GOD’S OMNIPRESENCE ACCORDING TO ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God and Savior JESUS CHRIST,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

GOD’S OMNIPRESENCE ACCORDING TO ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

"Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your
presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are
there;
If I make my bed in hell,
behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the
morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts
of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead
me,
And Your right hand shall hold
me" (Psalm 138 [139]: 7-10].

Each of us is known by the Lord. The psalmist wonders at the depth of God’s plan and foretells the calling of the Gentiles and the resistance of the Jews. Verse 8 is prophetic, and could only be true for us had God entered Sheol. Thus, Christ descended to Hades on our behalf, trampling down death by death, so that through God in the flesh dwelling in hell, we are not separated from HIm even in death!

Saint John Chrysostom writes: "That God is present everywhere we know, but how, we do not understand, because we can understand only a sensuous presence, and it is not given to us to understand fully the nature of God." According to Orthodox Christian theology God is NOT subject to any limitation in space, but He fills everything. Filling everything, God, as a simple Being, is present in every place, not as it were in some part of Him, or by merely sending down some power from Himself, but in all His Being; and He is not confused with that in which He is present. " The Divinity penetrates everything without being mingled with anything, but nothing can penetrate Him."

Jesus commissioned His disciples by saying to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE. AMEN" (Matthew 28:18-20). By saying He is "with you always," Jesus means His Resurrection is neither of the past, nor of the future. It is always present in our lives through the Holy Spirit. We know Him directly, here and now, in the present, as our Savior and our Friend. "To the end of the age" does not by any means imply that we are to be separated from Him after that GREAT CONSUMMATION. He IS WITH US NOW, AND EVER, AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. Amen.

The Orthodox Prayer to God the Holy Spirit reveals His omnipresence: "O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere and fill all things. Treasury of blessings and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One!" God’s essence is unreachable, but His presence is felt through His energies. Orthodox spirituality views God’s presence not as abstract, but as a real, active interaction through uncreated divine energies–His agape, wisdom, and power active in the world. While God’s essence remains transcendent (inkowable), He is immanent (present) everywhere, sustaining creation and inviting human beings into communion (theosis or deification). The goal of life is to unite with God, allowing His Uncreated Light to transform human nature, MAKING US "PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE." For the Orthodox Christian God’s presence is particularly experienced through the Mysteria or Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Holy Church (i.e. Holy Communion, Holy Baptism, etc.), which are tangible points of union.

In Orthodox Christian spirituality the heart is the focal point of human consciousness where God dwells and is experienced through prayer. Spirituality requires a constant, humble heart, often known as "prayer of the heart," which keeps the mind focused on God’s presence in every action, word and thought. To feel God’s presence, one must cultivate inner stillness, repentance, and self-examination, clearing the "heart" of passions like pride, allowing them to become a dwelling place for God. Ultimately, the goal of the Orthodox Christian is to live in constant, conscious communion with Our Savior Christ. There is no other meaning to the life of the believer except in communion with God. God is the end of all longing, the fulfillment of all desires, the Source and the goal of man’s very humanity made in God’s divine image and likeness.

What stands as an obstacle to this communion with Almighty God is our sinful nature and life. Sin (Gk. amartia) separates us from Him for any relationship with our Creator requires goodness, holiness, purity, obedience, repentance, humility, righteousness, and to be willing to sacrifice all for Him; just as He sacrificed His life on the Cross to save us. We, as Orthodox Christians, must not be intimidated or fearful by His presence among us but feel joyous, comforted, and reassured of His unconditional agape for all of His children. He protects us from the evil one and all wicked temptations and allurements. He very gently and lovingly guides us and strengthens us to obtain our spiritual goals and knowledge. He is always with us at times of distress, sorrow, suffering, and when we lose our way. He is our "Comforter," and "Giver of Life." Not only should we want Him in the world but seek and petition Him to enter and dwell within our heart.

Our entire faith is erected on the fact that "God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us, blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord" This Scriptural passage is chanted at every Orthros (Matins) service of our Holy Church. God has indeed revealed Himself to us. He has shown forth Himself and has given Himself to all humanity for divine communion. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has brought the Kingdom of God to the world through the Holy Spirit in the Church. The Church is called the Kingdom of God on earth; and the presence and power of the Kingdom is identified with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit Who abides in the faith bringing to them the presence and power of God the Father through His Only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

_________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George