Thomas Merton Quotes #5

Dualism

to love another as a person we must begin by granting him his own autonomy and identity as a person.  We have to love him for what he is in himself, and not for what he is to us.  We have to love him for his own good, not for the good we get out of him.  TM, Disputed

Thursday 3 December 2020 – Luke 1:18-20

¹⁸Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.’ ¹⁹The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

JWJ #129 14:1-7 (pt. 2)

^14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.

“In Memoriam” – Franz Jagerstatter

In the spring of 1944, the life of the German novelist Hans Fallada was descending into chaos.

JwJ #61 6:26-31

^6:26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

Preparing For Pentecost

Six years ago, as Easter was approaching, I read to the congregation in my sermon an unusually long quote written by a young man named Benjamin Moberg.

JwJ #48 5:13-16 Sick Man #4

^5:13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there.

JwJ #44 4:50-54 Royal Official #3

^{4: 50} Jesus said to the royal official, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.

JwJ #22 – 2:22-25 Temple iv

^2:22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

²³ When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. ²⁴ But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people ²⁵ and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.

Struggling With Church #4/5

As I have pondered the challenge church presents particularly to people who did not grow up with any communal/institutional expression of faith, I have begun to wonder what it really is that keeps so many people so firmly planted outside of church.