Wisdom from Thomas Merton

I found myself personally touched by these words of Thomas Merton today. I was touched by the reality again of a LIVING church. A church that suffers in pain and is jubilant in celebration of our Savior. This reflection is from Lent and Easter: Wisdom from Thomas Merton.

With Christ in Our Bloodstream

The liturgical cycle renews our redemption in Christ, delivers us from the servitude of sin and from the corruption of a "fleshly" mode of being. The liturgical cycle shows us that though we are caught in a struggle between flesh and spirit, thought we are indeed the "fighting Church"--the Church militant--yet the victory is already ours. We possess the grace of Christ, who alone can deliver us from the "body of this death." He who is in us is greater than the world. He has "overcome the world," the life-giving atmosphere of the Spirit, and her blood-stream is cleansed of the elements of death. She lives in Christ, and with Him praises the Father.

Thomas Merton, Seasons of Celebration, 52-53

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Blessed Is He Who Comes In God's Name
As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen saying,

"Blessed is the king,
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in Heaven,
and Glory in the highest Heaven?"

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes."

Luke 19: 36-42

Prayer
Today I unite with every person, of every faith, who regards Jerusalem as their holy city. I consider the tears of Jesus. Wash me in your tears, Lord, as I ponder my ignorance of your peace.


Lenten Journal
Consider the rhythm of the liturgical cycle and how it can bring a life-giving cleansing to your life.

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I wonder why it is that I do not live each week as I do this coming week. As I further pondered these words, wonder how it is that as the life blood of the Church I sometimes seem to be so anemic in my practices. Why am I not more aware of my salvation to the degree I feel it in the coming days? The Monday after Easter Sunday is no different than tomorrow, yet my whole being is anticipating this week in sorrow mixed with joy! I AM saved. Yet the rest of the year I take it so much for granted that I don't even recognize who I am. I have for the last Lenten days worked very hard at being more understanding, compassionate, aware of other. In years past I have done the very same thing. Yet, I lose this willingness to to see Christ in others as also redeemed and fail to see Christ in them. I'm praying this year that this period of "life-giving cleansing" will continue onward...See Christ in all and continue to treat them as He as always treated me. I can do no less. I can only pray that I will not return with such zeal to the "servitude of sin."

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Thanks be to God!