EMCAPP Journal 2

74 Neologism 4 Widerfahrnis und Erkenntnis: “Something hap- pens to me” in the knowing process The fundamental characteristics of a personally determi- ned, biblical path of knowledge can be represented on the basis of Jesus’ statements in John 14. Jn. 14, 21–23: “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. But whoever loves me will be loved by my father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him. Judas, not Iscariot, spoke to him: “Lord, what does it mean, that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him: “Whoever loves me will keep my word; and my father will love him, and we will come and make our dwelling with him.” We did not love God first, but he us, the initiative comes from him. He did what was real, created through the death of his son the possibility of an intimate relationship in which he wishes to give us revelation. Even the interpretation of this message, that is a gift, is not possible for me on my own. I cannot create knowledge or devotion, love or commitment. I cannot manufacture the most important thing in life and in knowledge, it hap- pens to, it befalls me. I cannot seize it for myself, but only receive it. The real happens to, befalls us: God’s love, his offer of relationship, his message of revelation are given to us. Person in a knowing process <------------ God reveals God does the real. But what do we do? We allow, we ag- ree. We answer. First of all, we answer by being ready to acknowledge God as Lord, by giving up our self-determination. Only thus can he lead us into a relationship of familiarity and intimacy in which real revelation of the heart is possible. Man answers: Acknowledgement of God’s lordship Person in a knowing process ----------------> This change of lordship leads us out of the blinding of our power of seeing. Part of this is that we create space for God’s claims, his requirements in our life. An essential constituent of biblical knowledge is acting in love in obe- dience to God’s word. We answer: Obedience towards God, acting in love Person in a knowing process ----------------> On the basis that God has loved us first, in acknow- ledging his lordship and in obedience towards his word, we are then challenged, out of familiarity and intimacy with him, also to engage with the objects of our know- ledge. In order to know, we give up the distance towards him and are prepared to become involved as persons. We answer: Entrusting ourselves to God and, following him, to the objects of investigation. Person in a knowing process ----------------> If we want to know something about man, we must, in the relationship with God, approach man, have life-sha- ring with him and give, let ourselves be changed, take up position and even be able to allow mutual, existential de- pendence. All our answering should be understood as a cycle. God reveals, has messages imparted to us, does what is real, loves first. If we do not refuse to turn obediently the litt- le that we have understood into action, to share life etc. as much as we can, the cycle starts and God can lead us further. We should, as is expressed in the parable of the talents (Mt. 25, 14 –30), work with what we have, regardless of how much or how little it is. The main thing is not to bury it, but to “gain interest” with our pound, for then more can be given to us, than the quantity of knowledge born of familiarity and intimacy can expand. If more has already happened to us, if we have under- stood more, God can intensify his offer of relationship, reveal deeper aspects of his being and his will, and we likewise can speak a more profoundly based Yes to him. The cycle enters a second round. Real growth in knowledge born of familiarity and inti- macy can take place. Acting in love Person in a kno- wing process God reveals knowledge born of famili- arity/intimacy offer of relationship

EMCAPP Journal 2

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