I can not but acknowledge the great admiration I have for Von Balthasar. Although I am not a theologian and I have studied more philosophy, the little I read of this Lord has amazed me. A good friend of mine spoke of this German theologian with the then Cardinal Ratzinger, who said: "Balthasar was my teacher and is the best theologian of the twentieth century. It can be seen at the height of the Fathers of the Church." From the Fathers of the Church, told the Pope!
Occasionally I will write about the chapter in his magnificent work of "Gloria" dedicates a Charles Péguy in paragraphs lay. I have friends who do not want it, and I suspect the reason, as stated on several occasions disinterest of the Church to possess temporal power and political. Is blunt with those who say that money or power can be used as a means of evangelization. In this regard, today I want to share two articles that I found very interesting. In a quote that I found on the Internet (and that I can not identify how the book was withdrawn), Balthasar says, " economic power, cultural, political communication and evangelism, is to betray the mission of the Church. The communities long to occupy positions of power to help the Church and, in fact commit adultery, they hide the face of the crucified Savior and the joy that comes from the simplicity of those who accept the Spirit. The Absolute is revealed as Love all in the annihilation and the Cross. Therefore, media should be waived worldly power, identity and evangelization among socioeconomic influence. Influence and power, by its own internal rules, always just overwhelming arrogance or defensive fundamentalism. Impotence only superpower is acting the Absolute Love. "Pepe
And I share an excerpt from a book called Who is Balthasar Christian?, Not wasted.
" why he is forbidden also to the Christian that form of synthesis that we have called "fundamentalism" and it is merely the practical application of gnosis described above: use (with forgetfulness of God) means specifically worldly power for a supposed promotion of the kingdom of God on earth. The intention may be healthy, but it is unhealthy naively implied identity between the kingdom of God and the political and cultural influence of the Church, an influence that usually means in practice after the arrogance of a mercenary group of Christians who are eager to conquer the world . But we are not already in the Middle Ages, the simplistic equating of heaven and earth belong to the past, all forms of "Freemasonry" modern Christian are, ultimately, suspicious and hateful Christians and non Christians. He who does these things not well understood or impotence the cross (which he intends to remedy with worldly power), or the laws of worldly power (which he applied uncritically without realizing). The followers of Jesus are in a much more unprotected than we would like. We are dramatically exposed as Christians in the world, and through Christ to the world. We would like to make the Church a shield against the world and our mission in the world, a shield against the word of Christ and commitment. But Christ repudiates the fundamentalist secular sword Pedro takes sides with the attackers and healing the ear of Malchus .
Christ chose the chasing him, not by fighting for their "cause." I think even that is incorrect to speak of a "Cause of Christ" because it could be understood Christianity to the same level of a cultural, social or political. I understand the cause of a political party is confronted with other, but understand that temporarily particularice mission of the Church.
Balthasar is clear, does not understand Christianity in the name of Jesus who seek money or power. Not even as a medium. Because Christianity is not reducible to social order, the public good or economic, cultural or political, however good they are. Christianity is an encounter with a person being God became part of our history (and how!) assuming our humanity and his incarnation, death and resurrection redeems us. He stays with his people, a people who walk in history through problems and persecutions, which is not a people like those in this world, though in the world. Clio and Veronica would Péguy.
