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He Who Is
In the history of the people of Israel just four
letters stand out as the most sacred, YHWHThe so called "Tetragrammaton" is the Divine Name communicated to Moses from the heart of the burning bush on Mount Horeb, a bush which burned but which was not consumed, (Exodus 3:2,14). The word is pronounced in Hebrew, "Yahweh." In English it means "I am who I am." This Divine Name, (too sacred to be uttered), is paradoxically, full of meaning, and in the context of this theophany, pregnant with explosive historical action. It is full of meaning for it celebrates the uncontainable majesty of (if you like ...) "God." Hitherto Man has named the animals as having dominion over them. Here at the last is a reality which may not be named. Man has no dominion over God. God cannot be limited by human descriptions or ideas. The burning bush incinerates every form of idolatry but transfigures every vehicle which confesses the absolute transcendence of God. There is a necessary mystery at the heart of God which is dark to our senses and understanding but a palpable burning glory to the eyes of faith. This mystery is to be worshipped and confessed, not solved or analysed. The theophany of the burning bush challenges contemporary Man with his limited perceptions, self-obsessions and grandiose schemes to fall down before the Incomparable One. Yahweh is ideologically unknowable but unutterably real and closer than breathing to those who love Him. We must take off our shoes. We are standing on holy ground. This theophany, however, is no mere mystical experience resting outside the sphere of historical existence. The divine engagement with Moses is personal and dynamic, a precursor to Yahweh's saving action, in this instance, singularly the most important event in early salvation history, the Exodus, or liberation of the People of God from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. The Divine Name is no mere ineffable label, it is itself the burning energy of God, majestic in creation, salvation and judgement. Such was, (and is), the knowledge of God to the Jews. But, there was, (and is), a problem in this theophany for the Jews. It is limited. Only Moses together with the Prophets and High Priests who succeeded him were granted this encounter with the Living God. The people as a whole were not yet ready for the fullness of divine intimacy. So often mindless of divine mercy, again and again they reverted to their former gods, gods of clay, stone and wood; gods that could not save. So the Law brought down from Sinai was a tutor to an untutored people, a people who could only with difficulty behold the fading glory masked in Moses' face when he descended. This glory they themselves were not to see in their own generation. When in the course of time this people had been tutored by the Law and sanctified by the appointed sacrifices, there was one who was prepared for the greater and fuller revelation, the Theotokos, who herself became a burning bush for the loving fire of Christ-God in the flesh. She presented to the world the Divine Name in the flesh that all might behold and see, might touch and receive the Living Christ. And so the Word made flesh is now received in his humanity as "He Who Is" ... "I am who I am," God from all eternity. The humanity of Christ makes all the difference to the Name and the Name, thereby, makes all the difference to our humanity. The great "I am" "He Who is" is now enfleshed. Jesus said:- {all the references are from (John's Gospel:J) or finally the [Book of Revelation:R]} "I who speak
to you AM He" (J4:26, 8:28) Beholding Christ in the flesh, we see what we could be by grace as He is by nature. We fall down and worship, not before the invisible Presence in the bush, but before Christ-God in the womb. He it is then who, washed by Jordan - washes all men clean; And so in the same manner as in the burning bush but now in the flesh, the Incarnation of of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ heralds the dawn of a new Exodus, a paschal liberation from death; a new Covenant, life in the Spirit. Our humanity is to be utterly transfigured by Christ's coming. This is the final act in salvation history, the redemption of all flesh. We, are now to become that burning bush the the Mother of God first became, that vessel of that burning Spirit of Divine Love which is our Alpha and Omega. Let us listen to prophetc words from one of the holy fathers and apply it to our own lives with all seriousness ... Abba Joseph came to Abba Lot and said to him: "Father, according to my strength I keep a moderate rule of prayer and fasting, quiet and meditation, and as far as I can I control my imagination; what more must I do?" The old man rose and held his hands towards the sky so that his fingers became like flames of fire and he said: "If you will, you shall become all flame!" Fr Gregory |
