Introductory notes for readers of this thesis - Theses - Flinders ...
Introductory notes for readers of this thesis - Theses - Flinders ...
Introductory notes for readers of this thesis - Theses - Flinders ...
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The word <strong>of</strong> the priest [the word that is a proclamation <strong>of</strong> the historical reality anduniversal saving effect <strong>of</strong> the life, death and resurrection <strong>of</strong> Christ] is the word <strong>of</strong>God. It is spoken by God in the infinite katabasis <strong>of</strong> his self-revelation, and bringsthe inner and most infinite light <strong>of</strong> God into the darkness <strong>of</strong>…[humanity]…Theword <strong>of</strong> God is the eternal Logos <strong>of</strong> God who was made flesh…All the words <strong>of</strong>God previously spoken are only the advance echoes <strong>of</strong> <strong>this</strong> word <strong>of</strong> God in theworld…It was precisely <strong>this</strong> person who is the Word, not another person <strong>of</strong> themost holy Trinity, who became in flesh the word <strong>of</strong> God directed to us 98 .Rahner’s sacramental vision and the silent anonymous ChristianRahner’s vision <strong>of</strong> universal grace and anthropological orientation to God includes theidea <strong>of</strong> ‘anonymous Christianity’ 99 . However, Rahner’s ‘anonymous Christian’ constructmay be fully and properly understood only by tracing the implications <strong>of</strong> his unfoldingsacramental vision <strong>of</strong> Jesus, and from his sacramental vision <strong>of</strong> the church.Understanding <strong>this</strong> concept in its full context is important <strong>for</strong> the following reasons. Theidea <strong>of</strong> the anonymous Christian seeks to <strong>of</strong>fer a theological explanation <strong>for</strong> the universalpossibility <strong>of</strong> a way <strong>of</strong> life that reflects Christ but does not verbally confess the Christiancreeds. This idea unfolds as a proclamation <strong>of</strong> the universal influence and impact <strong>of</strong> thegospel as a global human reality, everywhere and always silently present and working.The idea <strong>of</strong> the anonymous Christian conditions the church to better position itself as theeschatological community that <strong>of</strong>fers the mystagogical resources to enable the silentChristianity <strong>of</strong> the anonymous to find voice and confession. In short, the anonymousChristian idea is an important and significant expression <strong>of</strong> Rahner’s spirituality <strong>of</strong>silence. It is also the expression <strong>of</strong> Rahner’s spirituality <strong>of</strong> silence that is experienced aspr<strong>of</strong>oundly helpful by many and pr<strong>of</strong>oundly criticised by some. In Rahner’s sacramentalvision, his construct <strong>of</strong> the anonymous Christian finds its natural expression.Jesus the sacrament and ‘real symbol’ <strong>of</strong> GodThe sacramental power <strong>of</strong> the word is derived from the actual person and event that itpoints to and proclaims: the incarnation <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ. Rahner describes the incarnation<strong>of</strong> Jesus as the ‘real symbol’ 100 <strong>of</strong> God, which O’Donnell explains in the following way.98 Theological Investigations, Vol III, 303.99 See chapters 4, 1.100 Rahner’s full exposition <strong>of</strong> <strong>this</strong> concept is to be found in ‘Theology <strong>of</strong> symbol’, TheologicalInvestogations, Vol IV, 221 – 245.157