They observe this and do not surrender to the waters of Babylon; instead, they sit down and grieve—for those swept away by these desires or for themselves, who through their actions have found themselves in Babylon. They humble themselves in this state. O holy Zion, where stability exists and nothing flows away! Who has led us into this state of turmoil? Why have we forsaken our true Foundation and our community? Behold, in a place where all flows and slips away, few can grasp hold of anything real enough to escape. Thus, in our humility amid captivity, let us sit by the waters of Babylon. Let us refrain from immersing ourselves in these currents, nor pridefully indulge in the despair of our condition; rather, let us humble ourselves and weep. Let us sit by the waters, without submerging ourselves beneath them, embracing a posture of humility to prevent it from overwhelming us. Sit alongside the waters, not immersed within them, nor beneath them; let us maintain our humility without speaking, as would befit Jerusalem...
For many lament amid the sorrows of Babylon, having embraced its fleeting joys. When individuals celebrate gains and mourn losses, both arise from Babylon. We ought to weep, but in remembrance of Zion. If we genuinely remember Zion, our hearts should mourn even in seasons of joy within Babylon... In the middle of these waters, we hung our musical instruments (Psalm 135:2). The citizens of Jerusalem possess their instruments—God’s Scriptures, His commandments, His promises, reflections on eternal life—yet, while ensnared by Babylon, they suspend their melodies. The willows symbolize barrenness, echoing a truth that no good can be derived from them; perhaps elsewhere it could be, but here amidst the waters of Babylon, they symbolize those who, nourished by its streams, produce no fruit. Individuals who are avaricious, self-centered, and barren in good deeds are emblematic of Babylon, consuming transient pleasures as if nurtured by its waters. Seek sustenance from them and you will find none... Thus, we withhold our instruments from these barren willows, deeming them unworthy bearers. Hence, we refrain from using them and choose to suspend our melodies on these trees. For the willows signify those stagnant structures sustained by ephemeral pleasures, as if fed by the waters of Babylon.
The captors demanded of us songs, insisting we sing one of Zion’s hymns (Psalm 135:3). They compelled us for songs and hymns, who captured us... We are enticed by earthly pleasures and wage a daily battle against the urgings of forbidden desires; we find it hard to breathe freely even in prayer: we acknowledge our captivity. But who has taken us captive? Which individuals? Which race? Which rulers? If we are redeemed, it follows that we were once prisoners. Who has redeemed us? Christ. From whom were we redeemed? From the adversary. Thus, the devil and his minions subdued us, and they could lead us nowhere without our consent...
Those who ensnared us, the adversary and his minions, when they prompted us, ‘Sing us one of Zion’s songs,’ what could we respond? Babylon consumes you, Babylon sustains you, Babylon fills your mouth with its discourse; you neither grasp the brilliance of the present nor understand the eternal. How can we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land? (Psalm 135:4). Brothers and sisters, this is indeed our reality. Cultivate a desire to proclaim the truth as you comprehend it, and you will encounter derision from those who scoff, persecutors of truth steeped in deceit. Respond to their inquiries with the confidence of your sacred melody: How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?
Yet behold how you coexist among them, O people of God, O body of Christ, O noble assembly of wanderers—your true home lies beyond this realm—lest, in your affection for them, you seek their companionship, indifferent to the fact that Babylon may begin to appeal to you, leading you to forget Jerusalem. Thus, mindful of this danger, observe the psalmist’s continuation: If I forget you, O Jerusalem (Psalm 136:5), amidst the tempting words of those who enthrall me, amidst the deceptions of treacherous men, who inquire insincerely yet do not desire to learn... What shall happen? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand fail me.
Let my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not remember you (Psalm 135:6). In essence, let me be silent if I fail to remember you. What words does one utter who does not recite the songs of Zion? Our true language is the melody of Jerusalem. The love of this world is an alien tongue, learned during our captivity. Whoever forgets Jerusalem will be mute before God. Mere remembrance is insufficient; for her adversaries remember her too, wishing for her downfall. What manner of city is this? They exclaim, who are the Christians? What sort of beings are Christians? If they were not Christians... The congregation of captives have bested their captors; still, they grumble and seethe, yearning to destroy the sacred city, which exists among them as a stranger. Therefore, it is not enough merely to remember; pay attention to how you remember. Some elements we recall with disdain, while others with affection. Hence, when he states: ‘If I forget you, Jerusalem,’ he promptly adds: ‘If I do not prefer Jerusalem above my highest delight.’ For there exists a peak of joy, where we revel in God’s presence, sheltered from the temptations that aim to disrupt our union. In that place, no tempter can assail us; nothing shall satisfy us except what is good. There, every need shall cease, and we shall be bathed in perfect bliss.
Next, he turns his prayer to God against the foes of that city: Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom (Psalm 136:7). Edom also refers to Esau; for you have recently heard the apostle affirm, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I have hated” (Romans 9:13). Esau represents all that is carnal; Jacob embodies all that is spiritual... Every earthly individual opposes the spiritual one, for all who desire the present persecute those who yearn for the eternal. Concerning them, the psalmist, looking back to Jerusalem and beseeching God for deliverance from captivity, declares—what? Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom. Deliver us from carnal beings, from the imitators of Esau, who may appear as elder brothers yet are enemies. They were initially favored, yet the first shall become last, as lusts of the flesh toppled the first, but the renunciation of lust raised the second. Others live to envy and persecute. On the day of Jerusalem—was it the day of her trial, of her captivity, or was it the joyous day of her liberation, when she reaches her goal, when she partakes of eternity? Remember, he pleads, Lord, do not forget those who cried out: Destroy it, demolish it to its very foundation. Recall the day when they aimed to obliterate Jerusalem. What tremendous persecution the Church faced! Just as the children of Edom—carnal beings, servants of the devil and his demons, who worshipped material idols and followed illicit desires—declared, ‘Wipe out the Christians, extinguish them, let them not endure, obliterate them from existence!’ Were these words not spoken? And when spoken, the persecutors faced defeat while the martyrs were crowned...
Next, he laments: O daughter of Babylon, wretched one; indeed, miserable is your appearance, in your arrogance, in your hostility; O wretched daughter of Babylon (Psalm 135:8). The city is called both Babylon and the daughter of Babylon; just as Jerusalem and the daughter of Jerusalem, Zion and the daughter of Zion, the Church and its offspring are referenced. The former denotes a legacy, as she is an heir to Babylon. O daughter of Babylon, you are indeed wretched!...
Blessed is he who reassures you as you have treated us. What kind of reassurance does he speak of? This is where the psalm concludes: ‘Blessed is he who takes your children and dashes them against the rock’ (Psalm 135:9). While she is branded miserable, blessed is he who repays her in the same manner she has treated us. Do we inquire what this consequence entails? It is indeed repayment. For what wrongs has this Babylon committed against us? We have already chanted in another psalm: ‘The words of the wicked have overwhelmed us.’ For upon our birth, the chaos of this world smothered us in our infancy, deceiving us with hollow notions and various illusions. The infant, born with the intent of becoming a citizen of Jerusalem, preordained by God as a citizen, yet momentarily imprisoned—when shall he grasp the value of true treasures, distinct from the whispers of earthly parents? They implore him and instruct him in covetousness, theft, daily deceit, the worship of various idols and false deities, illicit charms and amulets. What can a child, a tender spirit, witnessing the actions of elders, do but imitate their behavior? Babylon pursued us even in our childhood; yet God, in His wisdom, equipped us with self-awareness as we matured, so that we would not replicate our parents’ missteps...
How does one repay Babylon? Just as she served us. Let her offspring be stifled; indeed, may her children suffer destruction. What are the children of Babylon? They are evil desires from their inception. For there are those who must struggle against hardened lusts. When a lust emerges, before it hardens into a habitual sin against you, while it remains weak, do not allow it the opportunity to become an established vice; while small, shatter it. But you fear, lest, if you break it, you might see it perish; rather, smash it against the Rock—and that Rock is Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).
Brothers and sisters, do not allow your instruments to rest in idleness; sing among one another the songs of Zion. You have readily heard; therefore, hasten to act upon what you have heard, lest you become like the willows of Babylon, nurtured by its streams and yielding no fruit. But yearn for the eternal Jerusalem; where your hope is, there shall your life also reside; there we shall join Christ. Christ is our Head; He now reigns over us from on high; in that city, He will draw us to Himself; we shall be exalted alongside the angels of God. We could scarcely dare to envision this were it not for the Truth's assurance. Therefore, desire these things, dear brethren, day and night, ponder upon them. No matter how the world may shine with joys, do not let your thoughts be swayed; do not broker deals with your appetites. Is it an adversary you face grown in might? Let it be vanquished upon the Rock. Is it a lesser foe? Let it be crushed upon the Rock. Conquer the adults upon the Rock and annihilate the young upon the Rock. Let the Rock prevail. Establish your foundation upon the Rock if you wish to avoid being swept away by currents, winds, or rain. If you seek to armor yourselves against worldly temptations, let your desire for the eternal Jerusalem blossom and gain strength within your hearts. Your captivity shall one day fade away; joy shall arise; the last enemy shall be obliterated, and we shall triumph alongside our King, untouched by death.
THEOSIS