On that day Israel shall be a third party with Egypt
and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the land, when the Lord of hosts blesses
it: "Blessed be my people Egypt, and the work of my hands Assyria, and my
inheritance, Israel."
Desire for the vision of God
Insignificant man, escape from your everyday
business for a short while, hide for a moment from your restless thoughts. Break
off from your cares and troubles and be less concerned about your tasks and
labors. Make a little time for God and rest a while in him.
Enter into your mind's inner chambers. Shut out
everything but God and whatever helps you to seek him; and when you have shut
the door, look for him. Speak now to God and say with your whole heart: I seek
your face; your face, Lord, I desire.
Lord, my God, teach my heart where and how to seek
you, where and how to find you. Lord, if you are not here where shall I look for
you in your absence? Yet if you are everywhere, why do I not see you when you
are present? But surely you dwell in "light inaccessible." And where is light
inaccessible? How shall I approach light inaccessible? Or who will lead me and
bring me into it that I may see you there? And then, by what signs and under
what forms shall I seek you? I have never seen you, Lord my God; I do not know
your face.
Lord most high, what shall this exile do, so far
from you? What shall your servant do, tormented by love of you and cast so far
from your face? He yearns to see you, and your face is too far from him. He
desires to approach you, and your dwelling place is unapproachable. He longs to
look for you, and does not know your face.
Lord, you are my God and you are my Lord, and I have
never seen you. You have made me and remade me, and you have given me all the
good things I possess, and still I do not know you. I was made in order to see
you, and I have not yet done that for which I was made.
Lord, how long will it be? How long, Lord, will you
forget us? How long will you turn your face away from us? When will you look
upon us and hear us? When will you enlighten our eyes and show us your face?
When will you give yourself back to us?
Look upon us, Lord, hear us and enlighten us, show
us your very self. Restore yourself to us that it may go well with us whose life
is so evil without you. Take pity on our efforts and our striving toward you,
for we have no strength apart from you.
Teach me to seek you, and when I seek you show
yourself to me, for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, nor can I find you
unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in desiring you and desire you
in seeking you, find you in loving you and love you in finding you.
