This week Merton draws on the writings of Erasmus in order to comment on force and violence and evil.
When asked if it was lawful to overcome force with force, Erasmus answered that this might be permissible according to "Imperial laws" but he wondered how it could be relevant for a Christian, who is bound to follow the law of Christ, "granted that human laws do not punish what they have permitted. Yet what is Christ your leader going to do if you defraud this law... If your enemy is hungry, give him to eat... In so doing you will heap coals of fire upon his head, that is to say, you will enkindle the fire of love in him."
We are invited...called...to go a bit farther than the law. The law helps to maintain order and provides security. That is fine and good and necessary. But then there is the call and invitation to follow Christ. That is a journey to the cross. Actually, it is the cross all along the way. When that is the case, the simplicity of a law of the land - for all the good it does - is not able to bring about the transformation of life that comes as one walks the way of the cross and begins to live as though one is already living according to the Reign of God. Somehow - and we say under the power of the Holy Spirit - we are empowered to bring about a new action that does not go along with the expectations of us against them. We are called to remember that they are the beloved and are to be treated just like that...just as our God treats God's Beloved. In that action, we become open to experience the surprise of new life that brings about radical change of heart.
Connection: This is no easy road. Once we have created an enemy, it is quite difficult to turn them into one we will treat as a beloved one.
Blessed God, turn us into the instruments of your peace so that your loving presence will be with us no matter who we encounter as we walk through this day. Amen.
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