Energeia and the Essence of the God-Man

J.M.J. + O.B.T. + M.G.R.*

By understanding Energeia
you make a great stride
toward understanding
Jesus Christ 

http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/news/2015/07/10/an-eastern-orthodox-perspective-of-nature-man-and-god

Gregory of Nyssa made it very clear that matter as such is an abstraction, which we never encounter. What we see is matter with qualities, the elements with their atomic structure. Gregory knew nothing of the sub-atomic world of particles; what he says about matter as abstraction applies at the macro-level of atomic molecular matter.

But Gregory never made the mistake of saying that the universe is composed of matter in motion. Nor did he regard matter as an inert vehicle for its qualities. In fact, he insisted that minus qualities matter is nothing, that it has no existence apart from the qualities. Different forms of matter are but different confluence of qualities.

He went one step further insisting that matter is nothing but energy– God’s creative energy, moving dynamically from one form to another. The basis of matter is energy, the coming together of God’s will that it exist, and God’s word which brings it into existence. Thus God’s will and word, which is the energeia of God, is the basis of matter. Matter is the manifestation of God’s energeia, contingent upon his will and word, dynamic and changing.

Today with our knowledge of the sub-atomic world, we can go further. We can confirm Gregory’s insight that the sub-atomic particles which constitute matter are a dynamic network of energy events continuously changing, forming dissolving, re-forming. There are no basic building-blocks, no solid entities occupying an absolute space. Energy and mass are interchangeable in an orderly way (E=MC²). 

And who is Jesus? The Word made flesh

And what did He come to do? The Will of His Father

Ponder this next time

you are at Holy Mass

Sincerely yours in Jesus through Mary,
Mike Rizzio

Imitate Mary
Become like Jesus
Live for the Triune God

Seek the Light of Our Lord Jesus Christ
See you on the High Ground!

* - J.M.J. + O.B.T. + M.G.R. stands for:
Jesus, Mary and Joseph;
O Beata Trinitas;
St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael