Light from the East, Part 1

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


 Holy Fire, 4.11.2015

Every year on Holy Saturday, the day before the celebration of Easter Sunday, an unlit blue fire from a stone in the Church descends from the dome and ignites a candle held by the Greek Patriarch who passes it around to other clergymen.The Holy Fire phenomenon was first witnessed in the 9th century AD, and has been one of the longest-running Orthodox traditions.

Joshua Coleman 
is onto
something here.
Ponder his words deeply. 

The only way to break the bonds of an “absolute future” eschatology is through a present participation in the eschaton. This not only means the physical presence of the Eucharist, but also the Divine Energeia that continually enter creation, making it possible to love this world for its own sake without being of this world. In fact, it is the only possibility to fully love at all. If God does not perpetually participate in creation, and it is the goal of humans to assimilate in order to commune with God outside creation in the absolute future, all distinct variations (particularly physical, but not only those) within the present person should vanish, leaving us unconcerned and coldly objective to one another and this present life.

Furthermore, without Divine Energeia filling creation, the difference between those who have access to the Sacraments and those who do not becomes destructively absolute. There would no longer be levels to communion, but a black and white split between those “in” and “out.” The compassion of a God who continually enters all of creation is radically different from one who is isolated only through the earthly Church, even if it has access to the highest levels of communion with the mystical Church. The point, however, is that the mystical Church is everywhere, despite the difficulty of gaining access and the need for an earthly Church in a fallen world. The mystical Church can be accessed and Divine Energeia received toward real and present transformation in the polis through the compassionate, indwelling God.

+   +   +

In a nutshell,

The Holy Eucharist
is the prime reality,

and through His Real Presense

Jesus' energeia

is accessable

 to all.

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