Be the Truth

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believe in the works, blasphemy, Book of Hours, enlightenment, generosity, glory of God's truth, integrity, Jesus, John, liberty, real values, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Thomas Merton, united

In this morning’s gospel, when Jesus is in danger of being stoned for blasphemy (JN 10:31-42), he tells his accusers that they need not believe him but rather believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. I heard echoes of the same theme in a Friday reading from Thomas Merton’s Book of Hours this morning which speaks of integrity and truth-telling as efficacious for the healing of the world. These two “words of God” taken together will suffice for this Lenten day’s reflection. Here is what Merton says to us:

No matter what happens, I feel myself more and more closely united with those who, everywhere, devote themselves to the glory of God’s truth, to the search for divine values hidden among the poor and the outcast, to the love of that cultural heritage without which man cannot be healthy. The air of the world is foul with lies, hypocrisy, falsity, and life is short, death approaches. We must devote ourselves with generosity and integrity to the real values: there is no time for falsity and compromise. But on the other hand we do not have to be greatly successful or even well-known. It is enough for our integrity to be known to God. What we do that is pure in His sight will avail for the liberty, the enlightenment, and the salvation of His children everywhere. (The Courage for Truth, p.188)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Prayer in Darkness

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discord, divisiveness, justice, liberty, Peace, political rhetoric, saving will of God, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Thomas Merton, uniting, unity

There seems no end of discord and destruction in our country right now. From the political rhetoric in the presidential campaigns to the destruction of floods and tornadoes ripping through states from the deep south to the northeast, there is an unsettling energy that pervades our days. We long for a quieter spring season and for campaign reform that will limit the time and money spent on the electoral process. We pray for the end of the divisiveness that is rampant and the daily fare of our media reporting. An earnest prayer of Thomas Merton resonated in my heart this morning as a reminder of our true path. I offer it here as a course correction for those of us tempted to step away from our Lenten journey in the face of challenges.

Almighty and merciful God, Father of all, Creator and Ruler of the Universe, Lord of History, whose designs are inscrutable, whose glory is without blemish, whose compassion is inexhaustible, in your will is our peace. Bless our earnest will to help all races and peoples to travel, in friendship with us, along the road to justice, liberty and lasting peace: but grant us above all to see that our ways are not necessarily your ways, that we cannot fully penetrate the mystery of your designs and that the very storm of power now raging on this earth reveals your will and your inscrutable decision. Grant us to see your face in the lightning of this cosmic-storm, O God of holiness. Grant us to seek peace where it is truly found. In your will is our peace!

May we see ourselves as instruments of God in the world, uniting ourselves to the saving will of God for the good of all, working toward unity and peace rather than adding to the discord that only leads to destruction. For such unity and peace is the will of our God.