The Raising of the Intellect
Paraphrases of the Homilies of Saint Makarios of Egypt
Those who intend to fulfill the Christian way of life to the best of their ability must first devote all their attention to the rational, discriminative and directing aspect of the soul. Perfecting in this way their discrimination between good and evil, and defending the purity of their nature against the attacks of the passions that are contrary to nature, they go forward without stumbling, guided by the eye of discrimination and not embroiled with the impulses of evil. For the soul's will is able to preserve the body free from the vitiation of the senses, to keep the soul away from worldly distraction, and to guard the heart from scattering its thoughts into the world, completely walling them in and holding them back from base concerns and pleasures. Whenever the Lord sees someone acting in this manner, perfecting and guarding himself, disposed to serve God with fear and trembling, He extends to him the assistance of His grace.
But what will God do for the person who willingly gives himself up to the world and pursues its pleasures?
An Explanation Concerning the Foolish Virgins
(who weren't permitted to enter the Bridal-chamber)
Paraphrases of the Homilies of Saint Makarios of Egypt
The five watchful virgins, who bore in the vessels of their hearts the oil (the grace of the Holy Spirit), not inherent in their nature, were able to enter with the bridegroom into the bridal chamber. But the other foolish and sinful virgins, who remained fixed in their own nature, did not practice watchfulness, nor did they think it important to receive this oil of joyfulness in their hearts, for they still walked according to the flesh. On the contrary, in their negligence, slothfulness and self-righteousness, they were as though asleep, and for this reason they were shut out from the bridal chamber of the Kingdom (Saint Matthew 25: 1-13). It is clear that they were held back by some kind of bond of amity with the world in as much as they could not offer all their love and longing to the Celestial Bridegroom. For souls aspiring to acquire the sanctifying power of the Spirit, that is not intrinsic to human nature, direct all their love toward Christ: they walk, pray, think and meditate in Christ, and they turn away from everything else.
And if the soul's five senses - understanding, spiritual knowledge, discrimination, patient endurance and compassion, receive the grace and sanctification of the Holy Spirit, they will in truth be wise virgins; but if they are left imprisoned in their own nature then they are indeed foolish virgin children of the world, and subject to the wrath of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment