The time for Irenaeus has come.

Friends,

It's like that Etta James song "At Last." The wait is over. The time for Irenaeus has come.

Plan is to meet at Wasena Tap Room the evening of 12-11 to discuss what you find in the slim paperback that collects key passages from his writings.

You may be asking, "Irenaeus? Who's that?" That's because you are normal. Congratulations!

I'm not, so here's a little introduction to one of my best dead friends.

Irenaeus (130-200ish) was a pastor/bishop in Gaul, now France. But he was born and raised in Asia (Minor), where he was pastored by a man named Muchfruit (Polycarp). Polycarp had himself been discipled by St John. So that's cool.

In his theology Irenaeus sticks close to Scripture as he defends the faith of the orthodox church. His vision circles back again and again to the Incarnation of the Word. He's simpler than later church fathers: less speculative, more biblical. He lived what he taught and died a martyr. He was, in short, a baller.

If you're short for time, a word to the wise: focus on pp. 47-93. The excerpts in that part of the book are esp. focused on the mystery of the Incarnation. And what with the feast of Christmas just around the corner, that ought to serve well for your Advent meditations. (If the history of ideas is your jam, you won't want to miss von Balthasar's introduction, pp. 1-11.)

Well, enjoy getting to know my old pal and see you soon,

Phil