2,000 years of simony: Hildegard king trying to be able to Simon, whose Name still stands for the trade with spiritual goods. Who pays, gets the blessing of God – said Simon, is that really so?
Money, to the Holy spirit? Simon wanted to be a advantage buy, or just to belong?
Recently, I read in a comment on the election campaign in France, as preachy currently, the assessment of politicians fails, such as when former presidents, their popularity as the result of excessive appearance fees gold plating, the “simony”, meaning “to trade with spiritual goods” are accused of.1
“Poor Simon!”, I thought it would be. You don’t have to purchase almost give away 2,000 years, through your name for a bribe, and the Offices in the Church, and even today, in secularised times, you get rid of this reputation. And all because of an understandable error, that is you run at that time.
I see you in those troubled times, as in Jerusalem the temple was destroyed and the Pious no place to Stay in the city. I’ll see you in the adjacent Samaria, and there in the service of your God. You were an Enthusiast who was able to thrill the people in a magical way, and inspire. You had in your pursuit of wisdom, in studies and meditations realized that you had a divine mission: As a “Large” you should use the “power of God, which reveal to be called the Great”, (acts 8, 9-10), what you managed, obviously. You could convince’ve had with your Mission success.
Open to the divine mysteries
And then came one who was better than you. And you, always looking for more insight into the divine secrets and to a new spiritual experience, you don’t have to hook up to a competitive fight with him, but this other connected. He has fascinated you with what he had to say, and with the potency of his “signs and wonders” (acts 8, 13). For you, was initiated into the divine mysteries, could this man – the acts of the apostles know him as Philip – a man of God, you learn that you wanted to live. So you’ve converted you, through him, a stronger God you become a Christian and got baptised. And as a result, you have been a part of the community of Philip, with all your Knowledge and your skills in the course of your life had grown. I’ll see you in an intensive conversation with Philip; educated and know how you were, he found in you a knowledgeable companion.
And then the people of Jerusalem, Peter and John came and checked the mission success in Samaria. And they brought a new quality in the municipalities: they were so full of spirit and enthusiastic, the other “with prayer and the laying on of hands” (acts 8, 15.17). A new spirit created space, revived the congregation.
I can understand that you, Simon, wanted to play a role that you gifted one of them, the Spirit wanted to be. That was too much or too fast, or you were too foreign or too new with your Christ. They hesitated, contributed to the concerns, thought you were. And since you’ve tried it “with money”, so to speak, a cost offered in the new College, in the hope to get in this way “share in its spiritual power” (acts 8, 19). That was your error. You wanted to make sure with your expertise and with your spirituality. For this you will have excommunicated you, and cursed: The Holy spirit is not for sale and you will also!
The Holy spirit is not for sale
I see you, like you, the floor falls out from under your feet: You, a man of God, cursed of God to men! Worse it could not come for you. – And you? – You will not be abusive against you, but you’re asking for your prayer that you may not make such a curse…
I see you, Simon, the pious, God-seekers. You may not have realized yet, that we can force God-nothing, that we can only give a gift to. But who, among us Today, the terms really? How much disappointment and Failure must we experience before we really work out?
I wish for you is that you’re not so safe in the “great power of God”, that you there the libel is true, you should very soon fall victim to, as it made you the “father of all heresies” and the epitome of Church corruption.
1 (see FAZ of 06.04.2017, Jürg Altwegg, “it is the policy, then the Moral”.
Prof. Dr. Hildegard König studied in Tübingen Catholic theology and German language and literature. A focus of her research is in the area of “Old Church history and patristic”. After a study stay in Rome, she taught at the universities of Luzern, Frankfurt, and Tübingen and at the RWTH Aachen University. After a guest professorship at the LMU Munich she has been working since 2011 as Professor of Church history at the Technical University of Dresden. In addition, she works as a freelance lecturer.