Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/1497

1497 The word of God.... form.... prerequisite....

June 29, 1940: Book 24

The word of God is comprehensible in its form to all those who are offered to receive it. It proclaims the will of God in simple, plain words and is therefore shaped in such a way that it can be received by both the heart and the mind without being incomprehensible. Whoever therefore hears the word of God, that is, voluntarily surrenders to its effect, his heart will not remain untouched by it, and it will noticeably feel the blessing that emanates from the divine word if it is now also obeyed, for in the latter alone lies the guarantee of success, of the perceptible power from God. However, the divine word remains incomprehensible to those who only allow it to have a purely external effect on them, who hear it but remain unimpressed because they are not prompted by an inner desire to receive it and they have no interest in the connection with God which is established through the heartfelt hearing of the word. It may also seem to them that the divine word is given in an incomprehensible way. It will never be clear and easy to understand until the desire to enter into contact with God by receiving His word comes alive in a person. This desire is therefore first necessary in order to be presented with the divine will. Then the meaning of God's word will also be understandable to him at all times. For God gives in a way that is useful to people, since His purpose in imparting it is to further the soul. And the word of God in its form should outlast time, it should always work in the same way and always remain comprehensible to people. It must therefore correspond in its structure to the demands that are placed on it at all times. It must therefore outlast all linguistic transformations that each time brings with it and thus be able to be understood at all times by those who desire the divine word. God's gift of grace is always offered to people in such a way that the will for it is a prerequisite in order to grasp the deepest meaning of God's word, just as, conversely, the deepest problems can be easily solved by people who hunger for the truth. With His word God simultaneously gives the strength which will be felt by the person whose heart longs for the gift of God. And this strength expresses itself in the understanding of the wisest teaching, so that every human being can penetrate divine knowledge, whether he has earthly knowledge or not. Blessed are the poor in spirit.... their heart is easier to grasp, and it puts up no resistance to the teachings which bear witness to God. They gratefully accept faith where the one who wants to be wise doubts and ponders how far the teachings correspond to the truth. And God demands faith.... He wants His word to be received, for He offers people a good gift, He Himself is present in the word and thus He will also offer it in such a way that anyone who wants to understand can understand it. Whoever desires it will receive it, and whoever possesses it is close to God, always and forever, for He Himself is His word.... And when He imparts His word to His children, He Himself descends to them in order to refresh and strengthen them on their earthly path of life....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers