| III. Choir | 17 January |
|---|---|
| Angel of mysticism | Antony of Egypt |
God, in His mercy, gives us an angel every day in a human figure that is somehow comprehensible. He allows the angel’s form to be seen in a human garment, so that His heavenly purpose is achieved: that man sees in the angel his help and support, his holy protector and guide, his model. Thus, the figure of the angel is clothed in a garment that is comprehensible to us, while the angel stands before God in his real essence. For us—especially in the case of the higher choirs—this can neither be properly represented nor readily comprehended. Can we imagine beings with eyes inside and outside, with wings inside and outside? Can we imagine mountains with feet of ore and crowns of gold?
That is why God gives us
Saint Jessim,
who bears mysticism, from the Choir of Thrones, as an angel before our eyes – admittedly with a virtue and greatness that is frightening. But isn’t mysticism in God’s eyes a realisation of God arising from dark faith? And all knowledge of God is the house that we build, the only true and lasting house in which we live for all eternity. The greatness of this angel should remind us to build our house of God as large and as strong as we can. Saint Jessim stands before us veiled, for God does not reveal himself to dark faith. In the angel, however, a very strong, almost unbearable light breaks through his eyes, his mouth and his hands from within. Even if mysticism, that is, the mystery of God, is veiled on the outside, God carries it in radiant light within.
Saint Jessim also has a strange and powerful instrument in his hands, a broad, short organ, with three mighty pipes. These three pipes are like sturdy pillars: they symbolise the three Thrones of Creation: Saint Shemajim, Saint Malachim, and Saint Ophajim. They also symbolise the three streams: of life, power and love that flow through these three thrones.
Saint Jessim takes the stream of life from the first pillar: namely dark faith, the sources of power from holy places and times, and passes it all on to the Silent Princes. He takes the stream of power from the second pillar: dark hope, the sources of power from the saints, and passes it all on to the Sealed Princes. He takes the flow of love from the third pillar: the ultimate love, the sources of power from the Holy Church, and passes it all on to the High Princes.
Prayer: Lord, take from us all false mysticism, which, after all, springs only from our own desire for recognition, and give us dark faith, dark hope, and dark love. Amen.