From Glory to Holy (An Inner Life Journey Through the Renewed Temple of Prophet Ezekiel and Spiritual Doctrines of St. John of the Cross)

Ezekiel began his journey with the manifestation of the glory of Yahweh in a remote place of exile but ends with the vision of God in a "very holy" place in the temple, causing to his people an integral self-awareness. St. John of the Cross narrates the journey of the soul through his book, The Dark Night, the meeting of God in a similar departure from an exilic life, as that is found in Ezekiel 12:3-7.

Here, in the present work the readers are introduced to an inward journey to the sanctuary of soul by ascending through a ladder that is wisdom and divine knowledge. This book explains the journey to a new centre where one encounters God with a proper balancing, in terms with the known and unknown realities, visible and invisible experiences of life.

Sinimol Mathew has obtained her M.A in Christianity from the University of Mysore and Master of Theology from the Pontifical Institute of Theology and Philosophy, Alwaye. At present, she is in the process of completing her doctoral research.

In our life journey most often our focus is on what is visible, communicated or experienced by the exterior senses. Our craving and quest in life is centred on what is perishable and momentary. We mislay our time and energy, days and years for profits that are worthless and perishing. Human lives and relations end up on things and ideas that have neither temporal nor eternal values. The reason behind is the lack of true knowledge and understanding of oneself. He fails to ask the questions who he is, what the meaning of his life and existence, what one's relationship with the universe and other human beings and so on. When one does not think of these questions, one may not be able to possess an experience of the supernatural or God. Here the words of prophet Hosea "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge" becomes true.

Privation of the knowledge of God is the cause of indifference' in every aspect of human life and relations. There is a fast growing trend towards modern advanced facilities for every immediate requirement and also an overdependence on material and virtual aspects which makes human beings to forget of his birth as beginning to eternity. This tendency keeps persons veiled from the real track of self- knowledge and taking refuge in God. It is the convictions in life which enable persons to begin their journey towards the truth in life. It is this same conviction that makes one to tread the journey towards God and slowly comes to hold faith in Him.' There is an unending quest in man towards the Creator, with an open door of reason that changes one's mind. This gradual process of growth in the knowledge of God can help to proceed in the knowledge of self and at the end, the journey may reach to its summit of holiness in a stage where "nothing" is his requirement, as God has even emptied Himself in Christ.

It is at this point that the temple vision of Ezekiel becomes important for a new understanding. Ezekiel began his journey with the manifestation of the glory of Yahweh in a remote place of exile but ends with the vision of God in a "very holy" place in the temple, causing to his people an integral self-awareness which leads to a deep sense of shame where their whole life is illumined and revealed critically. Though, this vision never worked out as a blueprint for an actual temple,' numerous are the ones who could find a holy temple within themselves with a glorious indwelling of God in them. This aspect is very evident in Ezekiel 12:3-4 when God says "Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile's baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight; you shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile; and you shall go forth yourself at evening in their sight, as men do who must go into exile." This was the change that God demanded from Israel when He asked the prophet symbolically to pack an exile's bundle.

**Contents and Sample Pages**