Our TRUE WORTH. The FULL POTENTIAL of our Humanity (On Icons and Flesh)
Summary
TLDRThe speaker in the script reflects on the profound spiritual significance of icons, which serve as reminders of God's incarnation and the divine potential within human beings. Icons reveal the capacity of human flesh and blood to carry the divine, highlighting the parallel between the Virgin Mary's role in Christ's birth and the believer's ability to embody Christ through Holy Communion. The discourse emphasizes the importance of valuing our physical existence as an integral part of our spiritual journey, urging respect for all creation and our interconnectedness as bearers of Christ's image.
Takeaways
- 🙏 The speaker emphasizes the profound spiritual significance of icons, viewing them as more than mere representations of divine figures.
- 🛐 Icons serve as a reminder of the Incarnation, the belief that God became human in Jesus Christ, and the potential within each person to embody Christ's presence.
- 🕊 The human body, in its flesh and blood, is likened to a chalice capable of holding the divine, reflecting the Incarnation and the mystery of the Holy Eucharist.
- 🌟 The speaker reflects on the personal and transformative power of icons, teaching about one's own being, potential, and the commonality shared with the divine.
- 🔍 Icons reveal truths about both God and the viewer, encouraging introspection and a deeper understanding of one's spiritual identity and purpose.
- 🌱 The potential of the human body to carry Christ is highlighted, drawing parallels between the Virgin Mary's role in the Incarnation and the believer's capacity to carry Christ within.
- 🌼 The speaker calls for a revaluation of the human body, recognizing its sanctity and potential as a vessel for the divine, rather than viewing it as merely fallen or profane.
- ⛪ The importance of the Incarnation in Christian doctrine and its reaffirmation through icons is underscored, highlighting the continuity of Christ's presence in the world.
- 🤲 The act of Holy Communion is described as a personal encounter with Christ, where believers receive and carry His body and blood within their own flesh.
- 🌍 The speaker envisions a world where people interact as bearers of Christ's image, fostering a sense of unity, respect, and love for all creation, including oneself and others.
- 💖 A call to support the monastery, both spiritually and financially, is made, reflecting the communal and interdependent nature of the Christian faith.
Q & A
What is the primary significance of icons in the speaker's perspective?
-Icons serve as reminders of the beauty of God and the Incarnation, as well as revelations about one's own being and potential, teaching about the depth of human potential and the mystery of the self.
How does the speaker relate the concept of the Incarnation to human beings?
-The speaker relates the Incarnation to human beings by highlighting the shared characteristic of having bodies, flesh, and blood, which are capable of carrying God Himself, just as the Mother of God did.
What does the speaker suggest about the potential of our bodies?
-The speaker suggests that our bodies have the extraordinary potential to contain the uncreated Creator, emphasizing the sacredness and importance of our physical form.
How does the speaker describe the process of receiving Holy Communion?
-The speaker describes receiving Holy Communion as a way of receiving Christ's Body and Blood within oneself, becoming a 'chalice made of flesh and blood' carrying God within.
What role do icons play in the speaker's understanding of self-worth and the value of the human body?
-Icons play a crucial role in teaching the speaker about the inherent value of the human body and the flesh, encouraging a respect for oneself, others, and the world around, as all are bearers of God's image.
How does the speaker view the interaction between the individual and the world when carrying the presence of God within?
-The speaker views this interaction as a divine encounter, where even without the world's awareness, it interacts with God through the individual who carries Him within their flesh and blood.
What does the speaker believe will happen when we face Christ 'face to face'?
-The speaker believes that when we face Christ 'face to face', we will come to know everything in its fullness, no longer in part or shadow, including the full truth about God and ourselves as God's image.
How does the speaker connect the concept of the Mother of God to the potential of every human being?
-The speaker connects the concept by pointing out that just as the Mother of God carried Christ within her body without sin, every human being's flesh and blood, though fallen, still possess the potential to carry Christ through Holy Communion.
What is the speaker's view on the importance of supporting the monastery?
-The speaker emphasizes the importance of supporting the monastery through prayers and financial means, acknowledging the challenges of maintaining the monastery and expressing gratitude for the community's continued existence by God's grace.
How does the speaker express the interconnectedness of all people through the shared experience of the flesh and blood?
-The speaker expresses this interconnectedness by stating that all people share the 'extraordinary thing' of having flesh and blood capable of containing God, emphasizing a universal bond and shared divine potential.
What is the speaker's final blessing for the listeners?
-The speaker's final blessing is for the listeners to be blessed, expressing love and the wish for prayers to reach them across the world, recognizing the unity of all people in their shared humanity and divine potential.
Outlines
✨ The Profound Significance of Icons
The author discusses how icons reveal not only the beauty of God but also our own potential and nature. Icons teach us dogmatic truths and remind us of our capacity to carry Christ within ourselves, similar to how the Mother of God did, though in a different manner. By interacting with the world, we, as chalices of Christ, allow the world to interact with God. Icons thus illuminate the mystery of our being and our potential, revealing the fullness of truth about both God and ourselves.
🚗 Recording in the Car: A Conversation About Icons
The author reflects on an impromptu discussion about icons, inspired by a recent email exchange. Despite recording in a car with distractions, they express gratitude for the opportunity to share personal insights. The conversation highlights that everyone's path to Christ and prayer is unique, emphasizing the personal connection and the reminder that icons provide of Christ's extraordinary love and incarnation.
🌟 The Dual Revelation of Icons
The author elaborates on how icons reveal both the incarnation of God and the potential of our human bodies. Despite our tendency to disregard our physical form, icons remind us of the awe-inspiring truth that our bodies can contain the uncontainable Creator. This dual revelation is humbling and reminds us that our bodies, like our souls, are integral to our humanity and capable of sustaining divine presence.
🖼️ The Icon as a Reflection of Our Potential
Icons reveal the depth of God's love and our own potential. They show that our flesh and blood, like Christ's, can sustain the incarnation. The author discusses the sacrament of our bodies and their role in iconography and the incarnation of Christ. By receiving Holy Communion, we embody Christ's presence, demonstrating the extraordinary potential and sanctity of our physical form.
🔍 Exploring the Truths of Icons
The author revisits the central theme of how icons teach us about God and ourselves. Our flesh and blood, common with the incarnate God, reveal the truths of Christ's incarnation and the Holy Communion. Icons remind us of our potential to carry Christ within us, emphasizing the interconnectedness of humanity and divinity.
🙏 Valuing Our Flesh and Blood
The author concludes by urging us to value our bodies and the bodies of others, recognizing them as vessels for Christ. They call for respect and care for the physical world, advocating for a harmonious interaction as bearers of Christ's image. The author expresses love and gratitude, requesting prayers and support for the monastery, and highlighting the unity of all humanity through our shared flesh and blood.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Icon
💡Incarnation
💡Flesh and Blood
💡Revelation
💡Humanity
💡Chalice
💡Theotokos
💡Holy Communion
💡Sin
💡Resurrection
💡Bearers of Christ's Image
Highlights
The profound connection between viewing icons and the unspeakable beauty of God's nature.
Icons as a medium for learning about God's dogmatic truths and personal revelations about one's own being.
The concept of humanity sharing an extraordinary commonality with the incarnate God through our bodies, flesh, and blood.
The idea of individuals being capable of carrying Christ within themselves, similar to the Mother of God.
The transformative experience of engaging with the world as a 'chalice' containing God, influencing interactions unknowingly.
The significance of icons in teaching about Christ's incarnation and the depth of human potential.
The anticipation of a future revelation of the fullness of truth about God and ourselves when facing Christ.
The personal narrative of the speaker's unique relationship with icons and their spiritual significance.
The reminder of the incarnation奇迹, emphasizing the Creator's love through becoming flesh and blood like ours.
The exploration of the human body's capacity to receive the uncreated Creator, challenging traditional perceptions.
The sacrament of our flesh and blood, its role in sustaining the incarnation and its significance in iconography and faith.
The parallel between the Mother of God's sinless flesh and the potential purity of our own bodies.
The reflection on the resurrection and the spiritualized form of our bodies, emphasizing their importance in our humanity.
The speaker's personal realization of the icon's revelation about their own flesh and blood's potential to contain Christ.
The distinction between the incarnation in the Mother of God and the reception of Christ through Holy Communion.
The call to value ourselves, our bodies, and the world around us as bearers of Christ's image and sacrament.
The speaker's heartfelt plea for support and prayers for their monastery, highlighting the community's resilience and faith.
The expression of universal love and prayer, emphasizing the shared human experience and the capacity to contain God.
Transcripts
When I look at an icon I'm reminded not only of the unspeakable beauty of God Himself;
when I look at an icon I'm being taught not only dogmatic truths about God; I'm not being given
revelations about God; but I'm being given revelations about my own being: I'm being
taught my own potential: I'm being reminded who I was created to be; because we, all of us, humanity
itself at large, we have this extraordinary thing in common with the incarnate God: our bodies,
our flesh and our blood. Like the Mother of God but in a different manner,
not from within ourselves but from the outside, we can carry within ourselves Christ Himself, God
Himself. Like the Mother of God but in a different manner we become these flesh and blood chalices,
carrying within ourselves---this body of mine becomes a chalice for Christ's Body and His Blood
and then I go out into the world and then I walk the streets and I speak to people and I hug people
and I bless people and I pray for people, not only as the sinner that I am---and I am a sinner---but
also I walk the streets of this world as a chalice made of flesh and blood containing within myself,
carrying within myself God Himself Whom I have eaten and I have within myself, and then when the
world interacts with me and I interact with the world, even without the world being aware of it
the world interacts with God Whom I carry in this chalice made of my flesh and my blood.
Icons, my brothers and my sisters, icons teach us so much more, not only about
Christ's incarnation but about the depth of our own potential, about our own
miracle, about the mystery that we are to ourselves, because we remain mysteries to
ourselves until the day when we are going to face Christ person to Person, face to Face, and then
looking at Him the way we look now at an icon, we are going to know everything, no longer in part,
no longer in a shadow, we are going to know the fullness of the truth concerning not only God, but
God's image, ourselves, as well. These icons have so much to teach us about not only Him
but about us as well. May Christ bless us. my brothers and my sisters, may he pour within
ourselves the fullness of His revelation, the fullness of His knowledge, not only concerning
Himself but concerning ourselves, so that we learn to value ourselves, so that we learn to value
our bodies, our flesh and our blood, so that we learn to value the flesh and blood of our brothers
and our sisters, the flesh and blood of the world around us, of these trees and of that ocean
so that we no longer abuse them and destroy them, so we no longer abuse ourselves and
destroy ourselves and our brothers and our sisters but that we interact with each other the way we
should as bearers of Christ's image, bearers of His Body and His Blood through Holy Communion.
Hello, dear ones! Well, we eventually got to this as well. I kind of expected it to happen
but I thought it would happen a bit later because there are so many things that need to be done,
I have to record this from the car and I must apologize for the sound, the noise of the cars
passing by and everything else. I am in fact quite grateful to God that I could park the car
and I don't have to record this as I'm driving, I'm not entirely certain that would be legal
and the thought of prison doesn't yet feel that appealing to me. Someone pushed me last
week into the conversation about icons. It was a conversation that happened by email
and it was a conversation that simply flourished and ended up revealing things to me about
myself and my own reasons for loving icons and I want to share those things with you. It is true to
how I relate to icons and---
that bird is actually quite distracting---
anyway apart from the dogmatic reasons for anything, we all have our own stories
and these stories include our own personal unique reasons for feeling
more inspired by some things and less inspired by others. There are as many paths to Christ as
there are human beings, there are as many types or modes of prayer as there are human beings,
because our prayer and our path to Christ is entirely personal and unique. When I see an icon
what I see is flesh and blood, what I see is the Body of Christ and I'm constantly reminded of this
extraordinary event this extraordinary, beyond-words, beyond-thought love of our Creator
to the point that He has become created, to the point that He has taken on created flesh,
created blood, He has wrapped Himself in flesh and blood like my flesh and my blood in order for
Him to save me and to save you and to save all of us. I am constantly reminded of this, beyond
logic, beyond our mind's miracle, of the Creator taking on a body, a body which is
just like my body, a body which is made up of flesh and blood like my own body.
But there is the other side of the coin, and that other side of the coin has less to do
with Christ's love for us and His act of incarnation and has more to do with the fact that
our bodies, our flesh and our blood deep down in themselves have this amazing ability to receive
in themselves the uncreated Creator of everything---do
you follow what I'm trying to say? The Incarnation, which is always depicted in any icon,
the basic dogmatic reason for painting any icon is to reaffirm generation through generation from the
Apostles to our generation the reality of Christ s Incarnation, to reaffirm that His Body and His
Blood are in no way different from my flesh and my blood and therefore they can be depicted,
but beyond this, beyond this endlessly beautiful and endlessly humbling expression of God's love
in the incarnation, what lies hidden there is a truth about ourselves,
about who we are as human beings, and in a certain way, maybe not for everyone
but definitely for me, in a certain way what speaks to my heart mostly when I see an icon
is this reminder, which is not entirely understood by my brain because it cannot be entirely
comprehended by our created brains, this understanding, this reality that my
body has within itself the ability to contain the uncontainable.
When I look at an icon, one side of that revelation is that God has become incarnate,
but the other side of this coin, the other side of this dogma, of this reality is that
my body is able to sustain the Incarnation, that my flesh and my blood are able by some
miraculous act on God's part are able to contain within themselves
the uncontainable Creator of everything, and that is so extraordinary, that is so
frightening and awe-inspiring. It is awesome in that primary meaning of the word, it is filled
with awe, because because we've learned to think about our bodies as these fallen things, fallen
accessories, almost to our being to the point where we almost define ourselves even amongst
Christians through our souls and we forget that our bodies are still part of this beautiful mix
that creates our humanities, we forget that when we are to be resurrected, we are going to be
resurrected in our bodies---a spiritualized form of our bodies, but in our bodies nevertheless.
Death does not obliterate our bodies and the resurrection does not let go of our bodies,
it does not erase the reality of us being bodily beings. We humans are made of bodies as much as we
are made of souls, we are the mix of a soul and a body. These bodies of ours whom we've
learned to disconsider or even hate, they are able to sustain the Incarnation of our Creator,
this flesh of mine and the blood hidden in it were able in a sinless
human being, in the Mother of God to sustain the incarnation of God Himself; this sacrament of
our bodies, this sacrament of our flesh and our blood is something that we rarely think
about and we rarely talk about but this sacrament of our flesh and our blood is what sustains
the incarnation of Christ, is what justifies and necessitates the dogma of iconography, is what
justifies the faith and the dogmas concerning the Mother of God, because this flesh of ours,
had I only been born with Adam's sin, our ancestors sin, and had I been free from any
personal sin the way the Mother of God is, then Christ could have been incarnate in any one of us.
You see, when I look at an icon---and I always have an icon with me;
it's true, not as big or as beautiful as this one---
but when I have Christ's icon before before my eyes, when I when I see His
face, when I see His flesh and His eyes and His lips and His nose and His forehead,
this flesh of Christ and the blood of Christ are not just a revelation about God Himself,
the incarnation of Christ which is affirmed again and again, and His icons do not
reveal to me and to us a dogmatic truth about God alone, they also reveal a dogmatic truth about who
we are, they also show us not only the measure of God's love but the measure of our own humanity.
When I look at an icon, what I see, what I learn, what I absorb is not only knowledge about God
and His incarnation and the love that motivates the incarnation and everything that follow the
incarnation but I also am being taught I'm also being shown a revelation concerning myself my own
flesh my own blood which can sustain the reality of Christ incarnation because this flesh and blood
are in no way different from Christ's flesh and blood what I do with my flesh and my blood whether
or not I use them for my own salvation or for acts of sin that is an entirely different conversation
but the fullness of the potential of my flesh and my blood are the fullness
of the potential of Christ's flesh and blood and this is the other coin of iconography
they remind me of who I am they remind me of what I through my body through my flesh and my blood
am able to contain and able to achieve this is different from the manner in which Christ
was incarnate in the most holy Mother of God of course it is different but nevertheless her flesh
was my flesh she was a daughter of adam and eve just like I am a son of adam and eve
and my body can still sustain to this day Christ himself in me
because every time I receive holy communion I receive in myself I receive bodily
in in my flesh and in my blood Christ himself Christ's flesh Christ's blood
but it is a different way of sustaining his presence it is a different way of containing
Christ himself because for me like for all of us this comes from the outside
we receive the flesh of Christ and the blood of Christ from the outside within ourselves
whereas in the most holy Mother of God Christ took his body from her body his flesh was slowly formed
his blood was slowly formed inside the body of the Mother of God the same way in which any baby any
fetus grows to the fullness of that body inside their mother
inside the body of the Mother of God Christ himself
embroidered himself a most beautiful flesh and blood
because the Mother of God apart from the sin of Adam with which everyone is being born
she had no personal sin and because of that her flesh and blood which are like my
flesh and blood like your flesh and blood were pure enough were clean and seamless to the point
that the unthinkably pure uncreated God could sow himself embroider himself make for himself a body
when I look at an icon I'm reminded not only of the unspeakable beauty of God himself
when I look at an icon I'm being taught not only dogmatic truths about God I'm not being given
revelations about God but I'm getting I'm being given revelations about my own being
I'm being taught my own potential I'm being reminded who I was created to be
because we all of us humanity itself at large we have this extraordinary thing in common
with the incarnate God our bodies our flesh and our blood
and that flesh and blood the truths concerning that flesh and blood will teach us everything we
need to know about Christ's incarnation about iconography about the most holy Theotokos
the Mother of God about Christ's body and blood which is given to us to this day
in holy communion so that like the Mother of God but in a different manner not from within
ourselves but from the outside we can carry within ourselves Christ himself God himself
like the Mother of God but in a different manner we become these flesh and blood chalices carrying
within ourselves this body of mind becomes a chalice for Christ's body and his blood
and then I go out into the world and then I walk the streets and I speak to people and I hug
people and I bless people and I pray for people not only as the sinner that I am and I am a sinner
but also I walk the streets of this world as a chalice made of flesh and blood containing within
myself carrying within myself God himself whom I have eaten and I have within myself and then when
the world interacts with me and I interact with the world even without the world being aware of it
the world interacts with God whom I carry in this chalice made of my flesh and my blood
icons my brothers and my sisters icons teach us so much more not only about
Christ's incarnation but about the depth of our own potential about our own miracle
about the mystery that we are to ourselves because we remain mysteries to ourselves until the day
when we are going to face Christ person to person face to face and then looking at him the way we
look now at an icon we are going to know everything no longer in part no longer
in a shadow we are going to know the fullness of the truth concerning not only God
but God's image ourselves as well these icons have so much to teach us about not only him
but about us as well may Christ bless us my brothers and my sisters may he pour within
ourselves the fullness of his revelation the fullness of his knowledge not only concerning
himself but concerning ourselves so that we learn to value ourselves so that we learn to value
our bodies our flesh and our blood so that we learn to value the flesh and blood of our brothers
and our sisters the flesh and blood of the world around us of of these trees and of that ocean
so that we no longer abuse them and destroy them so we no longer abuse ourselves and
destroy ourselves and our brothers and our sisters but that we interact with each other the way we
should as bearers of Christ's image bearers of his body and his blood through Holy Communion.
I love you so much I could do a silly dance right now just to show you how full my heart is.
Pray for me, brothers and sisters and pray for the monastery, and please, please
support us if you can and if your heart wants to. Support us through your prayers,
support us financially, because we've gone through one full year of no real income,
but we are still here by the grace of God, and by His love we shall continue to be here.
All our love and our prayer may they fly to you over that ocean all the way to North America to
Australia to Romania and Russia and Greece and to Asia and to Africa and everywhere in the world,
because we are all one and we all share this extraordinary thing, this thing called our flesh
and our blood that can contain God Himself. Be blessed, dear ones. Amen, amen, amen.
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