ST. NECTARIOS PRESS

SEATrLE. WASHINGTON

THE RIVER

OF FIRE A reply to the questions: Is God really good?

Did God create hell?

Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros

oJ

I,""" _UT ... ,. ..ukmas, "....., ... dot "'-r,

UI I"'" .",.. UI My thotm pettpk, U. pettpk ...... I jomttJ for Myxif 1M u., .. light dtotl .. ,., My ""' .... (1uMh #J

THE RIVER OF FIRE

A re!� ID 0" If""lloll5: "God really good? Did God ",.1, h,ll?

Dr AleXillldre Kalomiro5

Covrr liIustr.lllion: FRESCO OF THE RIVER OF FIRE

1Vn.! EM fI/ u. 161! ",,1Iory Mt1tW#ry c{V.-...u, R_ .....

ST. NECTARIOS PRESS SEATTLE. WASIIINGTON

TilE RIVER OF FIRE by Aleundre KalomiTO!l

019&0 ST. NECTARIOS PRESS

All righu res«vt

KontOSIou WIOle ." intro,h.ctIon 10 n., firs! C_k edition of AII";ut FaIN U .. lolI, pu� in 19W, In which heo� hi' o.dmifltion for the authot and d-nbft him., • ,,.. Orthc>doo 1heoJos ..... ""*IIy, by 1M TheoIoIl;o;al A�.my 0/ lIIol,rado

The "1Iiver of FI .... • I, no)! only .n alUi])"i, 01 Qrthod"" toteriology, 01 the wo.idnp of Cod', dl�tion and OUr Redemption. demonst.atln& that Qnhod"" t'-'osY hal • unique und .... "'ndi nS th ...... &" tho .....,Jation 01 Cod II tpNib � ""'"' to , .... dri--. tou.t IOrmmlc!d by triaLa. who .... in ""'peration: �Iow

aceepu us only i( we behI� IS He WlIU us 10 behlve; thai He lwei III if we do nCII behlve IS He onIered III 10 bdIa'"e. and is offended by our inlubordilWion 10 aucb • degree that we ttalSI pay for il by elemal tortures. uemd by Him for that JIWPOIl'.

Who can love. torturer? Even those who If)' hard 10 saye tJx:mseIYC$ from the wrath of God cannCII really 10ve Him. They love only themlelus. uyinc 10 eICIpC GOd's � aDd 10 IIdtieve �emal bhu by rnaNlillJ 10 please Ihi$ feanomc aDd utremdy qnous Cn:uor

Do you perceive the devinllander of our aU-Iovins. all-kind. and abtoIwely JOOd God'! 'IbM is wily in Grcck the devil ....., livm the name &Mo�. "the alllIIkr�.·

z.

8m .... hIt was the imtl1lfllelll of the devirl II-smng o( God'? What means did he use in oNcr to COIIyilEC humanity. in order to pervert humaI'I thoua,M?

Hc UIed "theolop.· He fin! inIl'Oduced a llip a1tention in theoIosY Whlch, once II WN KCqlIcU. he manaaed 10 inc:.eue mou and molC 10 the dq:rcc thai. Christianity became compl�cly unm:oJIliubk:. This il what 'file call 'Walern theology.'

Did you cvcr Iry 10 pinpoint what is the princ:ipa! char.tncristic of Weatcrn theoloJY'1 Well, iu principal chuactni$lic is lhal it COIl!;idcn God .. the real cause of all evil.

What is evil? Is it IlOl the estnn&cmeN (rom God Who is Lifc1' Is 11Il0l dealh? What '*' Western theology 1C8Ch IIbout de:uh1 All Rocnan Catholia and most ProU::SWlll OOIIIidcr deuh IS •

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puni� (rom God God considcred all men JUilly o( Adam'1 lin and pwmhcd them by deaIb, that is by MtillS them ...... y from HimseI(; dcpnyina them of Hillifc-Jiving eoergy, aDd so killin& them Jpiritually at fil1l and later bodily, by IIOInC $Oft of spUnal ltlrIation. AUJUSliDc interprus the passage in Genesis IS. 'Ifyou eat of the foull of this tree, you will d� the dalh.·'

Some Protottnll oonslder death oot IS a punishment but IS .omethi", nKUnJ. 8uI is IlOl God the eteaIor oC all natural thinp1 So in botb t:aICI. God - for them - 15 the real cmse of dea!h.

And this is true oot only (01' the dWh oflhe body. b is �ty true (or the death oCthe $0111. Do nCII Western lheoklJians consider hell. the ecemalJpiriruai death ofllWl. IS a punWunmt (rom God? And do they IlOl eonsider the dnil II I minWer of God fOl' the elcmal punisbrnetII of IIIeI1 In hell?

The "God' of the W� is an offended and aogry God. full of wrath (01' the diJobedlmee of mtn, Who desires in His desuuctiVi: pa»ion 10 ,orment all hurnJ,nlly I11III0 Clcrnity for their lilll. unless Hc =eiv� an infinite salisfaaion for HIS offended pride.

What is tlx Weslern dosma orsa]yation? Did nCII God till God in onkr 10 misty HIS pride, which !he Westerners eupbemlStjg,lIy call jllSliee? And is il IlOl by this infinite Jll.LSfaaion thai He deigns 10 accqII the salvation of 50rrIe of us?

What II salvalion (or Western theoiOIY? Is it DDI sal ... ion from the wrath o( God�

Do you K'e, then, ,lui Western theoloB)' teaclx:l that our real dangcr and our 11111 enemy Is our Crealor and God? Salvation. for Wellcmcn, il to be saved from the hands of God!

How can one � Iw:h • God? How � wc hayC failb ill IOn'ICOI'Ie we dete:5l'1 Flilh in ita deeper essence is • product of love. therefore:, it would be our desire that one: who threatcnIus

2. tU.�:I·'. .MiIoIul"·_ ' ' ........ _a; 'If ,.. .. ..... .... 01 ... .... 1_ .... ,... -1. �n.. ,Olio ; ..,...,.;/'ice _. t!',; _ ..... "., 1 �I' ... "'-1J_ ItdoIIoe __ ....... _ ...... __ .. � ". _ .. lie tIoo-.d _ .... , ". ...wy III oil , � ... GooL" �:..-.. "-"" 191001 Eo: .,.....,.. 0 w .... E'pU .... (_ 0-.), _ nt, U Ap:iI 1910

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IIIX even niSI, especially when this threal is eternal, Even if thI:re e,ds!s I IIlWlI of c:supin& !he eternal wnth of

this omrupDIcnt buI wicked Being (Ihe death of HIs Son ill our Jl.e.I). iI WQUld be much bener if this Ikin& did 001 e�L5I. This was the LI'IOtI lo&icII "",Iullon of !he mind and o f Jhco hun of !he WcstCTll peopl�, 'becIuKrvtIl ctemal Paradisewouklbc: ab/Jol!U. WIth IIICh • tl\lC:l God. Thu.I wu Ithe:isrn born, and !his is why !he Wcst wu iu billhplaee Atheism was II!LbJov.Tl ill Eastern Clmsd.llIly Unlit WQlcm LheoIosy was inlrodul;ed Iherr, too. A!he1S/'ll is the consequm;:e of WQlCTll 1hec:Nogy.' Atbrivn IS !he dmIlLl, !he t'Il'ption of UI evil God. Men bc:came albeists LD order 10 be: saved from God, hidLntI !he,r head and closwa their eyes like UI (JI(lich A!heI$lTL, my brothen, is !he LYplion or !he Roman CalhoIiL: and ProtC$llnl God A!heilm is not our real enemy. The .eat many IS thai f.lsifled IIId distorted "ClLriilimity,"

3.

WCllcmcrs speak frequently of the "Good God."J Western Europe and Amuio:a, howe\lCI. were never «>nvi� thai such. Good God uisced On the tonIrary, lhey we.e eallill8 God good in the wly Gr�kI c.alled the curse and malediaion of smallpolL, evloaia (.�Mv

justa c:JU&hI: rather 10 be: talled resen&merIt and v� of the worst kind. E� Christ's love IUd nttiflCC lola iu Jipflalll:e and Joste in IhIs sdliwid notion of. God who kills G od in �r 10 Ulisfy the so-c.aI)ed juJlx:e 01 God

Does this conr.epIKIII of jusl:klt luve anythi08 10 do with the ju$lice tIw God re\leaIed 10 111>1 Does the pbn.se "juJliI;:c of God" luve this lDW'Iing in the Old and New TCSllUl1elU1

�rhap$ the bc:giMing of the miMakm inlerprelalion of the word jusfitt in the Holy Scriptura wu ii, translation by the Greek word ,!ua......v.".' NOI that it is I mistakm translation, but be

is God's justice, for .... hil51 we wen: sinnet), Christ died for us!'"

Ie. 'If. _ ft:odil)' and joyfully "' tho ... it ond IClIbo ionpiouo ' {d. L .. b 6JS� fto,. .... yo. Ml ond lit d"" i n irJConupIlon. ond � up .. JIoI). hial ..... has f.U." ..... llodn�

-C ............ of dise....-nl. ond be filled "."".......sn1 ........... monel .. 1lIff",iosI ........ d for our .......... ond doloaJot. \codin, '" by III m .... which 'lbou did .. fuh .... II> !he u-'Icd&c of Thy ,lory, !'rom now and ""'" \he "I

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diKlbey, and lanore Him." He never returns e\'il for e\'U. He never likes ven,:eance.1J His punishmmui are loving means of corm:I:ion, at Iona at anythirc can Ix corra:led and braled in this life. \0 TIley nt¥U eJ.lmcllO elernily. He c� evCf)'1hina Cood.lf The wild beuts � as Ihcir mISIer !he ChrUtian who throu&h humilif)' has pined !he likmcss of God. They dnw nev 10 him, not with fear. bill with joy. ill JrMduI and loving submiI

.ion; Ihc:y ..... their heads and lick his hands am 5el'Ve him with

11. "'.(lad.� .. .....w •• ,-H .. o.I)ol ._ s.._ .... b i1. ' No! 111M , .. UIIIId _ ..... ,,* •• .,. -. _ ... He ....... . .... .. 11 0 1 . ....... .. .. _._, ... ....... .. .... OIIlltioo.l)r.aw. s.. -."1 ..... ..,..._ pru;o.._ Hits-. Ii< _ ... .... Ji>G it ... _ Ala. ioo ...... 11M ......... iI_ ... -'" be '"-"' ..... . 'I __ OOO IlfH .. I I ...... I .. _ _ ,-- .... y� 10 _ r.-s-. .-....p • _ � '" 11_ .. .. . ; ... lie Itt • be io _!hoi .. __ .lOn ...... 1110 ............... 01_ ..... .. iI.- SI. _.., s,.,;.,1'-'Iy II u. • .. _01 .... r t )._IWIIO_IoIDlllld .... Lood'. 1 .... 10 Pn

brina' upon !hem lhe puni,lunenl of blindne5$. _I, "�Ib." NY' Saini MUIII1US !he Confes$Ol'. "ill principally Ihe

sepu111011 from God. from which followed n ... -nnrily Ihe deatb of lhe body. life is principally He who Aid. '1 am the Ufe. '·U

And why did deJJh come upon lhe whole ofhum&nily1 Why did those who did DOlI .m w,lb Adam doe A did Adam? Here is the rrply 0( Sal.lll ANSlaSius the SIII.ite, ·We became the mbc:ritOfl of !he CUQe ,n Adam We w� IlOl punished as if "''e hold disobeyed tha divine COInIlWIdmm: 1.1011& with Adl.m; bu.1 t.eryv Adam became mortal. he tranwuued lin 10 Ius posterity. We bcume monaI IIIJDe we were bom from a moruol ·U

And Saini OreJOf)' l'abmu makc:s ibIS poInI; ·,Godl did 001 Ny 10 Adam; rerum 10 whence Ihou wast tuen: bul ile RId 10 him Eanh thou In and UnIO !he canh Ihou sllilt return .... He did IlOl uy 'in whaUoc:va Iby ye sIull eat of il. die!' bill. 'in ",1Ii(S(Ie\'a

lransgressions and di&0bc4�es, and that He wants 10 save us by all lUWll, and never rtq ... ilCS evil for e\'11.1OO In 1be fin! volume of the PllilotDliQ lhe� it 1 I1IIIniflCCTll tUt of s.int Anthony which 1 1tlll$ol read 10 yOll helli'

God is good. dispDSSi(}ftQu, (lIt(/ ilN1llUQb/t. Nqw 1_ ,"",0 lhinb U fflISombituNIlfllt 10 affi"" IMl God don IIIX driJngt, ntI1J wrI/ ast 1Io'w. in IMt tast. il is fIODiblt 10 Jpd 0{ God QS ft}oidng OWf IlImt .. #10 Oft good Qnd showing IIItrry to rhost who honour HIIII, Qnd as I"ming a>oV)" IfiJfPI 1M "'cknl uNI bnll'

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------------:------------1 boob wcre wrinen in Llein and !he fact Uw !hey were: u�ly Im&thy did noc permil their study by !he otlw:r FiUhmi of I� Churdl. and 10 they were never oo!ldemned as Origen's worb vnfe c:ondemIled in \he EasI. This fact pmmned them \0 utrtise I II10llI influenu bta" in Wale", though! and theoIoaY. In Ihe W�I. linle by lillie krlMiledte of the Greek IqIugc Y'oi.bed, and AUlUMme'1 ruu were the only boob .YliJ.able dalina from ancieN: limes in II� I.II'denIOor.I !here, SO the WesllClCeivcd as OItLSlian • texhull wbieh was in many of its aspea:s papn. Cao:mo-paplSl 6cvt1opmms in Rome did IIDI permit any healthy reKlion \0 thIS lIMe of aff',n, and so the West wu drowned in !he hwnauiSlK:, pqan thou&hI which prevails 10 Ibis d�y.·

So '1ft have the East on the OtIC side which. speaking and wrilina Greet, remained esstnually !he New Isncl with Isrxli tIC tbouJhI and 6aereO ("",Ilion, I!1d Ibc West DIllhe' OIlier side which havllli forgotlen !he Gmt Ian'\lalc IJld having been an off from the Ea$km iwe, inb:riled �an Grulr. thouaJU am illl menI.llil),. and fonned with It an .when/cd Christian leaching

In realny, tile opposiliOll between Onhodoxy and Wesltm ChrisrWlily is nothill& else: blJl rhe pet'J)mWion of the oppo$ilioo between Israel and UeU ••

We IJIUJI never forgel Uw the Flthcn ohhc Olurch oomidered thmlKlveji [0 he the 1M: spiritual �hi1dren of Abraham, t1w the Church considered luelf 10 he the New Israel. and tIw tile Orthodox peoplet, whelher Gm:k. Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Ronwtlan, CIt , were: conscious of being like Nathaniel, tnIe Israel;u:., me People of God. And .... lIile this was the re;J con· 8Ciousness of Eastern Ovi.lianily, me West became more and more I. tbild of papn, IIW1W1istk Greece and ROIne.

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WIllI. wm tile pnneipfl thulClnUtics of IhiI differm;e of IlIou&hI bct .... eetl Isnd and papnism? I call your �ion to IhiI very impon&nc mMter.

;u.�,� .. -::_ :,,: .. �.::,:��::_: ... (10 o-t) (AdIeu. Iff7}. . .

Israel believel in God. Papnism believel in ,realion That is 10 say, in pqanWn

crc:.uion is deified. For me �, God and cre.uion are one and me same thi", God is iJnpenOfW, personirled in J. IlWltirude 0

.... israel (and when we 1pC:J.k: oflsnd we: mean the trve Israel. me

spirinW 10m of Abnlwn. those who IYve me faith givm by God 10 His cho5m people, noI tlDc 1IIbo hlve J.bIrKIoncd thill faith The real IORI of Abnlwn an: the Owreh or Chri$I:, and not liJoK carnal clcscmdJ.m, the JewISh nee). Israel knooIo'S that God and crution an: IWO Bdlcally diffcrenl kinds of uistenet. God is self· existent. pcrsorW. Claml, immortal. Life and the: Swrcc: or life, ExIStence .nd the Swrcc or eJ;utence; God is the only rc:J.I Ex.i§lenet 0 ':Il� 1M ElIislinc, the Only Existin&: litis is tho: meanilll of the Inkle 0 It

Creation, on the tonIr.ry, has no sc:lf-u.isteRCe. It is IOIJ.lly

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dependenc on the will of God. II exi�1S only 50 10ng ;iS God wants it to ui$(. It i� IlOI eternal. It had /10 existellCC. It was null. it wa compkfely notbillj. It was created OUt of IlOIbingness." By iuelf it has 00 force of existCllCC; it is kept in existence by God's Energy. If thi$ lovillj Energy of God ever stops, CfUlion and .U created beings, illlellectual or roon-intellectu.ll. rational or irntiona[ will vanish illlo non--existenct.:. Wt; know that God's lo� for Hi� cn:ation i� etcTnal. We know from Him that Ht; will never let us tall into non-eJI:istma, from which He brouglu us into being. This is our !lope and God is true in His promises. We, Created beings, mgels, and men. will live in eternity. root because we have in us the power of eternity. bin becau$C this is the will of God Who loves us. By ourselves we are /IOIbillj. We have I>Ot the least energy of life and of uistence in our natu�; that wbich we have tomc:S entirely from God; nothillj is ours. We an: din of tile earth, and wben we forgot it. God in His merq permintd tlt.:il we rerum to what we an:. in order that we l"eTnain humble and have exact knowledge of our nothingness." "God," uys Saini John Damascene clsewhere. "can 00 all that He wills. even though tie does not will all things thot lie can do - for He can dc:Mroy creation, but He does not will 10 do 50." (Ibid. I. I"�

In the Crw EudwloglQtr (Venice, 1862), I fundamental liturgiCIJ booi; of the Church, we read:

-0 God. the ,rw and most high. Thou Who alone basI irNnonllity- [7th prayer of Vespers, p. 131;

-Thou Who ll� an life-living by nature ... O onJ)' immonaJ" [Ode S. Funeral CllJIOn for Laymen, p. 4\OJ;

"Thou an the only immonal: [po 410J; "The only One Who is immonaJ because of His godly nature"

[Ode I, Funeral Canon for Laymen, p. 4711. This is the faith of Israel. What is the teaching of paganism? Paganism is the t:On5eq_

of the lou of eoll\.ad with God. The rtwltituck of the sill$ of

.10. ·11. _MOd wiIhouI ..... .- St. l",," etoy_ (I'(; ". 3(1). It. St. lam 1lonIao

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the burN.n 5011] is lIIIunlJy immorul is from the devil" (Proof of � Apaf,olic PrttJdli,.,. m. 20. I). W� fmd the samc: warning in SaiIM Justin «()jlllog� wi,h Trypho 6. ]-2). in Tbeoplllius of .... ruioch (ro Au,oIyaiJ 2. 97). in Titian (To Iht a,.«ks 13). etc.

SalIM JU$l.in uplains the fundammtaI atheism wbicb nlsu in the belief of the lIIIunl ccemity and invnortality of the iaIman 50111. He writes: "Thc� � someOlbers who. llav;", suppoIed that the soul is immonal lJ1d imnulerbl. believe though lbey hive comnuned evil they WIll 00II wffer punislunclM (for that wbich is imrrulerial is also ll"lStnsiblc). 100 tlla the 50111. in consequene

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Thi$ il 1M IrilllTlpll of Hellemstic thougl!! in Christianit)' As . Iltllcnis.!. Orlgen had Jrrivcd al 1M same conclusions. God WiIS a judge by _.uy. He was oblipl lo punllh. 10 '''mae, 10 �nd people 10 btU Hell _ GooJ', trUlion. II "'as I punllfuneg; demarw;Itd by juSlice Thi$ demlnd of jllSfice vas a IlC«SSlIy. God WIS obhgcd 10 submll 10 it. He was no! permi(led 10 forgive There was I wperior fOfte. I N�'I)' ""!lich did 1101 permit Him 10 love uncono1ilkm:aUy

However. Origen was also I ChrislW! and he knew IIIaI God was full of lovc. How is It possIble 10 acknowledge a loving God Who keeps people in torment elcnlllly1lfGod is the cawe othell, by Jlle(e$SIIY ttlm t1xrc n,ISI be: an mel 10 ii, Dlben.;� we ann(JI c:oncedo: thJI,od is good Ind 1(W11li This juridical CQnCqllIOI1 of God as In instrument of I superior. imperso�1 forte or !kit)' named Necessity. lads loaiaJly 10 DpQta!asfllJlJ. "!he reuOtallOll of all things and !he Gdlruccion ofhdl," (Itbmr,'iK we mtIM lidmll I�I God is cruel.

The pagan Greek menulity cwld noI comprehend li'lal lhe eausc of hell wu no! God but Bis IOlical creiIlUf". If God was noI teally rift, since lie _ l

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case of !he publican and !he pharisee and in lhe case of lhe two ,obbclJ truclroed willi Orist. This freedom, Ihis tOOke. Ihis inner anil\lde tow.rd our Cla!or II !he inncnnoM core of OUt eternal pmoollil),. it iI !he most profound of OUt charaaeriSlQ, it II wha! mattJ lIS thai: wbicb we an. it is our etelllll face _ bnght or dark. lovlna or hating.

No, my brothers. unhappil)' for \IS, pltlldiK or hell does no4

the hands of the livinl God?"· 11'1 his di$OOllfSe milled nw God U IlOl lire (au of E";I,

Sail'l Basil lhe Oreal wmes the followilll: "But 00II: 1liiy say. if God IJ IlOl lUpOI'ISible for evil thillgs, why i, .t said in the book of £saia. 'I am He that prcpmd haht tIld Who formed 1Artnc:ss. Who matea peICe U1d WOO �rt:aICS evils' (.S:7).' Aoo apin. 'There came: dowa evil. from Ibc Lord upoo the gates of Jcrusalan' (Midi. I : 12). /too, "ShlII Ihcre be evil in the City wllicll the Lord IwlI I'lOl �'" (Amos 3:6). /too in the great Ode of Moles. 'Bdiokl. I am and Ibcre is 110 god beside Me. I will sIOlY. and I w.lI make 10 live; I will NIU�. and I will heaI- (Dan 32:39) But � of these alMlons. 10 him '" ho Wldcntands the docpn meaniq of the Holy Scriprurea, casu any blame on God. &S if He ... cre the CIU$C of evils and their crealor, for He Who said. '[ am the One Who man. Ugh!. and cblknest;,' shows Hunself.u the Crealor of the uni\'crsc, IlOl that He is the Crealor of any evil .... "Ue Creales ev, ... · 1ha! means, "He fulnoRS them .. ain &lid briOCS lhem t o . betLe�l'l • .o dial they kave lheir evilllll:SS, 10 lake 011 the nature of good ,,.

As Saini Isaac the Syrian writes, "Very often many tIunp Ire said by the Holy Scripturea .l'1li in it many nanJeS are used 1101 in

I hteral � ... tho5c who hive . mioo undenllOd this" (Homily 83. p. 317).

Sail'l Bali! in the WIle discourse"" giva the cxplarwion of these uprcu.tOnS of the Holy Scriptures: "II is because fear: J.t)'l be, 'edifIeS simpler people: and !his is true IlOl only for simple people buI for aU ofus. After our ,.U, we Deed fear in order tooo any profitable: thiDl and any JOOd 10 OW1dves or to ochers. In order 10 unOmand the Holy Scriptures, say the Fatbers. we IDISI hive in mud their PUrpoH ... hit;h is 10 J.tVC US. and 10 brine ... hnlc: by lillie to an undcTstaooilll of our CreaIOI" God and of our wrctdlCd oondllion.

But the wnc 1I0ly Scr!plures in OIhe1" pllII;CII apWn to us trIOR lCaI ..... ely who is lbe real cause of our evils. In Jemny 2: 17.19. we read "llath IlOl thy forJakiq Me brough!. these th.1lP upon thee? Allh tht. l..ord thy God .. Thine apmmy shall chastHC thee and thy ... ickt:dness $hill reprove thee; blow then, and _ Ihat thy forsakin8 Me bath been biner 10 lbe!:. Aith the Lon! thy God.'

The Holy So:nptUfCI tpe:ak our lanc�. the l.�ge .... hich we undcntalll:l in our fallen stale As $liN Grqary the "TheologIan Slyl. "For -.:card'na 10 our own comprehentiiott. _ have given nlmC'S 'rom our own IItribulcl 10 !hose of God'" And SainI Joim Damucc:ne uplaiRS I'unMT that .... hat in the Holy ScripruTCli "is Aid of God as if He had • body. ;s Aid symbolically ... [II COIll.aInI J some hidden meani"" which Ihroush thin&s COrrt::5flOoo· illl 10 our l\IIure. IUches ui things which exceed our Mture.-01

Il.

However. tbere IfC punishmcnta Imposed upon us by God, or rather evil. done 10 us by the devil and permitted by God. But these punishmenQ IfC what ... e call pecb&ogieal ptIIIishmew. They have as tht.ir aim our colTtclion III fItis "fe, or 11 least the correction of oIbtn ....no would rake I lesson from our �

.... IbW. 19' .1. So. GretooY .. T' n. Sl. .. D

, va F'IJo 1M 'ruJ � ]l (,..:l l6. U7). .,. ... 1 It

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UId correct Ihcrn&clves by far. Tbere I� lIso punL.l.luneDl$ whicb do no! hive lilc pu� of c:onetlina anybody bul simply pul .n end 10 evil by pulhoa an end 10 !hose who are p�illj il. 10 ItIaI !he eareh may be saved from perpetual tomIp(ion UId local dc:s!rvttion; such was !he ease in lhe Oood during Noe's lime. UId In Sodom'1 dealrvttlOll "

�l. "F ....... """ ........... """ IIoodJ ..., __ plop« ..... &0. ..;I .. 10 be .. ...,.

-or ill< .... .-ia, _ ..., ...... . be --'"' b ... _lot til -... -toiIo _ _ .. ... � tII ... oo:d _ ... b _ � 1D ..u ...... ... ..... • SL BIIiI ... 0.-. op,,,," 7. "102

comaion. Alief !he CO".'1OiI Re$urreaion there u no question of any punishment from God. Hell i, '1lOt a punWuneOl from God but I Kif «lI1de:mnalion, AI SaIni IbsiJ the Grw $30)'$, "The evil$ in hell do noc have God II !he.r QU5e, buI ounc:lves,· ..

...

One c:oukI insist, �". tbat \hc � �lipnu"eIlIld t/lc; FatheT$IlWll)'$ spat. of God IS the Grw Judge who .... ilI rn."Ird lboie who were obed.enl to HIDI and .... iII purush !hose who � disobcd_, In lhe day of !be Great JudJmmt (2Tm,4:6-8), How are we 10 undenland thi, j\lclgmem if we IR 10 under$llnd !he divine words noc in I human buI in I diVine manner? Wh3I is God', juc1gmcn11

God ill Truth and Light God', juclgmrnl is noching else than our corm", inlQ contact .... uh truth and light In !be day of the Grw Judgmelll all mm .... d l l(lpUr wed before this pcnnratina liaN of truth The "boob" .... ill be opened, What are these "books"1 They are our heIIns. Our hans .... iII be cpmed by !he pcnetl'llina liam of God. and .... hal is in these heans will be revealed If in thole hans � is love for God, tlxm heans will rejoice in 5Ceina God's light. If. on the eoNraJ)'. there is hatrte! for God in � heatU. thQe men wlllsulTer by receiving on their opened heIIn • • his penetratma light of truth which they detested all !heir life

So 1I\aI whk:h will differentiate between oroe IIWl and another will noc be • clceislon of God, I reward or a punisIunml from 111m, but tN . .... hod! WJI in each one's heart; what was Ihett duril1l III our life .... iII be revealed in the Day of Judgrno:.-. If there U I rewanl lnd I punilhmcnc in this revelatioo - and !here ruJly u - il does noc a:mc from God but from !.he love or IlIIe "'hich reip in our heart. Love has bliss in ii, hatred has rlespl.ir. bitterness, arid, affilcuon. wk:tedness, -aililion, COMlfaon, darkness, and &lI the other interior condilions which ....... 1p1lI5e hell (lCor.4·6).

30

The Light ofTru.h, God's Energy, God's grace which .... ill fall on �n unll1ndtm1 by corrupt conditions in !he Day of Judgment, will be the wne.IO III men. Tbcre wHl be no disunaion whatever All !he d.ffcrence: llet in tbo$e .... ho r�ive, IIOl in Him Who aives The wn lIlira on healthy and di� e)U lliU, .... ithout any distineeion lleahhy cya enjoy light and bea ..... of iI K.: clearly the baury which IU1TOlIIIds !hem. Diseased eyes fed pUn, they h.ln. $lIffer, and wam 10 lUck from this same lighl which brinp IliCh Veil hllppineu to tIxm who Nve healthy eyes

But alas, !here: is no Jonaer any JIOAibility of tsCI]Iina God's liam Durnil thlll life there _ In !he New CfUll(JII o f iht Raumaion, God will be CYCf)'Whcre and in evcrythina HIS hght and love .... ,11 anbrxe III There .... iIl be 00 place hiclden from God, .. wu iht cue clunna our corrupt life in !he kingdom of the prince of th� worlel Of The dcvil'. k1J!&dom will be cIe$poiled by !he Comlllon Resurrection and God .... ill IIIr.e pouessiou apm of lIis crellion.- Love .... iIl cnrobe everything with iu sa

...

Thus Saini Macanus ..... rius, • And as the kingdom of cbrknes$, and sin, an: hidOen in the: IOUl unlil lhe Day of RaulftClion, when the bodies al$(I 0( liMen JlWI 1M: covered with the darkneu ttw is DOW hidden in the I0I1l, so Idso the KiQldom of Light, and the Heavenly Image. JeJIIJ Christ, DOW myJlitalJ)' enliglun the soul, and mgn in the soul of 1M airu. bul an hidden from the eye5 of men ... ullli] the: Day of Resurreaion, bul thon the body also shan be cowffil and glorified with the Li&!u oflile Lord, whith is now in the man'li soul If Tom thi' tanhl), lIfeJ. thai the body .1so mil)' reign with \he iOUl .... hw.:h from now receives !he Kingdom of Ouisl and re$1S and is enliahtened wilh etemIl lighl" (Homily 2).

SaJlIl Symcon the New ThtolOilian $1)'1 tNt il is IlOI what man doe$ which rounts in e1emal llfc but wh.tI he ii, whether he: is like JalI$ CIuiR our Lord, or whecher he it dirremll and unlike 111m. He $lI)'I, "In the funue life the OIriitian is IlOl examined if he has r .... o"llCCd IJxo ... bole world for Orll11', love, or if he h.u dislribuleel Ius rkbc:s 10 the poor or If he (wed or kepi vigil Of pnyal. Of if he orepl and lamcnIed to

ChnS! compara filth 10 l 'bunting tudk ' �I): John the Forenlllnu ulel in his smrons lhal Chnst will baptize men 'in the Holy Spin! Ind fire.' And truly, tile Lord lIid, '11m COITIC to 5md fire on the earth and willi will I if it be Ilrudy kindled?' Well, the most langible cluncteriSlic of f.ilh Is wamuh; this is wily they IpcIok .bout 'wlrm flith,' Dr 'f.ith provol(ing wlmuh,' And ('Ven as !Ix distinc:llvc mark of flith is warmth, the SUR: mark of unbelief is coldnss.

'00 you want 10 know bow 10 undersUnd if I man his flith Of unbo:lid? If you fcd "'lrmlh conting 0tIl of him - from his ern. from his words, from his I!JIf\IICn - be ccnain tlw: he his f.ilh in his heiR. If Ipln you feel cold amina 0111 of his woole bcilll, thai meaJlI thai he has IXM faith . ... !wever he may say. He may kneel down, he may bend his had humbly, he may uuer III JOrtS of moral leac:hlnllS with I humble voice. bul 11I 1he$e will brealhe forth • chIlli", brealh "'hich fill, upOll you 10 numb yoo wnh "'" ..

Slil): ]uac: the S)'ri.ul $Il)'J that "Paradiso: is the love of God, In 11!hid! the bliss of III the beatnudes is muined,' and !hal. "the trft of life is the love of God' (Homily 72).

'00 noc deceive yoursc.lf," u)'Il Sau'll Syme

like yoor Pather in lleavcn.' .nd as lie rains on bad and good and makct the lun to riK on JUS! and unjUSl .Iike, so also is the one who lias rW love, and has compusion. and pray! for all ...,

18.

Now if anyone IS pcrpIcJ;cd and does IIOl understand how it is pouibk rOf God's loYe 10 rmkr anyooc pitifully wtC'lcbcd and miserable and � bllmina as ,t were in fbmcs. let bim toD$ider the elder brodIer of the prod .. *' son. Was he 00( in bis (llher'l cswc? Did "'" eo;eryduna in it �Ioa& to b,m" Did he "", 1uI"c his fatila'l love? 0111 bis fatbl:r IIOl tome himself to mtra! and beKceh him 10 come and take pan in the joyrul banquet? WIllI rendered bun tnl5C:ral>Ie and burned him .. ith inner biltemess and Iwe" Who refused bim 1nyt/l1ll,? Why was he not joyous II bis brother's return? Why did he IIOl hI,'e love either 1000rd hi, falher or loward hi. brotbl: r? Was it 001 because of his wicked, inner disposllion? Did he IIOl .CfIWI\ in bl:1I because: of o..? And whlll ...... thIS bl:1l1 Wu II any separate place? Wen: tkre any instru· menu oftonure7 Did he IIOl oontinue to live in his father's house? What $Cp&nletl him from III the joyous people in the house If 001 his own !we and his own bluerneu1 Did his flther, o. even his brOther, .top 10vil1& him? Was il not precisely this very love which llardcned hi. he3n more and more? Was it IIOl the joy \hal made him $ad? Wu IIOl IuItreti bumi", in his hean, !wn:d for his father and hi, brother. hatred for the love of his fllher toward his brother and for lhe love of his brother tOVlllrd his f:uher'1 This is hdl. the ncgllion of Iovc� the return of batc for love; bitterness at scci"i .� joy; 10 he surrounded by love and 10 line hate in one'l ban This is the eternal c:ono:Iition of all the damrtcd, They IIC III darly loved. They are: all invited 10 thejoyous �. They are all livina in God', KlIlldom, in the New Earth and the New Heavens. No one aptll them, EvCl1 if !hey ... 1Ilted 10 go IVllIy lhey eould IIOl nee from 000'1 New Creaioo, nor hide from God'l lmckrly loYina ormipres.ence Thrir only a1lernative would

16

be, perhaps. 10 go lway from their brothers and seard! for a biner isolation from tllem. bIIt !hey coukl nevcrdepart from God and His lovc And wlw ;. more terrible is thlll in this eternal lifc, [n this New Creation, God is CYcrythin& to HI$ erearura. As San. Grqory of Nyua JaYS. 'In the present life the thinp we havc relations w1m arc numcrow.. for insu.nr;c: time, air. IoaI ity, food aDd drink. ellltllq. SWIIiV-, �i&ht. IIld other �ieI of tife, lIO!II! of ",JUcb, nuny thouJII tbey be, are God: that blessed satc wbk:h we hope for is in nectj of **' of these thinp. but the D1vine Beina will bceoiQe all, and in the ilad of all 10 1lS. dwribuun& Humdf ptoponiomtely 10 every need of that exist· ence. II IS plain. 100. from the Holy Scriptures 0.. God IleoooItS 10 !bote who 0eJervt: it. Iocillty IIld horne and clothins and food and drink and Ii".. and ticheI and kinpm. and everythilll thai an � lhou&ht of and named that aoes to mate OUr life bappy' (On /lit Sold lIIId /lit RUlUrffl;Ott),-

In the new cternal lifc, God will be evcrymin, to His Crt.illura. IIOl only 10 the &ood bul ilbo 10 the wicked, not only to 1ho5e who love IIll'ii. but tikcwllC to IIIo$e who Iwe lIim, But how will those: who hlte Him endure 10 IuIve t:Ve1)'thina from the hands of H'1ll Whom they !lettsl' 011. wlult 11\ eternal tOfJtl!:OI i, m'l, wtw 11\ eternal fire, what a gnuhina of leelhl

Depart from Me, yc cursed., iOlo lhe everlastill& inner fire of

� ·'I.r-, 1 . _. l_IIo .... _ I .�w..pKc. I_bJoI, I ........ I _ -. I . h f '. oU ",,-_"- wIIat. 1 __ ' 'Be .... iI ... af""""'-- I .,.;0 be ....." • -. b r __ 10 _ . IlOl II be ..en od _ I . ....... ... ...... , ... Iad, ... ......... ... ..... , ... ..-...; I _ .n; ..,. ... ... .-.,. II> IlL I .... _ b "'":'"- aM • • 1 .. ... ..... .. .. c- ... ..... . ... IIIIOIlt ... ..... .... I _ .. ... _ IO .. F-. .. ... I . _ b .,. ... . t • I _ ..y F .... r.. .. .. ..... . __ . ... joioI_. _ ....... ... ....... . • ,.. ... '1 .... -r 51. .... 0.) 1'-iIy 71 _ ,., �I '" u.Jww(fG n_ 100).

17

hund." Kith the Lord. bee'''se I was tbirsly for your love IJ1d )'011 did not live it to Me, I .... hun&rY for your bleuedneu and )'011 did not otTer it to Me, I ..,.. � in My tamw! nature and)'Oll did not � to visit Me in My chuR:h; )'O\I are (rer: 10 to ""IIcK )'OUT wicked desire wWw:s, .way from Me. in the tortutinI hund of )'OUT bel.ru whld! i� foman 10 My Iovina bean. whld! k:aowI 110 hatred for anyone. Depart freely from Iovt to the t'IfflasItrc torture of hate. IlIIknotm itId foreign 10 Me and 10 those who are with Me. but preplred by f1eu1ooll fOl" the devil, from the cb)'$ 1 cruled My free. ntlOOlll creatures. 8uI wherever you 10 In the dacknm of your lulU. beI.ru. My love wiU follow

SI • ..,... _ "' .. ......w' ...,..r ... _ .. _� 0(1he � 1M .. • It II t • ..,.., .. ..... ... " f _ -...y . .. . ......... "' .. .,., A..t .. Lord ooiII ..... 1n p.ry __ ...... T....,.u wiIt __ MII -. ..w. po-' 'Ilor)' wil ..-d io _ -.I MIl __ AI .. ilI ""'..... .. !he ...... mutinloo lk I'rop/Io