Understanding

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"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth..." Acts 17: 26a

St. Gregory Palamas writes, "I have heard it stated by certain people that monks also should pursue secular wisdom... If a worthy conception of God could be attained through intellection, how could these people have taken demons for gods..."

The people, the nations of the world, he says are arriving at wrong conceptions by believing that they can think and study their way to a worthy and correct conception of God. And he states that there were those in his time in the church who insisted that monks should as well, but not as those with secular vocations,  that is for the purpose of livelihood. Instead, for spiritual benefit.

St. Gregory, indeed in agreement in general with the church fathers, reject this notion. The mind is important and intellectual understanding is a gift from God. Also, every religion does have truth in it, but that does not make it true.

Beloved, we should also take heed from this as well. We cannot come to a right understanding of God by simply thinking our way there. Though that is a part of it, we must live and move in him, we must become as dear children (Ephesians 5:1). Perhaps, it is most difficult in times of trial and suffering, where intellect often fails. It is interesting that in the Greek version of the Old Testament, and as is interpreted traditionally by the Jews, it says, "All things whatsoever the Lord has spoken we will do and hearken(listen, hear, understand) therein (Exodus 24:7)." Let us also remember such words, that sometimes our understanding comes in our obedience.