We Awaken in Christ's Body

by Symeon the New Theologian(949 - 1032)English version byStephen MitchellOriginal LanguageGreek

We awaken in Christ's bodyas Christ awakens our bodies,and my poor hand is Christ, He entersmy foot, and is infinitely me.I move my hand, and wonderfullymy hand becomes Christ, becomes all of Him(for God is indivisiblywhole, seamless in His Godhood).I move my foot, and at onceHe appears like a flash of lightning.Do my words seem blasphemous? -- Thenopen your heart to Himand let yourself receive the onewho is opening to you so deeply.For if we genuinely love Him,we wake up inside Christ's bodywhere all our body, all over,every most hidden part of it,is realized in joy as Him,and He makes us, utterly, real,and everything that is hurt, everythingthat seemed to us dark, harsh, shameful,maimed, ugly, irreparablydamaged, is in Him transformedand recognized as whole, as lovely,and radiant in His lighthe awakens as the Belovedin every last part of our body.(from http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/S/SymeontheNew/WeawakeninCh.htm)