The Word is nigh thee, even in thy heart
26 Απριλίου 2011
SAY not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart.
Romans 10:6-9.
EVERYONE who is baptised in Christ should aspire to all the maturing experiences in Christ.
For he has received the power of them in advance, and through the commandments he is able to discover them and learn them.
Now, Christ’s Conception corresponds to the earnest of the Spirit (2 Cor 1:22, 5:5).
Whereas the Nativity corresponds to the reality of joy (Luke 2:10-11)
His Baptism, to the cleansing force of the fire of the Spirit (Luke 3:16).
His Transfiguration, to the vision of the divine light (Matt 17:1-9).
His Crucifixion, to a becoming dead away from all things (Rom 6:2).
His Burial, the indwelling of divine desire in the heart (cf. Rom 10:6-9, Eph 3:13-19).
His Resurrection, to the life-giving elevation of the soul (Eph 2:1-7).
His Assumption [Ascension], to a going out of oneself towards God, and to a snatching up of the eye of the heart (e.g. 2 Cor 12:1-4).
Someone who has not discovered these things, nor felt them, is still an infant in both body and spirit, even if he is reckoned a grey-beard and a proficient by everyone else.
St Gregory of Sinai (+1346), “Further Texts”, in the Philokalia vol. IV. My amateur translation.
I WILL exalt thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and not caused mine enemies to rejoice over me.
O Lord my God, I cried to thee, and thou didst heal me.
O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from Hades, thou hast delivered me from among them that go down to the pit.
Sing to the Lord, ye his saints, and give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
For anger is in his wrath, but life in his favour: weeping shall tarry for the evening, but joy shall be in the morning.
Psalm 29(30):1-5.
