Pneumaophthalmology

Uh, what?

Ugly but it’s mine.

Pneuma is the Greek word that the New Testament uses for spirit. When capitalized in English translations, it is referring to the Holy Spirit.

Ophthalmology is the fixin’ of our eyes when they ain’t right. I’m due for cataract surgery, but stuff I gotta do ain’t leaving time for what I’m due to get done. But that’s not important…

I gave this piece a funny title — Pneumaophthalmology — because a recent Evening Prayer lesson told of the Holy Spirit’s gift of vision to the Deacon Stephen, about to be stoned to death by an angry crowd for preaching about Jesus Christ.

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55-56)

The Holy Spirit gave Stephen supernatural vision to see into heaven, look upon the unfiltered glory of God, and see the Christ waiting to receive him into eternal life.

After sitting with that insight, I offered the appointed evening canticle, which recalls a gentler moment. The old holy man Simeon, decades into his waiting to see God’s promised Savior, held the baby Jesus in his arms and had his vision opened with recognition,

For my eyes have seen your salvation…

Simeon’s “backstory” shows us that what happened to him was another example of Pneumaophthalmology,

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation…” (Luke 2:25-30)

Biblical languages did not have exclamation points, so the seemingly redundant mentions of the Holy Spirit serve as an exclamation point — Holy Spirit, y’all! — or a shout — HOLY SPIRIT! Pneuma! Pneuma! Pneuma!

And by the work of the Holy Spirit in Simeon’s life, God’s promise was fulfilled. Simeon would not die (playfully stated as see death) until he had laid his eyes on the Savior, the baby in his arms. Simeon lifted his voice to praise God, and we use his words to praise God that the Savior is with us every evening.

In the martyrdom of Stephen and the bliss of Simeon, the Spirit helps these servants of God see their Savior, giving comfort in affliction and bringing forth praise in peace. Pneumaophthalmology is my silly way of expressing the Spirit’s work of helping us see Jesus present with us.

This need not be a literal, sensory vision of the Christ. In Matthew 25, the Lord reveals that we can learn to see him with in other ways,

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (25:37-40)

As if Stephen, Simeon and Christ the King were not enough to ponder, out of the blue (well, on the internet) a friend sent me some quotes from the 4th century Bishop and Theologian Gregory of Nyssa (don’t roll your eyes, we’re Christians. It’s what we do). The material included,

If the soul will fix its eyes heavenward on its head, who is Christ, as Paul urges, it will have to be regarded as blest through its keenness of vision, because it has its eyes where there is no obscurity of evil. The great apostle Paul, and others if there are any equal to him, had his eyes on the head; so also do all those who live and move and are in Christ. (Sermon 5 on Ecclesiastes)

You don’t need a literal, sensory vision of Jesus to have had successful Pneumaophthalmology. Live and move and be in Christ, says Gregory of Nyssa. Seek the Spirit’s guidance in prayer and study, to live your life seeking after Jesus, who has claimed you as his own. Jesus promises that as your life grows in unity with his, the ultimate vision awaits you…

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8)