Seeing
“… in John 1: 14, “the Greek word for ‘beheld,’ etheasametha, is used [only] of physical sight, and is in the historic tense.… The evangelist does not shrink from using the word ‘beheld’, which [in the Greek] implies that what is believed about the incarnate Word is not derived solely from spiritual insight, but is rooted also in ordinary sense perception.” So the Greek word used for “beheld” emphasizes that Jesus’ glory was truly manifested in history, and literally seen.” (Dr. Mary S. Ford, John Marsh)
“Christ is always presented as being seen, looked upon, and beheld.” He gives this example: when Luke tells us that Christ was seen by them for forty days [Acts 1: 3], you know what this means: perfection, completion, a fullness that cannot be surpassed. It designates a perfect period of time during which the One from beyond time revealed Himself perfectly. And He chose to do this, not simply through the medium of time, but through sight, by means of vision, by being seen, because seeing is the most powerful of our senses, and the one which provides us with the clearest and most enduring impressions.… what really makes an impression on me, what is unforgettable, is what I see.… That is why Christ is always presented as being seen, … and beheld…” (Archimandrite Aimilianos)
“ “On the first day of the week” the disciples continued to meet. “On the first day of the week” they continued to read Scripture and Break the Bread. And He appeared. And they met. And He appeared. And it is this appearing, His parousia, that abides. It is this appearing that the liturgy remembers. And it remembers actively as the appearing itself continues. If the liturgy did not remember His appearing, it would have ceased. But it is His appearing that is participation, coinherence, incarnation, mystery, timeless form and formless time, fullness and emptiness, fulfillment and full-formed teaching. It is not history that draws Christ’s disciples back behind the doors year by year and week by week. It is not memorial and sentiment that stands for hours in darkened Churches, lighting candles and breathing prayers. It is not superstition and ethnic pride. It is the appearing.” (Father Stephen Freeman)
“Unbelievers have only bodily sight and truly can’t see what is spiritual and holy. Our passions and sins prevent us from seeing Heavenly things, from sensing and understanding the unearthly. So, the blind don’t see the sun, moon, stars, the things around them, or even the outline of entire cities that were created for them, but does that really prove that nothing exists? Faith is spiritual vision by means of the human heart, and anyone can easily see how the heart quickly and clearly sees even distant objects of the spiritual world. The freer and purer the heart is from sins and passions, the quicker, further, and clearer it sees.” (St. Seraphim Chichagov)
“People often ask, “If God is real, where is He? Why can’t I see Him?” Or, “If God wants people to be saved, why doesn’t He appear to them and tell them the truth?” The answers modern Christians tend to give—that God is invisible or that this is how He tests people’s faith—are not very compelling, and for good reason: they’re not true. The truth is that God is constantly revealing Himself to everyone, all the time—He is, after all, reality itself. It’s just that we are unable to see Him fully, correctly, or even at all, to the extent that our ability to see reality is clouded. It’s not that God is hidden; it’s that we are blind. Another of way of putting it is that we can encounter reality only to the extent that we ourselves are real.” (Dr. Zachary Porcu)
Комментарии