If you are unfamiliar with Anthony Esolen, he is a modern Roman Catholic scholar and thinker, and friend of the LCMS who was given an honorary doctorate by Concordia Theological Seminary. His writings on modern culture, art, hymns, and liturgy would make him an honorary member of The Gottesdienst Crowd as well. His book Out of the Ashes is one that I recommend to all Christians.

I’ve recently been working my way through Roger Scruton’s How to Be a Conservative (2019), and I’ve found it to be quite engaging, thoughtful and thought-provoking, and very helpful. He’s a clear thinker and a great writer, and I look forward to reading more of his books in the future.

Today we call to mind our Lord’s ascension into heaven.  And the Ascension is more than just our Lord vanishing into the skies.  This is the hasty graduation, ordination, and call service of the Eleven rolled into one.  And Jesus begins by rebuking them “for their unbelief and hardness of heart.”