Vigils Reading

A PHYSICIAN OF SOULS

From the Philokalia of Origen

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Nearly all readers of the Book of Exodus, both believers and unbelievers,

are disturbed at the frequently occurring words, The Lord hardened the heart

of Pharaoh, and, I will harden the heart of Pharaoh. For among many other

causes of men’s disbelief we must include this: that things unworthy of God are

spoken about God; and it is unworthy of God to bring about the hardening of

any man’s heart so that he may disobey the will of him who hardens.

For readers who are convinced that there is no other God but the

Creator think that God arbitrarily has mercy on whom he will have mercy,

and hardens whom he will, when there is no reason why this should be so.

Others, better advised than these, say they look upon Scripture as

containing many secrets, and do not on that account turn aside from the

sound faith. One of the secrets they hold to be the true account of this

portion of Scripture. Others, alleging that there is a God other than the

Creator, will have him to be just but not good, very foolishly and impiously

going the length of severing righteousness from goodness.

For ourselves, we are convinced, as we study the sacred Scriptures and

contemplate creation with its evidence of orderly design, that things visible and

invisible, things temporal and things eternal, come from God the Creator, who

is the same with the Father of our Lord and Saviour, the good and just and wise

God. In handling the Scriptures we strive to keep that steadily in view, begging

God our Saviour to show us all things pertaining to a good and just and wise

God, for we suppose that the things we speak of cannot be regarded, at least

by intelligent beings, as the result of chance, but that we must ask ourselves

whether they are consistent with his goodness and justice and wisdom…

The Word of God is a physician of souls and uses the most diverse

methods of healing the sick. Some of these methods of healing give pain and

torment to those who are under treatment, some act speedily and some slowly.

The whole of inspired Scripture abounds in proofs of each of these statements.

The God who designed souls knows all their different constitutions, and,

because he is an expert in the art of healing, it is for him alone to say what is

best to be done for each, and when.