Contemplation with St. John Chrysostom
Heather's post inspired me to dig up some quotes by St. John Chrysostom that really inspired me when I was reading his Ascent of Mt. Carmel/Dark Night of the Soul several years ago in college. I think St. John is quite an amazing writer and really makes one think. Below is an excerpt from the Ascent which I find somewhat mystefying and also very applicable to the achievement of our Lenten goals.
It is important to note the paradoxes outlined by St. John. Notice that to obtain any true desire, we must desire not to obtain its worldly equivalent, outlining the constant dialectic between the spiritual and the worldly and how we are called to moderate our desires and formulate our code of behavior accordingly. Enjoy!
In order to arrive at having pleasure in everything,
Desire to have pleasure in nothing.
In order to arrive at possessing everything,
Desire to possess nothing.
In order to arrive at being everything,
Desire to be nothing.
In order to arrive at knowing everything,
Desire to know nothing.
In order to arrive at that wherein thou hast pleasure,
Thou must go by a way wherein thou hast no pleasure.
In order to arrive at that which thou knowest not,
Thou must go by a way that thou knowest not.
In order to arrive at that which thou possessest not,
Thou must go by a way that thou possessest not.
In order to arrive at that which thou art not,
Thou must go through that which thou art not.
When thy mind dwells upon anything,
Thou art ceasing to cast thyself upon the All.
For, in order to pass from the all to the All,
Thou hast to deny thyself wholly in all.
And, when thou comest to possess it wholly,
Thou must possess it without desiring anything.
For, if thou wilt have anything in having all,
Thou hast not thy treasure purely in God.
Are not these words wholly contained in Our Lord's admonition to "Take up your cross, and follow Me"? I pray that this week we may all embrace the Cross as God has asked us to. Have a wonderful and fruitful Holy Week and a blessed Easter!
It is important to note the paradoxes outlined by St. John. Notice that to obtain any true desire, we must desire not to obtain its worldly equivalent, outlining the constant dialectic between the spiritual and the worldly and how we are called to moderate our desires and formulate our code of behavior accordingly. Enjoy!
In order to arrive at having pleasure in everything,
Desire to have pleasure in nothing.
In order to arrive at possessing everything,
Desire to possess nothing.
In order to arrive at being everything,
Desire to be nothing.
In order to arrive at knowing everything,
Desire to know nothing.
In order to arrive at that wherein thou hast pleasure,
Thou must go by a way wherein thou hast no pleasure.
In order to arrive at that which thou knowest not,
Thou must go by a way that thou knowest not.
In order to arrive at that which thou possessest not,
Thou must go by a way that thou possessest not.
In order to arrive at that which thou art not,
Thou must go through that which thou art not.
When thy mind dwells upon anything,
Thou art ceasing to cast thyself upon the All.
For, in order to pass from the all to the All,
Thou hast to deny thyself wholly in all.
And, when thou comest to possess it wholly,
Thou must possess it without desiring anything.
For, if thou wilt have anything in having all,
Thou hast not thy treasure purely in God.
Are not these words wholly contained in Our Lord's admonition to "Take up your cross, and follow Me"? I pray that this week we may all embrace the Cross as God has asked us to. Have a wonderful and fruitful Holy Week and a blessed Easter!
posted by candeo | 9:38 AM
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