"While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [...] Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

This guide is one of a column series that will invite Adventist readers to reflect on important classics of the Christian spiritual tradition. Each guide will provide 1) A brief biography of the classic’s author 2) A section on historical context 3) A short outline of the classic 4) Reflection and analysis of the classic 5) Questions for personal spiritual reflection.

1) Biography of Ephrem

     O my God, without ceasing I step over the threshold of Your house;

"In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

“My God, I pray better to You by breathing.

I pray better to You by walking than by talking.”

Thomas Merton

Dialogues with Silence.

—

God said to Elijah,

“Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord,

for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Now there was a great wind,

            so strong that it was splitting mountains

            and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord,