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Eriugena (b. c. 800), Irish theologian and NeoPlatonist, writes in his Homily on the Prologue to the Gospel of St. John, that Divine Scripture is an “intelligible world” and “constituted of … four parts, its four elements” (Christopher Bamford, The Voice of the Eagle). Eriugena describes the elements as follows.
1. History. “Whose earth, as it were, in the midst, at the lowest point, like a center, is history.”
2. Ethics. “Surrounding it, like the waters, is the abyss of moral understanding, that the Greeks … call ethike.”
3. Natural Knowledge. “And … around these two … lower parts … floats what I call natural knowledge or knowledge of nature, that the Greeks call physike [physics].”
4. Sublime Contemplation. “Rolled around, outside and beyond all, is the celestial and burning fire of the empyrean heaven, that sublime contemplation that the Greeks named ‘theology,’ beyond which no intelligence passes.”
Therefore, it seems there is an increasing hierarchy in Scripture, according to Eriugena. This increasing depth of meaning appears to include the following: history, morality, natural theology (or, theology of natural order), and contemplative theology. Or, what happened, what to do, the meaning of the natural order and processes, and the mystical vision of God, of Unity.
Contemplative reading of Scripture enters the Holy of Holies of theology. The contemplative is open to the mystical depths of Scripture in its witness to the Godhead. This is what Eriugena calls penetration of “the secret spiritual heaven of heavens.” Indeed, early Christian theology was largely mystical, and the early ecumenical creeds are essentially mystical works. The doctrine of the Trinity is possibly the most profound nondual teaching.
In Scripture there is a depth of meaning that only the person open to mystical theology can discern. The self must be attuned, by nurture, to be sensitive to these depths.
Persons see differently. Some see with the eye of the mind, interpreting the surface data of the Scripture. Some see with the eye of the heart, reading the Scripture with a devotional passion for the Triune God. Some see with the eye of the spirit, interpreting the wisdom of the Word that pertains to the cosmic truth and wisdom, the direct experience of the ineffable Godhead.
Involved in this encounter with the depths of Scripture is kenosis. One cannot enter the mystical depths without loss of the control of mind and heart. The mind and heart are forerunners of the Spirit, which has a higher form of intelligence. That which opens the door to Spirit must recede into the background. In this the mind and heart are not always inactive, rather, the mind and heart are supportive of the Spirit. Thought, according to Albert Schweitzer, is “the entrance into the super-earthly and eternal” (The Mysticism of Paul the Apostle). Thought and feeling, cognition and affection, these two wedded flow—affective intelligence, or intelligent affectivity— from mystical depths—spiritual intelligence—, when before they led toward it.
Such is John the Baptist, who says, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (St. John 3.30, ESV). The increase of the inner Word corresponds to the surrender of all other intelligence to the Wisdom, the Cosmic Christ, Who is the Pervasive Intelligence of all things, both transcending and infusing all creatures.
Reflections
What encouraged you in the writing today? Explain.
Did you disagree with something in the writing today? If so, explain.
Do you regularly experience contemplative experience when reading Scripture? Explain.
Spiritual Exercise
Look up Lectio Divina on the web by searching www.centeringprayer.com , find “The Classical Monastic Practice of Lectio Divina,” by Thomas Keating, linked at the bottom of the front page, after the welcome page. Read the article. Try Lectio Divina.
Consider, if you are not already, sponsoring a child through Compassion International. You can find out more about Compassion International by going to www.compassion.net to read about sponsoring, in the name of Jesus, children living in poverty. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
Brian’s book An Ache For Union can be purchased at major book dealers.
To contact Brian, write briankwilcox@comcast.net .
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