Week Twenty-Eight: Mysticism. July 9 – The Personal Encounter with God
The mystical life consists in understanding, then contemplation which finally leads to astonishment. Richard of St. Victor
Gregg’s Reflection
Mysticism is the direct, experiential knowing of God — not just belief about God, but an interior awareness or union with God. Paul explains it this way, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” James Finley says, “I know what I know, and I know that I know it.” It is lived truth. Jump in with us as we explore mysticism.
At Cursillo in 1982, we gathered for worship at dawn by a lake. As the sun rose and touched the waters, I was suddenly overwhelmed—it was as if the veil between heaven and earth had lifted. In that instant, I realized, “Oh, that’s what you mean by the Spirit.”
It was the same Spirit that had touched me years before, out west, long before I became a Christian. Back then, I didn’t have the words or framework to name it, but the feeling was unmistakable—an unearned, unexplainable presence that wrapped around me like a warm mantle. That morning at the lake, I knew without a doubt that God had been there all along, quietly pursuing me.
Mystical encounters like these don’t remove us from life—they reframe it. They help us see that God’s presence is not an occasional guest, but a constant companion, waiting for us to notice. And when we do, something in us shifts forever.
Scripture
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
Galatians 2:20
Ancient Quotes
The mystical life consists in understanding, then contemplation which finally leads to astonishment.
Richard of St. Victor, Benjamin Minor, Ch. 13
Modern Quotes
Mysticism involves not just intense forms of contact with God, but also a transformed life.
Bernard McGinn, Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism, p. 520
Journaling Prompts
- Have you experienced a moment when God’s presence felt unexpectedly near?
- How did that experience change the way you see your life?
- Where might God be inviting you to notice His presence today?
👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 28 Reflection: Mysticism