Wisdom in Speaking

Wisdom in Speaking

What is this tremendous mystery which is being fulfilled in me? 

Neither the spoken word nor my poor written word

can praise and glorify the One

who transcends all praise, who transcends all speech.

If, in effect, that which is being fulfilled in me, the prodigal child, 

is unutterable, inexpressible, how would the One,

who is the giver and author of it,

how, tell me, would he need to receive praise or glory from us?…

I repeat, I do not know what I can say about it

and I would wish to be silent—if only I had been able to—

but the tremendous marvel causes my heart to beat faster

and opens my mouth, my tainted mouth,

and makes me speak and write in spite of myself.

You, who rose in a moment in my darkened heart,

You who descended even to me as to the last of all,

You who made me a disciple and son of an apostle….

You, the sun who before all ages shone in the depths of hell 

and who then enlightened my soul enveloped in darkness

and who have blessed me with the gift of endless light

—ah! how difficult this is for cowards and lazy people like me to believe!—

You, who lavished all blessings on my former misery,

give me a voice, provide me with words to tell to all Your amazing works

and what You still are doing in us, Your servants, today,

so that those who slumber in the darkness of negligence

and who say: “Impossible for sinners to save themselves

and to find mercy, like Peter and the other holy, blessed, and just apostles,”

may they know and learn that that was easy, is still easy, and will always be so 

because of kindness such as Yours.

Saint Symeon the New Theologian

Saint Symeon († 1022) was a spiritual master and a monk in Constantinople