July 11, 2025 2:31AM
In addition to the full moon, a different kind of “highlight” brightens retirement by shortening sleep and thus expanding “free time.” Nights become unpredictable and often consist of several, maybe three, two-hour sleep-segments that get interrupted by bathroom breaks, legs cramping, head congestion (which thereby justifies a 3-4AM coffee break), then (not surprisingly) wide-awake hours spent reading… Anyway, since there’s no longer the eight-hour+/- workday, why live by that old eight-hour sleep rule? After all, the shorter night-sleep justifies a delicious “short” nap in the afternoon or possibly even late morning.
Besides, doesn’t the Good Book say: “the spirit goeth where it listeth,” suggesting that the body/mind/heart followeth. [Before anyone objects, be advised that the corrected quotation is coming up soon.]
Another justification: Paradoxical teachings appear to make more sense after midnight and before dawn light. Having been given this after-age-seventy dispensation, perhaps it’s allotted in order to attend to such mysteries.
One of those pre-dawn readings (probably from William Johnston’s Mystical Theology: The Science of Love) explained the origin of “mystical” as coming from mystery. (Duh.) And the abundant genre of mystery deserves top rating and needs extra time. This is not to detract from increasing dedication properly devoted to mysticism.pre-dawn today 5:49A
One unsolved puzzle that has particularly been stirred up by recent readings concerns the text referenced above, that which “bloweth where it listeth.” The specific text is John 3:8, but the extended passage also needs consideration. If we enter the text at verse five, Jesus answers Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
The Mystery, a vital one that builds with increasing significance as life in this world moves ahead toward the finish line, wonders about the what, when, etc. of the full Realm of God. The text (John 3:6-12) continues with Jesus speaking:
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
For those of us “blessed” as heirs of the King James version (especially the “Lord’s prayer,” “Thy kingdom come…” Matt 6:10; “the kingdom of God is within you,” Luke 17:21; as well as “seek ye first the kingdom of God” Matt 6:33), the when? (now or later) along with the what/where/how? of this realm offers a recurrent mystery, and perhaps offers a key gateway into the Inarticulate, into more vital access to the space of Unknowing.
Of special relevance to this, Johnston gives extensive attention to The Cloud of Unknowing and to Saint John of the Cross. He also focuses on Jesus’ parables and elaborates Mark 4:11. “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables…” Johnston continues, “What are these mysteries? What is the secret that the disciples alone can understand? The mystery is the kingdom of God.” (Mystical Theology p. 24).
Regarding questions of this realm, I’m not sure who is to blame and/or give credit to for pushing me into the Gospel of Thomas, but thanks. That text opens with amazing invitations from/to the living Jesus. For example, from the first sayings:
“Seek and do not stop seeking until you find. When you find, you will be troubled. When you are troubled, you will marvel and rule over all. . .
the kingdom is inside you and it is outside you. When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you dwell in poverty and you are poverty.”
(Barnstone, Willis; Meyer, Marvin. The Gnostic Bible: Revised and Expanded Edition (pp. 44-45). (Function). Kindle Edition.)
And yet… this blessing seems to provide yet more mystery.
In case anyone wants suggestions for wandering around in this wonder, texts I’ve consulted and found useful in this past year (often cited in previous entries) include Barbara Brown Taylor, Austen Farrer, Stanley Hauerwas, Rowan Williams, David Jasper, Robert Detweiler, C.H. Dodd, Thomas Altizer, Lissa McCullough, Nathan A. Scott, Jr., Mark C. Taylor, Norman Perrin, Brandon Bernard Scott, Karl Barth, Richard Valantasis, Soren Kierkegaard, and Bernard Lonegan. (This list doesn’t include the “escape” reading in mysteries and other fiction which might have played its own part.) Amazon/Goodreads also reminds me that I read Elaine Pagels’ Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas about a year ago, and so her writing might be blamed/credited. That’s enough for now. Of special significance, lifting off these texts particularly evident in the most recent readings from Lonergan’s Method in Theology and Johnston’s Mystical Theology is the gift of God’s love.
“… the First Epistle of St. John tells us that the one who loves knows God and the one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Sacred Scripture does not say that the one who studies theology knows God, but the one who loves.
The love of God, then, is poured into our hearts; we are united with God; we are one with God; and through this love comes the highest wisdom. . .
God is known as unknown (quasi ignotus cognoscitur).
God is known as mystery. (Mystical Theology p. 39)
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