There was a pause as Fr. Maximos signaled that he was ready for the next question. “During the morning session you said something very significant,” said Eleni, a professional accountant who had decided to get an M.A. in theology. “You mentioned that in order to understand the essence of who we are as human beings we need to understand the nature of God. What did you mean by that? Who is God? What can you tell us about God over and beyond prayer?” It was a question that gave Fr. Maximos the opportunity to elaborate on a key issue in Orthodox spiritual practice.
“Right. We need to learn about our archetype. It means that in order to understand who we truly are, we need to get to know Christ Himself. As I said this morning, Christianity teaches that we were created in the image of God, an image that was shattered as a result of the Fall. Therefore, in order to know who we are in the very essence of our being, we will have to get to know the very nature of God’s Image. That is, the Christ who is our archetype and model of what we may be.”
“Do you mean that we could get to know God through prayer?”
“Not only through prayer. Yes, prayer is the most perfect way of knowing God, but it may not necessarily be a method for beginners. We must first get to know God through ordinary human knowledge.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Someone must speak to us about God before we can begin to believe in God. As St. Paul asks, how can they believe if they do not hear? How will they be able to hear if nobody speaks to them? That is, the first step for people to come to love and know God usually presupposes that somebody speaks to them about God. Another way is to read the work of someone who can introduce them to the reality of God. That is, the first step in getting to know God will depend on our natural inheritance as human beings.”
“In other words?”
“In other words, our spiritual age and level of knowledge and understanding will determine the relevant ways of approaching God.”
“Isn’t it also possible, Fr. Maxime,” I interjected, “that one can have a mystical knowledge of God without these preliminary stages? The life of St. Paul himself is a good example.”
“Oh yes, of course. There are cases when God reveals Himself directly to a human being without the need of intermediaries, as in the case of Paul on the road to Damascus. In fact, the first record in the scriptures about God’s manifestation is in Genesis, when God speaks to Abraham directly and tells him, ‘ I am your God and I will guide you.’ Then God makes all those promises to Abraham. He tells Isaac, I am the God of Abraham.’ To Jacob He declares, ‘ I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ And then, according to the Hebrews, He becomes ‘the God of our Fathers.'”
“The God of Israel,” I volunteered, “is a talking God. He speaks through the prophets.”
“That’s right. But it is more than that. God makes Himself known through various means, such as the study and knowledge of His Creation.”
“This is what people try to do in universities.”
“Right. But most important, God reveals Himself to human beings through the heart. This is the most perfect way of knowing God, as far as human existence is concerned. The revelation of God in the human heart happens only when a person engages in sustained and systematic prayer.”
~Taken from Kyriacos C. Markides, Inner River: A Pilgrimage to the Heart of Christian Spirituality
