They are those who, while possessing some understanding of spiritual matters that is attainable for humanity, still descend to instruct the young and innocent, offering them the elementary truths so they may grow strong enough to receive more profound spiritual nourishment.
When someone begins to contemplate their ascent or, put simply, when a believer starts to seek spiritual renewal, they inevitably encounter the hostility of detractors. Anyone who has yet to suffer through such opposition cannot claim to have made real advancement; those who cannot endure criticism are not genuinely striving for improvement. Do you wish to grasp what we imply? Experience for yourself the scorn directed at us. Start on your journey of transformation; yearn for ascent, disdain the transient and fragile pleasures of this world, value worldly achievements as insignificant, focus solely on God, seek no joy in material possessions nor sorrow in loss, even aspire to sell everything you have to help the poor and follow Christ; witness how you withstand the harsh words of slanderers and ongoing adversaries, and even more perilous - deceptive advisors who might distract you from your salvation.
The one who is lifted up first turns to God in prayer against such voices: for he says, ‘When I was in distress, I called upon the Lord; and He answered me’ Psalm 118:1. Why did He respond? To place him upon the steps of ascent.
“Deliver my soul, O Lord, from deceptive lips and from a wicked tongue” Psalm 119:2. What constitutes a deceitful tongue? A deceptive tongue that masks itself as counsel yet carries the curse of true evil. Such are those who say, “Will you do what no one else does? Will you be the only Christian?” Some are disheartened by justifications, while others are hindered by misguided praise. Given the pervasive nature of this present life, so potent is Christ that even non-believers refrain from vilifying Him. Those who cannot denounce Him read His words. They cannot contest Christ, nor can they refute the Gospel; Christ remains blameless, yet a deceptive tongue turns to flattery as a stumbling block. If you offer praise, let it be accompanied by encouragement. Why discourage through your flattery?
You now turn to another form of excuse, seeking to divert me with false praise, claiming that by extolling Christ, you may pull me away from Christ, asking, “What is this?” These individuals have set up a snare: you may strive upward and instead stumble. It serves as a warning; it is like a serpent, a deceitful tongue laden with venom. Pray against it if your goal is to ascend.
Your Lord has posed a question to you, “What will be given to you, or what shall be presented to you against the deceitful tongue?” Psalm 119:3. What shall be given to you, that is, what armaments can shield you against a lying tongue? Or what shall they offer you? He invites you to test Him; for He will respond to His own inquiry. For He gives His answer even before the arrows of the Mighty One, with coals that bring about devastation or desolation Psalm 119:4. The notion of desolation relates inherently to this theme; for it is evident that desolation easily follows desolating actions. What are these coals? First, beloved brethren, let us comprehend what sharp arrows are. The sharp arrows of the Mighty One symbolize the very words of God.
What do the coals that cause desolation represent? It is insufficient to merely offer intercessions with words against a deceitful tongue and unjust lips; we must also demonstrate justification through our example. Thus, the term ‘coals’ refers to the testimonies of many sinners who have repented and sought the Lord. You may hear others express astonishment, saying, “I knew that man, how deeply immersed he was in vices, how wicked, what a lover of entertainment—yet look how he now serves God with innocence.” Do not be amazed; he is like a burning coal. You find joy in the one you once mourned as lost now alive. But as you commend the living, remember to direct such praise toward the dead as well, that it may ignite their spirits; whoever still lingers in apathy must be likened to a quenched coal, absorbing the fiery arrows from the Word of God, and be engulfed in the fire of faith to confront the deceitful tongue and the wicked mouth.
“Oh, how much my pilgrimage has lengthened!” Psalm 119:5. It has strayed far from You: my wanderings have drifted afar. I have not yet reached that place where I won't dwell alongside evildoers; I have not yet arrived at the fellowship of Angels where no offense can touch me. But why have I not reached that destination? Because a pilgrimage is a journey. One is deemed an alien when residing in a land not their own.
And when are we far adrift? Sometimes, brethren, when a person travels abroad, they find themselves amongst better companions than they could have encountered in their native land; however, it is not so when we stray far from the Holy City. A person can change their residence and sometimes benefit from this foreign experience, finding faithful allies they could not discover at home. They may have been driven from their homeland due to antagonism, only to find what was lacking in their own land. But this is not the case with the land of Jerusalem, where all are righteous: to be separated from it means you dwell among the wicked, and you cannot escape their company except by returning to the Angels' company to be where you once were prior to your journey. There, all are just and holy, basking in the Word of God without the need for written text; they perceive what we read through the radiance of God’s countenance.
What a magnificent country! Indeed, a grand land, and lamentable are the souls who wander from it.
When the Psalmist speaks of “my pilgrimage is far off,” he expresses the collective voice of the Church, laboring on this earth. It is the Church that cries out from the ends of the world in another Psalm, declaring, “From the ends of the earth I have cried unto Thee...” Where does she groan and among whom does she dwell? “I have dwelt among the tents of Kedar.” Understanding this Hebrew term may elude you, but what does it imply when I say I dwelt among the tents of Kedar? Kedar denotes darkness in Hebrew and translates to tenebrae in Latin. Recall that Abraham had two sons, whom the Apostle recognized as archetypes of the two covenants. Ishmael represents darkness, while Isaac embodies light. Anyone who pursues worldly happiness within God’s Church aligns with Ishmael. These are the very individuals who undermine and disparage those striving for spiritual advancement, possessing deceitful tongues and unjust mouths.
Against such opposition, the Psalmist prayed and was granted burning coals and swift, sharp arrows from the Mighty One. He continues to dwell among them until the entire earth is sown; hence, he states, “I have dwelled among the tents of Kedar.” The tents of Ishmael are known as the tents of Kedar. This is explicitly noted in Genesis, as Kedar is recorded to belong to Ishmael. Genesis 25:13 Thus, Isaac coexists with Ishmael; those aligned with Isaac reside among those aligned with Ishmael. Galatians 4:29 The former seek to rise higher, while the latter attempt to pull them down; those who aspire to ascend to God find themselves confronted by those who endeavor to clip their wings.
“My soul has greatly wandered” Psalm 119:6. To avoid interpreting this as mere physical wandering, he specifies that it is his soul that has strayed. The body moves through different places, whereas the soul wanders in its affections. If you cherish earthly things, you distance yourself from God; if you love God, you draw closer to Him. Let us engage in love for both God and neighbor to return to true charity. If we fall to the ground, we wither and perish; yet one has come down to assist this fallen man, so he may rise again. During his time of wandering, he mentions dwelling among the tents of Kedar. Why? Because my soul has strayed significantly. It ascends wherever true ascent lies. He does not wander in body but ascends in spirit. But where does genuine ascent occur? As he notes, it happens within the heart.
“With those who despise the world, I was at peace” Psalm 119:7. However much you listen, beloved brethren, you cannot demonstrate the authenticity of your song until your actions mirror what you sing. Regardless of how often I repeat it, regardless of my attempts at articulation, none of it will resonate with the heart of one unresponsive to it. Begin to act, and experience the essence of our words. Then, tears will flow with each phrase, the Psalm will be sung, and your heart will embody the sentiments expressed in the Psalm...
Who are those who detest the world? They are those who disrupt unity. If they truly repelled worldly desires, they would exist in harmony. But they have separated themselves to uphold righteousness, ensuring that the ungodly do not mingle within their ranks. These sentiments are either reflective of our beliefs or theirs; make your choice. The Catholic Church stands firm: “Unity must be preserved, the Church of God shouldn’t be severed.” Ultimately, God will judge both the wicked and the righteous.
We assert, love the world, love Christ. For if one loves the world, they also love Christ. Therefore, when we implore, “Love the world,” we are, in essence, saying: “Love Christ.” Why? Because the Apostle proclaims of Christ: “He is our peace, who hath made both one.” Ephesians 2:14 If Christ embodies peace by uniting both, why would you create division when He unifies? How can you be peacemakers if, when Christ merges two into one, you split one into two? Despite this, we strive to be peacemakers alongside those who disdain the world; nevertheless, those who bear enmity towards the world declared war against us in vain.
THEOSIS