God, how can we be worthy of becoming Your plaything? How can You so humble Yourself to seek us like this? How can You diminish Your Majesty to desire us as a poor loving human desires another person? With all the charm, with all the magic, with all the fervor, with all the power! God, who are we that we may love You!
God, You must do this Yourself, You must lay Your hand on our eyes so that they dare to look into Your eyes. You must lay Your hand on our hearts so that they dare to beat towards Your heart. You must lay Your hand on our hands so that they dare to embrace You, God, we ask You, take us! God, we ask You, compel us! God, we ask You, do with us what You will, even if it seems foolish, even the most foolish, and it may seem that You are playing Your game with us, when we come and go, when we flee and embrace!
God, take us, God, compel us, God, envelop us completely into Yourself, God, compel us to Your love!
God, if we could dare, if we could dare to say: God, play with us the way You enjoy!
(Erich Przywara SJ /1889–1972/, Prayers of this Age, 23; during World War II)
