Left side windows from the back of the Nave
Windows are from the Old Testament and point to Christ as the center of those Books.
The Tree of Life Window - The Tree of Life appears in both the opening and closing chapters of the Bible (Genesis 2-3 and Revelation 22). In the book of Genesis, God places the Tree of Life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the Garden. The Tree of Life stands as a symbol of God’s life-giving presence and the fullness of eternal life given by God. In Revelation, it represents the restoration of the life-giving presence of God. Access to the tree had been cut off in Genesis 3:24, when God stationed mighty cherubim and a flaming sword to block the way to the Tree of Life. But in Revelation, the way to the tree is open again for all who have been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ by Holy Baptism.
The Ten Commandments Window – The Ten Commandments are depicted by Roman numerals on each tablet. Commandments one through three, regarding our relationship with God, are on the left tablet. Commandments four through ten, regarding our relationship to our neighbor, appear on the right tablet The Ten Commandments are God’s unchangeable will for all humanity. They both convict us of our failure to fear, love and trust in God above all things while serving as a guide for our life of faith. We take great comfort in the words of St. John (John 17:1): “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
The Scroll Window - The Scroll window represents the writings of the Old Testament prophets. The center of all prophetic proclamation is depicted by the fish symbol, a representation of Jesus from the ancient New Testament church. The Greek word IXTHUS (fish) was an acronym used to identify Jesus and was composed by isolating the first letter of each Greek word to spell His title, “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior”. Hebrews 1:1-2, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.”
The Crown Window – The Crown window suggests several different interpretations. It represents the reign of God’s Son as King of all Creation. It also represents the faithful service of Old Testament kings like David, who prefigured the coming King of Kings, Jesus. It may also represent the gift of eternal life and resurrection glory promised to all the faithful. Revelation 2:10, “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
The Wheat Window – Life is sustained by the gifts that God gives through creation. All good gifts and daily bread come from Him. The Psalmist reminds us, “Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders and fills you with the finest wheat.” (Psalm 147:12-14). The greatest gift of finest wheat bears for us the very body of Jesus in the Lord’s Supper which we celebrate at our altar.
The Holy Spirit Window – Some may view the Holy Spirit window as out of place in a series of windows portraying Old Testament symbols. However, we confess that the blessed Holy Trinity is eternal. The Holy Spirit is not a New Testament revelation. Genesis, chapter one, reminds us of the eternal presence and work of the Holy Spirit, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2). The Bible also reminds us that “no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3.)