Host: Good evening Phil thanks for stopping by. I am going to by pass the usual formal introductions; but let our audience understand the change in agenda for tonight’s broadcast. Because of the stormy weather our expected guest was unable to get to the studio in time and as I saw you walking past I thought it would be  a rewarding change of pace for our viewers to hear from just a regular guy, not an expert in subject areas of the usual evening talk shows.

Phil: Thanks for the less than glamorous introduction. I feel a little like Charley Brown of the Charles Schultz cartoons. But since we have been friends for so long, it is overlooked this time. No fooling, Chuck, it was somewhat my idea, as I have been complaining to you that you always interview experts in their field but not the people themselves; the regular guys, the, what I call the everyday chooch. So in this particular circumstance, a representative of the “everyday chooch demographic” filled the gap opened by the absence of your expert.

Host: I understand that you had an interview with the Abbott Gregory at St Anthony’s Monastery; that in itself is a rare achievement granted to only a very few. How is it that you qualified? If qualified is the right word.

Phil: I have no idea; except that it may be because of the very absence of any qualifications what so ever; the very “choochness” of the citizen that somehow attracted his interest.

Host: So how did it go, what was your take?

Phil: You ask with a knowing smile: Well, ahm, …. I hardly know how to characterize it, the interview, ahhh session.

Host: Could you recount it, or significant recollections from memory and let our audience make characterizations?

Phil: Let’s see how that goes: I of course, prepared myself when I was informed of the invitation. I studied and wanted to prepare an intelligent question on the subject of the incarnation of Christ: I took the word, ke enanthropisanta, in phonetic Greek, which is translated “and became man” in the creed: “… and became man” to which I added my comment “I was astonished at the profound depth of that phrase when one understands what is contained in its meaning. “Sounded erudite enough for an Abbott to me.

Host: You presented your question and he responded?

Phil: Yes, something like this: … He spoke in a very quiet calm voice:

“The astonishment above all others, is that no one is astonished, no one is awestruck.{He is speaking to me} You do not understand at all. Your very first misunderstanding is that you think you understand. You comprehend the definitions of the words; you comprehend the syntactical calculus of the phrases and sentences, but you miss entirely the deeper real truth underlying the symbols of language and form. You consent without belief. Your belief is formatory assent void of a commitment of your entire being. What you seek is only given through Grace and even grasping all of what I have just said, you are left empty; your love is vacuous. What you seek? St Gregory Palamas on Theosis 

{He changed tone slightly} “Grace is guided by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is attracted by Prayer and askesis. Prayer and askesis strengthen the organ that receives Grace. In most of the population that organ is so severely atrophied that the reception of Grace is impossible.”

I was so stunned that I blurted out “… but the tears ?” trying to demonstrate that the receptive organ was not dead in me.

He continued: “Your tears are nothing but a mixture of sentimentality and self pity.”

Host: Wow, that must have taken some bearing.

Phil: I earnestly wished to engage as someone on a spiritual journey. So I stammered on: “There were visions…..” I was interrupted. “Luciferic delusions, nothing more, a common mode of deception; your discernment is pitifully childish”

After a few civilities I was dismissed.

Host: Just like that?

Phil: Well, not quite, as I rose from my seat to leave, He said: “Next time you come, bring some of your coffee, I understand you make an excellent cup of coffee”

Host: Oh after that I would not expect that you would go back.

Phil: On the contrary, I had not traveled three steps from his study, when I was enraptured in the most brilliant light and unalloyed joy. ….. (Pause).

Host: Phil, are you OK?

Phil: Oh, Yes, Quite.

Host: But  Phil  isn’t  this pattern prototypical?  I  mean  I have  heard  similar  stories  from  your  friends.  There  is  an  encounter,  for  reasons unrevealed; the citizen  makes  an  attempt  at  demonstrating  a  reason  or  a cause;  one  recognizes the  poverty  of  that  demonstration;  and  then  for  no  apparent  reason  he  is showered  with  gifts  of  Grace  and  Love.

St Gregory Palamas and Spirituality

 

 

Phil: Yes, it is rather amazing.

Host: Thank you Phil for stopping by.