KIRKSPIRE ARTICLE AUGUST 2008
WORD AND SACRAMENTS 1
The Eagle Lectern
Murdoch MacKenzie
Having looked at various ‘symbols’ in and around the Kirk building we will end this series with four studies which will take us to the heart of the matter. Ordained Ministers are ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacraments. Thus, in turn, we will consider (con-siderare - remember the stars?) the Eagle Lectern, the Pulpit, the Baptismal Font and the Communion Table.
This month let us think about the Eagle Lectern. Why is it in the form of an eagle? In Ezekiel 10:4-15 we read about the cherubim. One with the face of a cherub, one that of a man, another that of a lion and the fourth that of an eagle.
Allied with this there is an ancient tradition associating the four gospel writers with the four "living creatures" who appear in Rev 4:6-8, worshipping around the throne. “Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a LION, the second living creature like an OX, the third living creature with a face like a HUMAN face, and the fourth living creature like a flying EAGLE. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come."
These four winged creatures have been associated with the four Evangelists and depicted in Christian art since the 2nd century. As interpreted by St Jerome, who died in Bethlehem in 420 AD, and who gave us the Latin version of the Bible, which is called the Vulgate, they have also been likened to Jesus' journey on earth where he was born as a man, was sacrificed like a calf, was reborn like a lion in his resurrection, and soared like an eagle in his Ascension.
Although John Calvin and some of the other Reformers stressed the equal efficacy of every part of the Bible some traditions have always given a special place to the Gospels and among them it is clear that St John’s Gospel, the fourth Gospel, is different in style and theological character from the first three, which we call the ‘synoptics’ meaning that they can be seen together. Whatever be the case it is clear that the Word of God in the Bible is at the very centre both of our Christian life and of our Christian worship. This was emphasised in St Andrew’s Kirk on 25th February 1971 when we celebrated the 150th anniversary and at the beginning of the service restored the former Presbyterian custom of carrying in the Bible as the first act in the worship with the congregation standing. It was then placed on the eagle lectern.
Eagle lecterns have been in use for many centuries and are often made of brass. Here in Scotland the golden eagle is regarded as the finest of birds. St John’s Gospel is associated with the eagle because of his "soaring" witness to Jesus' divine nature. The eagle soars at high altitudes, it is quick and sharp-sighted, and it has a rich symbolic history. An early legend held that the eagle would periodically renew its youth by flying near the sun and then plunging into a lake or fountain. On this basis the eagle became a symbol for the Resurrection. In addition, since the eagle soars upward, it became a symbol for Christ's Ascension.
As the Bible is read from the eagle lectern during worship, let us in the power of the Spirit remember the words of the prophet Isaiah: ‘They who wait for the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.’ (Is.40:31) So, let us pray that as we hear God’s word being read from the lectern Sunday by Sunday we too may be inspired to mount up on wings like eagles in our day and generation.
Murdoch MacKenzie
Having looked at various ‘symbols’ in and around the Kirk building we will end this series with four studies which will take us to the heart of the matter. Ordained Ministers are ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacraments. Thus, in turn, we will consider (con-siderare - remember the stars?) the Eagle Lectern, the Pulpit, the Baptismal Font and the Communion Table.
This month let us think about the Eagle Lectern. Why is it in the form of an eagle? In Ezekiel 10:4-15 we read about the cherubim. One with the face of a cherub, one that of a man, another that of a lion and the fourth that of an eagle.
Allied with this there is an ancient tradition associating the four gospel writers with the four "living creatures" who appear in Rev 4:6-8, worshipping around the throne. “Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a LION, the second living creature like an OX, the third living creature with a face like a HUMAN face, and the fourth living creature like a flying EAGLE. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come."
These four winged creatures have been associated with the four Evangelists and depicted in Christian art since the 2nd century. As interpreted by St Jerome, who died in Bethlehem in 420 AD, and who gave us the Latin version of the Bible, which is called the Vulgate, they have also been likened to Jesus' journey on earth where he was born as a man, was sacrificed like a calf, was reborn like a lion in his resurrection, and soared like an eagle in his Ascension.
Although John Calvin and some of the other Reformers stressed the equal efficacy of every part of the Bible some traditions have always given a special place to the Gospels and among them it is clear that St John’s Gospel, the fourth Gospel, is different in style and theological character from the first three, which we call the ‘synoptics’ meaning that they can be seen together. Whatever be the case it is clear that the Word of God in the Bible is at the very centre both of our Christian life and of our Christian worship. This was emphasised in St Andrew’s Kirk on 25th February 1971 when we celebrated the 150th anniversary and at the beginning of the service restored the former Presbyterian custom of carrying in the Bible as the first act in the worship with the congregation standing. It was then placed on the eagle lectern.
Eagle lecterns have been in use for many centuries and are often made of brass. Here in Scotland the golden eagle is regarded as the finest of birds. St John’s Gospel is associated with the eagle because of his "soaring" witness to Jesus' divine nature. The eagle soars at high altitudes, it is quick and sharp-sighted, and it has a rich symbolic history. An early legend held that the eagle would periodically renew its youth by flying near the sun and then plunging into a lake or fountain. On this basis the eagle became a symbol for the Resurrection. In addition, since the eagle soars upward, it became a symbol for Christ's Ascension.
As the Bible is read from the eagle lectern during worship, let us in the power of the Spirit remember the words of the prophet Isaiah: ‘They who wait for the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.’ (Is.40:31) So, let us pray that as we hear God’s word being read from the lectern Sunday by Sunday we too may be inspired to mount up on wings like eagles in our day and generation.
Murdoch MacKenzie