33. The Grace of God is Reflected Not Only in the Soul but Also in the Body of the Person Who Has Received It

A certain Christian preacher, conversing with his listeners about the grace of God, speaks of it in the following way:

“The grace of God, the invisible power of God, is visibly manifested and reflected in the outward appearance of a gracious person: it shines in his gaze, is heard in his speech, and is seen in his face; one may say that the gracious person breathes grace itself, and grace flows even from the garments of the gracious… Just as the fragrance of sweet incense in one place spreads its perfume throughout the whole house, just as a single burning candle illumines an entire room with its light, so from one virtuous, grace-filled person the fragrance of grace fills the whole house, and its light shines for all” (Sermons of Archpriest Putyatin, 1877 ed., Sermon 80). From these words of the preacher it is clearly apparent that he is convinced that the grace of God is reflected not only in the soul but also in the body of the person who has received it. What do you think, brothers—can we agree with this or not? Is the preacher’s conviction correct? Can his words be trusted? Saint Seraphim of Sarov once said to his disciple John: “Once I desired to see those heavenly dwellings in which the saints are received, and I prayed to the Lord that He would show them to me, and the Lord did not deprive this poor man of His mercy. He fulfilled my desire and petition: I was indeed caught up into those dwellings, though I do not know—whether in the body, or apart from the body. God knows; it is beyond comprehension. But the joy and heavenly sweetness that I tasted there—it is impossible to tell you.” And with these words the Venerable one fell silent. At that moment he leaned slightly forward, his head with closed eyes bowed down, and with the open palm of his right hand he moved gently and evenly over his heart. His face gradually changed and emitted a wondrous light, and at last shone so brightly that it was impossible to look upon him; on his lips and in his whole expression there was such joy and heavenly rapture that one could truly have called him at that moment an earthly angel and a heavenly man. Throughout the time of his mysterious silence he seemed to be gazing upon something with tender compunction and listening to something with wonder“ (From the account of Schema-Abbot Seraphim, pp. 65-66).”

Something similar is also recounted about the Venerable one by yet another woman, who says: “Once I was granted the privilege of hearing from Father Seraphim a delightful account of the heavenly kingdom. I cannot now convey with any precision either the words of the elder of God or the impression they made upon me at that time; I remember only that his face was extraordinary: a gracious light penetrated through his skin, and, though faintly, one could liken it only to thin paper when on a clear day you look through it toward the sun; in his eyes were expressed tranquility and a kind of special spiritual rapture. One must suppose that in his contemplative state of spirit he was beyond visible nature—in the heavenly dwellings—and was conveying to me what blessedness the righteous enjoy there” (ibid., pp. 196-197).

In light of the examples cited, it seems we can fully agree with the preacher that the grace of God can be reflected even in a person’s body, we can call his conviction in this matter correct, and we can trust his words. Indeed, this must unconditionally be so, as the Apostle says: Do you not know that your bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God (1 Cor. 6:19)? And if so, then of course where the Spirit of God is, there is His grace also. And to convince you completely of the truth of the preacher’s words, we add that this grace was reflected not only on the Venerable Seraphim alone, but on others as well. Thus of Moses it is said that the skin of his face shone, because God had spoken with him (Exod. 34:29).

And the face of Venerable Sisoes the Great shone like the sun before his death, when the Lord Himself came to him (Prologue, July 6). It is clear, then—and we say it again—that the preacher is right. What shall we add to this? We add that if the grace of God is here and now visibly reflected on the bodies of the righteous, it will be reflected upon them all the more at the general resurrection, as it is written: the Lord will transform the body of our humble state so that it will be conformed to the body of His glory (Phil. 3:21). And again: Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matt. 13:43). Knowing all this, let us strive to keep our bodies in purity, to spiritualize them through self-restraint, and finally to employ them only for good deeds, using all our members as instruments solely for the increase of virtue. Amen.