Von Balthasar on Prayer
The following selection is from Hans Urs von Balthasar's preface in his book Prayer. The book, so far, is excellent.
"Anyone entering the sphere of radiance of the divine word is held fast by it; he knows from experience that this word not only communicates knowledge about God, but--hidden within the garb of the letter--actually has divine qualities: in itself it is an overpowering manifestation of God's infinity and truth, his majesty and love. God's epiphany compels the hearer to kneel in humble submission. The latter had imagined that he was dealing with a word he could grasp and evaluate, like other great and profound utterances of mankind; yet once he enters its field of force, he himself is the one who is grasped and evaluated. He had wanted to approach Jesus in order to see him ("Come and see!"), and now, under the gaze of Jesus, he finds that it is he who has long been observed, seen through, judged and accepted in grace by Jesus. All he can do now, therefore, is to fall down and worship the Word: "Master, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!" This conquest, however, is only the starting point: "You shall see greater things than these...You will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (Jn 1:46-51)."
Yes...this is just from the preface.
"Anyone entering the sphere of radiance of the divine word is held fast by it; he knows from experience that this word not only communicates knowledge about God, but--hidden within the garb of the letter--actually has divine qualities: in itself it is an overpowering manifestation of God's infinity and truth, his majesty and love. God's epiphany compels the hearer to kneel in humble submission. The latter had imagined that he was dealing with a word he could grasp and evaluate, like other great and profound utterances of mankind; yet once he enters its field of force, he himself is the one who is grasped and evaluated. He had wanted to approach Jesus in order to see him ("Come and see!"), and now, under the gaze of Jesus, he finds that it is he who has long been observed, seen through, judged and accepted in grace by Jesus. All he can do now, therefore, is to fall down and worship the Word: "Master, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!" This conquest, however, is only the starting point: "You shall see greater things than these...You will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (Jn 1:46-51)."
Yes...this is just from the preface.
