And do you that has received all from another's hands, complain and blame the Giver, if He takes anything from you?
Why, who are you, and to what end do you come here? Was it not He that made the Light manifest unto you, that gave you fellow workers, and senses, and the power to reason?
And how did He bring you into the world? Was it not as one born to die; as one bound to live out his earthly life in some small tabernacle of flesh; to behold His administration, and for a little while share with Him in the mighty march of this great Festival Procession?
Now therefore that you have beheld, while it was permitted you, the Solemn Feast and Assembly, will you not cheerfully depart, when He summons you forth, with adoration and thanksgiving for what you have seen and heard?
"No, but I would prefer to have stayed longer at the Festival."
Ah, so would the mystics prefer to have the rites prolonged; so perchance would the crowd at the Great Games prefer to behold more wrestlers still.
But the Solemn Assembly is over! Come forth, depart with thanksgiving and modesty—give a place to others that must come into being even as yourself.
IMAGE: Frans Floris, Banquet of the Gods (1550)
No comments:
Post a Comment