The Centrality of Christ

In the preceding chapter the examination of the concept of the Lebensaltervergleich. correlating the successive epochs of world history with the stages of a single man's life, has shown the applicability of the parable, on the left-hand track of the initial, to the five ages of the world, on the right-hand track. While the six-age scheme suggested by the account of creation had to be abandoned in favor of an essentially five-age arrangement dictated by the parable, the ghost of the longer series persists in the application of the scheme to the Genesis initial. ¹ The five ages unfold on the left entirely In accord with the interpretation pioneered by Origan in the third century, later popularized in the west by Gregory the Great, and finally enshrined among the readings for Septuagesima Sunday. Accordingly, we have the ages of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Christ. Each of these correlates with the summoning of the workers at the appropriate hour. There is even a correspondence among the structure of the ten medallions, for each of them is devoted to a scene of divine 129instruction or admonition. Moreover, just as the expulsion of Adam and Ere begins our life of toll in the literal sense of man's lot, so does the summoning of the first group of workers in the vineyard begin a phase of toil--though this time for a heavenly reward. Thus the two lateral rows are linked like the laced eyelets of a boot, so to speak.