from the Desk of Headmaster Dan Snyder

In Dante’s classic Divine Comedy, the vices, counterpart to the virtues, also line up according to the holy number seven. The seven virtues are Temperance, Courage, Justice, Wisdom, Faith, Hope, and Love. Love is the capstone of the virtuous life, but also the origin of the vicious life. It is improper love, the one not informed by Faith, the one that Hopes for evil things, that leads us into the loss of wisdom, the habit of injustice toward others, the lack of courage to assume our vocation, the intemperance of bad habits and a dissipated life. We see a complex relationship.

In the Inferno, sloth, or acedia, is the state of being in the center, a kind of hinge of the corruption of love. The Vices are lust (improper love of others), gluttony (improper love of consuming things), greed (the improper love of possessing things), sloth, wrath (the inverted affection toward others), envy (active wishing for the downfall of others), and pride (the inability to love outside of oneself). The first three vices are mirrors of the last three, first being objectifying love and the idolatry of the creation, second being the idolatry of the self – both maladies of Love, the highest virtue. Lying in the center of the seven vices, like a deadly whirlpool, is sloth – the absence of Love.

Jesus says to the Church of the Laodiceans in John’s prophetic vision that “because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—.” (Rev. 3:16-17, KJV). Many of our young neighbors have caught this disease of sloth. It is an emotional and intellectual desert in which nothing can bloom. They need a fire to be kindled which burns within them for wisdom, for Faith and the joy of Hope. What makes a student is the quality of love, as when the disciples felt their hearts burn within them on the road to Emmaus as Christ unfolds the import of literally everything (Luke 24:32). When Christ is in the center of our school, we are continually renewed. Like the fiery phoenix, the mascot of Wichita’s Lutheran high school, the fire in our hearts compels us toward regeneration in Christ, and the reconciliation toward our neighbors that our true schoolmaster brings forth. When we think of the imagery of the Concordia Academy -Wichita phoenix, we know what kind of fire we are consumed by, what kind of fire we stoke, what kind of fire has the power to destroy vice and kindle virtue within us.

We walk in a fire but are not burned, a furnace that produces gold. As we work together, let us never forget that it is our privilege to feed this fire among us, through the support of and teaching in our Lutheran Schools.

Congratulations to our 4th year student, Esther Postier for being accepted into Luther Classical College beginning in August of 2025!

November

-Sarah L., (3rd yr) participated in the CUNE High School Honor Choir

-The Phoenix Chess Team placed 4th in their first tournament of the season. Kristopher L (2nd yr) with 6th, Caleb F (2nd yr) with 12th and Caleb H (1st yr) with 19th place

-Our 2nd Annual Concert Series welcomed over 250 guests at Holy Cross and raised over $7,700 for our Scholarship Fund

-Our students hosted their friends from Mary Seat of Wisdom and Northfield for their annual Thanksgiving Feast

$1,000 by 100 Campaign

Your contribution of $1,000 for 2025 or just $84 a month for 12 months will ensure that the flames of learning continue to grow in our Lutheran Schools. Join our campaign today by clicking the button below.