Brief outline of the chapters:
Exodus 20 is a pivotal chapter in the Bible where God delivers the Ten
Commandments to the Israelites through Moses. The Israelites, overwhelmed by
God’s powerful presence, rely on Moses to hear God’s commands on their
behalf. Moses then enters the thick darkness where God is. The Ten
commandments establish fundamental principles for worship and ethical conduct.
Exodus 21 to 23 outlines various laws and regulations given to the Israelites, including the treatment of servants, personal injury laws, property rights, and social justice. In Exodus 24, the covenant between God and Israel is reaffirmed, with Moses reading the Book of the Covenant to the people, who agree to obey all that the Lord has commanded. Moses goes up to Mount Sinai and stays there for 40 days and nights, receiving further instructions from God. [The commentary of St. Gregory focuses on the events in Exodus 20].
Lessons from St. Gregory of Nyssa (‘Life of Moses’):
Just as the
Israelites relied on Moses to receive and interpret God's commands, so do the
members of the Church rely on chosen spiritual leaders (the clergy) to
understand and teach the divine mysteries and doctrines of faith. St. Gregory highlights
the Pauline teaching that not all in the Church are called for a clerical
ministry [“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all
teachers? Do all work powerful deeds? Do all
possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?” - 1
Corinthians 12:29,30].
St. Gregory laments
this teaching is not heeded in churches anymore and admonishes the ambitions of
those individuals seeking ecclesiastical positions in the Church but have not
themselves lived a life of purity, the actions and behaviours reek of
worldliness and are guided by their senses like the animals. St. Gregory
cautions that when such people dare ascend the mountain of divine knowledge
they fall into errors and heresy.
St. Gregory
delves into the paradoxical nature of divine knowledge and the process of
spiritual enlightenment as per the Scripture verse- “Then the
people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where
God was.” (Exodus 20:21).
Initially,
Moses perceived the Divine in the light of the Burning Bush;
however, he later experiences God's presence in darkness.
According to St. Gregory, both aspects are not contradictory but rather signify
an advancement in spiritual understanding. The transition into darkness to
perceive God represents a deeper and more profound comprehension of God's
nature.
The individuals,
in the initial stages of spiritual journey, behold the religious knowledge as
illumination which eradicates the darkness. The darkness represents those ideas
and teachings which are contrary to religious truths, and the transition from
this state of darkness occurs when one engages with the enlightenment provided
by religious knowledge.
St. Gregory
posits that as one advances in spiritual understanding, one begins to realize
that the divine nature transcends human comprehension. We move beyond all
observable and tangible knowledge, delving deeper into the unseen and
incomprehensible. This concept of 'seeing by not seeing' represents
genuine spiritual knowledge, acknowledging that God surpasses all
understanding. This is the state of ‘luminous darkness’- a paradoxical
term- indicating a state beyond ordinary understanding where one encounters God
in a more profound, though less definable, way.
This is why
Moses, having grown in knowledge, declared that he saw God in the darkness
meaning he had understood that God is beyond comprehension. When the Beloved
Apostle says- “No one has ever seen God.” (St. John 1:18), he is
asserting that true knowledge of God is unattainable, not only to humans but to
every intelligent creature. Any attempt to imagine or define God using human
concepts, according to St. Gregory, results in creating an "idol" of
God, which is not the true God.
St. Gregory
describes Moses' journey into darkness and his meeting with the Lord as an
allegory for spiritual enlightenment. This journey transitions from a clear
understanding, symbolized by light, to a deeper and less tangible understanding
represented by darkness (or luminous darkness). The Psalmist refers to the
Lord's presence in darkness: "He made darkness his covering around him,
his canopy thick clouds dark with water" (Psalm 18:11). Darkness is
portrayed as both the hiding place of the Divine and a point of encountering
the Divine.
St. Gregory
teaches that religious virtue consists of two aspects: that which pertains to
Divine and that which pertains to proper conduct (as purity of life is an
integral part of religion). Initially, Moses is taught about the nature of God,
specifically that human comprehension cannot define Him. Subsequently, he
learns about the other aspect of virtue, which involves the practices that lead
to a virtuous life. [From a personal interpretation standpoint, this can be
seen as analogous to the structure of the Ten Commandments. The first four
commandments pertain to our comprehension of and relationship with God-
worshipping only the Lord God, not making idols, not taking Lord’s name in
vain, and observing the Sabbath day. The
latter six commandments (as well as the various regulations on social justice
given in Exodus 21-23) guide believers on how to live a virtuous life in
relation to others.]
Questions for Personal Reflection:
1) How am I prioritizing my relationship with God amidst the multitude of
commitments and distractions.
2) How do I honour and respect my parents or guardians, especially when we
have disagreements? What actions have I taken (or can I take) to show them my
gratitude and love?
3) How do I treat those who work for or with me? Am I fair and just in my
interactions with others, especially those in positions of service?
In Christ,
Rincy
Ref: Gregory of Nyssa, Saint. The Life of Moses. Translated
by A.J. Malherbe and E. Ferguson, HarperCollins, 2006, pp. 80-82. 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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