The Philokalia of the Holy Neptic Fathers by George Monastery

Author:George Monastery [Monastery, George]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B081XQDPLT
Goodreads: 53544942
Publisher: Virgin Mary of Australia and Oceania (Oceanitissa)
Published: 2020-06-29T21:00:00+00:00

Now, if you wish to determine the difference between us and the Jews more briefly and to the point, then merely consider the teaching of the old Law and that which belongs to the Christians, and your inquiry (διαγνώσεως) will not go amiss. For the old Law tells us that creation, meaning visible creation, was made by God: In the beginning God made (ἐποίησεν) heaven and earth (Gen.

1:1), and so on. But Christianity teaches not only about sensible creations, but also about intelligible creations (and even more so about uncreated intelligible realities):

[178]

177F

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Jn. 1:1). Judaism teaches, God said, Let Us make man according to Our image and likeness (Gen. 1:26), while Christianity teaches, The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14).

They teach, Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the flying creatures of heaven, and over the cattle and all the earth (Gen. 1:26).

We teach, Of His fullness we have all received (Jn. 1:16). They say, God

said, Let there be light (Gen. 1:3). We say, It is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts (2 Cor. 4:6).

So then, once you have examined both of these teachings we have described, you can see how incomparably superior are the blessings that the Christians have received from God than those of the Jews; and you will surely agree that these things are a shadow and a type of our supernatural reality as Christians, or rather of Christ. And you will give praise and due glory to the divine grace and providence that has gently lifted up mankind out of the shadow and the type to the supernatural mercy of transcendent things, in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

God, by His charity, can be apprehended by every noetic faculty.

64. O most holy enhypostatic Wisdom, Power, and Word of God (1 Cor.

1:24)! How can I praise Your essence and glory, O Lord, for it is unapproachable? How can I praise Your infinite goodness, for I am human and my intellect is finite? And yet I will praise You and exalt You as I am able. And perhaps in this way I shall attain some sense of Your glory and Your goodness, that my soul may strive with all its might to cleave after you (cf. Ps. 62:9), and when I hear you I may fear you as I ought and so stand amazed at all that is within You, as the prophet said, Lord, I have heard Your report, and was afraid: I considered Your works, and was amazed (Hab. 3:1).

O Highest Word, Unfathomable One, You knocked at the door, and the bride from the Song of the Songs heard You, and her heart leapt for You (cf. Song.

5:4); she was transported by delight and desperately sought to find you, and even shouted, Show me Your face, and cause me to hear Your voice; for Your voice is sweet, and Your countenance is beautiful (Song 2:14).

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.