God as a Taverner

A friend recently passed on to me a wonderful letter from around 1150 A.D:  The "Scala Claustralium"  (Ladder of Monks): A Letter by Guigo II to his Friend Gervase.

The letter is about prayer as the Ladder to Heaven seen by Jacob in Genesis.  It is quite long, and requires more than one reading to fully reward the reader.  But it is worth the effort in its insights about prayer.  In fact, I would say that to sit with this letter about ten minutes a day could easily lead the reader into deeper prayer.  Fortunately, in this century, we have only to go to the internet to download such a treasure:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guigo_II

The following is one delightful excerpt:

So does God Almighty to his lovers in contemplation like a taverner, who has good wine to sell, to good drinkers who will drink well of his wine and spend well. He knows them well when he sees them in the street. Quietly he goes to them and whispers in their ear and says to them that he has a claret, and of good taste in the mouth.  He entices them into his house and gives them a taste. Soon when they have tasted of it and think the drink good and greatly to their pleasure, then

They drink all night, they drink all day;

And the more they drink, the more they may.

Such liking they have of that drink

That of none other wine they think,

But only for to drink their fill

And to have of this drink all their will.

And so they spend what they have, and then they sell or pawn their coat, their hood and all they may, for to drink with liking while they think it good....

Therefore, when God sends any ghostly liking to your soul, think that God speaks to you, and whispers in your ear, and says: "Have now this little, and taste how sweet I am. But if you will fully feel what you have tasted, run after me and follow the savour of my ointments.  Lift up your heart to me where I am sitting on the right hand of my Father, and there you shall see me, not as in a mirror, but you shall see me face to face.  And then you shall have fully at your will that joy that you have tasted forever without end.  And that joy or liking none shall snatch from you.

I thank God that He is the "taverner" who takes the initiative in "tempting" us to taste of His sweet wine and who gradually draws us deeper and deeper into the "drunkenness" of the Holy Spirit.  But as Brother Guigo is so much more articulate and wise about these things, I recommend that you read and contemplate his wonderful letter.