MSI Press Blog

  Melchizedek appears suddenly in the Bible, like a figure stepping out of mist. He is mentioned only briefly in Genesis, yet his presence echoes through Psalms and the New Testament, carrying a mystery that has fascinated believers for centuries. The First Appearance In Genesis 14, Melchizedek meets Abraham after a battle. He is described as “king of Salem” and “priest of God Most High.” He blesses Abraham with bread and wine — symbols that later take on deep sacramental meaning — and Abraham, in turn, gives him a tenth of all he has. This moment is striking because Melchizedek predates the Levitical priesthood. He is a priest not by lineage or law, but by divine appointment. The Psalm and the Promise Centuries later, Psalm 110 speaks of a coming king who will be “a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” The phrase suggests a priesthood that transcends time and ancestry — one rooted in eternal relationship rather than ritual. This “order” is not an institution ...

  The following post comes from the blog of Arthur Yavelberg - Looking behind the Curtain In the wonderful fantasy movie, “ The Wizard of O z,” the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion and Dorothy are all seeking something they believe is lacking: a brain, a heart, courage and the way back home.  While they lacked the terminology to discuss their despair as “existential angst,” their predicament is certainly not rare in spiritual literature.    In the  Hindu  classic, “ The Bhagavad Gita ,” the hero,  Arjuna , is forlorn at the prospect of going into battle against enemies who are all relatives.  Anticipating so much death and destruction, he is tempted to turn away.  Only when  Krishna  reminds him that he is a warrior and that he must fulfill his destiny does Arjuna fight in this terrible war—a war that he wins, though at the end everyone dies anyway as that is the way of all flesh.   Similarly, in the Biblical Boo...