Mystics have spiritual experiences. Some hear God speak. Others are lifted into the heavens where they meet angels or see celestial light. Interestingly, however, we don’t have many contemporary mystics. Most of them lived in earlier ages. But, if you had the choice, would you want a spiritual experience of this mystical kind?
I was asking myself that question recently when I came across this brief account of Saint Simeon’s experience of God’s divine light:
“… suddenly a divine light shone down from on high on him in great profusion and completely filled the place where he was standing. The young man could not understand what was happening. He did not know whether he was in a house or whether he was beneath a roof. All that he could see everywhere was light … He was entirely present to this immaterial light and it seemed to him that he had himself become light. Forgetting the whole world, he was overwhelmed with tears and with inexpressible joy and happiness. His understanding rose up to heaven and discovered another light there, even brighter than the one that was close to him.” (Congar, I Believe in the Holy Spirit, Vol.1, p. 94)
Personally, I cannot identify with Saint Simeon’s story because I’ve never had that kind of experience. In fact, I’m not even sure I would want one. But why not?
I am not sure, so I turn the question to you. I’m interested to know how you feel about it. Do you want a mystical, spiritual experience? If not, why? Of course, you may already be a mystic, in which case there are probably a few of us who would like to hear about it.
(Saint Simeon lived 949-1022.)
Related Posts:
- Is It Easier to Wait For Something If You Know It Is Coming?
- Why Do We Hope in Heaven in the First Place?
- What If There Is No Romance in Heaven?
(Photo: Reciprocity)
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I go between thinking that when you have a mystical experience, it is a psychological trick that you play on yourself, and then thinking that people who lived in the pre-scientific age were more open to spiritual things and therefore they could have these experiences. Maybe more people than we know have mystical experiences, they just don’t talk about it because they are afraid that others will think they are half-crazy. Rex