Icon of Christ in a Different Form by Manuel Panselinos
Photograph by Paul Mylonas
Recently, I read a passage from St Maximos the Confessor that
brought a lot of hope to my heart. Our Orthodox Church Fathers,
like St Symeon the New Theologian and teachers such as Fr John
Romanides instruct us that we must meet Christ in this life. The
eye of our soul, our nous, must be opened before we depart this life,
in order to see our Lord in the next.
All the ascetical struggle of the Orthodox Christian has the purpose
of purifying the heart so that one day he may meet the Lord Jesus
Christ face to face. We must be spiritually alive to God to be able to
enter the Kingdom. But how is this event to take place? St Maximos
writes,
" For the Lord does not always appear in glory to those who are
standing before Him; rather, He comes in the form of a servant to
beginners,... Thus it is possible for the Lord not to appear in the
same form to all those who meet him, but to some in one way and
to others in another way, that is, by varying the contemplation
(of Him) according to the measure of faith in each one."
From 'Maximos Confessor Selected Writings', Chapters on Knowledge p.150,
Trans. by George C. Berthold, The Classics of Western Spirituality, Paulist
Press New York 1985
In the Gospel of Luke 24:13 NASB,we read:
"And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village
named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And
they were talking with each other about all these things which had
taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself
approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were
prevented from recognizing Him."
The disciples did not recognize the Lord but they felt the fire of
His Presence in their hearts. It wasn't until the end of the day that
Luke and Cleopas were able to see that it was the Lord speaking to
them. "When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the
bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He
vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our
hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road,
while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” All the hours the
disciples spent conversing with the Lord on the way to Emmaus
were needed to prepare their hearts for a fuller revelation of
Himself.
Again, when the disciples were fishing on the sea of Galilee, the Lord
stood on the beach and spoke to them saying, "Cast the net on the
right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” John 21:6
They obeyed the 'stranger' and caught a big catch of fish. Then
"that disciple whom Jesus loved (John) said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
John 21:7
You see, the disciples had heard those words before, when Jesus
called them to follow Him at the beginning of His ministry. And
John, whose heart was ready, immediately recognized his Master.
This experience is absolutely necessary if we are to hold converse
with the Lord. It is also necessary for a correct understanding of
the scriptures. In reference to the revelation of Christ's glory to
His disciples on Mount Tabor, St Maximos writes,
"When the Word of God becomes bright and shinning in us, and
His face is dazzling as the sun, then also will His clothes be radiant,
that is, the clear and distinct words of the Holy Scripture of the
Gospels now no longer veiled. Then Moses and Elijah will stand
beside Him, that is, the more spiritual meanings of the Law and
the Prophets."
Maximos Confessor Selected Writings p.150, Trans. by George C.
Berthold, Paulist Press 1985
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