DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Colossians 2:20-3:3 (11/3) Epistle for
Tues. of the Twenty-Second Week after Pentecost
The Things Above: Colossians 2:20-3:3, especially vs.
3:1: “If then you were raised
with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the
right hand of God.” As this passage from Colossians begins,
In scanning this passage, one might conclude that the
Apostle opposed self-discipline and asceticism, which is not true (see 2 Cor.
11:7,27).
Furthermore, Holy Tradition - derived carefully from the teachings of
all the Apostles - highly values self discipline, humility, and
asceticism. How then should we
understand Apostle Paul’s apparent questioning of what we know as
Apostolic teaching derived ultimately from the Lord Jesus? Truthfully,
In other words, the Apostle is reacting against the
proposal of gnostic, Judaizing
heretics who would replace honest union with Christ with ascetic and devotional
practices. Saint Paul is not at all
opposed to asceticism, self-discipline, and humility, but to misplaced reliance
on the practices and rituals in and of themselves for they utterly lack the
power to control “...fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and
covetousness, which is idolatry” (see Col. 3:5). In Apostolic tradition, discipline,
humility, and asceticism are undertaken because the Spirit leads one to seek
“...those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right
hand of God” (vs. 3:1) - solely as means to the end of deepening
one’s union with Christ.
Take careful note: the Apostle Paul focuses on the sole
Source Who gives life to the ascetic disciplines and humility. Ascesis begins
rightly from participation in the Holy Mysteries by which we “...died
with Christ...” (vs. 20), are “...raised with Christ...” (vs.
1) and our “...life is hidden with Christ in God” (vs. 3). The Lord Jesus is Life, seated at
the right hand of God. He is our
Life-Giver. Disciplines, rightly used,
may only deepen and strengthen union with Him.
Listen to Saint Seraphim of Sarov:
“Prayer, fasting, vigil and all other Christian activities, however good
they may be in themselves, do not constitute the aim of our Christian life,
although they serve as the indispensable means of reaching this end. The true aim of our Christian life
consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. As for fasts, and vigils, and prayer,
and almsgiving, and every good deed done for Christ’s sake, they are only
means of acquiring the Holy Spirit of God.” Humbling oneself through ascetic
disciplines without Christ is useless!
What is the real problem with self-reliance on discipline
(vs. 23)? It is self-imposed
and not derived from God. It arises
from pride, and has no intention to “...put to death your members which
are on earth...” (Col. 3:5). Self-imposed
religion encourages self-esteem, but obstructs the Holy Spirit Who gives
true humility. However much
self-imposed discipline may appear similar to life-giving Christian asceticism,
the two are utterly contrary from their foundations. May we who have died with Christ and are
raised with Him, seek life only from Him and in Him.
To obtain true humility remember that the Lord Jesus
attacked all display of humility: “Moreover, when you fast, do not
be like the hypocrites.... For they
disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting” (Mt.
6:16). Blessed are those who humble
themselves in their hearts by setting their minds “...on things
above...” (Col. 3:2).
O Life-giver, come into my polluted body and purify me by
Thy compassionate mercies.
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