The Quiet, Hidden Chamber
If we want to hear something we must prepare ourselves to perceive by being still. If we ourselves are talking, or if our own thoughts, wishes and concerns are speaking within us, the noise they make will render us unable to hear. Hence directions for meditating always begin by requiring us to create inner stillness and emptiness as a means of making room for what is to be received. Mention is made of "turning off," of "concentrating" the scattered consciousness, of entering upon the "mysterious path inward" and so forth. It would, however, be reasonable to doubt that such efforts, in their mere negativity, belong to that positive readiness to listen that distinguishes Christian meditation from other kinds in which this readiness is superfluous because no Word comes from God.
The silence required of the Christian is not fundamentally and primarily of human making. Rather, believers must realize that they already possess within themselves and at the same time in God the quiet, hidden "chamber" into which they are to enter (Matt. 6:6) and in which they are with the Father...
Our earthly cares and preoccupations are always on the lighter side of the scale, while the other, which sinks and is just as much ours--our being in God--possesses an "unimaginable weight" in comparison (Cor. 4:17). We need not first pave for ourselves an approach to God on our own; already and always "our life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). Accordingly, preparation for meditation does not first necessitate lengthy psychological adjustments but only a brief realization in faith of where our true center and emphasis permanently are. We seem to be far from God, but he is near us. We need not work our way up to him. Instead, our situation is like that described in the parable: "From a distance the father already saw him coming and was moved with pity. Running up to him, he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him" (Luke 15:20). And the son's rehearsed speech--"Father, I am not worthy to be called your son. Regard me as one of your day laborers"--is rendered useless by this gesture of the father, who calls into the house: "Quick, fetch the best garment and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet."
Hans Urs Von Balthasar
Swiss Roman Catholic Theologian
The silence required of the Christian is not fundamentally and primarily of human making. Rather, believers must realize that they already possess within themselves and at the same time in God the quiet, hidden "chamber" into which they are to enter (Matt. 6:6) and in which they are with the Father...
Our earthly cares and preoccupations are always on the lighter side of the scale, while the other, which sinks and is just as much ours--our being in God--possesses an "unimaginable weight" in comparison (Cor. 4:17). We need not first pave for ourselves an approach to God on our own; already and always "our life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). Accordingly, preparation for meditation does not first necessitate lengthy psychological adjustments but only a brief realization in faith of where our true center and emphasis permanently are. We seem to be far from God, but he is near us. We need not work our way up to him. Instead, our situation is like that described in the parable: "From a distance the father already saw him coming and was moved with pity. Running up to him, he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him" (Luke 15:20). And the son's rehearsed speech--"Father, I am not worthy to be called your son. Regard me as one of your day laborers"--is rendered useless by this gesture of the father, who calls into the house: "Quick, fetch the best garment and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet."
Hans Urs Von Balthasar
Swiss Roman Catholic Theologian
posted by Unknown at 11:20 AM
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