If all aspects of life seem favorable and the world smiles upon you, you may still feel the weight of your pilgrimage and recognize that the joy you experience is fleeting, not the fulfillment promised by Christ. This hope arises from deep longing and enables you to ascend, leading you to sing the Song of Ascents.
Where are the means for our ascent? We perceive an immense chasm between heaven and earth, a vast distance separating these realms. While we wish to ascend to the heavenly domain, we seem lacking in a path. Are we deceiving ourselves by partaking in the Song of Ascents? To ascend in heart means to draw closer to God. Just as those who fall do not merely descend but instead collapse, those who advance do so in humility; if they rise, it must be to shun pride, lest they stumble again. To prevent arrogance, one must look towards Him who resides in the heights, rather than fixate upon oneself.
If we perceive heaven merely as the visible firmament, we risk falling into delusion, believing we need a physical ladder to reach it. However, spiritual ascent requires a spiritual understanding of heaven: If our elevation stems from love, then heaven dwells in righteousness. What constitutes God's heaven? It comprises all holy and righteous souls. For even though the Apostles walked the earth in flesh, they embodied heavenly beings, as the Lord, present among them, traversed the entire creation. Thus, He resides in heaven. In what way? Until when does faith constitute a temple? While Christ remains within them through faith, as stated by the Apostle: ‘That by faith Christ may dwell in your hearts.’ Those who behold God face to face are truly in heaven; all holy Apostles, virtuous beings, Powers, Thrones, Lordships, and the heavenly Jerusalem dwell there. In that realm, God resides. There, the Psalmist elevated his faith and exalted himself in love, full of eager hope: this deep yearning purifies the soul from sin and prepares it to become a heaven, for it has turned its gaze towards Him who dwells above. If we consider the visible heavens as God's abode, realize that those heavens, along with the earth, will ultimately pass away (Matthew 24:35). So, before God created the heavens and the earth, where was His dwelling? Some might ask, what of the saints—where was He before their creation? God existed within Himself, abiding in His essence. And when He inhabits the saints, they do not become His dwelling in a manner that implies His removal would lead to His falling away. God’s presence among the saints is distinct; you may reside in a house, but if it is taken from you, you face a fall. Yet, God’s indwelling in saints ensures that they are held up, irrespective of His removal.
What does it signify to lift our eyes to Him (Psalm 121:2)? How have you directed your gaze? Observe how a servant’s eyes are set on their master, just as a maid looks attentively to her mistress. Thus, our eyes earnestly await the Lord our God until He shows us mercy. We are both servants and handmaidens; He is both our Master and our Mistress. What do these comparisons convey? It is not astonishing for us to be subjects to Him, but it is remarkable that we are likened to virgins with Him as our Mistresses. Even our virginity reflects our identity as the Church, and it is not strange that He is our Mistress, for He embodies the Power and Wisdom of God. Therefore, when you hear Christ, raise your gaze to the hands of your Master; when you experience the Power and Wisdom of God, direct your eyes to the hands of your Mistress; for you inhabit both roles. This handmaiden has attained significant dignity before God; she is now akin to a wife. Until she reaches the spiritual embrace where she experiences the One she adores without dread, she remains betrothed, bearing an immense promise—the blood of the Spouse, whom she ardently seeks without fear. She is not instructed, ‘You must not love,’ as is sometimes cautioned of an engaged maiden yet to be wed; it is rightly said, ‘You shall not love,’ for loving one unknown to her as future husband would be foolish. For it could happen that one man is engaged while another marries her. But since none can compare to Christ, let her love freely; and before becoming fully united with Him, may her love and longing endure amidst her journeys.
Our souls are filled with contempt (Psalm 121:3). All who aspire to live a godly life in Christ will confront opposition (2 Timothy 3:12); those who lack desire for godliness will scorn them, especially those whose happiness hinges on earthly treasures. Those who brand happiness as satisfaction found only in the visible are ridiculed, and they may say, ‘What do you truly believe, you foolish one? Can you see what you believe? Did anyone return from the depths to narrate what lies beyond?’ They claim to have joy in what they behold. You stand mocked, as your hope rests in unseen realities; while those who possess worldly views disdain you. Reflect deeply on whether their confidence is well-founded. ‘I possess my own home,’ they may claim. But inquire what type of dwelling they have—the one left by their fathers. Trace the lineage back to their great-grandparents, and they may struggle to recall names. Is it not more alarming that many have traversed this earthly abode, yet none could take it with them? Your father left it behind; he passed through, and you too shall do the same. If your stay in this dwelling is only temporary, it resembles an inn meant for transient guests, rather than a permanent residence. As we yearn for what is yet to come, grieving over future joy, and while we have not fully manifested what we shall become, we know we are already children of God (1 John 3:2), for our essence is concealed with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). This brings us disdain from those who seek happiness in this present age.
Our soul is profoundly filled—a scorn to the affluent and a ridicule to those haughty (Psalm 121:4). We queried about the rich, and it was elucidated that they are the proud. The scorn and ridicule align: the rich are synonymous with the proud. Why might the proud find wealth? Because they desire pleasure here and now. How could one be affluent when they are deeply discontent? Perhaps it is when anguish is upon them that they smirk at us. They may taunt when basking in luxury, boasting of the hollow honors of their wealth. They mock with claims of: ‘Look at me, I flourish; I possess all that I desire; let those who promise what they cannot deliver depart from me: what I grasp is what I cherish; let me delight in temporal well-being.’ Seek greater security; for Christ has risen and assured you of future gifts in the life to come—be assured, He will bestow them. The one who mocks you is simply defending what he holds. Endure his derision; you will later find joy in his lamentations, for a day will arrive when he too will declare, ‘That was one whom we occasionally scorned’ (Wisdom 5:3).
Additionally, we are at times beset by mockery from those suffering momentary misfortunes. Did not the thief, crucified alongside our blessed Redeemer, express scorn (Luke 23:39)? Yet if the wealthy mock us, why does the psalm declare, ‘The rich shall be reviled’? Upon careful observation, even these whose fortunes have faltered are still wealthy. How so? If they were not rich, pride would evade them. A man might flaunt his material wealth while another prides himself on accolades; a different individual might delude himself with a sense of righteousness, leading to a pride that is even more distressing. Those who are not materially affluent may still perceive themselves as rich in righteousness before God. When hardship strikes, they cast blame, questioning the divine: ‘What have I done to deserve this? Have I offended?’ Their conscience is slightly stirred, and they begin to grapple with their transgressions, yet they resist acknowledging their dues for their tribulations. They may assert, ‘I have done numerous good works, yet I observe others, far worse than I, suffer no harm.’ They brand themselves righteous before God. Thus, they feel wealthy, their pride bolstered by their perceived uprightness; they believe mistakenly that God is unjust, and consider themselves to bear undeserved suffering. If entrusted with a vessel, they would cause it to sink; longing to usurp God’s governance over creation, wishing to distribute both burdens and joys amongst humanity. What a misguided soul! Yet, should we marvel? For he feels rich, but his wealth is tainted with iniquity, far more so as he regards himself as rich in righteousness.
A Christian must recognize their poverty, mindful that if they possess material wealth, it is not genuine richness and should aspire to attain true treasures. What are the riches of our righteousness? Whatever measure we have is but a drop compared to the fullness that awaits us. Let us strive to be filled from the abundant wellspring of righteousness, seeking the bounties articulated in the Psalm: ‘They shall be filled with the abundance of Thy house, and Thou shalt give them to drink of the stream of Thy pleasure.’ While we dwell in this realm, let us embrace our state of poverty and neediness, not solely in regard to false wealth but concerning salvation itself. Even when complete, we ought to recognize that we are frail. As long as this body craves sustenance and thirst, it will find itself wearied by laboring, standing, walking, resting, and eating. Wherever it seeks ease from exhaustion, weariness only compounds. Therefore, true health remains elusive, even in corporeal matters. Such riches are thus illusions, for as they increase, so too does hunger and greed.
Let all our desires for fulfillment, contentment, and true righteousness be aimed towards authentic prosperity. What is true wealth? It is the heavenly dwelling in the New Jerusalem. Who is esteemed as rich while on earth? When a wealthy individual is lauded, what does it imply? That he possesses abundant resources: he lacks for nothing. In truth, praise is often a reflection of one’s own desires, for his apparent lack may not be genuine. If he truly lacks nothing, he indeed possesses all; yet if desire persists beyond what is possessed, then as his wealth rises, so too do his needs. In that City, however, true wealth abounds, for there we shall find no lack; our needs will be fulfilled, and true health will exist there.
THEOSIS