“Eckhart remains ‘a man for all seasons’ not because he rejected the deepest sources of spiritual wisdom in the Christian tradition, but because he embodied them.”
Woods, Richard. Meister Eckhart: Master of Mystics. New York: Continuum, 2011, p. 186
openness
“And it’s been my experience that mystical or contemplative Christians tend toward an openness to the wisdom of other religions; however, this openness remains–at least for Christians–rooted in the central wisdom teachings of Jesus, the Bible, and the Christian mystics. Contemplative Christians explore the wisdom of other faiths not to dilute or weaken the wisdom teachings of Jesus, but to strengthen and deepen our appreciation of those teachings.”
McColman, Carl. The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism: an Essential Guide to Contemplative Spirituality. Minneapolis: Broadleaf Books, 2023, p. 22.
purpose of contemplative spirituality
“The purpose of contemplative and mystical spirituality is to foster greater intimacy with and devotion to God, which in itself is a universal goal of all religious and spiritual traditions that are God-centered (Buddhism does not require belief in God, so in a sense it’s a philosophy). Mystical, contemplative spirituality invites us deep into the wisdom of a path without insisting that it is the only path. This is true for contemplative Christians as well as for contemplatives of other traditions.”
McColman, Carl. The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism: an Essential Guide to Contemplative Spirituality. Minneapolis: Broadleaf Books, 2023, pp. 297-298.
mystical wisdom builds up
Note: The “wisdom which cometh down from above” (see James, chapter 3) is edifying personally, communally, and universally. That is, it builds us up as individual believers; it builds up the Church; and it builds up the cosmos.
I also resonate to the phrase “an open meadow where wisdom comes to dwell.” Open meadow reminds me of the green pastures in Psalm 23. Wisdom makes me think of so many parts of Scripture, but how about now focusing on Jesus (remember the “O Wisdom” antiphon from Advent?). And to dwell recalls John 1:14 where the Word dwells among us. Putting that all together in the context of the quote for today: Jesus comes to dwell with us and give us nourishing rest in the fruits of our practice of the spiritual disciplines.
Quote:
“Mystical wisdom’s external coordinates are time and experience, while its internal coordinates are method and comprehension. But together–time, experience, theological method and comprehension–constitute an open meadow where wisdom comes to dwell. Wisdom is a gift of the Spirit. Only mystical wisdom, given by the Spirit of God, recognizes and sees the work of the same Spirit–the upbuilding of the kingdom of God. The presence of the Spirit is a ‘silent word’ within us and among us. We hear the sound it makes, remaining in amazement at the Spirit’s creative freedom.”
Source: Barban, Alessandro. “Lectio Divina and Monastic Theology in Camaldolese Life” in Belisle, Peter-Damian, editor. The Privilege of Love: Camaldolese Benedictine Spirituality. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2002, pg. 51.
Pathology: the Study of a Path 