One Hell of a question
Constantine,
I like your style. I juxtaposed the 'Rescue' with Constantine's portrayal of eternal damnation for just the reason you gave. An article I really like on the topic of hell was written by Dr. Alexander Kalomiros and can be found at:
http://www.philthompson.net/pages/library/riveroffire.html
Basically, he says that the love of God in Christ is the purging fire of heaven and hell. For some it is glorious, for others it is quite painful.
Beyond that, I like St. Isaac the Syrian's desire:
From the Saint’s eighty-first Discourse:
‘And what is a merciful heart?’ And he said: ‘the burning of the heart for all creation, for men, birds, animals, and demons, and for every creature. From the memory and contemplation of them, his eyes pour forth tears. Out of the great and intense mercy that grips his heart, and from great fortitude, his heart is humbled, and he cannot bear to hear or to see any kind of harm or the least distress come over creation. And for this reason, he offers tearful prayer at every hour, even for irrational creatures, for the enemies of the Truth, and for those who injure him, that they might be kept safe and receive mercy, and likewise for the genus of reptiles, out of the great mercy that is aroused in his heart boundlessly, in the likeness of God.’
If a monk has this kind of compassion, to have mercy on even the evil ones, surely Christ's mercy is greater and his rescue extends beyond the grave. To paraphrase Bishop Kallistos, it is presumption to expect God to save everyone, but we can surely hope and pray that he does!
I like your style. I juxtaposed the 'Rescue' with Constantine's portrayal of eternal damnation for just the reason you gave. An article I really like on the topic of hell was written by Dr. Alexander Kalomiros and can be found at:
http://www.philthompson.net/pages/library/riveroffire.html
Basically, he says that the love of God in Christ is the purging fire of heaven and hell. For some it is glorious, for others it is quite painful.
Beyond that, I like St. Isaac the Syrian's desire:
From the Saint’s eighty-first Discourse:
‘And what is a merciful heart?’ And he said: ‘the burning of the heart for all creation, for men, birds, animals, and demons, and for every creature. From the memory and contemplation of them, his eyes pour forth tears. Out of the great and intense mercy that grips his heart, and from great fortitude, his heart is humbled, and he cannot bear to hear or to see any kind of harm or the least distress come over creation. And for this reason, he offers tearful prayer at every hour, even for irrational creatures, for the enemies of the Truth, and for those who injure him, that they might be kept safe and receive mercy, and likewise for the genus of reptiles, out of the great mercy that is aroused in his heart boundlessly, in the likeness of God.’
If a monk has this kind of compassion, to have mercy on even the evil ones, surely Christ's mercy is greater and his rescue extends beyond the grave. To paraphrase Bishop Kallistos, it is presumption to expect God to save everyone, but we can surely hope and pray that he does!
posted by fatherneo at 10:15 AM
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4 Comments:
Who is the publisher of this work on Fr. Seraphim?
Wisdom abounds in good measure in my estimation with the good doctor and St. Isaac the Syrian. I extend my gratitude to Padre Neo for tendering a dissident view for consideration, even if he doesn’t hold it himself. Hell doth not exist! At least not the one popularly conceived for ages by even the greatest of Saints. However affronting this notion, it has the latent power to set captives free in the here and now, and according to at least some in “good standing,” in the hereafter. Perfect Love casts out fear. Love is NOT an attribute of God, but instead His very essence. Yes! All are loved ad infinitum by the Holy One and the day will come when each captive (whom among us is not in part a captive still?) will sing a hymn of joy exclaiming “free at last, free at last!” Could a radical, minority belief like this promote an inflation of sin among its adherents? If so, I defer to the magisterial reformer Luther. Sin boldly. (I say this with some jest, though Luther did not.) A radical, minority belief (at least within the established Church in the Latin West) for his day set him free (or so he believed anyway). While I don’t agree with all that Dr. Kalomiros asserts he brings the question of Hell into the correct context. As for St. Isaac the Syrian--what can I say that will do justice to his sentiment?! Each time I read his compunction for all of God’s creation I’m left breathless. Is his the mind of God? Is he a man after God’s own heart (oops-sorry, that’s David)? I think so. Or I suppose I should say I hope so.
I think good St. Isaac reflects God's heart. Not to sound to warm and fuzzy, I like Dame Julian's sentiments: "All shall be well, All shall be well, all manner of things shall be well.
Lady Julian is indeed the real deal. I cherish the quote from her posted here. Although, some of her other “Showings” scare the hell out of me.
Here is what I take to be the great insight, likely unintended, of the movie “Constantine.” “If you’re going through Hell, keep going” (Winston Churchill). You might come out on the other side! Continue to board the “damned” bus that departs from the Grey city (I’m referring to saint Clive’s Great Divorce) and take in the sights of Purgatory on the Outer Banks of Paradise. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em too (Constantine sure as hell did as did Lewis). It takes time (Love is patient), and yes, might be a tad painful, maybe real painful. So be it. I concur with Padowan Nephew’s (gracious for the welcome) fav scene from the movie “Constantine,” the “no greater love” denouement towards the end of the movie. As with Christ on the cross, Constantine the character overcomes evil with good. No penal/forensic substitutionary atonement necessary. Just God practicing what he preaches.
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