THE MESSIANIC PILGRIMAGE

If we say contemplate the matter it means thinking about it slowly, and considering its outcome. For philosophers and mystics, it is the mind being absorbed in thinking about a subject to such an extent that it makes it forget about other things.

Contemplation has many forms, and we find some of the most important of them in ancient Eastern religions, philosophies, and spiritualities, in India and China in particular, but almost all of them agree that contemplation is emptying the mind of every thought so that we can see things as they really are.

Likewise, the Bible greatly exalts the importance of contemplation or meditation, but it differs from ancient Eastern religions and spirituality in that it does not call us to repeat “mantras,” that is, specific phrases or formulas to empty the mind of every thought. Rather, it calls us to think about topics of sublime and profound meaning, such as the Divine Being, the attributes of the Creator, and the issue of creation and the universes, following what is stated in the Book of Psalms: “I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.” (Psalm 143:5) And also: “I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.” (Psalm 63:6)

We can divide the study into sections, the most important of which are:

• Mental contemplation, which is deepening our consideration of the things around us and trying to contemplate their essence. It is contemplation that gives our mind depth, distances us from superficiality in thinking and action, and raises us to the position of the wise.
• Spiritual contemplation, which goes beyond the level of mental contemplation to the level of interaction between the mind and the spirit, and then elevating the latter to the level of interaction with the Spirit of God residing within us, where the Holy Spirit raises us to high levels, introduces us to horizons that have never occurred to us before, and inspires us with lofty spiritual thoughts, and from the gateway to this form of contemplation We can enter into a place of thanksgiving, praise, and praise: “I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.” (Psalm 9:1).
• Practical contemplation, which is the practical application of God’s commandments in His Book, and from this daily application comes the spiritual experience that the believer accumulates through his contemplation of his worship, his faith practices, and his journey with God. “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8). Practical contemplation, in other words, is living the Book. God is alive and daily.

Practical steps to practice meditation

We must always keep in mind that our Lord Jesus Christ is the role model and example in the matter of contemplation. He used to spend a long time in solitude, praying, and contemplating, secluded in the wilderness, away from the noise of the world: “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” (Luke 5:16).

Hence, we emphasize the issue of solitude as one of the important practical steps in practicing contemplation, in addition to other practical steps that Jesus Christ taught us, such as contemplating nature and the universe. “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.” (Luke 12:27), and also, “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, and have neither room nor barn, but God protects them. How much more are you better than birds “Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!” (Luke 12:24). Moreover, the life of Jesus Christ remains the greatest field for contemplation and meditation: his birth, his fasting, his signs, his teachings, his sacrifice of his body so that we may live, his death, and his resurrection from the dead. This is why Augustine famously said, “There is nothing more beneficial than contemplating every day what Jesus Christ endured for us.”
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