion

2 books in reality, nature and scripture (QUOTE)

never before a faith that provided for scientific revolution like in the middle ages

most (not all) religions have anti-intelelctual bent

here is exception, the faith of the logos incarnate

logos incarnate, not pathos

let us venerate reason for know its source is the same as the saving faith

intro

2 come to Christ

gift of faith

signs of nature

Natural and supernatural lead to supernatural

Truth Himself

both supernatural origin

QUOTE BOOK OF NATURE

Notes

Me

Book nature + Gospel

gentiles called

symbol too for all are welcome if come to worship

unlikeliness of it all

infinite in humble

Commentators

Pitre

claims gentiles were expecting a great king out of judea

Numbers 24:16–17 “the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes uncovered: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth.” [me: Remigius and Jerome confimr this idea and suggest descendents of Balaam]

Book of nature vs spiritual (need scribes to tell bethlehem)

3 “kings” taken from OT that kings bear these gifts and thinking of time that good kings were magi

epiphany is Christ is revealed as savior of mankind

Gifts

gold: king

incense: priestly

mhry: death (Pitre: maybe prophet)

Thomas Aquinas + Chrysostom

star is supernatural