Saint Seraphim of Sarov On Acquisition of the Holy = Spirit

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Saint Seraphim of = Sarov

On Acquisition

of the Holy Spirit

Content: Introduction.=20 The=20 aim of the Christian life. On=20 the acquisition of Grace. The=20 presence of the Holy Spirit in History. Grace=20 is Light.

Introduction

Saint Seraphim of Sarov was born in 1759, = in city of=20 Kursk. His parents were pious Orthodox Christians, examples of true=20 spirituality. At the age of ten, Seraphim was miraculously healed from a = serious=20 illness by means of the Kursk icon of the Theotokos. As a boy, he = immersed=20 himself in church services and church literature. He began monastic life = at the=20 hermitage of Sarov at the age of nineteen. He was tonsured as a monk = when he was=20 twenty-seven, and soon afterwards was ordained a deacon. The intensity = and=20 purity of Seraphim's participation in the Divine services are evident as = he was=20 allowed to see angels, and during the liturgy on Holy Thursday, he saw = the Lord=20 Himself.

At thirty-four, Seraphim was ordained as a priest, = and was=20 assigned as the spiritual guide of the Diveyevo convent. At this time, = he also=20 received a blessing to begin life as a hermit in the forest surrounding = Sarov.=20 He lived in a small cabin, devoting himself entirely to prayer, fasting, = and the=20 reading of the Scriptures and the Holy Fathers. Seraphim would go to the = monastery on Sundays to receive Holy Communion; and then return to the=20 forest.

In 1804, Seraphim was attacked by robbers and almost = beaten to=20 death. Permanent injuries sustained from this attack caused him to = always be=20 bent over and the need of a staff to walk. After this event, the Saint = began=20 more fervent prayers, incessant for a thousand days and a thousand = nights;=20 spending the better part of his time kneeling on a stone near his cell = crying=20 out, "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner." Then he then spent three years = in=20 absolute silent seclusion. Obeying the request of the elders of the = monastery,=20 Seraphim returned to the monastery in 1810, but continued to live in = prayer, and=20 silent seclusion for another ten years. In obedience to a heavenly = vision,=20 Seraphim ended his silence and began to speak for the benefit of others. = The=20 Saint greeted all who came to him with a prostration, a kiss, and the = words of=20 the Pascha greeting: "Christ is Risen!" He called everyone, "my joy." In = 1825,=20 he returned to his forest cell, where he received thousands of pilgrims = from=20 across Russia. Granted the gift of clairvoyance, the wonder-working = Saint=20 Seraphim of Sarov gave consolation and guidance to all. Saint Seraphim = died on=20 January 2, 1833, while kneeling before an icon of the Theotokos.

An example of the grace of the Holy Spirit at work = within the=20 life and words of Saint Seraphim has been preserved for us. In November = of 1831,=20 a pious Orthodox Christian named Nicholas Motovilov met with Saint = Seraphim, and=20 recorded his conversation. The notes by Motovilov were transcribed and = published=20 by Sergius Nilus, who wrote the following introduction:

This revelation is undoubtedly of worldwide = significance. True,=20 there is nothing essentially new in it, for the full revelation was = given to the=20 Apostles from the very day of Pentecost. But now that people have = forgotten the=20 fundamental truths of Christian life and are immersed in the darkness of = materialism or the exterior and routine performance of "ascetic labors," = St.=20 Seraphim's revelation is truly extraordinary, as indeed he himself = regarded=20 it.

"It is not given to you alone to understand this," = said St.=20 Seraphim towards the end of the revelation, "but through you it is for = the whole=20 world!" Like a flash of lightning this wonderful conversation illumined = the=20 whole world which was already immersed in spiritual lethargy and death = less than=20 a century before the struggle against Christianity in Russia and at a = time when=20 Christian faith was at a low ebb in the West. Here God's Saint appears = before us=20 in no way inferior to the prophets through whom the Holy Spirit Himself=20 spoke.

We record everything word for word without any = interpretations=20 of our own.

S. A. Nilus

The Aim of the

Christian Life

"It was Thursday," writes = Motovilov. "The=20 day was gloomy. The snow lay eight inches deep on the ground; and dry, = crisp=20 snowflakes were falling thickly from the sky when St. Seraphim began his = conversation with me in a field near his hermitage, opposite the river = Sarovka,=20 at the foot of the hill which slopes down to the river bank. He sat me = on the=20 stump of a tree which he had just felled, and squatted opposite me.

"The Lord has revealed to me," said the great elder, = "that in=20 your childhood you had a great desire to know the aim of our Christian = life, and=20 that you have continually asked many great spiritual persons about = it."

I must admit, that from the age of twelve this = thought had=20 constantly troubled me. In fact, I had approached many clergy about it, = however=20 their answers had not satisfied me. This could not have been known to = the=20 elder.

"But no one,' continued St. Seraphim, 'has given you = a precise=20 answer. They have said to you: "Go to church, pray to God, do the = commandments=20 of God, do good - that is the aim of the Christian life." Some = were even=20 indignant with you for being occupied with such profane curiosity and = said to=20 you, "Do not seek things which are beyond you." But they did not speak = as they=20 should. Now humble Seraphim will explain to you of what this aim really=20 consists.

"However prayer, fasting, vigil and all the other = Christian=20 practices may be, they do not constitute the aim of our Christian life. = Although=20 it is true that they serve as the indispensable means of reaching this = end, the=20 true aim of our Christian life consists of the acquisition of the = Holy Spirit=20 of God. As for fasts, and vigils, and prayer, and almsgiving, and = every good=20 deed done for Christ's sake, are the only means of acquiring the Holy = Spirit of=20 God. Mark my words, only good deeds done for Christ's sake brings us the = fruits=20 of the Holy Spirit. All that is not done for Christ's sake, even though = it be=20 good, brings neither reward in the future life nor the grace of God in = this=20 life. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ said: "He who does not gather = with Me=20 scatters" (Luke 11:23). Not that a good deed can be called anything = but=20 gathering, even though a deed is not done for Christ's sake, it is still = considered good. The Scriptures say: "In every nation he who fears = God and=20 does what is right is acceptable to Him" (Acts 10:35).

"As we see from another sacred narrative, the man who = does what=20 is right is pleasing to God. We see the Angel of the Lord appeared at = the hour=20 of prayer to Cornelius, the God-fearing and righteous centurion, and = said: "Send=20 to Joppa to Simon the Tanner; there you will find Peter and he will tell = you the=20 words of eternal life, whereby you will be saved and all your house." = Thus the=20 Lord uses all His divine means to give such a man, in return for his = good works,=20 the opportunity not to lose his reward in the future life. But to this = end, we=20 must begin with a right faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, = Who came=20 into the world to save sinners and Who, through our acquiring for = ourselves the=20 grace of the Holy Spirit, brings into our hearts the Kingdom of God = and=20 opens the way for us to win the blessings of the future life. But the=20 acceptability to God of good deeds not done for Christ's sake is limited = to=20 this: the Creator gives the means to make them living (cf. Hebrews. = 6:1). It=20 rests with man to make them living or not. That is why the Lord said to = the=20 Jews: "If you had been blind, you would have had no sin. But now you = say 'We=20 see,' so your sin remains" (John 9:41). If a man like Cornelius = enjoys the=20 favor of God for his deeds, though not done for Christ's sake, and then = believes=20 in His Son, such deeds will be imputed to him as done for Christ's sake. = But in=20 the opposite event a man has no right to complain, when the good he has = done is=20 useless. It never is, when it is done for Christ's sake, since good done = for Him=20 not only merits a crown of righteousness in the world to come, but also = in this=20 present life fills us with the grace of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, it is = said:=20 "God does not give the Spirit by measure" (John 3:34-35).

"That is it, your Godliness. Acquiring the Spirit of = God is the=20 true aim of our Christian life, while prayer, fasting, almsgiving and = other good=20 works done for Christ's sake are merely means for acquiring the = Spirit of=20 God."

"What do you mean by acquiring?" I asked St. = Seraphim. "Somehow=20 I don't understand that."

"Acquiring is the same as obtaining," he replied. "Do = you=20 understand, what acquiring money means? Acquiring the Spirit of God is = exactly=20 the same. You know very well enough what it means to acquire in a = worldly sense,=20 your Godliness. The aim of ordinary worldly people is to acquire or make = money;=20 and for the nobility, it is in addition to receive honors, distinctions = and=20 other rewards for their services to the government. The acquisition of = God's=20 Spirit is also capital, but grace-giving and eternal, and it is obtained = in very=20 similar ways, almost the same ways as monetary, social and temporal = capital.

"God the Word, the God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, = compares our=20 life with the market, and the work of our life on earth He calls = trading. He=20 says to us all: "Trade till I come" (Lk. 19:13), "buying up = every=20 opportunity, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). In other = words,=20 make the most of your time getting heavenly blessings through earthly = goods.=20 Earthly goods are good works done for Christ's sake that confer the = grace of the=20 All-Holy Spirit, on us."

"In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, when = the=20 foolish ones ran short of oil, they were told: "Go and buy in the = market." But=20 when they had bought it, the door of the bride-chamber was already shut = and they=20 could not get in. Some say that the lack of oil in the lamps of the = foolish=20 virgins means a lack of good deeds in their lifetime. Such an = interpretation is=20 not quite correct. Why should they be lacking in good deeds, if they are = called=20 virgins, even though foolish ones? Virginity is the supreme virtue, an = angelic=20 state, and it could take the place of all other good works.

"I think that what they were lacking was the grace of = the=20 All-Holy Spirit of God. These virgins practiced the virtues, but in = their=20 spiritual ignorance they supposed that the Christian life consisted = merely in=20 doing good works. By doing a good deed they thought they were doing the = work of=20 God, but they cared little whether they acquired the grace of God's = Spirit.=20 These ways of life, based merely on doing good, without carefully = testing=20 whether they bring the grace of the Spirit of God, are mentioned in the=20 patristic books: "There is another way which is deemed good in the = beginning,=20 but ends at the bottom of hell."

"Anthony the Great in his letters to monks says of = such=20 virgins: "Many monks and virgins have no idea of the different kinds of = will=20 which act in man, and they do not know that we are influenced by three = wills:=20 the first is God's all-perfect and all-saving will; the second is our = own human=20 will which, if not destructive, neither is it saving; and the third will = is the=20 devil's will - wholly destructive." This third will of the enemy prompts = man to=20 do any no good deeds, or to do them good out of vanity, or merely for = virtue's=20 sake rather than for Christ's sake. The second, our own will, prompts us = to do=20 everything to flatter our passions, or else it teaches us like the = enemy, to do=20 good for the sake of good and not care for the grace which is acquired = by it.=20 But the first, God's all-saving will, consists in doing good solely to = acquire=20 the Holy Spirit, as an eternal, inexhaustible treasure which is = priceless. The=20 acquisition of the Holy Spirit is, in a manner of speaking, the oil, = which the=20 foolish virgins lacked. They were called foolish just because they had = forgotten=20 the necessary fruit of virtue, the grace of the Holy Spirit, , without = which no=20 one is or can be saved, for: "Through the Holy Spirit every soul is = quickened=20 and through purification is exalted and illumined by the Triune Unity in = a Holy=20 mystery."

"The oil in the lamps of the wise virgins could burn = brightly=20 for a long time. So these virgins, with their bright lamps were able to = meet the=20 Bridegroom, who came at midnight. With Him, they could enter the bridal = chamber=20 of joy. But the foolish ones, though they went to market to buy more = oil, when=20 their lamps were going out, were unable to return in time, for the door = was=20 already shut. The market is our life; the door of the bridal chamber, = which was=20 shut and barred the way to the Bridegroom is human death; the wise and = foolish=20 virgins are Christian souls; the oil is not the good deeds, but the = grace of the=20 All-Holy Spirit of God which is obtained through good deeds and which = changes=20 souls from one state to another - such as, from a corruptible state to=20 incorruptible state, from spiritual death to spiritual life, from = darkness to=20 light, from the stable of our being (where the passions are tied up like = dumb=20 animals and wild beasts) into a temple of the Divinity, the shining = bridal=20 chamber of eternal joy in Christ Jesus our Lord, the Creator, Redeemer = and=20 eternal Bridegroom of our souls.

"How great is God's compassion on our misery, that is = to say,=20 our inattention to His care for us, when God says: "Behold, I stand = at the=20 door and knock" (Rev. 3:20), meaning by "door" the course of = our life=20 which has not yet been closed by death! Oh, how I wish, your Godliness, = that in=20 this life you may always be in the Spirit of God! "In whatsoever I find = you, in=20 that will I judge you," says the Lord.

"Woe betide us if He finds us overcharged with the = cares and=20 sorrows of this life! For who will be able to bear His anger, who will = bear the=20 wrath of His countenance? That is why it has been said: "Watch and = pray, lest=20 you enter into temptation" (Mk. 14:38), that is, lest you be = deprived of the=20 Spirit of God, for watching and prayer brings us His grace.

"Of course, every good deed done for Christ's sake = gives us the=20 grace of the Holy Spirit, but prayer gives us this grace most of all, = for it is=20 always at hand, as an instrument for acquiring the grace of the Spirit. = For=20 instance, you would like to go to church, but there is no church or the = service=20 is over; you would like to give alms to a beggar, but there isn't one, = or you=20 have nothing to give; you would like to preserve your virginity, but you = have=20 not the strength to do so because of your temperament, or because of the = violence of the wiles of the enemy which because of your human weakness = you=20 cannot withstand; you would like to do some other good deed for Christ's = sake,=20 but either you have not the strength or the opportunity is lacking. This = certainly does not apply to prayer. Prayer is always possible for = everyone, rich=20 and poor, noble and humble, strong and weak, healthy and sick, righteous = and=20 sinful.

"You may judge how great the power of prayer is even = in a=20 sinful person, when it is offered whole-heartedly, by the' following = example=20 from Holy Tradition. When at the request of a desperate mother who had = been=20 deprived by death of her only son, a harlot whom she chanced to meet, = still=20 unclean from her last sin, and who was touched by the mother's deep = sorrow,=20 cried to the Lord: "Not for the sake of a wretched sinner like me, but = for the=20 sake of the tears of a mother grieving for her son and firmly trusting = in Thy=20 loving kindness and Thy almighty power, Christ God, raise up her son, O = Lord!"=20 And the Lord raised him up.

"You see, your Godliness! Great is the power of = prayer, and it=20 brings most of all the Spirit of God, and is most easily practiced by = everyone.=20 We shall be happy indeed if the Lord God finds us watchful and filled = with the=20 gifts of His Holy Spirit. Then we may boldly hope "to be caught up = . .=20 . in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess. 4:17) = Who is=20 coming "with great power and glory" (Mk. 13:26) "to judge the = living=20 and the dead" (1 Peter 4:5) and "to reward every man according to = his=20 works" (Matt. 16:27).

"Your Godliness deigns to think it a great happiness = to talk to=20 poor Seraphim, believing that even he is not bereft of the grace of the = Lord.=20 What then shall we say of the Lord Himself, the never-failing source of = every=20 blessing both heavenly and earthly? Truly in prayer we are granted to = converse=20 with Him, our all-gracious and life-giving God and Savior Himself. But = even here=20 we must pray only until God the Holy Spirit descends on us in measures = of His=20 heavenly grace known to Him. And when He deigns to visit us, we must = stop=20 praying. Why should we then pray to Him, "Come and abide in us and = cleanse us=20 from all impurity and save our souls, O Good One," when He has already = come to=20 us to save us, who trust in Him, and truly call on His holy Name, that = humbly=20 and lovingly we may receive Him, the Comforter, in the mansions of our = souls,=20 hungering and thirsting for His coming?

"I will explain this point to your Godliness through = an=20 example. Imagine that you have invited me to pay you a visit, and at = your=20 invitation I come to have a talk with you. But you continue to invite = me,=20 saying: "Come in, please. Do come in!" Then I should be obliged to = think: "What=20 is the matter with him? Is he out of his mind?"

"So it is with regard to our Lord God the Holy = Spirit. That is=20 why it is said: "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted = among the=20 nations. I will be exalted in the earth" (Ps. 45[46]:10). That is, I = will=20 appear and will continue to appear to everyone who believes in Me and = calls upon=20 Me, and I will converse with him as once I conversed with Adam in = Paradise, with=20 Abraham and Jacob and other servants of Mine, with Moses and Job, and = those like=20 them.

Many explain that this stillness refers only to = worldly=20 matters; in other words, that during prayerful converse with God you = must "be=20 still" with regard to worldly affairs. But I will tell you in the name = of God=20 that not only is it necessary to be dead to them at prayer, but when by = the=20 omnipotent power of faith and prayer our Lord God the Holy Spirit = condescends to=20 visit us, and comes to us in the plenitude of His unutterable goodness, = we must=20 be dead to prayer too.

"The soul speaks and converses during prayer, but at = the=20 descent of the Holy Spirit we must remain in complete silence, in order = to hear=20 clearly and intelligibly all the words of eternal life which he will = then deign=20 to communicate. Complete soberness of soul and spirit, and chaste purity = of body=20 is required at the same time. The same demands were made at Mount Horeb, = when=20 the Israelites were told not even to touch their wives for three days = before the=20 appearance of God on Mount Sinai. For our God is a fire which consumes=20 everything unclean, and no one who is defiled in body or spirit can = enter into=20 communion with Him."

The Acquisition of = Grace

"Yes, father, but what about = other good=20 deeds done for Christ's sake in order to acquire the grace of the Holy = Spirit?=20 You have only been speaking of prayer."

"Acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit also by = practicing all=20 the other virtues for Christ's sake. Trade spiritually with them; trade = with=20 those which give you the greatest profit. Accumulate capital from the=20 superabundance of God's grace, deposit it in God's eternal bank which = will bring=20 you immaterial interest, not four or six per cent, but one hundred per = cent for=20 one spiritual ruble, and even infinitely more than that. For example, if = prayer=20 and watching gives you more of God's grace, watch and pray; if fasting = gives you=20 much of the spirit of God, fast; if almsgiving gives you more, give = alms. Weigh=20 every virtue done for Christ's sake in this manner.

"Now I will tell you about myself, poor Seraphim. I = come of a=20 merchant family in Kursk. So when I was not yet in the monastery we used = to=20 trade with the goods which brought us the greatest profit. Act like = that, my=20 son. And just as in business the main point is not merely to trade, but = to get=20 as much profit as possible, so in the business of the Christian life the = main=20 point is not merely to pray or to do some other good deed. Though the = apostle=20 says: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17), yet, as you = remember, he=20 adds: "I would rather speak five words with my understanding than ten = thousand words with a tongue" (1 Cor. 14:19). And the Lord says: = "Not=20 everyone who says to Me: Lord, Lord, shall be saved, but he who = does the=20 will of My Father" (Mt. 7:21), that is he who does the work of God = and,=20 moreover, does it with reverence, for "cursed is he who does the work = of God=20 negligently" (Jer. 48:10). And the work of God is: believe in God = and in Him=20 Whom He has sent, Jesus Christ (John 14:1; 6:29). If we understand the=20 commandments of Christ and of the Apostles aright, our business as = Christians=20 consists not in increasing the number of our good deeds which are only = the means=20 of furthering the purpose of our Christian life, but in deriving from = them the=20 utmost profit, that is in acquiring the most abundant gifts of the Holy=20 Spirit.

"How I wish, your Godliness, that you yourself may = acquire this=20 inexhaustible source of divine grace, and may always ask yourself: Am I = in the=20 Spirit of God, or not? - there is nothing to grieve about. You = are ready=20 to appear before the awful judgment of Christ immediately. For "In = whatsoever I=20 find you, in that will I judge you." But if we are not in the Spirit, we = must=20 discover why not and what reason our Lord God the Holy Spirit has willed = to=20 abandon us. We must seek Him again and must go on searching until our = Lord God=20 the Holy Spirit has been found and is with us again, through His = goodness. We=20 must attack the enemies that drive us away from Him until even their = dust is no=20 more, as the Prophet David has said, "I will pursue my enemies and = overtake=20 them; and I will not turn back till they are destroyed. I will crush = them and=20 they will be unable to stand; they will fall under my feet" (Ps.=20 17[18]:38-39)."

"That's it, my son. That is how you must spiritually = trade in=20 virtue. Distribute the Holy Spirit's gifts of grace to those in need of = them,=20 just as a lighted candle burning with earthly fire shines itself and = lights=20 other candles for the illumining of all in other places, without = diminishing its=20 own light. If it is so, with regard to the earthly fire, what shall we = say about=20 the fire of the grace of the All-Holy Spirit of God? For earthly riches = decrease=20 with distribution, but the more the heavenly riches of God's grace are=20 distributed, the more they increase in the one who distributes them. = Thus the=20 Lord Himself was pleased to say to the Samaritan woman: All who drink = this=20 water will be thirsty again. "But whoever drinks the water that I shall = give him=20 will never be thirsty any more; but the water that I shall give him will = be in=20 him a spring of water leaping up to eternal life" (John = 4:13-14)."

The Presence of the

Holy Spirit in History

"Father," said I, "you speak = all the time=20 of the acquisition of the grace of the Holy Spirit as the aim of the = Christian=20 life. But how and where can I see it? Good deeds are visible, but can = the Holy=20 Spirit be seen? How am I to know whether He is with me or not?"

"At the present time," the elder replied, "Owing to = our almost=20 universal coldness to our holy faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and our=20 inattention to the working of His Divine Providence in us, and to the = communion=20 of man with God, we have gone so far that, one may say, we have almost = abandoned=20 the true Christian life. The testimonies of Holy Scripture now seem = strange to=20 us; when, for instance, by the lips of Moses the Holy Spirit says: "And = Adam saw=20 the Lord walking in Paradise" (cf. Gen. 3:10), or when we read the words = of the=20 Apostle Paul: "We went to Achaia, and the Spirit of God went not with = us; we=20 returned to Macedonia, and the Spirit of God came with us." More than = once in=20 other passages of Holy Scripture the appearance of God to men is = mentioned.

"That is why some people say: "These passages are=20 incomprehensible. Is it really possible for people to see God so = openly?" But=20 there is nothing incomprehensible here. This failure to understand has = come=20 about because we have departed from the simplicity of the original = Christian=20 knowledge. Under the pretext of education, we have reached such a = darkness of=20 ignorance, that the things the ancients understood so clearly, seem to = us almost=20 inconceivable. Even in ordinary conversation, the idea of God's = appearance among=20 men did not seem strange to them. Thus, when his friends rebuked him for = blaspheming God, Job answered them: "How can that be when I feel the = Spirit of=20 God in my nostrils?" (cf. Job 27:3). That is, "How can I blaspheme God = when the=20 Holy Spirit abides with me? If I had blasphemed God, the Holy Spirit = would have=20 withdrawn from me; but look! I feel His breath in my nostrils."

"It is said that Abraham and Jacob saw the Lord and = conversed=20 with Him in exactly the same way, and that Jacob even wrestled with Him. = Moses=20 and all the people with him saw God, when he received the tablets of the = law on=20 Mount Sinai from God. A pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire, or in = other words,=20 the evident grace of the Holy Spirit, served as guides to God's people = in the=20 desert. People saw God and the grace of His Holy Spirit not during = sleep, in=20 dreams, or in the excitement of a disordered imagination, but truly and=20 openly.

"We have become so inattentive to the work of our = salvation,=20 that we misinterpret many other words in Holy Scripture as well, all = because we=20 do not seek the grace of God and in the pride of our minds, do not allow = it to=20 dwell in our souls. That is why we are without true enlightenment from = the Lord,=20 which He sends into the hearts of men who hunger and thirst = wholeheartedly for=20 God's righteousness or holiness."

Many explain the part in the Bible, "God breathed = the breath=20 of life into the face of Adam" the first-created, who was created by = Him=20 from the dust of the ground, it must mean that until that moment there = was=20 neither human soul nor spirit in Adam, but only the flesh created from = the dust=20 of the ground. This interpretation is wrong, for the Lord created Adam = from the=20 dust of the ground with the constitution which the holy Apostle Paul = describes:=20 "May your spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless at the = coming of=20 our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:23). And all these parts of our = nature=20 were created from the dust of the ground, and Adam was not created dead, = but an=20 active being like all of God's animate creatures living on earth.

The point is, that if the Lord God had not breathed = afterwards=20 into his face, this breath of life - that is, the grace of = our=20 Lord God the Holy Spirit Who proceeds from the Father, rests in the Son = and is=20 sent into the world for the Son's sake - Adam would have remained = without the=20 Holy Spirit within him. It is the Holy Spirit who raised Adam to Godlike = dignity. However perfect, he had been created and superior to all the = other=20 creatures of God, as the crown of creation on earth, he would have been = just=20 like all the other creatures, though they have a body, soul and spirit, = each=20 according to its kind, do not have the Holy Spirit within them. But when = the=20 Lord God breathed into Adam's face the breath of life, then, according = to Moses'=20 word, "Adam became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7), that is, completely = and in=20 every-way like God, and like Him, forever immortal. Adam was immune to = the=20 action of the elements to such a degree that water could not drown him, = fire=20 could not burn him, the earth could not swallow him in its abysses, and = the air=20 could not harm him by any kind of action whatever. Everything was = subject to him=20 as the beloved of God, as the king and lord of creation, and everything = looked=20 up to him, as the perfect crown of God's creatures. Adam was made so = wise by=20 this breath of life, which was breathed into his face from the creative = lips of=20 God, the Creator and Ruler of all, that there has never been a man on = earth=20 wiser or more intelligent, and it is unlikely that there ever will be. = When the=20 Lord commanded him to give names to all the creatures, he gave every = creature a=20 name which completely expressed all the qualities, powers and properties = given=20 it by God at its creation.

"As a result of this gift, of the supernatural grace = of God,=20 which was infused into him by the breath of life, Adam could see, = understand the=20 Lord walking in Paradise, comprehend His words, understand the = conversation of=20 the holy Angels, the language of all beasts, birds and reptiles and all = that is=20 now hidden from us the fallen and sinful creatures. All this was so = clear to=20 Adam before his fall. The Lord God also gave Eve the same wisdom, = strength,=20 unlimited power, and all the other good and holy qualities. He created = her not=20 from the dust of the ground, but from Adam's rib in the Eden of delight, = the=20 Paradise which He had planted in the midst of the earth.

"In order that they might always easily maintain the = immortal,=20 divine and perfect properties of this breath of life, God planted in the = midst=20 of the garden the tree of life with fruits endowed with all the = essence=20 and fullness of His divine breath. If they had not sinned, Adam and Eve=20 themselves as well as all their posterity could have always eaten of the = fruit=20 of the tree of life and so would have eternally maintained the vivifying = power=20 of divine grace.

"They could have also maintained for all eternity the = full=20 powers of their body, soul and spirit in a state of immortality and = perpetual=20 youth, and they could have continued in this immortal and blessed state = of=20 theirs forever. At the present time, however, it is difficult for us = even to=20 imagine such grace.

"But through the tasting of the tree of the knowledge = of good=20 and evil - which was premature and contrary to the commandment of God - = they=20 learnt the difference between good and evil and were subjected to all = the=20 afflictions which followed the transgression of the commandment of God. = Then=20 they lost this priceless gift of the grace of the Spirit of God, so = that, until=20 the actual coming into the world of the God-man Jesus Christ, "the = Spirit of=20 God was not yet in the world because Jesus was not yet glorified" = (John 7:39).

"However, that does not mean that the Spirit of God = was not in=20 the world at all, but His presence was not so apparent. It manifested = only=20 externally, and only the signs of His presence in the world were known = to=20 mankind. Thus, for instance, many mysteries in connection with the = future=20 salvation of the human race were revealed to Adam as well as to Eve = after their=20 fall. For Cain, in spite of his impiety and his transgression, it was = easy for=20 him to understand the voice which held grace and divinity, though = convicting=20 words. Noah conversed with God. Abraham saw God and His day and was glad = (from=20 John 8:56). The grace of the Holy Spirit acting externally was also = reflected in=20 all the Old Testament prophets and saints of Israel. Afterwards, the = Hebrews=20 established special prophetic schools where the sons of the prophets = were taught=20 to discern the signs of the manifestation of God or Angels, and to = distinguish=20 the operations of the Holy Spirit from the ordinary natural phenomena of = graceless earthly life. Simeon who held God in his arms, Christ's = grandparents=20 Joachim and Anna, and countless other servants of God continually often = had=20 various divine apparitions, revelations and heard voices, which were=20 corroborated by evident miraculous events. Though not with the same = power as in=20 the people of God, nevertheless the presence of the Spirit of God also = acted in=20 the pagans who did not know the true God, because even among them, God = found the=20 chosen people. For instance, there were the virgin-prophetesses called = Sibyls=20 who vowed virginity to an unknown God, but to God, the Creator of the = universe,=20 the all-powerful ruler of the world, as He was conceived by the pagans. = Though=20 the pagan philosophers also wandered in the darkness of ignorance of = God, yet=20 they sought the truth which is beloved by God. Because of this, = God-pleasing=20 seeking, they could partake of the Spirit of God. It is said, that = nations who=20 do not know God, practice by nature the demands of the law and do what = is=20 pleasing to God (cf. Rom. 2:14). The Lord so praises truth that He says = of it=20 Himself by the Holy Spirit: "Truth has sprung from the earth, and = justice has=20 looked down from heaven" (Ps. 84[85]:11).

"So you see, your Godliness, both in the holy Hebrew = people, a=20 people beloved by God, and in the pagans who did not know God, there was = preserved a knowledge of God - thus, my son, a clear and rational = comprehension=20 of how our Lord God the Holy Spirit acts in man, and by means of our = inner and=20 outer feelings, one can be sure that this is really the action of our = Lord God=20 the Holy Spirit, and not a delusion of the enemy. That is how it was, = from=20 Adam's fall, until the coming into the world of the Lord Jesus Christ, = in the=20 flesh.

"Without this perceptible realization of the actions = of the=20 Holy Spirit which had always been preserved in human nature, men could = not have=20 possibly known for certain whether the fruit of the seed of the woman = who had=20 been promised to Adam and Eve had come into the world to crush the = serpent's=20 head (Gen. 3:15).

"At last the Holy Spirit foretold to St. Simeon, who = was then=20 in his 65th year, the mystery of the virginal conception and birth of = Christ=20 from the most pure Ever-Virgin Mary. Afterwards, having lived by the = grace of=20 the All-Holy Spirit of God for three hundred years, in the 365th year of = his=20 life he said openly in the temple of the Lord that he knew for certain = through=20 the gift of the Holy Spirit that this was that very Christ, the Savior = of the=20 world, Whose supernatural conception and birth from the Holy Spirit had = been=20 foretold to him by an Angel three hundred years previously.

And there was also St. Anna, a prophetess, the = daughter of=20 Phanuel, who from her widowhood had served the Lord God in the temple of = God for=20 eighty years, and who was known to be a righteous widow, a chaste = servant of=20 God, from the special gifts of grace which she had received. She too = announced=20 that He was actually the Messiah Who had been promised to the world, the = true=20 Christ, God and Man, the King of Israel, Who had come to save Adam and=20 mankind.

"But when our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished the = whole work of=20 salvation, after His Resurrection, He breathed on the Apostles, restored = the=20 breath of life lost by Adam, and gave them the same grace of the = All-Holy Spirit=20 of God as Adam had enjoyed. But that was not all. He also told them that = it was=20 better for them that He should go to the Father, for if He did not go, = the=20 Spirit of God would not come into the world. But if He, the Christ, went = to the=20 Father, He would send Him into the world, and He, the Comforter, would = guide=20 them and all who followed their teaching into all truth and would remind = them of=20 all that He had said to them when He was still in the world. What was = then=20 promised was "grace upon grace" (John 1:16).

"Then on the day of Pentecost He solemnly sent down = to them in=20 a tempestuous wind the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire which = alighted=20 on each of them and entered within them and filled them with the fiery = strength=20 of divine grace which breathes as with dew and acts with gladness in = souls who=20 partake of its power and operations (Acts ch. 2). And this same = fire-infusing=20 grace of the Holy Spirit which is given to us all, the faithful in = Christ, in=20 the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, is sealed by the Sacrament of Chrismation = on the=20 chief parts of our body as appointed by the Holy Church, the eternal = keeper of=20 this grace. It is said: "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit." On = what do we=20 put our seals, your Godliness, if not on vessels containing some very = precious=20 treasure? But what on earth can be higher and what can be more precious = than the=20 gifts of the Holy Spirit which are sent down to us from above in the = Sacrament=20 of Holy Baptism? This baptismal grace is so great and so indispensable, = so vital=20 for man, that even a heretic is not deprived of it until his actual = death; that=20 is, till the end of the period appointed on high by the providence of = God as a=20 lifelong test of man on earth, in order to see what he will be able to = achieve=20 (during this period given to him by God) by means of the power of grace = granted=20 to him from on high.

"And if we were never to sin after our baptism, we = should=20 remain for ever saints of God, holy, blameless, and free from all = impurity of=20 body and spirit. But the trouble is that we increase in stature, but do = not=20 increase in grace and in the knowledge of God as our Lord Jesus Christ=20 increased; but on the contrary, we gradually become more and more = depraved and=20 lose the grace of the All-Holy Spirit of God and become sinful in = various=20 degrees, and very sinful people. But if a man is stirred by the wisdom = of God,=20 which seeks our salvation and embraces everything, and if he is resolved = for its=20 sake to devote the early hours of the day to God and to watch in order = to find=20 His eternal salvation, then, in obedience to its voice, he must hasten = to offer=20 true repentance for all his sins and must practice the virtues which are = opposite to the sins committed. Then through the virtues practiced for = Christ's=20 sake, he will acquire the Holy Spirit Who acts within us and establishes = in us=20 the Kingdom of God. The word of God does not say in vain: "The = Kingdom of God=20 is within you" (Luke 17:21), and it "suffers violence, and the = violent=20 take it by force" (Matt. 11:12). That means that people who, in = spite of the=20 bonds of sin which fetter them and (by their violence and by inciting = them to=20 new sins) prevent them from coming to Him, our Savior, with perfect = repentance=20 for reckoning with Him. They force themselves to break their bonds, = despising=20 all the strength of the fetters of sin - such people at last actually = appear=20 before the face of God made whiter than snow by His grace. "Come, = says the=20 Lord: Though your sins be as purple, I will make you white as snow" = (Is.=20 1:18).

"Such people were once seen by the holy Seer John the = Divine=20 clothed in white robes (that is, in robes of justification) and = with=20 palms in their hands (as a sign of victory), and they were = singing to God=20 a wonderful song: Alleluia. And no one could imitate the beauty = of their=20 song. Of them an Angel of God said: "These are they who have come out = of the=20 great tribulation and have washed their robes, and have made them white = in the=20 blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9-14). They were washed with their = sufferings and=20 made white in the communion of the immaculate and life-giving Mysteries = of the=20 Body and Blood of the most pure and spotless Lamb - Christ - Who was = slain=20 before all ages by His own will for the salvation of the world, and Who = is=20 continually being slain and divided until now, but is never exhausted = (in the=20 Sacrament of Communion). Through the Holy Mysteries we are granted our = eternal=20 and unfailing salvation as a viaticum to eternal life, as an acceptable = answer=20 at His dread judgment and a precious substitute beyond our comprehension = for=20 that fruit of the tree of life of which the enemy of mankind, Lucifer, = who fell=20 from heaven, would have liked to deprive the human race. Though the = enemy and=20 devil seduced Eve, and Adam fell with her, yet the Lord not only granted = them a=20 Redeemer in the fruit of the seed of the woman Who trampled down death = by death,=20 but also granted us all in the woman, the Ever-Virgin Mary Mother of = God, who=20 crushes the head of the serpent in herself and in all the human race, a = constant=20 mediatress with her Son and our God, and an invincible and persistent=20 intercessor even for the most desperate sinners. That is why the Mother = of God=20 is called the "Plague of Demons," for it is not possible for a devil to = destroy=20 a man so long as man himself has recourse to the help of the Mother of = God.

Grace is Light

"And I must further explain, = your=20 Godliness, the difference between the operations of the Holy Spirit Who = dwells=20 mystically in the hearts of those who believe in our Lord God and Savior = Jesus=20 Christ and the operations of the darkness of sin which at the suggestion = and=20 instigation of the devil, acts predatorily in us. The Spirit of God = reminds us=20 of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and always acts triumphantly with = Him,=20 gladdening our hearts and guiding our steps into the way of peace, while = the=20 false, diabolical spirit reasons in the opposite way to Christ, and its = actions=20 in us are rebellious, stubborn, and full of the lust of the flesh, the = lust of=20 the eyes and the pride of life.

"And whoever lives and believes in Me will never die" = (John=20 11:26). He who has the grace of the Holy Spirit in reward for right = faith in=20 Christ, even if on account of human frailty his soul were to die for = some sin or=20 other, yet he will not die for ever, but he will be raised by the grace = of our=20 Lord Jesus Christ "Who takes away the sin of the world" = (John=20 1:29), and freely gives grace upon grace. Of this grace, which was = manifested to=20 the whole world and to our human race by the God-man, it is said in the = Gospel:=20 "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4); = and=20 further: "And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness = has=20 never swallowed it" (John 1:5). This means that the grace of the = Holy Spirit=20 which is granted at baptism in the name of the Father and the Son and = the Holy=20 Spirit, in spite of man's fall into sin, in spite of the darkness = surrounding=20 our soul, nevertheless shines in our hearts with the divine light (which = has=20 existed from time immemorial) of the inestimable merits of Christ. In = the event=20 of a sinner's impenitence this light of Christ cries to the Father: = "Abba,=20 Father! Be not angry with this impenitence to the end (of his life)." = Then, at=20 the sinners conversion to the way of repentance, it effaces completely = all trace=20 of past sin and clothes the former sinner once more in a robe of = incorruption=20 spun from the grace of the Holy Spirit. The acquisition of this is the = aim of=20 the Christian life, which I have been explaining to your Godliness.

"I will tell you something else, so that you may = understand=20 more clearly what is meant by the grace of God, how to recognize it and = how its=20 action is manifested particularly in those who are enlightened by it. = The grace=20 of the Holy Spirit is the light which enlightens man. The whole of = Sacred=20 Scripture speaks about this. Thus our Holy Father David said: "Thy = law is a=20 lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths" (Ps. 118[119]:105), and = "Unless=20 Thy law had been my meditation, I should have died in my humiliation" = (Ps.=20 118[119]:92). In other words, the grace of the Holy Spirit which is = expressed in=20 the Law, by the words of the Lord's commandments, is my lamp and light. = If this=20 grace of the Holy Spirit (which I try to acquire so carefully and = zealously that=20 I meditate on Thy just judgments seven times a day) did not enlighten me = amidst=20 the darkness of the cares which are inseparable from the high calling of = my=20 royal rank, whence should I get a spark of light to illumine my way on = the path=20 of life, which is darkened by the ill-will of my enemies?

"In fact the Lord has frequently demonstrated before = many=20 witnesses how the grace of the Holy Spirit acts on people whom He has = sanctified=20 and illumined by His great inspirations. Remember Moses after his talk = with God=20 on Mount Sinai. He so shone with an extraordinary light that people were = unable=20 to look at him. He was even forced to wear a veil when he appeared in = public.=20 Remember the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor. A great light = encircled=20 Him, "and His raiment became shining, exceedingly white like snow" = (Mk.=20 9:3), and His disciples fell on their faces from fear. But when Moses = and Elijah=20 appeared to Him in that light, a cloud overshadowed them in order to = hide the=20 radiance of the light of the divine grace which blinded the eyes of the=20 disciples. Thus the grace of the All-Holy Spirit of God appears in an = ineffable=20 light to all to whom God reveals its action."

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Missionary Leaflet # E88

Copyright =A9 2001 Holy Trinity Orthodox Mission

466 Foothill Blvd, Box 397, La Canada, Ca 91011

Editor: Bishop Alexander (Mileant) =

(Sermon_St_Seraphim.doc, 06-11-2001)

Edited by Donald Shufran