Salvation is often understood simply in terms of “deliverance from sin and its consequences and admission to heaven”, in terms of escaping damnation, that is, and reaching a safe place where we can no longer be tormented by the enemy.  According to the Fathers of the Church, however, salvation is not so prosaic a matter, for it involves the “theosis” of the entire human person in Christ; it involves, that is, becoming like unto Christ to the point of identity with Him; it involves acquiring the mind of Christ (c.f. I Cor. 2:16), and indeed it signifies the sharing in His very Life.    In Christ Jesus we encounter both true and perfect God and true and perfect man.  In other words, we see in Him not only the great God and Savior (Tit. 2:13), but also what or who we have been called to become - sons and heirs of God the Father.    The example of Christ is realizable, attainable, by us human persons, and theosis to the point of divine perfection, far from being optional, is in fact an obligation…  everything that He accomplished in His earthly life must likewise be possible for the rest of the “sons of men.”    “We shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”  So, if we wish to be eternally with Christ, we must become like Him; and this process of becoming Christlike, this purification, invariably involves repentance - a fundamental change in our whole way of life, in our very “mode of being.”    Whenever we find ourselves threatened by pain, suffering or death, learn to take the opportunity to enter into a prayer-dialogue with God, for thereby we transform anything that may befall us into a spiritual state….  Gethsemane gives us the authentic pattern of the Christian way of life.    The fundamental criterion by which a person may measure his or her likeness to Christ is love for one’s enemies (cf. Matt 5:43-45).    Herein lies the mystery of the divine “mode of being”, God’s very way of life:  humility.    Love for enemies is not a moral injunction, it is the fundamental criterion for the Christian way of life.  This is Salvation.  Yea, this is theosis.    Our reactions in any and every circumstance should be Christlike.  Each time we find ourselves in difficult circumstances; each time that we are tempted to think or act according to the way of the world, and every time that we resist this impulse for the love

of Christ, and ask for His help and mercy, we are indeed taking up our cross, we are indeed striving to change our way of life in accordance with Christ’s commandments and example, we are indeed beginning to repent.    Glory be to the Lord that He gave us repentance.  Through repentance we shall all, every one of us, be saved.  Only those who refuse to repent will not find salvation, and therein I see their despair, and shed abundant tears of pity for them.  They have not known through the Holy Spirit how great is God’s mercy.  But if every soul knew the Lord, knew how deeply He loves us, no one would despair, or murmur against his lot.” (St. Silouan)    The cultured man, enamored of his own critical intelligence, which he is accustomed to consider his principal dignity and the one solid foundation of his “personal” life, has to renounce this wealth of his before becoming a novice, or it will be difficult for him to enter the Kingdom.”  (Fr. Sophrony)    At the ancient close of the Liturgy, the priest says “Let us depart in peace”…  it is clear from the New Testament that the word  “peace” can refer only to the person of Christ, Who is Himself the only true peace.  And so when we bare this in mind we begin to understand that the priest is in fact exhorting the faithful to “depart in Christ.”  That is to say, that is is our responsibility as Christians, once we have received Christ at the Divine Liturgy, through the Holy Eucharist, not to forget the things of God at the Church doors as we leave, but to take Christ with us out into the world, thereby witnessing by our very way of life that we are His disciples.  And how do we ensure that we take Christ with us?  By taking the cup of salvation and continually calling upon His holy Name:  “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon me.”