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| Sunflowers from the Sidor farm in Mattituck, L.I., NY before Hurricane Irene of August , 2011 |
EXCERPT:
A child cannot prove, before jumping into her father’s arms, that he will catch her. She knows he will do so. Jesus praises this childlike faith that casts one’s entire confidence into the hands of Providence. The dynamic flight from oneself to Christ is today viewed with skepticism, if not with ridicule, but this faith, practiced always and everywhere, demands nothing less than heroism.
Deep Satisfaction and Transforming Union
Personal and liturgical prayer deepens faith. Prayer is the ideal place to be caught up in Christ, and with the Whole Christ, to the Trinity. The spiritual senses participate in this transforming union because prayer sensitizes our seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and especially touching the Word of Life. Christians participate in the circular movement that goes out from God to us and returns to God. In the process, the Christian is transformed into a beautiful creation. It gives indescribable joy. Von Balthasar cites the profound failure of empirical and historical-critical theologies “for their deeply anguished, joyless, and cheerless tone; torn between knowing and believing, they are no longer able to see anything, nor can they, therefore, be convincing in any visible way” (“The Glory of the Lord,” 174).
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