Lessons from St. Gregory of Nyssa (‘Life of Moses’):
The divine
command included prohibition of any animal to go up to the mountain before
Moses could ascend it. Just like animals are guided solely by their senses, St.
Gregory says the spiritual meaning of animals in this text refers to those
beings who are guided by their five senses and are disconnected from any higher
spiritual understanding. This teaches that in the quest of spiritual knowledge
and truths, one must transcend mere sensory perception and not be led solely by
basic appetites and desires.
According to St.
Gregory, the contemplation of God, cannot be achieved through our usual senses
like sight and hearing, or through our usual ways of thinking. It is written in
the Holy Scripture- “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human
heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”. (1Corinthians 2:9/Isaiah 64:4). True knowledge of God is beyond what we can
see, hear, or even imagine. To reach this higher understanding and to be in His
sublime presence, a person must first cleanse their life of all irrational and
sensual emotions. This means letting go of preconceived opinions and distancing
oneself from relying solely on sense perceptions, which are naturally a part of
us. Once a person is purified in this way, they can then ‘ascend the mountain’.
St. Gregory
uses the metaphor of climbing a mountain to describe the process of coming to
know God. He says that understanding God and being in His presence is a
difficult task, much like climbing a steep mountain. Most people find it
challenging and can only reach the base. If a person were like Moses, then
he/she would be able to ascend higher on this metaphorical mountain. The sound
of trumpets symbolizes a profound and intense understanding of God's nature,
which deepens as one advances on their spiritual journey.
St. Gregory
provides another spiritual interpretation of the sound of trumpets relating it
to the message of our Lord’s incarnation and salvation to humanity. The Law and
the Prophets (the Old Testament) announced the divine mystery of the
Incarnation. However, this proclamation by the prophets was akin to the weak
sound of the trumpet for those with hardened hearts who were not receptive to
God’s message. St. Gregory refers to these as the “disobedient ear”.
The Scripture
says “the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder”(Exodus 19:19) and St.
Gregory teaches that this symbolizes the
Incarnation of our Lord and the preaching of the Gospel by Christ. The sounds
grow louder and louder indicating the Holy Spirit working through Apostles and
Evangelists, as the Psalmist says- “…their voice goes out through all
the earth and their words to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:4), to spread the Gospel message throughout the
world and this message was able to reach even those who previously didn’t
understand the mystery of Incarnation of our Lord prefigured in the Old
testament.
Questions
for Personal Reflection:
1) In what ways is my spiritual journey like climbing a steep mountain?
What challenges do I face in this pursuit? As you reflect on this question, a
helpful approach would be to break down your spiritual goals into smaller,
manageable steps. Create a daily plan that includes time for prayer and reading
scripture.
2) Are there areas in my life where I have a “disobedient ear” and am not
fully receptive to God’s message? A practical follow-up action to this question
would set aside time each day for self-examination.
3) How does the message of our Lord’s Incarnation and salvation, spoken of
by the Prophets and Apostles, resonate with me? Have I been able to fully
participate with mind, body and soul in the liturgical life of the Church that
celebrates the life and teachings of Jesus. Have I been able to engage in acts
of kindness and service to others on a daily basis as a way of living out the
message of the Incarnation?
In Christ,
Rincy
Ref: Gregory of Nyssa, Saint. The Life of Moses. Translated by A.J. Malherbe and E. Ferguson, HarperCollins, 2006, pp. 78-80. HarperCollins Spiritual Classics series. (Original translation published by Paulist Press, 1978).
Disclaimer: The content presented here is a
paraphrased summary based on my reading and understanding of the book cited
above and is intended solely for educational and devotional purposes during
Lent. They are not intended to replace the original work or represent the views
of the author or publisher. Readers are encouraged to refer to the original
book for a comprehensive understanding.
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