Brief Summary
In our fourth session, we delved into the crucial need to become acutely aware of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon us during Baptism and Chrismation. After Baptism we continue to grapple with sinful inclinations and acts, which obscure our perception of the Spirit and alienate us from God, increasingly leading us to prioritize our will as we navigate the myriad challenges of worldly existence.
Previously, we explored St. Symeon's insights on creation, aligning with the scriptural understanding that we are made in the Image of God. The fall of Adam and Eve, precipitated by their failure to adhere to a single commandment, resulted in their exile from Paradise, condemned to a life of labor and mortality. This, according to divine plan, set the stage for our eventual perfection. In the fullness of time, God incarnated, merging His divinity with human nature, both becoming man and remaining fully divine. Through the establishment of His Church and the institution of the sacraments, humanity was offered the opportunity to reunite with Him via Baptism, thus receiving the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. This act signifies a rebirth, our humanity fused with divinity. However, St. Symeon emphasizes that further preparation is necessary for each individual to re-enter the Kingdom of Heaven and attain eternal life, necessitating a baptism of the Spirit—a revival to a conscious awareness of the divine presence within us.
Symeon’s idea of “Baptism in Spirit” does not invalidate the sacramental baptism through which we unquestionably received the Holy Spirit. However, due to our sinful tendencies and disobedience, we often become self-absorbed, diminishing our consciousness of the Spirit within us, as it is overshadowed by our desires and will. It is akin to a spiritual slumber, living a life directed by self-will rather than in harmony with God's will. Hence, we require a renewed awakening to this inner power, embarking on a life marked by repentance and prayer.
If we have the desire to be united with Christ like young Symeon did when he was a working man engaged in worldly affairs, we must choose like him to seek, ask and pray, to find a spiritual guide, striving to do all God commands. Then we too can be awakened and become aware of the divine power within us. This enables us to find that His yoke is easy and the burden is light (Matt. 11:30) to do all He commands, Jesus assures us. Yet, this requires a conscious recognition of His presence within us. Through our collaboration with His guidance, we are empowered to make better choices and navigate life's trials more effortlessly, aligning with His will.
The main theme discussed in this lesson is the necessity of a conscious awareness of the Holy Spirit within us. This enables us to live a life of repentance. This underscores the Church’s rationale for this Lenten season—a period for profound introspection on our true essence, recognizing the divine force within us, understanding our spiritual blindness, and confronting the sinfulness we might neglect. It encourages us to bravely confess and schedule a meeting with a priest for the Sacrament of Confession—not merely as a practice of admitting sins but as a profound sacrament of reconciliation with God and the Church, through which we receive forgiveness and grace to continue our spiritual journey.
St. Symeon's teachings illuminate the spiritual journey toward Theosis, illustrating that an initial desire for union with God and adopting the mindset of Christ are pivotal. With this longing, we must actively seek and ask in our prayers for awareness of the Holy Spirit, under the guidance of a spiritual father. As we strive to execute God's will, acknowledging our frequent shortcomings necessitates repentance, a renewed mindset, and an intensification of our prayer life, examination of our fasting practices, and participation in Holy Communion, driven by our love and yearning for union with Him.
Theosis is not merely for monastics; it is the goal for every Orthodox Christian, vital for our salvation. Theosis is the process of becoming more like God through cooperation with His grace, applicable in the daily lives of all believers, regardless of their state in life. We are all called to revive our true spiritual nature, dulled by a rationalistic and materialistic culture.
Embracing a spiritual life, fully engaged with our loved ones and responsibilities, yet through the lens of Christ's mindset, epitomizes the journey to Theosis, with a conscious awareness of the Holy Spirit's activity within us.
In our next session, we will discuss the significance of the Sacrament of Holy Communion and further explore St. Symeon's teachings on daily prayer.In our fourth session, we delved into the crucial need to become acutely aware of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon us during Baptism and Chrismation. After Baptism we continue to grapple with sinful inclinations and acts, which obscure our perception of the Spirit and alienate us from God, increasingly leading us to prioritize our will as we navigate the myriad challenges of worldly existence.
Previously, we explored St. Symeon's insights on creation, aligning with the scriptural understanding that we are made in the Image of God. The fall of Adam and Eve, precipitated by their failure to adhere to a single commandment, resulted in their exile from Paradise, condemned to a life of labor and mortality. This, according to divine plan, set the stage for our eventual perfection. In the fullness of time, God incarnated, merging His divinity with human nature, both becoming man and remaining fully divine. Through the establishment of His Church and the institution of the sacraments, humanity was offered the opportunity to reunite with Him via Baptism, thus receiving the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. This act signifies a rebirth, our humanity fused with divinity. However, St. Symeon emphasizes that further preparation is necessary for each individual to re-enter the Kingdom of Heaven and attain eternal life, necessitating a baptism of the Spirit—a revival to a conscious awareness of the divine presence within us.
Symeon’s idea of “Baptism in Spirit” does not invalidate the sacramental baptism through which we unquestionably received the Holy Spirit. However, due to our sinful tendencies and disobedience, we often become self-absorbed, diminishing our consciousness of the Spirit within us, as it is overshadowed by our desires and will. It is akin to a spiritual slumber, living a life directed by self-will rather than in harmony with God's will. Hence, we require a renewed awakening to this inner power, embarking on a life marked by repentance and prayer.
If we have the desire to be united with Christ like young Symeon did when he was a working man engaged in worldly affairs, we must choose like him to seek, ask and pray, to find a spiritual guide, striving to do all God commands. Then we too can be awakened and become aware of the divine power within us. This enables us to find that His yoke is easy and the burden is light (Matt. 11:30) to do all He commands, Jesus assures us. Yet, this requires a conscious recognition of His presence within us. Through our collaboration with His guidance, we are empowered to make better choices and navigate life's trials more effortlessly, aligning with His will.
The main theme discussed in this lesson is the necessity of a conscious awareness of the Holy Spirit within us. This enables us to live a life of repentance. This underscores the Church’s rationale for this Lenten season—a period for profound introspection on our true essence, recognizing the divine force within us, understanding our spiritual blindness, and confronting the sinfulness we might neglect. It encourages us to bravely confess and schedule a meeting with a priest for the Sacrament of Confession—not merely as a practice of admitting sins but as a profound sacrament of reconciliation with God and the Church, through which we receive forgiveness and grace to continue our spiritual journey.
St. Symeon's teachings illuminate the spiritual journey toward Theosis, illustrating that an initial desire for union with God and adopting the mindset of Christ are pivotal. With this longing, we must actively seek and ask in our prayers for awareness of the Holy Spirit, under the guidance of a spiritual father. As we strive to execute God's will, acknowledging our frequent shortcomings necessitates repentance, a renewed mindset, and an intensification of our prayer life, examination of our fasting practices, and participation in Holy Communion, driven by our love and yearning for union with Him.
Theosis is not merely for monastics; it is the goal for every Orthodox Christian, vital for our salvation. Theosis is the process of becoming more like God through cooperation with His grace, applicable in the daily lives of all believers, regardless of their state in life. We are all called to revive our true spiritual nature, dulled by a rationalistic and materialistic culture.
Embracing a spiritual life, fully engaged with our loved ones and responsibilities, yet through the lens of Christ's mindset, epitomizes the journey to Theosis, with a conscious awareness of the Holy Spirit's activity within us.
In our next session, we will discuss the significance of the Sacrament of Holy Communion and further explore St. Symeon's teachings on daily prayer.
Link to Pdf of slides used
Link to videos of entire series: https://www.stgeorgegreenville.org/our-faith/theosis
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