Thus, the house of prayer shares a common foundation with the house of faith. The sacred space of deep truths is welcomed into the realm of understanding and has established itself here through its mysterious workings. It is evident that Religion and Science seek to coalesce and work together for the betterment of humankind. With humility, Religion invites us to express our gratitude for this condescension, while prudently, Science calls forth praise for its wisdom.
I will refrain from calling Him the highest Wise One, as such a title falls short for the One I have in mind—He who embodies Wisdom and is the sole Source of all understanding. In Him are ‘all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden’ (Col. 2:3), and from His bounty, He ‘gives wisdom’ and from His presence streams ‘knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:6). He has entered our midst not merely as a transient visitor but as a permanent Resident, establishing His school—a school that neither existed before nor will exist again, a place of learning that is elevated for the loftiest minds yet accessible for the humblest souls. This is a school that does not entice with promises of degrees but aims to make every nation a disciple, drawing even the old intellectual world back into its fold.
In this institution, while upholding respect for known sciences, one can discern the fundamental aspects that incite interest. The living word—philosophy here is not confined to worldly elements, which are weakened by superficial experiments and dissected into trivialities. Rather, it is anchored in the vibrant and life-giving essence of ‘the wisdom of God, in the hidden mystery, which God ordained before the ages for our glory’ (1 Corinthians 2:7). It engages with the contemplation of the supreme Unity in the consubstantial Trinity, revealing the Trinity in the Unity as the true source of all that exists, the deep foundation of everything that is measured.
Our understanding encompasses both earth and heaven—not a grim understanding that delves into the earth's depths merely to unearth remnants of decay, nor a mere celestial observation that through powerful lenses traces starry paths without offering a guide to the divine. Instead, it acknowledges the original goodness of creation, then confronts the earth's curse due to human actions, and recognizes the heavens tainted by sin (Job 15:15). It perceives the earthly realm destined for destruction alongside a heaven that will eventually pass away, before embracing the promise of ‘a new heaven and a new earth’ where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). This is not legislation fashioned by ancient Greeks or Romans, which has waned in relevance over time as societies that upheld it have diminished. Rather, it is the divine law by which the King of heaven and earth governs His eternal kingdom across generations and peoples. Importantly, it is also the law by which He desires to organize His reign within us, should we earnestly aspire to be heirs of His kingdom.
This is the healing art for souls, demonstrating how not only to cure spiritual maladies but also to resurrect from spiritual death, illustrating means to safeguard our lives from damaging moral sickness and to acquire a new, better life—an existence not built on mere dreams, but on the true, all-sustaining remedy found in the Body and Blood of the God-Man, which heralds the beginning of a higher existence—the Grace of the Holy Spirit. Should these subjects not inspire curiosity? Is not our sole Teacher, who educates and continues to teach in His universal school, deserving of earnest attention and discipleship? What hinders us from following Him? Indeed, how accessible He is! ‘Come unto Him, and ye shall be enlightened’ (Psalm 33:6).
These words of invitation, urging enlightenment and the Enlightener, belong to the ancient minister of wisdom, King and Prophet David. Allow me to expand on his message: ‘I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me out of all my troubles; come unto Him, and ye shall be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed’ (Psalm 33:5-6). To grasp this fully, we must remember that ancient belief held seeing God as impossible, a notion that God confirmed to Moses, saying, ‘Thou shalt not be able to see My face; for man shall not see Me and live’ (Ex. 33:20). Thus, it is not contradictory for the Psalmist to invite others to approach the Lord and seek illumination.
To avoid wrongly attributing an error in divine understanding to the Prophet, we must acknowledge an alternative kind of divine revelation among the ancient Hebrews. A careful examination of sacred scriptures shows God manifesting as a created being, an angel, or a man, yet still operating under His divine name and authority. The unexpected appearance of this anthropomorphic expression of God within the overarching concept of God's invisibility and inaccessibility highlights a divine arrangement—a prelude to the Son of God’s humble descent to humanity, appearing before the dawn of His incarnation like the sun’s early touch on a new day.
Now it becomes clear how David depicts the invisible and transcendent God as accessible and enlightening for those who draw near to Him; consequently, we see the Prophet calls us to seek enlightenment from our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, Christ is the Light for both the ancient and modern worlds! The distant past beckons not another light, but the brilliance that is clearly evident in Christ! To whom should we guide those thirsting for understanding now, if not to this Light? ‘Come unto Him, and ye shall be enlightened.’
If we consider the invitation linked with the statements that precede and follow, we find that the call to the Lord of Enlightenment includes encouragement to heed this call. When He asserts, ‘I will call upon the Lord, and He will hear me, and deliver me out of all my troubles,’ He references his own personal journey from despair to joy. The ‘sorrows’ he speaks of were undoubtedly burdensome and numerous, reflecting a life that provided no relief or solace in the norms of existence. ‘Seeking the Lord’ implies that he did not find immediate assistance, perhaps because he had not encountered sufficient trials to deepen his understanding, or perhaps his affliction obscured his vision of God’s path. He does not claim he drew near to the Lord, but rather, that he ‘sought the Lord.’ Yet, one cannot seek what they already possess.
What did seeking the Lord ultimately yield? ‘I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my troubles.’ Much like one lost in darkness or wandering through untamed lands calls out for a savior they cannot see, the compassionate Lord, upon hearing, draws near and resolves their plight. David similarly sought God amidst sorrow and prayer, and the Lord, listening, responded with grace, alleviating his despair. Now, buoyed by his transformation from sorrow to joy, David wishes to share his experience, urging those suffering not only to search for the hidden Lord but to approach Him as a tangible source of light: ‘approach Him, and ye shall be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed.’
This sequence of declarations empowers us to interpret the final promise as not only the enlightenment of the mind through the truth of Christ but also the illuminating of the heart by the Spirit of the Comforter, whose abundant solace dispels all earthly grief like a bitter drop submerged in sweet nectar. Recognizing that the Prophet invokes the Lord for light in times of sorrow, we must not surmise that his offering pertains solely to certain individuals in specific scenarios. Rather, he calls out: ‘Come, enlighten yourselves,’ targeting all who have ears to listen.
Let us pose a question: Have we truly traversed life without trouble, and do we expect a future free of tribulation? I doubt anyone can assert such certainty about their past or anticipate such an untroubled future. I especially ask: Who among us can lay claim to the undisturbed peace declared by the ancient sage when he noted, ‘Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, and is exempt from the sorrows of sin’ (Sir. 14:1)? Should anyone suggest they have maintained this blessed state, they must confront the undeniable admonition from the chosen one, Christ’s disciple John: ‘If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us’ (1 John 1:8).
If we are not misled about ourselves and remain attuned to the truth of our sins, thus vulnerable to guilt’s sorrow, I call upon all who have aspired to wisdom and enlightenment: Where is the understanding that would comfort us in sin’s sorrow? Where is the light that would illuminate our path to liberation from life's tribulations, especially the burdens of conscience? Who among us can satisfactorily untangle the profound question of humanity’s condition, particularly for the sinner grappling with guilt before God? Though many wise men of old reflected on human happiness, they often faltered in their conclusions, partly due to their misunderstandings of sin and divine culpability. They attempted to ameliorate superficial existence while disregarding the fate of the soul, seeking to sweeten mere drops while oblivious to the state of the ocean.
Who can guide me so my ‘face would not be ashamed’ before God or my conscience, which falters in the face of sin? Seekers of heavenly forces that govern and sustain the universe, can you not provide a means to redirect my steps back to divine order and away from the brink of despair? You, scholars of natural rights and moral justice, must concede that no claim is more profound than God’s right that His creation abide by His will and law in thought, word, and deed. Our infractions necessitate consequence, as we stand before the Sovereign deprived of our privileges, previously held by divine favor, and now bound to the sanctions of justice.
Your knowledge and conscience may bring disgrace upon the sinner but will it also illuminate a pathway to redemption? You assert that what is done cannot be undone; this maxim condemns the sinner to eternal shame rooted in conscious guilt. God’s mercy is often espoused idly, with the hope of soothing a restless conscience, but such comforting thoughts fall short in the face of true understanding. Yes, God’s mercy shines bright, yet it exists in tandem with perfect justice, whole and undivided; thus, the scales of divine justice remain balanced, and no dependency on mercy can diminish the weight of justice demanded in response to transgression.
The sinner's relationship to God’s justice is clear, yet how they stand towards His mercy eludes human reason. Realizing how divine mercy could be extended to the sinner without compromising God's justice is incomprehensible without a special revelation. Who will unravel my deep bewilderments? Who can dispel my darkness? Who will inspire steadfast faith in God’s mercy? Who will ‘deliver me from all my sorrows’? It is You alone, O Teacher sent from God, Light of the world, Savior of souls, Lord Jesus Christ. Your miraculous presence among us, along with Your words—‘No man ever spoke like this man’ (John 7:46)—and especially Your suffering for our sake, Your wounds, and Your death on the Cross, serve as profound evidence of Your saving grace. These acts not only dispel ignorance, doubt, and despair but provide the illuminating light that shines through life’s darkest moments.
THEOSIS