THEOSISPhilaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
The portrayal of our state as Christians is truly profound, highlighting the mindset that the Gospel calls us to cultivate. As the Apostle explains, “all ... these things” were written for our learning (1 Cor. 10:11). The human soul, having fallen from God’s grace, resembles a devastated sanctuary. Our sins are the adversaries that have desecrated, distorted, and rendered it desolate, leading to our bondage. However, our Lord Jesus Christ, the sovereign King who “preaches to the captives remission” (Luke 4:18), offers the means to restore the ravaged temple of the living God.
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The Gospel brings forth a spirit of repentance and faith to our spiritual desolation, aiming to restore the altar of prayer, to reignite our love for God, and to instill in us the hope of once again “dwelling in the help of the Highest, to dwell in the shelter of the God of heaven” (Psalm 90:1).
Regardless of your status, whether you are a resident or a visitor of spiritual Jerusalem, a priest or a Levite, a noble or one of the faithful, if your heart is not clouded by worldly desires and can perceive the remnants of the former, the foundation of the new spiritual temple, and if your heart remains soft rather than hardened as is the case for many unbelievers, can you, in moments of quiet reflection, truly assess your condition with clarity? Shouldn’t the past evoke deep remorse, the present inspire humble repentance, and the future bring forth joyful contrition? In this complex blend of sorrow and solace, mourning and joy—the blessedness promised to those who weep, which will be fully realized when the Lord “takes away at last every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 21:4)—has already started to unfold and can be experienced now. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4) by the Holy Spirit, our Comforter. Amen.