Divine Eros: Insatiable Love For Christ - St. Porphyrios

Our father among the saints, Porphyrios, is a most beloved elder of our day. The Lord poured out incredible love to the world through him. His heart was on fire with love of Christ and by God's grace we have been left with his life and witness as inspiration for us unworthy ones of these last days. This excerpt from "Wounded by Love" exhibits his insatiable love for Christ, his wounded yet healed heart.
This reading is from "Wounded by Love: The Life and the Witness of Saint Porphyrios", pp. 107-109 & 96-99
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St. Porphyrios writes:
Whoever wants to become a Christian must first become a poet. That's what it is! You must suffer. You must love and suffer-suffer for the one you love. Love makes effort for the loved one. She runs all through the night; she stays awake; she stains her feet with blood in order to meet her beloved. She makes sacrifices and disregards all impediments, threats and difficulties for the sake of the loved one. Love towards Christ is something even higher, infinitely higher.
When you love Christ you exert yourself, but in blessed exertions. You suffer, but with joy. You make prostrations and pray because these are things you crave for with divine craving. They are at once pain and longing, passion and yearning and exaltation and joy and love. Prostrations and vigils and fasting are exertions which are made for the Beloved, exertions in order to experience Christ. But this exertion is not made under duress; you don't protest and rebel. Whatever you do under compulsion is very harmful both to you and to the work you are doing. The pressure and coercion provoke opposition. Exertion for Christ, true desire for Christ, is love, sacrifice and dissolution of self. This is also how David felt: My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord. My soul longs with craving and melts away out of love for God (Psalm 83:2).
Christ is joy, the true light, happiness. Christ is our hope. Our relation to Christ is love, eros, passion, enthusiasm, longing for the divine. Christ is everything. He is our love. He is the object of our desire. This passionate longing for Christ is a love that cannot be taken away. This is where joy flows from.
Qur task is to attempt to find a way to enter into the light of Christ.
Christ is life, the source of life, the source of joy, the source of the true light, everything. Whoever loves Christ and other people truly lives life. Life without Christ is death; it is hell, not life. That is what hell is-the absence of love. Life is Christ. Love is the life of Christ. Either you will be in life or in death. It's up to you to decide.
The Christian feels for everyone, he wants all to be saved, all to taste the Kingdom of God. That is Christianity: through love for our brother to arrive at love for God.
That is what preoccupies me. I try to find ways to love Christ. This love is never sated. However much you love Christ, you always think that you don't love Him and you long all the more to love him. And without being aware of it, you go higher and higher!
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

[@AntoniusOhii]

Please pray for me, my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have converted to Christianity, and recently been baptised this January, but my relationship with Christ has only suffered over time. I have struggled with every passion which can possibly be named, but worse than any of my sins, is the unrepentance that I have developed. I have always begged our Lord for forgiveness whenever I sinned, but as we all know, that is not repentance if it is not followed by a turning from sin; therefore, from my unrepentance, a dreadful hardness of heart has arisen. I have not been able to abandon my sins, and the conviction which I feel has begun to greatly decline. I fear that God has finally had enough of my faithlessness and my sinning, and has taken His Spirit from me, and cut me off from His salvation (God forbid!). So I ask that if you find it in your hearts to pray for me, that you would please do so, asking that I may be saved from my faithlessness, my hardheartedness, and my passions, and that I would finally begin to walk in the teachings of Christ and obedience to His commandments. My name is Anthony.

[@sathsojourns]

Venerable St. Porphyrios, intercede for us to our Lord Jesus Christ

[@markpatterson2517]

This is reminiscent of the Song of Songs. When people love something, they are willing to endure exertion and discomfort to get it because the satisfaction from it outweighs it. How much more so when they fall in love with each other. They are even willing to accommodate each other's faults. When they fall out of love, they no longer are satisfied and accommodating. Because they love themselves more, they are willing to leave each other. Desire without faith is temporary affection. Love with faith is fidelity. While desire anticipates pleasure, hope anticipates something better than pleasure. It anticipates the good that follows struggle that precedes the good. Hope without faith is wishful thinking. Hope with faith is confident assurance. Faith is the assurance for hope. When we replace our motivation of willful self-gratification with willing faith, the soul aquires something better than getting what it wants when it wants how it wants. The soul acquires God's grace to finish to its good end despite the exertions or struggles to get there. God's grace is sufficient was the answer to Paul's prayer. God's grace is His love. Our love without faith is passing affection. Love with faith is lasting fidelity. Hope without faith is wishful thinking. Hope with faith is confident assurance. These three are the spiritual virtues. The other virtues are edified by faith. Courage without faith is false bravado. Courage with faith is fortitude. Self-denial without faith regrets loss of pleasure or immediate gratification. Temperance with faith is a virtue waiting for something better, delayed satisfaction. Prudence without faith advises to cut your losses and give up early in the race. Prudence with faith advises to finish the race where an imperishable crown awaits surpassing your losses. While running the race, wisdom keeps you on the straight virtuous path avoiding the vices on either extreme, but the eyes of faith see the narrow gate ahead which is too far to see without them. Beyond the golden gate is more of God's charity which in the form of His grace has been moving you along already. Faith, hope, and charity make a three corded rope not easily broken, binding the soul to her first love. Faith in Christ who is faithful, hope inspired by the Spirit, and love of the Father make the trinity of the spiritual virtues.

[@Di-Pi]

Amen

[@SoldierofJesusChrist153]

Great video, Orthodox Wisdom!

[@markpatterson2517]

At the wedding in Cana eros love was celebrated, yet they ran out of wine. Prompted by motherly love (familial love), Jesus expressed empathetic love (agape love) for the groom and his bride by graciously giving them more wine than they needed. Jesus also brought this charity love to his multitude of neighbors he healed along his way and fed in the wilderness. He told his disciples that he no longer regarded them as servants, but as his friends (brotherly love). Greater love (agape love) has no man than this than to lay down his life for his friends. He called one of them, John, his beloved (agape love), to whom he entrusted his mother. Agape love fulfills the other loves, eros love, familial love, and friendship love. There is an eros love between Father and Spirit, a familial love between Father and Son, and a friendship love between Son and Spirit. However, as the Spirit-inspired, beloved disciple of Christ wrote, "God is love" (agape).

[@Charity-vm4bt]

If I may comment, a Roman Catholic interpretation regards many deeper levels of spiritual and symbolic meanings. When Mary says "Do whatever He tells you" she also calls her Son into launching His public ministry. For He says His time has not yet come, but then He goes along with her instruction/ request. The wine represents Transubstantiation and Eucharist, the heavenly banquet, the heavenly wedding feast. When our lives have run out, Jesus takes over. Death is the final enemy put under His feet. At the instigation of His mother. The Gospel of John has a mystical or heavenly dimension. In this context, the wine is prophetic precursor representing the Eucharist. The wedding feast represents the heavenly banquet, the union of the soul and spirit with Christ. This is a heavenly or non-carnal interpretation. It is the only miracle that represents transformation in substance. All other miracles start with natural means that is accelerated or multiplied. This miracle of transformation from one substance to another is a closer symbol or metaphor for Transubstantiation. It elevates us to another, higher realm of knowledge and existence. Miracle is not the right word because there is no other word to explain or describe this. Note that Mary herself cannot perform this act of Transubstantiation. It is Our Lord Himself only who brings it to pass, indicating the deeper meaning of incarnate human life. This is symbolizing so much more than a banal or carnal drunken "keg party." It is the coming of the kingdom in our midst.

[@markpatterson2517]

​@@Charity-vm4bt Acknowledgement of and the search for deeper mystical or spiritual understanding in the Scriptures isn't just a Roman Catholic perspective or approach. All of the Gospels, not just John's, have deeper meaning past the surface read or level. I think Jesus' public ministry began at his baptism. He received the Holy Spirit and the Father's declaration of Sonship. He was driven into the wilderness by the Spirit. When he returned, he called his first disciples who were with him at the wedding feast at Cana. We can live without wine and be happy. It's not an essential beverage or food. I think it represents God's abundant grace which he is willing to give he more than souls need. Wine gladens the heart. God's grace gladdens the soul at its very heart. There was no mention of bread at the wedding feast, though I assume it was there since bread was a dietary staple. Man lived by bread but not bread alone as Jesus declared to his adversary. Likewise, there was no mention of wine when Jesus fed the multitude in the wilderness. However, both bread and wine were mentioned at Jesus' last Passover meal with his disciples. Or was it his last? The mystery of the eucharist itself is alluding to something deeper and spiritual. Created souls cannot sustain themselves for eternity. They must feed from the substance of the Logos. He provides his 'body' and 'blood' in order for the soul to live happy or well for eternity. Perhaps the Logos provides the 'body' and the Spirit provides the 'blood'. The Logos is the 'bread' of heaven who came down from heaven as manna from heaven, incarnating as Christ who gave wine at Cana, fed the multitude in the wilderness, and instituted the eucharist before sacrificing himself, becoming a bruised pierced body giving up his blood before giving up his Spirit back to his Father. Perhaps the Spirit is God's grace or wine which gladdens the hearts of souls for eternity while the Logos sustains them. Nothing comes from nothing. The Logos or Son was the Lamb slain at the foundation of the world or creation. Creation came from Someone not something. Without his expenditure, the universe including our souls could not have come into being. As much as it would cost a perfect and just man to be tortured, to hang and die on a cross, so it cost the equivalent for the Son or Logos of God to create the universe and sustain our souls for eternity. The sacrifice on the cross of Christ, the Logos or Son of God incarnate, was a continuation of the sacrifice of God at the beginning. In Genesis there is mention of seven days of creation which came into being by God's Word. Likewise, seven members of the incarnate Word's body were wounded: his back, his head, his two hands, his two feet, and finally his side which he sustained while he rested, as the last creation day corresponded to God resting. This is the deeper spiritual meaning behind the eucharist. God the Father gives through his Son to his hurt. We receive. If faithful and full of gratitude for his giving grace, we enter into his eternal paradise where he continues to graciously give. Eucharist means gratitude or thanksgiving. Without faith and gratitude for his supreme immeasurable sacrifice for us, we cannot be with him in communion in heaven. We will be in the outer darkness or wilderness of willful unbelief and selfish ingratitude.

[@Charity-vm4bt]

​@markpatterson2517 Thanks for your thoughtful reply. There is much to think about. Yes, Our Lord's public ministry began long before the Wedding at Cana. Could you recommend a book that explains more about the seven wounds corresponding to seven days of creation and the sacrifice of our Creator in creating our world? I have not heard that before, it is profound. I don't know much about Orthodoxy. It seems to offer some deep, contemplative insight and reflections. The interpretation I heard about the wine being created out of water was perhaps intended as a metaphor, not a theological truth. It was from a priest at a retreat or perhaps a theology class. It may have been his personal reflection, or devotional insight, rather than a theological truth. I think there is much more to the story than the usual surface interpretation. I've been to a few Catholic Orthodox Masses but not others, such as "Greek Orthodox." I do not know the theological differences. I thought it was mostly geo-political.

[@markpatterson2517]

@@Charity-vm4bt These are my own insights. I'm not Orthodox. I practice contemplation. It gives insight into the soul and into Scripture. Scripture gives insight into the soul, and insight into the soul gives insight into Scripture. They reinforce each other. To he who has, more will be given. If you tell others about this, they think you're a heretic or a looney or guilty of spiritual pride or prelest.

[@Charity-vm4bt]

​@markpatterson2517 Yes, it can only be received in a contemplative state of spiritual of awareness. It is beyond ordinary English language.

[@veronicazacon5929]

Amen!

[@TheMLMGold]

This deepens love in Christ in a new light of Divine Eros

[@thattimestampguy]

0:00 _Divine Eros, Insatiable Love For Christ_ excerpts from: Wounded by Love, The Life and Witness of Saint Porphyrios 0:12 Suffer for the one you love. 0:45 Turn towards Christ. Turn towards Love. Mother and Child are Lighted Up With Love. 1:29 Do we run to The Beloved in Love or in burdensome duty? 1:55 Christ does not wish uncooth souls. She needs to repent 70 x 7. 2:15 True Repentance will bring Sanctification. *I remember all the empty days when I did not live close to God* 2:27 _"I remember all the empty days when I didn't live close to God... I was 12 years old when I left to go to the Holy Mountain. Don't these count as years?"_ 2:43 "I lived for 12 years far from God. So many years!" *Ignatius Brianchaninov,* _On The Prayer of Jesus_ 2:48 Pain, Toil, Trouble bear Fruit for The Soul. 3:06 Laborious exercise of the body in everything. 3:18 Exert Blessed Exertions: Crave for Prayer, Vigils, Fasting. + In Order to Experience Christ 3:43 Do not exert under pressure or coercion is harmful to you and the work you are doing. 3:58 Love, Sacrifice, Disillusion of Self. 4:18 Living with Care and Effort. 4:38 Enter Into Joy, Into Compunction. *A Love That Cannot Be Taken Away* 5:00 Christ is The True Joy. 5:26 Christ Himself 5:42 Spiritual Wine. Divine Intoxication is a Gift of God. *Christ's Joy* 6:06 Have Christ's Joy. *Joyful Joy That Surpasses Every Joy. I Pray That Your Joy May Be Full* 6:34 Paradise begins Here and Now. 7:25 Christ wants to fill us with His Wellspring of Joy. *Prepare Ourselves* 7:37 "We cannot come to Him unless He comes to know us." 7:52 + Prepare ourselves appropriately so we can be filled with Joy. 8:10 Divine Grace enters into our thirsty heart and fills it, we can live. 8:45 Christ, in your whole being. Joy. 8:57 Christ is Life. Life without Christ is Hell, The Absence of Love. 9:16 Life is Love. Love is The Life of Christ. The Union With Christ is Paradise on Earth. 9:22 Either you will be in Life or in Death, you decide. *Desire For All To Be Saved* 9:36 Love 9:57 Divine Grace comes through our brother. 10:07 Love For Everyone. Love From Brother. Love For The Church, and thereby Love Of Ourselves. *Whatever Your Love Dictates is Sufficient For Me* 10:18 Let Us Love Christ. Let Him Give Us Whatever He Wishes. 10:52 "Whatever Your Love Dictates." 10:59 As for myself, poor soul, I have a long way to go. 11:23 "I know I am not worthy, send me wherever Your love wishes." 11:35 I want to feel Goodness, not Fear. *Where is Your Wedding Garment?* 12:04 11:54 *"Whatever you want my lord... place me in hell, as long as I am with you."* *Live With Hope, do not despair* 12:36 Do Not Despair! It is bad to despair! 13:07 - I am weak - I fall short, + I do not despair + Pray for me. 13:24 "I cannot love Christ fully without His Grace." 13:39 "I am very weak oh Christ. Only You with Your Grace will be able to allow me to say along with Saint Paul The Apostle "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who Lives Within Me." 13:56 This Love is never sated, never fully satisfied. *Love For The Loved One* 14:15 Love makes effort for the loved one, she runs all through the night, she stays awake, she stains her feet with blood in order to meet her beloved. She makes sacrifices and disregards all impediments, threats, and difficulties, for the sake of the Loved One. 14:33 Loved Towards Christ is something Even Higher, *Infinitely Higher.*

[@FreyCloud]

Thank you brother God bless you

[@boylain8481]

wonderful and inspirational!

[@Charity-vm4bt]

Thank you for this beautiful reading of this rare book provided on this unique Channel and Introduction to "Othodox Wisdom" literature!

[@petergunn9149]

☦️☦️☦️