[thomasmerton] Response to Terrorism

[Guest guest]

love’s sacred warrior

“What will you surrender for Love? Are you willing to give

up your fears?”

-James

Traverse

what is the difference

between love and war?

how much distinction is there

between compassion and hate?

love rejected and scorned may turn into pride

pride wounded arises as anger

anger expressed arises as hatred,

hatred erupting arises

as violence

violence manifesting

arises as chaos

chaos destroying order returns to the source

the source is like water resident in all things

it rests in what lies beneath

it shines on jagged pinnacles

it runs wild and free over land

it soars in what lies beyond

love rejected and scorned eventually turns into humility

humility is the searing balm of angry tears

angry tears forge the keen sword of justice

the sword of justice restores fallen divinity

divinity is love resurrected as compassion

how much distinction is there

between compassion and love?

how much difference is there

between war and hate?

in your right you hold a sword,

on your left hand you wear a ring

at the center of the ring, on the edge of the sword

pride surrenders to humility, love embraces hate

one sacred warrior kneels at his beloved’s holy feet

one warrior accepting defeat arises into divinity

these three remain, love, hatred and compassion

but the greatest of these is compassion

compassion transcends turbulence

mark christopher valentine

(october 1, 2001)

-

"Patrick Collins" <pcollins (AT) sirus (DOT) com>

<thomasmerton>

Monday, October 01, 2001 6:18 PM

Re: [thomasmerton] Re: Response to Terrorism

> Dear Greg,> > Somehow I don't think God judges us so privately. I

believe, as in the> communion of the Trinity, that we are intimately

connected with others> people, creation and the society/culture of

which we are by accident and by> choice a part.> > God's Holy Will is

linked not with the salvation of my personal soul apart> from my

engagement with others and our society. I don't get saved in>

isolation but through communion and interconnectedness in love -

including> the visions and values that make up our way of life - to

which I contribute> simply by participating in it.> > The Catholic

just war theory binds no one actually except perhaps the> Vatican.

But it has served as a guide for reflection for many years. It> just

no longer seems applicable in the light of the nuclear threats.> >

Patrick> > Drawman (AT) mochamail (DOT) com wrote:> > > Dear Father,> > The four

points of the just war rationale need to be observed. I> > thought

that the protection of the USA was one of the requirements> > and

therefore pulled us into this quandry. I don't know how one> > would

determine propotionality, do you add up all those innocents> > that

have died at the hands of terrorists, I'd say NO, as that would> > be

retribution. A reasonable chance for success is another point> > that

would be difficult to gaurantee. Protection of innocent> > civilians

is understood by all(except in WWII (Hiroshima &> > Nagasaki)). I

would not want to be in President Bush's position as> > he will have

to answer for his actions. That is why I stress prayer,> >

especially wisdom for our leaders. Also, America is not a Catholic>

> country so is it subject to the just war concept? In the past

(old> > Testament), we learned that God uses nations to accomplish

His Will,> > so if we stay in His Holy Will we(personally) will

emerge> > victorious,I believe God will then deal with our country.

I love> > pacifists, but am not called to be one.> > Pax, Greg> >> >>

>> > "Christ came on earth to form contemplatives" Thomas Merton> >>

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> "Christ came on earth to form contemplatives" Thomas Merton > >

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