By Anthony Esolen
“It is good for the man to be alone,” said the Spirit of the Age. “I will take away this help suitable for him and establish her on her own.” Then he caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man and separated the woman, instructing her in the way things should be, so that when the man awoke, he would find himself alone and unnecessary.
Afterward Jesus and his disciples came to the regions of Judea beyond the Jordan, and no one brought children to him, because there were none to bring.
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger, Rachel. Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was beautiful and well-formed. But Jacob didn’t care.
And Jesus said: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call the guests to the wedding banquet, but they would not come.” Then Peter said: “Lord, perhaps they already had better wine at home.” And all agreed.
Women, do not submit to your husbands and, if they do not follow the Word, leave them. For thus did the powerful women of old, adorning themselves in pride, like Jezebel, whose daughter you are.
Husbands, do not love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her to sanctify and purify her. They are already sufficiently sanctified and purified, and so are you.
And do not love them as you love your own bodies. For the body is all that you are, and no man can love another as he loves himself. Therefore a man shall leave his mother, or perhaps his father, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall be two bodies. This is no great mystery.
And Miriam and Aaron said: “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken also through us?” Now Moses was very meek, more than all men on the face of the earth. So he submitted to Miriam and Aaron, and then to all the people in the assembly. And everything that the Lord had commanded through Moses, they presented to the people to approve or not; and everything they approved became law for the Lord, and what they did not approve, the Lord forgot.
And now these three remain: self-confidence, ambition, and malice; and the greatest of these is malice.
And the serpent said to the woman: “You will not die. For God knows that on the day you eat of this fruit your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil.” And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable to attain wisdom, she took of its fruit and ate, and gave also to her husband, and he ate. Then their eyes were opened and they knew that they were naked. So they loved one another, and all was well.
And they called to Lot and said to him: “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out so that we may know them.” But Lot went out to them, closing the door behind him, and said: “Please, brothers, do not do such wickedness. They are my guests. Look, I have some handsome servants, and I will bring them out to you.” And Lot did so, and all were pleased, and the Lord smiled upon his city.
The Pharisees came up to him to test him and said: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” And Jesus said to them: “Have you not read that God made them at the beginning neither male nor female, but like the angels? Therefore, what God has not joined, either of the two may separate.” But his disciples said to him: “If that is the condition of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.” And Jesus replied: “You have said it.”
Oh, how I love your law! I break it every day.
To the one who strikes your neighbor on the right cheek, turn also your neighbor’s left cheek to him. And if anyone sues your neighbor for his tunic, give him his cloak also. And to the one who compels your neighbor to go a mile with him, give the man two.
Say to your brother: “Let me take the speck out of your eye.”
The law of the Lord is old and lame; the testimony of the Lord is uncertain.
Blessed are the braggarts, for they shall conquer the world.
And Jesus came up to them, saying: “I have authority in heaven, but none on earth. Stay where you are and let the nations go their way.”
Now there are many names under heaven by which we may be saved.
When you have done some of the things commanded you, say: “We are useful servants, so give us what we have earned.”
For Eve was formed first, then Adam. And Adam was deceived, but the woman was not deceived, because women cannot be deceived. Nevertheless, he will be saved, if he allows her to give birth or not to his child, as she pleases to do it.
And they will say to him: “Lord, when did we see you hungry?” And he will change his mind.
And Jesus said to them: “Do you also wish to go away?” Then Peter deliberated with the others to decide what they should do.
Every man can serve two masters, loving each in his own way, because God and money are one.
Mercilessness and slander have met; dissolution and discord have kissed.
In the beginning was the Noise.
About the Author
Anthony Esolen is a professor, translator, and writer. Among his books are Out of the Ashes: Rebuilding American Culture, Nostalgia: Going Home in a Homeless World and, more recently, The Hundredfold: Songs for the Lord. He is Distinguished Professor at Thales College. Be sure to visit his new website, Word and Song.