Spiritual People
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“Our fragmentation and disintegration into our private worlds is a contradiction of God’s intention for human well-being. Just as the Trinity is One God in Three Persons, so we are One humanity in a multiplicity of persons. The fullness of our existence is never found within ourselves, but within the mutual indwelling of each in all and all in each.that spiritual things can be understood only by spiritual people, not by the “natural” man, the unspiritual person. Spiritual things are understood by those who are spiritual because “we have the mind of Christ…Contact with spiritual people is most beneficial -even more so than spiritual study - because the joy of this spiritual relationship provides a great impetus to one who struggles spiritually.” (Father Stephen Freeman, Dr. Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou, Saint Paisios of Mount Athos)
“Enlightenment from God in itself is beyond all words, and even beyond evaluation by other men (1 Cor 2:15). Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit speaks through spiritual people words that truly reflect the unspeakable knowledge of faith…In the measure that we pay attention and take care to carry out what we hear, God will always enlighten and make us understand His will.” (Orthodox Study Bible, 1 Corinthians 2:12-15, St. Dorotheos of Gaza)
“…the spiritual person can become an example to those who wish to imitate him. Receiving experiential knowledge of the Divine Beauty, a person is transformed by that beauty to become an example of it and a witness to its saving power…This beauty…is Christ… The divine… is subject to movement; and as that which is intensely longed for and loved, it moves [or draws] towards itself everything that is receptive of this force and love… In other words, [the divine] moves others and itself moves, since it thirsts to be thirsted for, longs to be longed for, and loves to be loved…” (Fr. John Breck, St Maximus the Confessor)
“I am reminded once again that some of the greatest mountains we face are invisible to others. People are walking around right next to us and unbeknownst to us, carrying such heavy burdens that are invisible to the naked eye. But they are not necessarily invisible to the spiritual eye. It only takes a moment to say a prayer, even a silent prayer, for someone walking by us, sitting near us, who needs uplifting.” (Jackie Morfesis)
“The spiritual person is the one who is faithful to his calling, fulfilling every good resolution, and bearing fruit patiently with the gifts and talents given by God. The spiritual person is faithful in every little thing—every thought, every word, every deed—“according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him” (Rom 12.3), “according to the measure of Christ’s gift” which is “given to each” (Eph 4.7). Such faithfulness is the main teaching in Christ’s parable of the talents. The one who faithfully and without fear develops and grows with that which the Lord has provided is the one who hears the voice of the Master.” (Fr. Thomas Hopko)
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