Rising to God without machines
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The goal of reading is the application, in our lives, of what we read. Not to learn it by heart, but to take it to heart. Not to practice using our tongues, but to be able to receive the tongues of fire and to live the mysteries of God. If ones studies a great deal in order to acquire knowledge and to reach others, without living the things he teaches, he does no more than fill his head with hot air. At most, he will manage to ascend to the moon using machines. The goal of the Christian is to rise to God without machines.
– Elder Paisios the Athonite
Related posts:
- For the love of God
- On Questioning God
- God doesn’t desire sorrow
- On silence (again)
- God’s image and likeness
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By the way, Fr. Luke Hartung had a comment about this quote that is relevant. He was saying that a better translation of the last part is: “At most, he will manage to ascend to the moon using mechanics. The goal of the Christian is to rise to God without mechanics.”
I wonder if that’s ‘mechanics’ as in the people or ‘mechanics’ as in the branch of physics. Either way, maybe.
Was Fr. Luke in Isla Vista? We knew Bill and Candy Hartung, I think their names were, and were just wondering about them. Maybe Bill is Fr. Luke?
I remember Fr. Bill Hartung, but Fr. Luke isn’t the same person. He’s the pastor of a Serbian OC in Oregon — link HERE. But maybe he’s related? He’d have to answer that one for you.
Bill Hartung is now Father Basil Hartung, living in retirement in AZ.