Monday, July 14, 2008
hasten to seek
Entire human race, kings and princes, rich and poor, monks and laypeople: listen to me as I now tell the greatness of God's love for man! I have sinned against him as no other... And yet, as I know well, he called me and, at once, I answered ... He called me to repent and straight away I followed my Master. When he drew away from me, I chased after him...; so he left, he came, he hid himself, he appeared, while I did not turn back, did not lose hope, did not forsake the course...
When I could not see him, I sought for him. I wept copiously, questioned everyone, all those who had caught sight of him. Who did I question? Not the wise and learned of this world but the prophets, apostles and fathers – those wise ones who truly possess the wisdom that he, Christ himself, is: the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). Weeping and broken hearted I begged them to tell me where it was they had seen him that time... And, seeing my desire, seeing that I considered everything in the world, and the world itself, to be nothing in my sight..., he manifested himself wholly to the whole of me. He who is beyond the world and who carries the world and all that is in the world, holding them in one hand, both the visible and the invisible (Col. 1:16), he it was who came to meet me. From whence, and how, did he come? I know not... Words cannot express the inexpressible. Only those who contemplate them know these truths. That is why it is not with words but with deeds that we must hasten to seek, to see and to learn the richness of the divine mysteries, which the Master gives to those who look for it.
-- Saint Symeon the New Theologian (c.949-1022)
When I could not see him, I sought for him. I wept copiously, questioned everyone, all those who had caught sight of him. Who did I question? Not the wise and learned of this world but the prophets, apostles and fathers – those wise ones who truly possess the wisdom that he, Christ himself, is: the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). Weeping and broken hearted I begged them to tell me where it was they had seen him that time... And, seeing my desire, seeing that I considered everything in the world, and the world itself, to be nothing in my sight..., he manifested himself wholly to the whole of me. He who is beyond the world and who carries the world and all that is in the world, holding them in one hand, both the visible and the invisible (Col. 1:16), he it was who came to meet me. From whence, and how, did he come? I know not... Words cannot express the inexpressible. Only those who contemplate them know these truths. That is why it is not with words but with deeds that we must hasten to seek, to see and to learn the richness of the divine mysteries, which the Master gives to those who look for it.
-- Saint Symeon the New Theologian (c.949-1022)
