Hans Urs von Balthasar

This unique, in-depth, comprehensive, theological biography of two holy young Carmelite sisters gives profound insights into their spirituality. Von Balthasar probes the depths of their cloistered lives and shows how each woman gave powerful witness to the critical importance of contemplation as a means to holiness for all.

Thérèse of Lisieux & Elizabeth of the Trinity

Two Sisters in the Spirit

Zeke Taylor

[Talks about the worth of heavenly reward/treasure compared to earthly pursuits/accomplishments]

Mainly quoting this less so in relation to Therese and more so Balthasar’s statement that God’s creative act, which I would apply to the act of the universe’s creation, is more an act of play than it is six days of hard work (with the seventh day finally being a time for rest). Christians in my cultural sphere tend to justify hard, stressful, sometimes miserable work with how God worked for six days and then it’s not until the Sabbath that we can justifiably rest. I think there needs to be more reflection on the punishment of labor in Genesis and the way we should approach employment. Maybe we are taking the punishment of labor too far or distorting it and not allowing the pursuit of genuine creation (the ultimately more godly spirit of play).

Childish imagery is the reflection of a much wider reality — of the all-embracing universe of love — the universe of play. While the adult groans under the curse of original sin, the child abandons himself to play, which originates in Paradise and is the creaturely reflection of God’s creative act. God is at play with men; that is, he handles them in a divine fashion, according to his own laws — for there are none higher.

[Balthasar opposing Reformation’s understanding of predestination or any other understanding which involves an individualistic “I am going to heaven and not that person” rather than the biblical understanding which expands beyond individualistic who will be saved and who will not]

Two Sisters in the Spirit quotes

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