Yelchaninov: behind the closed door

Thursday, May 8, 2014
    Feast of Juliana of Norwich, Mystic, Teacher, c.1417
Meditation:
    When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
    —Isaiah 8:19 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The practice of theosophy, occultism, spiritualism is not only harmful in its effect on spiritual health, but has as its basis an illegitimate desire to peep through a closed door. We are humbly to admit the existence of a Mystery, and not try to slip round by the backstairs to listen. Moreover, we have been given a supreme law of life which leads us straight to God—love, a difficult, thorny path; we must follow it, bearing our cross, with no excursions into byways.
    ... Alexander Yelchaninov (1881-1934), Fragments of a Diary: 1881-1934, in A Treasury of Russian Spirituality, Georgii Petrovich Fedotov, ed., Nordland, 1975, p. 428 (see the book)
    See also Isa. 8:19; Matt. 13:35; 24:24; Luke 14:27; Acts 19:19; 1 Cor. 2:7-10; 2 Thess. 2:9-10; 1 Tim. 3:16
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, the mysteries and the hidden future I leave in Your hands. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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