The Shepherd, July 2004
BLESSED IS THE MAN
By St Ignatius of the Caucasus
(1807 - 1867 A.D.)
“Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel
of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners,
nor sat in the seat of the pestilent.
But his will is rather in the law of the Lord and
in His law will he meditate day and night.”
Psalm 1:1-2
Completion
And such a man as this will be like the tree which is planted by the streams of the waters (Ps. 1:3). Such a tree does not fear the rays of the sun which fall upon it; it does not fear drought; its roots are always well-watered; it does not await the rains; it never suffers any insufficiency of nourishment, such as those trees do which grow in high and dry places, which often sicken, often wither and die. The tree which grows on high ground, which is open to the vagrancies of the winds and of the sun, which only rarely drinks the rains of heaven, and is only rarely refreshed by the heavenly dews, is like the man who, though he is disposed to piety, yet leads his life inattentively, distractedly, studying God’s law little and that superficially. Sometimes, even he is refreshed by the dew of tender-feeling; sometimes even into his dried-up soul there fall living rain-drops of repentance; sometimes even his mind and heart are exalted by a movement towards God; but this does not last, it cannot be constant or even prolonged. Religious thoughts and feelings, when they are not illumined by a clear and complete comprehension of God’s will, do not have any definition, they have no foundation, and for that reason they lack power and life. He who studies God’s law day and night is like the tree which is planted by the streams of waters. His roots themselves are constantly in cool, refreshing waters; his mind and heart - these are the roots of a man - are constantly immersed in God’s law, they drink of God’s holy law; for him pure, full-powered streams of eternal life constantly bubble up. These waters, this power, this life is the Holy Spirit, which abides in the Sacred and Holy Scriptures, which abides in the precepts of the Gospel. He who immerses himself constantly in Scripture, who studies it with a humble spirit, who in prayer beseeches God for comprehension, he who, according to the evangelical precepts directs all his doings, all the hidden movements of the heart, such a man will render himself a constant communicant of the Holy Spirit which will live within him. I am a Partaker, proclaims the Holy Spirit concerning Himself, with all them that fear Thee, and with them that keep Thy commandments (ps 118:63) - [Footnote in original: - Thus this verse is explained by St Pimen the Great, see the Patericon of Scetis].
The study of the law of God demands patience. This study is that possessing of one’s soul which the Lord commanded: in your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19). This is the science of sciences! This is the heavenly science! This is the science which links man to God! Its stages are completely different from those usual stages by which earthly sciences progress, the human sciences, the sciences which are born by our fallen reason of its own worldview, that we might continue in being fallen. The human sciences flatter and preen the mind to bring about the swelling of its “I”. Divine science reveals to the soul a fore-appointed, moulded and balanced self-effacement, which on account of its lowliness as it were strips away self-possession, making itself a mirror which has no particular angle, being on this account able to receive and reflect the Divine impressions. Divine science is the Wisdom of God, the Word of God. The son of Sirach said of her: Wisdom exalteth her children and giveth help to them that seek her. Whosoever loveth her loveth life, and those who seek her from the early morning are filled with joy; whosoever holdeth her fast inheriteth glory, and the Lord blesseth the place she goeth in. Those who serve her minister to the Holy One; the Lord loveth those who love her. Those who obey her shall judge the nations, and those who hearken unto her will live secure (Sirach 4:11-15). Such is the Divine science! Such is the wisdom of God! She is the revelation of God. In her, God is! The way to her is humility. The way to her is the casting away of one’s own reason. For human reason cannot gain access to her. It is rejected by her, being recognised as mindlessness. And it, in turn, her bold and proud enemy, blasphemously calls her foolish, provoking her with the fact that she appeared to men from the Cross, and that she dawned upon them from the Cross. The way to her is through self-effacement! The way to her is through crucifixion! The way to her is through faith! The son of Sirach continues: If thou believeth, thou shalt inherit her. (Sir. 4:17).
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