Gregory of Nyssa lived from 331-396. He is one of the great "fathers" of the church and his writings have been enormously influential on the spirituality of the Eastern orthodox tradition. What a treasure it is to have this text of his and to hear his voice speaking to us from a distance of 1,700 years.The reading for this week begins on page 123 of Devotional Classics. What wisdom does it hold for you? One and all are welcome to simply comment or to respond to these discussion questions:
- Gregory of Nyssa compares the spiritual journey to a race. Using that metaphor, what kind of race has your spiritual journey been?
- In your race, how have you been exhorted, urged and encouraged by others?
- What Bible characters are examples for you? Why?
- What are your ideas on perfection?
- What does Gregory teach as the goal of a virtuous life? Can we attain it?
Next week: John Calvin on self-denial, Devotional Classics p. 136
This forum is open to anyone! Also visit us at www.theologicalhorizons.org
This forum is open to anyone! Also visit us at www.theologicalhorizons.org
1 comment:
Gregory reveals 3 stages of spiritual progress: initial darkness, then spiritual discovery, and then darkness of the mind in contemplation of the God who cannot be comprehended (apophatic theology.)
The apophatic tradition is making a comeback today with Centering Prayer and Christian Mediation. In these prayer traditions, one simply waits for God in silent meditation.
Thomas Merton and John Main (20th century) incorporated Eastern meditation with Christian history and intention as a way to wait for God in silence, in mystery and in the Cloud of Unknowing that Gregory refers to.
Gregory says that only through not-seeing that God can, paradoxically, be known. This notion was extremely influential in the development of both Western and Eastern spirituality. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite was a major figure in the history of apophatic theology and spirituality that Gregory influenced.
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