ΤΗΕ ROLE OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
We
must clarify, right from the start of this homily, that God has
essence (substance) and energies too. Energies and essence (different
from those found in God) are elements of the human soul as well, "the
one created in the image of God" (according to His image).
In
more detail:
a.
God
has Essence,
which man cannot know of (neither can he ever
know, because God is uncreated, and man is created), and
b.
God
has Energies.
The energies of God can be shared with us; we are able to partake of
them, to experience them.
The
energies of God can be felt by us, but only up to a certain extent.
As already mentioned, we can "get inside" them, partake of
them. For example, we can surely experience God's love and justice;
we can experience that God is inexpressible
sweetness;
His is the Light,
the Life,
the Resurrection
etc.
So,
whenever we experience those things, we can understand them a little;
not logically (intellectually) but existentially, provided we love
God. Then, due to our love towards God (the divine eros), we partake
of them, we experience them.
One
might ask, " And, when do we love God?"
The
answer is: "When we adhere to His commandments."
We
can find this in the New Testament [John
14:21]:"The one having my commandments, and giving heed to them,
that one is the one loving me."
Our soul
has:
a.
Essence;
which we do not have exact knowledge of, and
b.
Energies.
Nevertheless,
due to the sickness of our essence (because of our committed sins),
the energies produced by our soul are sick, too!
f. Savvas Agioreitis
f. Savvas Agioreitis
To be continued...
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