Csermely Péter blogja 2.0 - Christmas

What is the only appropriate wish?

Csermely Péter — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 13:40:16 +0000

Christmas thoughts with regards to the ninth and the tenth commandments

1. What are the things we should not wish? Christmas and New Year’s Eve are the times of wishes. We should not only ask from Jesus but we should give something to Him! Similarly: at New Year’s Day a lot of us formulate wishes related to their own lives. Perhaps this year we should vow that we will not vow anything? The ninth and the tenth commandments are not about that we should not covet a house, a wife or anything else that belong to someone else but they warn us that the earthly wishes and greed, the "I want to furnish the world as I have planned it" are all already rebellions against the will of God. (If you would like to know more about this, 2. How is a real wish formulated in us? A lesson of my pilgrimage at the Holy Land. Those wishes that are not ours are often formulated in a quite specific way. Here I show you an example from my pilgrimage at the Holy Land. Jesus gave me a wish there. How may this "usually" happen? Very typically: "in pieces". We are too small to accept Jesus’ wishes in one piece. That is why He trains us gradually. He makes us to feel only one tiny bit of His wish. Then He shows another bit. Then the third one. And finally: He shows the whole picture together. It is only then (which may be months or years later!) when we understand what happened to us and why. (If you would like to know more about this, 3. What is the only appropriate wish? After all of these what can I wish my Readers for Christmas? To be able to say with all your hearts: "Thy will be done!" Believe me, my dear Reader, if you can say this from the bottom of your heart, from that moment on – grace will come to you. Every day will be a new blessing for you. But not only for you. For all the people who will be around you. Because at the very moment you will say "Thy will be done!" Christ will be born within you. (If you would like to know more about this, Introduction. This season’s essays are written about the Ten Commandments. With regard to the first commandment ("I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.") I wrote about the ) I examined the concept of the ) I was looking for the answer to ) I showed that there are many ways to commit a murder in our everyday lives, and ) I tried to find an answer to how we can avoid fornication and During the interpretation of the seventh commandment ("Thou shalt not steal!") I was looking for answers to the questions of what we can steal, what the opposite of theft is and When thinking over the eighth commandment ("Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour!") I explored the issues of who is my neighbor, ) I was looking for answers to the questions of 1. What are the things we should not wish?

Christmas and New Year’s Eve are the times of wishes. Most of us return to childhood and write extreme long lists to Jesus in their heads about what do they want to celebrate themselves with – exactly when? When we should celebrate Jesus instead of ourselves... We should not only ask from Jesus but we should give something to Him! In those families where everything goes fine, we often forget that we should not wish for even more stuff besides the piles of stuffs we already have; we should not wish for even more happiness for ourselves beside our already existing happiness but we should give the stuff we wished for to the needy and we should wish health for the ill. Similarly: at New Year’s Day a lot of us formulate wishes related to their own lives. New Year’s Day is the time of vows. A lot of vows are made on impulse and they fade away in a couple of weeks. Perhaps this year we should vow that we will not vow anything? The ninth and the tenth commandments are not about that we should not covet a house, a wife or anything else that belong to someone else but they warn us that the earthly wishes and greed, the "I want to furnish the world as I have planned it" are all already rebellions against the will of God.

Christmases prearranged by us are regularly turned upside down by God. With His huge sense of humor and creativity that is how Our Lord trains us to recognize that we are not at the center of the world but He is... Recently I was given a nice story about this by my pastor, Péter Grendorf at our Bible class: "There is a long line at the post office before Christmas. The gentleman standing at the end of the line is screaming with a red face with thick veins on his neck: "Is there anybody working at this post office at all??? It is IN-CRE-DIB-LE that we have to wait for so long!!!" Shaken by anger he drops a lot of postcards wishing a "Peaceful Christmas!"... – I am not sure that this is how a perfect Christmas should look like...

2. How is a real wish formulated in us? A lesson of my pilgrimage at the Holy Land

Between November 14 and 27 it was the first time I’ve been to the Holy Land. The fifty members’ pilgrimage group has visited the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Mount Tabor and Mount Carmel, the location of Jesus’ baptism at the Jordan River (which is "by the way" is the location where Jordan River was divided in the cases of Joshua, Elijah and Elisha), as well as Qumran, Bethlehem and the most important holy places of Jerusalem. My greatest fear concerning the trip was that the crowd of tourists will "hide" Jesus. We had only 4 seconds for the Bethlehem manger and the Holy Sepulchre each – after three hours’ of queuing. The Upper Room has become an oxygen-free sardine can. People were thronging up to the Golgotha. (I wonder how many of us would line up if the condition of getting to the Golgotha was crucifixion for us, too...) BUT: Jesus is stronger than anything. On the Golgotha He has given us dignity, emotional depth, holiness, the calmness of "accomplished" (tetelestai), silence, permanence, and the feeling that the earth here may touch the sky. He has given us the exploding joy in the empty Holy Sepulchre. He showed us that the resurrection had been the natural consequence of the crucifixion. Just like God’s voice and being led to the wilderness by the Holy Spirit were after the baptism of Jesus.

Those wishes that are not ours are often formulated in a quite specific way. Let me take you an example from my pilgrimage at the Holy Land. Jesus gave me a wish there. How may this "usually" happen? Very typically: "in pieces". We are too small to accept Jesus’ wishes in one piece. That is why He trains us gradually. He makes us to feel only one tiny bit of His wish. Then He shows another bit. Then the third one. And finally: He shows the whole picture together. It is only then (which may be months or years later!) when we understand what happened to us and why.

What is my story of a wish’s birth? At first I thought what Apostle Peter did: "Lord, it is good for us to be here." (Mt 17:4). Then I thought that I had to come back somewhere here. At that time I had no idea how, why and where. Then I felt that it was so much comforting not to feel anything about the purpose or location of my return because not thinking immediately to the goal, just waiting in happy silence were not characteristics of human thinking. Then I thought that what a beautiful desert it was in Qumran. Then that wait a minute, this was the place where the Holy Spirit had lead Jesus after His baptism. Then that I was not allowed to swim in the Dead Sea but I had to pray instead. Then that "it came to my mind" to ask Jesus to show me something about what He experienced during the 40 days’ wandering in the wilderness. Then came the climax: Jesus started to speak in me and He said with a great affection in His voice: "You know, I wanted to show you that." I realized only much later that He told me this because I was not yet up to see it because I could not comprehend it. Then what beautiful monasteries there are in the desert next to Qumran. Eventually things fit together only a few days later (suddenly, like a shock): one day I have to go back to one of the monasteries in the desert in order to let Jesus show me something. When I am writing this I still have no idea when, for how long and where. I have no idea what He wants to show me. But I’m not worried at all and I do not make any plans. I am perfectly confident that exactly when the proper time comes I will know where, when, why and for how long I have to go. It is so lovely and beautiful like this when the Holy Spirit leads us. It is the most beautiful expedition a man can wish because we explore our Lord Himself who is the Totality. Totality of freedom from our own desires which lock us to our own ego.

3. What is the only appropriate wish?

After all of these what can I wish my Readers for Christmas? Only one thing. Because there is nothing more and nothing else that is worth it. To be able to say with all your hearts: "Thy will be done!" Believe me, my dear Reader, if you can say this from the bottom of your heart, from that moment on – grace will come to you. Every day will be a new blessing for you. But not only for you. For all the people who will be around you. Because at the very moment you will say "Thy will be done!" Christ will be born within you. And every single day Christ will be born again and again within you as long as you live. And after that, too. That is what I wish to You for Christmas – with all my heart.

Key topics:

Key words:

Jesus born within (and not besides) us

Csermely Péter — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 11:57:51 +0000

Christmas thoughts about becoming the Children of God

1. Christ remaining unnoticed. "It’s Christmas again. In October already I started to be anxious about what will happen this year. ... Jesus? Oh, really! I have seen something like a little Jesus. It was at the toy department but the place was so crowded that I could not get there eventually." (If you would like to read more about this, please read my 2. Christ born besides us. "We had a very nice Christmas again. We went to the church in the morning. Our children were doing great. We were a little cold but the sermon was beautiful. ... The smallest child had the role of the angel. He distributed the gifts. Everybody was happy. We went to the Midnight Mass, too. It was also very nice. This Christmas remains in my good memories." (If you would like to read more about this, please read my 3. Christ born within us. Let me suggest all my Readers that you should remain silent at least for a few hours during Christmas. Kneel down in front of the manger in your mind. Rejoice in that God has opened the gate of Paradise again and raised You also into pureness. Step forward in your mind! Hold the little Jesus in your arms. Feel that the House of the Father is open to You to enter. Feel that the little Jesus, whom You hold in your arms and who has touched You, is the Door. STEP INSIDE! Feel the Totality of the Father’s joy as You entered His House. Feel the great rejoicing. Why? Because You have come Home. This place will be your Home from now on. You will return to your loved ones and immerse in the bustle of the world after this miracle. But You will know that the Door of the Father’s House will always be open for You. Because You can go in and out freely from now on. And You will find peace there. This is the Real Christmas. This is how Jesus has been born also within You – and not only besides You. (If you would like to read more about this, please read my Introduction. All essays published since September have been preparing these Christmas thoughts. The , the touch of Totality all have been preparing us for meeting Christ. The present Christmas essay is about meeting Jesus. That is why it is quite short. Because the essence of meeting Jesus is incomprehensible, inexpressible and unexplainable. But that is why it is wonderful. Because it is Total. And because it is completed. And it is Life. If you wish to read more about Christmas, please read my

1. Christ remaining unnoticed

"It’s Christmas again. In October already I started to be anxious about what will happen this year. The Christmas tree will be thicker again than its holder. Then it will fall. The fairy lights will tangle. The kid will be choosy because he had a similar toy already. There will be too many fondant candies. There will be far too few fondant candies. The fish will not be fresh enough in the fish soup for my husband. Anyway: there used to be even pikes in the soup when he was a child. Grandma will argue about the family cake. It should have been dried longer. But today’s people start everything only in the last minute... Jesus!!! Jesus? Oh, really! I have seen something like a little Jesus. It was at the toy department but the place was so crowded that I could not get there eventually."

2. Christ born besides us

"We had a very nice Christmas again. We went to the church in the morning. Our children were doing great. We were a little cold but the sermon was beautiful. The Christmas tree was nice, too. Our children made even a nativity scene in front of it. We were thinking a lot about what size the little Jesus should have been. Because if He is too small, it may seem that He is insignificant. But if He is too big then the whole scene is not credible. But finally it was very nice. And the children were very happy. And this is all what matters. We had a modest dinner. There was not a rush, we had a pleasant time. Grandpa came over, too, and was telling jokes. We were singing nicely next to the Christmas tree. The children started the prayer. The smallest child had the role of the angel. He distributed the gifts. Everybody was happy. We went to the Midnight Mass, too. It was also very nice. This Christmas remains in my good memories."

3. Christ born within us

"It can be only a gift when Jesus is born within us.
A gift cannot be enforced.
It has to be awaited humbly, trustingly, silently.
But do not be afraid: He will not be late.
As soon as He can see that your desire is honest,
you have really had enough of your guilty life,
and you are really ready to accept His one,
He will not keep you waiting for a moment."
(Aladár Gáncs, The Beam of Light, 1928)

Let me suggest all my Readers that you should remain silent at least for a few hours during Christmas. Kneel down in front of the manger in your mind, and say a prayer for Jesus. Notice the Glory. Enjoy it. Feel the warmth of love. Melt all miseries that you have had during the past years with this endless love. Smell the scent of purity. Rejoice in that God has opened the gate of Paradise again and raised You also into pureness. Step forward in your mind! Imagine that You are the servant. Imagine that Mary and Joseph have to lay down some blanket so they ask You to hold the little Jesus in your arms for a moment. As you take Him, You can feel that the little Jesus has no weight. But still He is in your arms very safely. Smile at Him. Feel the power as Jesus is smiling back. Touch the little hands or soles of Jesus with one of your fingers. Feel that Jesus grabs and holds it. Step even further in your mind! Close your inner eyes, too. Feel that the touch of Jesus is the call of the Father. Feel that the House of the Father is open to You to enter. Feel that the little Jesus, whom You hold in your arms and who has touched You, is the Door. STEP INSIDE! Feel how Jesus purifies You from Everything, from all the flaws and bad memories You have had, as You pass through the Door. Feel the Totality of the Father’s joy as You entered His House. Open your inner eyes. You will see a Table. Have the love supper with the Father. You do not have a word. You do not eat a bite. But still: this will be the most peaceful and most beautiful moment of your whole life. There will be wonderful lights all over. They will be the pure souls who have passed the Door earlier. There will be great rejoicing. Why? Because You have come Home. This place will be your Home from now on. You will return to your loved ones and immerse in the bustle of the world after this miracle. But You will know that the Door of the Father’s House will always be open for You. Because You can go in and out freely from now on. And You will find peace there. This is the Real Christmas. This is how Jesus has been born also within You – and not only besides You.

There are thousands and thousands of ways how Jesus can be born within us.
I have described only one of those.

Let the hope blossom in You,
that You will be given a much more wonderful gift
at this Christmas than what was written here: Life!

Key topics:
spiritual growth
personal growth
Key words:
children of God
Christmas
Aladár Gáncs
God
the House of our Father
Jesus
Jesus the Door
Paradise
peacefulness
purity

The touch of Totality

Csermely Péter — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 14:13:48 +0000

Advent thoughts about the knowledge of God

1. A life distancing itself from Totality will not be fulfilled. Man is an animal especially sensitized for novelties. This leads to insatiability, anxiety and a need to increase our possessions. A life without knowing Totality remains unfulfilled and restless. That is why the attempts to fulfill such a life will never end. (If you would like to read more about this, 2. Having a life, which thinks that it "knows" Totality is a trap. The history of mankind is full of such attempts which wanted to possess Totality. Making an idol, creating dependence and attempts to "get to know" Totality were all ways to achieve possession. If we think that we got to know Totality, we squeeze Totality into the narrow conceptual framework that we have been able to create. This is a trap. With all this I do not want to say – by far – that the efforts to increase our knowledge on God would be harmful. However, we must see that the more complicated way we describe God, the more far away we get from the fulfilling, infinite simplicity of God’s permanence, totality and magnificent Silence. The "theology of glory" based solely on the compliance with the law is not only a trap because it places the law above Christ and God and its compliance creates pride and presumptuousness in us, but also because it puts ourselves above God, too, by the fact that it presumes that Totality is likely to be fully known. To strive for the knowledge of Totality is a trap. There is only one way to "know" Totality: if we dedicate ourselves to it – entirely. If we become open to the call of Totality: Totality will embrace us. IT IS what has been made available by Jesus’s incarnation and sacrifice of the Cross. IT IS what we celebrate at every feast, and at Christmas, too. IT IS what we are preparing for during Advent. (If you would like to read more about this, 3. On the way to the touch of Totality. To become open for the call of Totality can be a consequence of a moment. Accepting Totality is very often a long process of an entire life that will only be fulfilled by seeing the Kingdom of God "face to face". Real life starts when man can see Christ. Real life becomes fulfilled at the moment of seeing Christ. Starting from this moment, this moment becomes a part of our life forever. I wish all my Readers that this year’s Advent would give more openness for all of You to embrace Totality. (If you would like to read more about this, Introduction. This essay is published for the third Sunday of Advent. Advent is the season of becoming silent and listening to our soul.

1. A life distancing itself from Totality will not be fulfilled

"Conversion is the greatest possible satisfaction
of man’s most comprehensive feeling of deprivation."
(Aladár Gáncs,Hungarian Lutheran priest, 1930)

"I only possess what I can give away,
because if I cannot give a certain possession away,
this proves that, in fact, this possession possesses me"
(Pope Francis, 7 November, 2018)

Man is an animal especially sensitized for novelties. That is why we have become insatiable, because everything new turns to old quickly. Novelties cause distress, too. We can overcome our anxiety only with knowing, controlling and possessing these novelties. A life without knowing Totality can never end the useless circles of the “have more and more” and anxiety. A life without knowing Totality remains unfulfilled and restless. That is why the attempts to fulfill such a life will never end. In a life without knowing Totality, such a comprehensive lack of peace becomes permanent, in which most moments remain unsatisfied desire and unsettled unrest.

2. Having a life, which thinks that it "knows" Totality is a trap

"The things which are in part can be apprehended, known, and expressed;
but the Perfect cannot be apprehended, known, or expressed by any creature as creature."
("God escapes all conception rather than being affirmed to be something.
For in the realm of creatures that which escapes the condition of creation is not found."
(If we have realized that a life without knowing Totality remains unfulfilled, then the solution is quite simple: let’s know Totality. The history of mankind is full of such attempts which wanted to possess Totality. A simple way of acquiring possession of something has been making an idol. "Totality" stands here in my tent, it has a beginning and an end, I have prepared it, I can smash it, so I “know Totality", "Totality" is mine. A more sophisticated way of acquiring possession of something is creating dependence. I offer a sacrifice for Totality, for which Totality becomes my "debtor", because I have gained its grace. An even more sophisticated way of acquiring possession of something is "knowing" Totality. I came to know Totality and I have an increasing, close to complete knowledge about it. This is why I do not have to be afraid of Totality, since I already know it.

"I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it."
(

We have to realize that Totality is Totality because it cannot be possessed, cannot "be obliged", and cannot be known. That is why the Old Testament’s approach is immensely honorable, as, realizing this, it has not even named Totality, and has made it clear that meeting Totality exceeds man’s comprehension so much that man getting an unrestricted experience of Totality dies (Exodus 33:20; 1 Kings 19:11-13). If we think that we got to know Totality, we squeeze Totality into the narrow conceptual framework that we have been able to create. If we think this over thoroughly we can realize that by limiting Totality we have made a much bigger trouble than if we had not been aware of Totality at all. By not being aware of it we would "only" restrict the course of world passively with excluding "only" ourselves from the essence of it. But with "domesticating" and "enchaining" Totality (no matter how chanceless it is) we do actively against the omnipotence of Totality.

With all this I do not want to say – by far – that the efforts to increase our knowledge on God would be harmful. It is beautiful, how the Old Testament summarizes the knowledge about God’s nature: God is just, merciful, gracious, faithful, long-suffering and permanent (Psalms 33:4; 86:15; Malachias 3:6). But I would like to emphasize that we have to handle the "knowledge" gained about God with immense humility. We continuously have to be aware of the fact that our entire "knowledge of God" can reach neither the smallest bit of Totality nor even its conceptual framework. With the more "knowledge" and the more complicated way we describe God, the more far away we get from the fulfilling, infinite simplicity of God’s permanence, totality and magnificent Silence.

"The law of God, the most salutary doctrine of life,
cannot advance man on his way to righteousness, but rather hinders him."
(Here we can understand the first thesis of Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation from a new point of view. The law given by God prevents man to its way to righteousness also because any kind of approach of God’s totality that can be comprehended by a man (also God’s laws themselves, which were phrased understanding and respecting our quite strong limitations) takes something away from God’s totality and the omnipotence of His will. If we are not aware of this continuously and deeply (if we do not have fear of God), it is a much bigger sin than committing a real sin. (.) Not any system of law will ever be able to reflect the complexity the will of God fairly because the total reflection of Totality can only be Totality itself. That is why it is also true that in all such cases when mercy and law conflict each other, respecting the example of Jesus it is very important to consider whether mercy overrides the law in the given situation or not. The "theology of glory" based solely on the compliance with the law is not only a trap because it places the law above Christ and God and its compliance creates pride and presumptuousness in us, but also because it puts ourselves above God, too, by the fact that it presumes that Totality is likely to be fully known. Law is a by far not total reflection of God’s will. It is an important element of this that "law is not able to produce or induce what it demands." (To strive for the knowledge of Totality as an ultimate goal is a dead-end.
Moreover! It is even worse: a trap.
There is only one way to "know" Totality:
if we dedicate ourselves to it – entirely.
If we become open to the call of Totality:
Totality will embrace us.
IT IS what has been made available by Jesus’s incarnation and sacrifice of the Cross.
IT IS what we celebrate at every feast, and at Christmas, too.
IT IS what we are preparing for during Advent.

3. On the way to the touch of Totality

"At last there is a path where you can look for God within yourself:
the path of abolishing the borders. ... If we have accepted the Word of God,
the power of divine filiation is conceived in our logical souls. ...
So for the mind to know everything is nothing else
than to see yourself as a reflection of God, which is the Divine Filiation itself."
(To become open for the call of Totality can be a consequence of a moment. Accepting Totality is very often a long process of an entire life that will only be fulfilled by seeing the Kingdom of God "face to face". To become open for the call of Totality is the most important, Essential moment of our lives. The closing sentence of the lecture of Emese Bódi, professor of the Lutheran Theological University, recently given at the Luther College meant a lot to me. Emese was born sightless. Thanks to a surgery taken at her early childhood she has gained sight but only to a very limited extent. She has graduated the university learning the teaching materials recorded on thousands of audio tapes. Having this background it was a life changing moment when she said: "From the perspective of the Essence, does it count that Apostle Paul regained his sight after returning from the road to Damascus?" Let us think this over very thoroughly... Emese has phrased the miracle standing in the center of our faith beautifully. Real life starts when man can see Christ. Real life becomes fulfilled at the moment of seeing Christ. Starting from this moment, this moment becomes eternal. Amen.

I wish all my Readers that this year’s Advent
would give more openness for all of You to embrace Totality.

Key topics:
spiritual growth
personal growth
Key words:
advent
anxiety
Emese Bódi
Christmas
cognition
Nicolaus Cusanus
desire
Gerhard O. Forde
German Theology
pope Francis
Aladár Gáncs
idol
Jesus
Thomas à Kempis
Martin Luther
novelty
prophet Malachias
Apostle Paul
perpetuity of God
psalms
sacrifice
silence
Silence of God
simplicity theology of the Cross
theology of the glory
totality

The depths of Silence

Csermely Péter — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 09:20:48 +0000

Advent thoughts about the perpetuity of God

1. How many ways are we swamped by noise? We are bothered by the world’s noise because it does not let our own noise be heard. Our own shouting clamor separates us from Totality whose message becomes audible only in Silence. There are many forms of silence, which we force to ourselves: the activity-silence; the silence, which is an end in itself; silence, which becomes an own reality… (If you would like to read more about this,

2. The essence of Totality is Silence. Thoughts about the perpetuity of God. In my essays there is a large difference between silence and Silence. Lowercase silence is determined by us and filled by us. Uppercase Silence is God’s form of existence which He presents us if we ask for and accept Him humbly. The Silence of God is the symbol of God’s perpetuity and God’s simple purity above all existing complexities that can be experienced by us. (If you would like to read more about this, 3. The depths of Silence born in us. The reserved sanctuary of our Soul is God’s home. For going so deep inside ourselves and finding the Father’s Totality there, we have to deprive ourselves of ourselves entirely. Solitude helps us reach the Silence of God but the Silence of God is the opposite of solitude. The Silence of God protects us from everything. A lot of things help us reach the Silence of God. (If you would like to read more about this, .)

Introduction. This essay is published for the first Sunday of Advent. The beginning of the church calendar is the season of becoming silent and listening to our soul. It is important to give ourselves a chance for that Jesus is born also within us, not only besides us. Let’s think it over how much noise we have in our lives. Let’s choose one of the noises. Let’s do something about not to have it! This “impoverishment” is the most important enrichment in life. Let me encourage the Readers to have a look at the

1. How many ways are we swamped by noise?

We have many complaints about the noise of the accelerated world that buries us. It is worth making a self-analysis when complaining about this. Most of us are not bothered by the noise because we would like to have silence instead. We are bothered by the world’s noise because it does not let our own noise be heard... Let’s notice that we ourselves are the largest noise for ourselves. Our own shouting clamor separates us from Totality whose message becomes audible only in Silence. God does not shout. God exists in silence. He presents Himself to us in Silence and – very rarely – his voice sounds in silence, too (which is simple and brief: showing Himself, enlightening everything and filling everything).

Very often we try to remain silent intentionally. There are a lot of faces of this forced, fake silence. Let me quote a few forms of false silence from the beautiful : "The first temptation is to make of silence an activity. … In fact, even if it has a value, this silence is the result of a tension on the part of the will which is the most subtle, but equally the most pernicious, of activities. ... Another temptation is to make silence an end in itself. One imagines that the goal of prayer of the heart, and even of all contemplative life, is silence. … My inner state is what matters and not the relationship of loving receptivity which I have with God. I am no longer even praying; I am merely contemplating myself! ... A similar temptation consists in making silence a reality in itself. Silence is everything! Once all the „noise” of the senses, the mind and the imagination has been stilled, a genuine feeling of joy arises, and that is enough for us. We seek nothing more. We refuse to look for anything else. Any thought which might enter our minds even if it related to the Lord or came directly from him, would seem to us an obstacle. At such a time, the only divine reality is silence. There is no more prayer. There is nothing left but the casting of an idol called Silence... God alone suffices; everything else is nothing. Genuine silence is the manifestation of this basic reality of all prayers. Silence truly exists in the heart once all the impurities which were opposed to the reign of the Father have disappeared. True silence is only found in a pure heart, a heart that resembles the heart of God. This is why a really pure heart is able to maintain complete silence, even when it is immersed in all sorts of activity, because there is no longer any discord between it and God.”

2. The essence of Totality is Silence. Thoughts about the perpetuity of God

„For I am the Lord, and I change not” (Malachias 3:6)
"And thou, O Lord, art a God of compassion,
and merciful, patient, and of much mercy, and true." (Psalms 86:15)
"I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved." (Psalms 119:47)

In my essays there is a large difference between silence and Silence. In Japanese language there are two words for red pencil because it makes a difference whether the pencil’s outside covering color is red (condimentum: silence) or the pencil is drawing a red line (substantia: Silence). Lowercase silence is determined by us and filled by us. Uppercase Silence is God’s form of existence which He presents us if we ask for and accept Him humbly. Silence is the enormously large space of God in which human voice faints. God’s voice can sound in us only in this Silence cleansed of us in humility. The Silence of God is the symbol of God’s perpetuity and God’s simple purity above all existing complexities that can be experienced by us.

We often imagine God as a kind, old uncle who acts like us – in a little better edition... Many people think that God does not abandon the man following His Path because it is the reward of our good deeds. Others think that God’s faithfulness is a result of a deal. We praise Him and that is why He does not forsake us in return. Other people consider that God’s faithfulness is a result of such a commitment which was made when we were baptized. God has signed a bond and He does not want to break his promise because He has got character. (It is worth considering that God had made a commitment for us much earlier than that: „Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” Jeremiah 1:5, this word is far from referring only to Jeremiah...) Others think that God does not abandon us because He does not do such a bad thing. For God though, goodness is not a merit but a status. God does not betray the man following His Path because "He is the Lord and He changes not". (If God wanted to lead the man following His Path off His Path, then God would act against God that God does not do, because then the foundation of the world will collapse.) This is because God remains self-identical with God forever. (As Silence is self-identical with Silence forever.) So it follows from God’s existence directly and irrevocably that God does not abandon the man following His Path just like the life-giving power of His tender Holy Spirit follows from God’s creative power, and like the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ follows, and like Eternal Life follows. Amen.

3. The depths of Silence born in us

“Be still and see that I am God” (Psalms 46:11)
„Prayer is the breath of our hidden self with Christ in God.
It is the silence of the mystery we are."
(after Carthusian monks)
Having had the taste of solitude and the taste of Perfect Peace of Nibbana,
one who drinks in the joy of the essence of the Dhamma is free from fear and evil. (Dhammapada, 205)

The reserved sanctuary of our Soul is God’s home. There is Silence in this sanctuary. The only possible way to enter the Silence inside ourselves is in humility, total purity and poorness. For going so deep inside ourselves and finding the Father’s Totality there, we have to deprive ourselves of ourselves entirely. We are able to find ourselves only in this perfect Silence.

„In this reserved sanctuary -- a new heaven and Kingdom of God -- solitude and silence must reign. God is alone with Himself. The divine Persons do not affect this solitude, they constitute it. The Love Who is their animating force encloses them against all that is not Himself. The City of God is immense, but enclosed. God alone occupies it, and He is All in all. The soul that prays must reproduce this solitude: it must be filled by it to the exclusion of all else. The very colloquy which follows is a kind of silence.” (Solitude helps us reach the Silence of God but the Silence of God is the opposite of solitude. The Silence of God does not separate us from the outer world. On the contrary! When we find the purity of the Silence of God, we are given the radiating, fulfilling love of God and the Glory of God at the same time. This love pours out from us and makes other people alive in our environment, too.

The Silence of God is God Himself. That is why the Silence of God protects us from everything. Evil is unable to enter the Silence of God. That is why we are cleansed if we withdraw into the innermost depths of our hearts and we say Christ’s name with total faith.

A lot of things help us reach the Silence of God. Contemplating prayer (I wish all my Readers
an Advent full of Silence that purifies our souls!

Key topics:
spiritual growth
science
personal growth
Key words:
advent
baptism
Carthusian monks
charity
Christmas
the Eucharist
contemplating prayer
fake silence
Holy Spirit
Jesus
the most inner chamber of our souls
noise
perpetuity of God
poorness
prophet Malachias
psalms
silence
Silence of God