Up to this which I have said, it
is in no way possible for man ever to think through by himself or to accomplish
in deed, if the love of God is not first poured out richly into his soul, and
if for the sake of this love Christ does not dwell in him. Who said: Without
Me you can do nothing (John 15:5). But no one can receive such grace if he
does not first deny himself, as the Savior commanded, that is, if he does not become
a servant to the Lord with complete zeal and does not love Him from his whole
soul. And he who has not received such grace, let him not deceive himself, but
let him know that he has not been found worthy yet and will not be found worthy
ever—to be united with God, with spiritual feeling, consciousness, and
contemplation. For those who have received God’s grace and have become perfect
men, and have acquired perfect spiritual stature, in the measure we have described—all
are united with God and see Him as much as they themselves are seen by Him. God
abides in them consciously, again, and they consciously abide with God
inseparably.
When finally they come to such a
state and become truly perfect, then their heavenly Father also gives into
their hands His possessions. By hands understand here certain possessions are
immortal, incorruptible, unchangeable, immutable, eternal, ineffable beauty of
glory, which the Son had with God HIs Father before the existence of the world,
as the Word and Son of the Father Himself speaks of this: And now, O Father,
glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before
the world was (John 17:5). And again: And the glory which You gave Me I
have given them, that they may be one just as We are one . . . that they may be
one just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You (John 17:22, 21). From God
our Father pours forth light, unapproachable to all sinners, but approachable
to the righteous, which shines in them and becomes for them ineffable joy,
peace that surpasses all understanding, sweetness, delight and gladness in
insatiable satisfaction, now and in endless ages. I will say briefly (marveling
myself at all this and not having strength to say anything greater)—the faithful
and true God even from the present life gives to His faithful, as a pledge, the
firstfruits of all those blessings, whose beauty eyes has not seen, nor ear
heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has
prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). (Symeon the New
Theologian, Discourse 84, in The Complete Discourses of Saint Symeon the New
Theologian [trans. Dean Marais; Based Books, 2025], 304-5)