Formless and vague and fleeting as it is, the mystical experience is the bedrock of religious faith. In it the soul, acting as a unity with all its faculties, rises above itself and becomes spirit; it asserts its claim to be a citizen of heaven.
— Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380-1471)
— Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380-1471)
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
— Ephesians 5:31-32
One day, as we leave this world, we will be going to more than just another place. We will be going to a wedding. Our wedding. The Church, that whole body of those who have ever fully trusted Christ, will be wed to Him in a ceremony planned from beyond deep eternity past. Our universe and everything in it was created by just a few words, in just six days. The mansions of heaven have been under construction for some 2,000 years. The wedding feast of the Lamb has been being prepared forever. Beloved, we are talking about a fathomlessly epic event!
In that moment – a moment that will simply never end – we will come to know Him as we were ever intended to know Him. We will become one with the Great Lover of our souls. Our love will be consummated and we will take our place in His Kingdom as the pure and stunningly beautiful capstone of His creation. The very spiritual body of G_d, existing in oneness, power and clarity across the manifold spans of infinite eternity. We will be more one with the One, than the purest and deepest moments of blessed oneness that a man and wife may ever know.
Surely this is a profound mystery. It is none other. However, being a mystery makes it no less true. We will indeed know and be Known by Christ forever in utterly perfect union.
No wonder the evil one wants to distract us with sexual desire. For it is the closest analog to the experience to come. Do not be deceived though, the strongest and purest feelings in this theater are only whispers of what is to come with Him.
Even earthly marriage, that gorgeous covenant relationship, is only a beautiful shadow of the intimacy available now and in the future consummation of our relationship with Him.
Do we understand it? Not a chance. Regardless, beloved, would that we might live in such a way that our wedding day will be a day of glorious abandonment to His ravishing Love!
I have learnt that the place where thou art found unveiled is girt round with the coincidence of contradictories, and this is the wall of paradise wherein thou dost abide, the door whereof is guarded by the proud spirit of Reason, and unless he is vanquished, the way will not be open. Thus ’tis beyond the coincidence of contradictories thou mayst be seen and nowhere this side thereof.
— Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464)
