To continue browsing while you listen, play the audio in a new window.

There's an old saying that says, "When the student is ready the master will appear." The idea is that the student must incorporate everything they've already been taught into their life before the next master will come to teach them the next steps. We see something similar in the Word, where Jesus opens the eyes of Peter, James and John to a new spiritual reality, but now they have a difficult time trying to synthesize what they've just been taught with everything they've always believed. (note - Todd offers his apologies for an error; where he mistakenly says in this audio that the "spiritual serves the natural"... he meant to say, "natural serves the spiritual.")

(References: Apocalypse Explained 64, 405; Arcana Coelestia 6394; Matthew 17:14-20, 17:24-27)

The roof of a house is its highest point, and the part most exposed to the sun. So it makes sense that in the Bible, “roof” represents what is inmost in a person -- the part that is closest and most in contact with the Lord. This inmost part is, in everyone, a love or affection rather than a truth or idea. This makes sense if you think about it: Even the greatest thinkers are driven by a love of ideas -- our character is ultimately a matter of what we care about, not what we think. Following this, then, “roof” represents our most deeply felt affection for what is good and true.