A different kind of family tree - a poem

Background:

In this 11-stanza original poem turned in as an assignment in February 2024 as part of my pursuit of a master's degree in theology, I reflect on Hebrews 11 largely from the interpretation that we are all invited to join a different kind of family tree – a different kind of genealogy or pedigree, one linking us by faith and ultimately by the blood of Christ back through the Old Testament, back to the “Faith of the Ancients,” as this specific chapter/pericope is titled. I end with the universal call by Vatican II that all the faithful are called to be priests, prophets, and kings.

I chose to incorporate a rhyming scheme which follows an ABBA pattern, meaning that the first and fourth lines in each stanza rhyme, while the two lines sandwiched in the middle follow their own rhyming pattern. In my research and thought process for determining rhyming words, I relied heavily on the reference tool available at Rhyme Zone (https://www.rhymezone.com), as well as on occasional Google searches for synonyms.

“A different kind of family tree”

Inspired largely by Hebrews 11 – “Faith of the Ancients”

Aaron S. Robertson

You’re invited to be a part of this,
A different kind of family tree,
One truly as wide and adventurous as the sea,
An invite you surely don’t want to miss.

All are welcomed to join this one,
A family not necessarily all tied by blood,
It may sound strange, but it’s one united by a flood,
Come to believe in the Word, and it is done.

That comment about blood we’ll come back to a little later,
Because we do in fact all share that common link,
It was shed by the One on the cross who would save us from the brink,
By He whom on this entire earth no one can ever be greater.

An open invite to join along and receive immense grace,
He wants this for you, the question is will you say, “yes,”
You were born for greatness, so do not settle for anything less,
All your offenses and mistakes our common Father will erase.

Like all families, this one has bickering and many a fight,
All the emotions are surely here,
Joy, confusion, anger, sorrow, and fear,
There’s plenty of darkness but in the end even greater light.

Joining this lineage guarantees an audacious quest,
With the help of this your family you’ll defeat the abyss,
So that in the end you’ll know nothing but lifegiving bliss,
After all the tribulation a beautiful and eternal rest.

At times you’ll wonder how you’ll ever cope,
But do your homework as would any good sleuth,
And you’ll find here that you’re on the path to enlightened truth,
In all the trying moments, you’ll be washed over by hope.

This family already has a known beginning and end,
Wrapped in the warmth of a different kind of sun (Son),
Indeed, by He who is the promised one,
Our Father, our provider, our Savior, and our friend.

You’ll come to realize that this family is the best,
So many to look up to and emulate,
They’ll help you keep on the narrow and straight,
With their help and the mercy of our God you’ll always be blessed.

At times, you’ll suffer immensely as you walk along desert sand,
But cling to your faith on this difficult trek,
Though at times it will feel like you’re headed toward a horrible wreck,
Indeed, your destination is His promised land.

With this kind of faith, through Him you can do all things,
Mountains can move, hardened hearts softened, and walls torn down,
Martyrdom for Him, if necessary, will result in an eternal crown,
In the end, we’re all called to be priests, prophets, and kings.

Joy in Philippians

Aaron S. Robertson

When it comes to the overall theme of joy in Philippians, 4:6-7 really resonates for me as it relates to my own return to, and understanding of, the faith: "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

What greater joy can there ever be once we truly make that connection with God while still in this life? What greater joy can there ever be than truly experiencing the reality of God? Than knowing that God is in our lives, He wants to be in our lives, and He wants us to share in His life? Than knowing with absolute conviction that this life isn't all there is? That something far, far more beautiful beyond our limited comprehension awaits us, if only we give it an honest chance by trying to meet God halfway and allow Him to do the rest? I've been so wonderfully blessed to make this connection with this reality, and, indeed, there is a peace residing in my mind and deep within my heart now that cannot be explained by anything in this world.

Paul's words in Philippians 4:6-7 also remind me of Andrew's reaction portrayed in season 1, episode 4, of The Chosen, once he has met and recognized the Savior. In describing his encounter with Jesus to his brother, a skeptical and stubborn Simon Peter, the sheer joy reflected on Andrew's face and in his words really resonate. While Simon Peter is too focused on what he feels are bigger issues at that moment, Andrew, filled with joy, is trying to tell him that none of it matters.

Suffering in 2 Corinthians

Aaron S. Robertson

Paul states in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God."

This passage, I believe, does a wonderful job of succinctly explaining how we are each to unite our own suffering to the suffering of Christ and to one another. The passage brings the theme of suffering full circle in that our Father is always there to encourage and console us in our every struggle. In turn, as our Father is always there for us, we are able, and indeed expected, to be a source of comfort and understanding to others in their own sets of circumstances. Suffering helps each of us grow in virtue. It helps us not only to cling to God as individuals in our own unique time of need, but it also strengthens our bonds with our fellow brothers and sisters in God by helping us relate to what others are going through. As our Father shows mercy, compassion, and encouragement to each one of us, we are, in turn, equipped to do the same for others.

Paul closes the loop to this full circle in the next two verses, 2 Corinthians 1:5-6, when he writes, "For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow. If we are afflicted, it is for your encouragement and salvation; if we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement, which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer."

In short, suffering brings us closer to God and to one another as fellow human beings; as fellow children of our Father adopted through Christ. One can easily see how this all ultimately relates back to our commandment to love one another - to will the best for each other.

The Call of the Disciples in The Chosen

Aaron S. Robertson

Author's note

What follows is a recent assignment (February 2024) for my New Testament class in pursuit of a master's degree in theology from Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. For the assignment, we were to pretend a friend had e-mailed us after watching an episode of The Chosen (specifically Season 1, Episode 4), wanting to know what really happened when Jesus called His disciples and asking how we should account for differences in the story line among the four gospel accounts. Trying to be somewhat humorous with my love for Roman names, my imaginary friend here is named Sixtus, after five popes with that name. For reference, The Call of the Disciples is found in Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11; and John 1:35-51.

Sixtus!

It’s wonderful to hear from you. It’s been a little while – I hope you’re doing well. I’d be more than happy to try to help you understand what may be going on between the four gospels and what you saw play out in the episode of The Chosen you referenced. I know one of the big questions on your mind is whether Peter really dropped to his knees crying and telling Jesus to depart from him for being such a sinful man. There’s a lot to unpack here, and I’ll certainly do my best.

Episode 4 of season 1 of The Chosen, called “The Rock On Which It Was Built,” portrays the calling of the first disciples. This event is portrayed differently in each of the four gospel accounts; in some cases, very differently. It appears that The Chosen episode attempts to blend all four accounts into one, cohesive narrative. Let’s explore this further.

To begin, Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts, while largely the same and the two that are most identical out of the four, have some subtle differences. For example, in Matthew 4:22, there is no mention of hired servants in the boat with James, John, and Zebedee. Mark 1:20 mentions the presence of hired servants. In Matthew 4:18, Simon is also called Peter. Mark 1:16 has no mention that Simon is also called Peter.

Now, Luke’s and John’s accounts are very different from Matthew’s and Mark’s, and contrast sharply from one another. Let’s begin with Luke and some of the more minor nuances within Luke as compared to Matthew and Mark. In Luke 5:1-11, Simon is referred to as or called “Simon” three times before arriving to verse 8, which then calls Simon “Simon Peter.” This may lead to some confusion for those reading this gospel account for the first time without knowing that Simon and Peter are the same person. Additionally, rather than the Sea of Galilee being the setting (as in Matthew and Mark), the setting in Luke is the “lake of Gennesaret.”

Let’s now turn our attention to the major differences in Luke compared to Matthew and Mark. Luke has Jesus teaching a crowd from the boat; instructing Simon to attempt one more catch, which, as we know, produces an overly-abundant yield of fish; dialogue from Simon that is exclusive to Luke’s telling of the account (This is where your question about Peter falling to his knees comes in); and has James and John with Simon in the same setting (instead of Jesus approaching them a little further down the road as in Matthew and Mark), specifically naming James and John as fishing partners of Simon. There is no mention of Simon’s brother, Andrew, in Luke’s account! Also, Luke mentions that James and John are sons of Zebedee, but he does not place Zebedee at the scene fishing with his sons.

John’s account (1:35-51) begins by mentioning John the Baptist and how he pointed out the Messiah to Andrew, who is a disciple of John the Baptist, along with another one of his disciples. Andrew, excited about seeing and recognizing the Messiah (Jesus), goes to tell his brother Simon all about it. This is conducive to what happens in The Chosen episode, where Andrew excitedly shares with Simon that he came across the Messiah while he was with John the Baptist. The episode does not have Simon responding enthusiastically, as we know. Simon is too focused on what he feels are bigger issues at that moment, while Andrew, filled with joy and hope, is trying to tell Simon that none of it matters – the Romans, none of it. For the Messiah has come!

Wow, hey? This is certainly a lot to take in, I know. All four gospels have differences. Some, as we see, are very different. As I said a while ago, it looks like The Chosen episode attempts to skillfully blend all four accounts into a unified, cohesive narrative. In the episode, we get Andrew joyfully sharing the good news with Simon after Andrew spots the Messiah while with John the Baptist (John’s gospel). From there, we see the major elements of Luke’s gospel play out – we see Jesus teaching a crowd from the boat; Jesus instructing Simon to attempt that one last catch; there’s the dialogue from Simon, which, again, is exclusive to Luke’s account; and James and John are with Simon in the same setting. We then turn to Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts – Andrew is in the scene, along with Zebedee, but there doesn’t appear to be the hired servants specific to Mark’s (1:20) account.

How can all this be, you’re wondering? How can there be four different versions of the calling of the first disciples, and what amounts to essentially a fifth account created for television? What really happened? Are we getting the truth? Did Simon really fall to his knees, crying and asking Jesus to depart from him for being such a sinful man? We need not fear any of the answers to these and similar questions, and here’s why.

According to the Historicity of the Gospels, a document published in 1964 by the Pontifical Biblical Commission (PBC), “The truth of the Gospel account is not compromised because the Evangelists report the Lord’s words and deeds in different order. Nor is it hurt because they report His words, not literally but in a variety of ways, while retaining the same meaning” (II. The Elaboration of the Gospel Message: Order of Treatment). Ultimately, what we must remember here, Sixtus, is that accounts of the life of Jesus, His teachings, the works of the Apostles, and so on, were originally handed down orally. It wasn’t until later that,

…many attempted “to draw up a narrative” of the events connected with the Lord Jesus. The sacred authors, each using all approach suited to his specific purpose, recorded this primitive teaching in the four Gospels for the benefit of the churches. Of the many elements at hand they reported some, summarized others, and developed still others in accordance with the needs of the various churches. They used every possible means to ensure that their readers would come to know the validity of the things they had been taught. From the material available to them the Evangelists selected those items most suited to their specific purpose and to the condition of a particular audience. And they narrated these events in the manner most suited to satisfy their purpose and their audience’s condition. (II. The Elaboration of the Gospel Message: The Four Evangelists)

Finally, I direct you to paragraph 19 of Dei Verbum, a dogmatic constitution approved and published in 1965 by the Second Vatican Council, which reads, in part:

Holy Mother Church has firmly and with absolute constancy held, and continues to hold, that the four Gospels just named, whose historical character the Church unhesitatingly asserts, faithfully hand on what Jesus Christ, while living among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation until the day He was taken up into heaven. (Chapter V: The New Testament, para. 19)

In short, my friend, the fact that the four gospel accounts have at times very noticeable differences in details, the ordering of events, etc., is nothing to fear. We trust that the Holy Spirit guided each of the evangelists in writing down these accounts faithfully and with specific churches, audiences, and other relevant circumstances in mind. None of this detracts from the truth. The Chosen does a wonderful job of combining multiple gospel accounts into one, easy-to-understand narrative for a mass audience.

I hope this all helps, Sixtus! Great to hear from you, my friend. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any additional questions or concerns you may have, and I’ll certainly do my best to address them.

All the Best,

Aaron

Math operations vocabulary

Following are a couple helpful videos on basic math operations vocabulary. You'll also find written lists under the videos. Between the videos and the lists, this is a good sampling of common vocabulary terms you'll always come across as you do a variety of math problems and math operations.

Math Vocabulary Words for Addition and Subtraction!


Math Vocabulary Words for Multiplication and Division!


ADDITION:

• Altogether (or all together)
• Join
• Increase
• Add
• Combined (or combine)
• In all
• Sum
• Both

SUBTRACTION:

• Difference
• Left
• Decrease
• Take away (or take)
• Fewer
• Subtract
• Minus

MULTIPLICATION:

• Equal groups
• Altogether (or all together)
• Twice
• Groups of
• Per
• Double
• Multiply
• Each
• Times

DIVISION:

• Each
• Divide
• Divided by
• How many in each group
• Half
• Cut up
• Between
• Share

Reinvent your professional journey

Image: Freepik

Comprehensive Guide to Reinventing Your Professional Journey

In today's rapidly evolving job market, the necessity to continually refresh and revitalize your career trajectory cannot be overstated. This guide from Mr. Robertson's Corner is designed to illuminate the path to injecting new vigor into your professional endeavors, ensuring that you not only stay ahead of the curve but also unlock new avenues for opportunity and growth.

Professional Development through Workshops

At the heart of staying relevant in any field is the commitment to enhancing your skills. Participating in workshops and training sessions represents a critical investment in your professional growth. These opportunities allow you to immerse yourself in the latest industry trends, technologies, and methodologies, solidifying your status as an indispensable team member. Beyond skill acquisition, these forums serve as vital networking platforms, connecting you with like-minded professionals and industry leaders, thereby reinforcing your dedication to both personal and professional development.

Tailoring Your Resume for Each Application

Customizing your resume for each job application is the best solution to demonstrate your attention to detail and the skills and experience you bring to the table. By aligning your achievements with the employer's specific needs, you make your application stand out. This strategy shows you've done your homework and directly addresses what the hiring manager is looking for. Consequently, your resume's impact is significantly amplified, making you a more attractive candidate.

Leveraging Mentorship

The journey through your career landscape is markedly smoother with the guidance of a seasoned mentor or coach. These experts bring to the table a wealth of knowledge encompassing workplace navigation and strategic career planning. Their unbiased insights can spotlight growth opportunities and help sidestep common obstacles, making mentorship an indispensable mechanism for broadening your professional network and gaining access to wisdom beyond conventional learning resources.

Expanding Horizons with Additional Projects

An effective method to distinguish yourself within your current role is to embrace new projects and responsibilities. This proactive stance not only enriches your professional repertoire but also underscores your initiative and versatility. Engaging in tasks outside your usual scope can catalyze significant personal and career development, enhancing your appeal for prospective advancements and elevating your professional profile.

Broadening Skills through Lateral Moves

Exploring lateral opportunities within your organization can unveil a breadth of learning and experience. Such moves enable you to delve into varied roles, departments, or sectors without the risks associated with starting anew. Embracing this strategy enriches your skill set, offering a comprehensive understanding of the business from multiple perspectives, and equipping you for more adaptive and informed leadership in the future.

Enriching Your Career through Volunteering

Committing to volunteer or pro bono initiatives allows you to apply your professional skills in novel contexts, benefiting both societal causes and your career. This engagement showcases your commitment to making a difference and your willingness to extend your impact beyond the workplace. These experiences not only diversify your professional background but also open the door to new career opportunities, reflecting a well-rounded and socially responsible professional ethos.

Gaining Perspective with a Sabbatical

Opting for a sabbatical presents a unique chance to rejuvenate, pursue personal interests, or develop new skills, offering a fresh outlook on your career and life. This period of reflection and exploration can lead to profound insights into your professional desires and aspirations, contributing to enhanced job satisfaction and effectiveness upon your return.

Conclusion

Embarking on a journey to rejuvenate your career is an endeavor that requires thoughtful strategy and active participation. By embracing key tactics like finding a mentor and tailoring your resume, you position yourself for sustained professional growth, competitiveness, and success. Begin today to take deliberate steps towards revitalizing your career path, ready to seize the exciting opportunities that await, and embark on a rewarding and prosperous professional trajectory.