Galatians 5:22-6:2 (12/5)
Epistle for the Feast of Holy Ascetics: Sabbas
The Spirit and Deification: Galatians 5:22-6:2, especially vs. 25: "If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Archpriest John Meyendorff, in his study of Saint Gregory Palamas,
describes deification both as an individual gift of God and as a
God-constituted means of manifesting Him to the world. We should,
therefore, expect to find deification or theosis present wherever
"...the fruit of the Spirit..." is being manifested (vs. 22), where the
Faithful are crucifying "...the flesh with its passions and desires"
(vs. 24), and where they are gently restoring others overtaken in any
trespass (vs. 1). As Saint Gregory himself says, "The Saints
participate in God; not only do they participate, but they also
communicate Him."
If we imagine theosis strictly as the final, completed state of restored
humanity, our efforts to find examples of deified persons becomes
severely restricted, limited to a very few of the most notable Saints.
However, the moment we realize that deification is an on-going process
occurring in many of the Faithful, then our eyes and ears may even
receive God's life in and through many around us in the Church. Who has
not encountered the fruit of the Spirit in people during every day
life? Who has not observed mortification of the flesh in his own Church
community? Who has not watched a mature Christian help a fellow servant
defeat temptation?
What is God communicating when we encounter theosis of this sort? Is He
not calling us to work at our own deification, to participate in His
life, and to have Him act through our lives? Reframe the matter: since
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit!
There is no tidy order to deification; nor is there a simple,
step-by-step means that the mind of man can easily grasp, adapt, or
control theosis. Nevertheless, the Lord, at the very least, begins
renewal in hearts where there is poverty of spirit and mourning (Mt. 5:3,4).
So then, let us look into our own souls and say with Saint John
Chrysostom, "...my soul...is all deserted and in ruins, and Thou has not
a worthy place in me to lay Thy head." Now the Spirit may enter and
true life in the Lord be communicated. However quietly and tentatively,
each one may assert and affirm that I am Christ's (Gal. 5:24). Even if
our efforts are feeble and imperfect, nonetheless, let us begin to
display actual love for others tangibly, joy in God, peace-making with
those around us, exhibiting new-found capacity to put up with the
foibles and abrasive habits of others. In short, Beloved, let us begin
to manifest the fruits of the Spirit.
Likewise, let us observe growing Christians and study their ability to
bite the tongue. Struggling Christians stifle selfish ambition, craven
dissent, envy, and unworthy impulses to hate, be wrathful, or
self-indulgent. Observe more deeply: these servants disclose an inner
struggle to crucify the "...flesh with its passions and desires" (vs.
24). They help others who are struggling to fight off temptations. All
these changes happen as the Holy Spirit leads, and not necessarily in a
tidy, neat or predictable order. The Spirit helps us to wage unseen
warfare on many fronts at once. Draw near and live in Him that together
we may learn to walk in His ways.
Also, never infer that it is permissible to be passive observers of the
Spirit - simply to wait for Him to manifest His presence. The Apostle
teaches us to assert ourselves to gain life in the Spirit: "...let us
also walk in the Spirit" (vs. 25). Despite our fallen state, we can
apply our energy to crucifying "...the flesh with its passions and
desires" (vs. 24). It is difficult to keep fruit fresh and unspoiled in
an infected and corrupt environment. As Metropolitan Hierotheos says,
"...to become a temple of the Holy Spirit...the Christian must
previously have been purified spiritually, and after becoming a temple
of the Holy Spirit, he must keep it pure."
O good Lord, cleanse me from every taint of flesh and spirit. Teach me
to pray aright.
Epistle for the Feast of Holy Ascetics: Sabbas
The Spirit and Deification: Galatians 5:22-6:2, especially vs. 25: "If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Archpriest John Meyendorff, in his study of Saint Gregory Palamas,
describes deification both as an individual gift of God and as a
God-constituted means of manifesting Him to the world. We should,
therefore, expect to find deification or theosis present wherever
"...the fruit of the Spirit..." is being manifested (vs. 22), where the
Faithful are crucifying "...the flesh with its passions and desires"
(vs. 24), and where they are gently restoring others overtaken in any
trespass (vs. 1). As Saint Gregory himself says, "The Saints
participate in God; not only do they participate, but they also
communicate Him."
If we imagine theosis strictly as the final, completed state of restored
humanity, our efforts to find examples of deified persons becomes
severely restricted, limited to a very few of the most notable Saints.
However, the moment we realize that deification is an on-going process
occurring in many of the Faithful, then our eyes and ears may even
receive God's life in and through many around us in the Church. Who has
not encountered the fruit of the Spirit in people during every day
life? Who has not observed mortification of the flesh in his own Church
community? Who has not watched a mature Christian help a fellow servant
defeat temptation?
What is God communicating when we encounter theosis of this sort? Is He
not calling us to work at our own deification, to participate in His
life, and to have Him act through our lives? Reframe the matter: since
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit!
There is no tidy order to deification; nor is there a simple,
step-by-step means that the mind of man can easily grasp, adapt, or
control theosis. Nevertheless, the Lord, at the very least, begins
renewal in hearts where there is poverty of spirit and mourning (Mt. 5:3,4).
So then, let us look into our own souls and say with Saint John
Chrysostom, "...my soul...is all deserted and in ruins, and Thou has not
a worthy place in me to lay Thy head." Now the Spirit may enter and
true life in the Lord be communicated. However quietly and tentatively,
each one may assert and affirm that I am Christ's (Gal. 5:24). Even if
our efforts are feeble and imperfect, nonetheless, let us begin to
display actual love for others tangibly, joy in God, peace-making with
those around us, exhibiting new-found capacity to put up with the
foibles and abrasive habits of others. In short, Beloved, let us begin
to manifest the fruits of the Spirit.
Likewise, let us observe growing Christians and study their ability to
bite the tongue. Struggling Christians stifle selfish ambition, craven
dissent, envy, and unworthy impulses to hate, be wrathful, or
self-indulgent. Observe more deeply: these servants disclose an inner
struggle to crucify the "...flesh with its passions and desires" (vs.
24). They help others who are struggling to fight off temptations. All
these changes happen as the Holy Spirit leads, and not necessarily in a
tidy, neat or predictable order. The Spirit helps us to wage unseen
warfare on many fronts at once. Draw near and live in Him that together
we may learn to walk in His ways.
Also, never infer that it is permissible to be passive observers of the
Spirit - simply to wait for Him to manifest His presence. The Apostle
teaches us to assert ourselves to gain life in the Spirit: "...let us
also walk in the Spirit" (vs. 25). Despite our fallen state, we can
apply our energy to crucifying "...the flesh with its passions and
desires" (vs. 24). It is difficult to keep fruit fresh and unspoiled in
an infected and corrupt environment. As Metropolitan Hierotheos says,
"...to become a temple of the Holy Spirit...the Christian must
previously have been purified spiritually, and after becoming a temple
of the Holy Spirit, he must keep it pure."
O good Lord, cleanse me from every taint of flesh and spirit. Teach me
to pray aright.
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