The wise man has struggled to find You in his wisdom, and he has failed. The just man has striven to grasp You in his own justice, and he has gone astray.
But the sinner, suddenly struck by the lightning of mercy that ought to have been justice, falls down in adoration of Your holiness: for he had seen what kings desired to see and never saw, what prophets foretold and never gazed upon, what the men of ancient times grew weary of expecting when they died. He has seen that Your love is so infinitely good that it cannot be the object of a human bargain. True, there are two testaments, two bargains. But both of them are only promises that You would freely give us what we could never deserve: that You would manifest Your holiness to us by showing us Your mercy and Your liberality and Your infinite freedom.
- Thomas Merton, No Man is an Island
3 comments:
SAM!!
Ryan is going to Chi-town this weekend and wanted some advice on places to go and things to eat. As I was thinking of these things, I rewound your blog and reread about our weekend in Chicago. Needless to say, I finished with a massive smile on my face. What a wonderful memory. I'm glad you recorded it.
This comment has nothing to do with Merton. I don't even have a clue who he was (is?) but it was the most recent post so there you go.
Em
THANKS. Makes me wonder why I spend so much time trying on my own to gin up the right levels of wisdom and justice.
hi! Hi! HIII!!! Post something else! Because it's great when you do! I miss you! HI!!! and WHO is this bob character who keeps showing up all over the place, hmmmm??? you're skyping him, he's blogging with you...what about the sister, I ask you?!?
Actually, I like all of that.
Sshhh. Don't tell.
'love you and praying for you, One of the Main Guys in My Life.
sis
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