Thursday 7 February 2008

After spending a few days looking at evil within tyrannys and in the specific case of Hitler, today we have another take on evil.



In St. Thomas Aquinas, we find a totally different view of evil. Evil is not only reversible but it is the proper motive of that mercy by which it is overcome and changed into good. Replying to the objection that moral evil is not the motive for mercy since the evil of sin deserves the indignation and punishment rather than mercy and forgiveness, St. Thomas says that on the contrary sin itself is already a punishment "and in this respect we feel sorrow and compassion for sinners." In order to do this we have to be able to experience their sin as if it were our own. But those who "consider themselves happy and whose sense of power depends on the idea that they are beyond suffering any evil are not able to have mercy on others" by experiencing the evil of others as their own.



Imagine if we were able to look at sin as already a punishment...not something that must be punished. And yet, how very true it is. "Separation for God and others" (a definition of sin) is to attempt to live cut off. It is to be alone and trusting only in one's self. It is like the view of hell as a place where people live separate from one another - no contact and always moving away from the nearest neighbor. We are all moving away from others. It happens for so many reasons. And yet, when we move away, we miss out on the life of healing that may take place for all of us when we are able to be in relationship. Why wish condemnation on each other because of our sin? When we are living separate (for any number of reasons) we are not able to be as whole as we were intended to be. So...the invitation of our lives is to step up and enter into the sin of the other as though it was our own...as though we know what it is to be like them. Imagine stepping into the skin of a brutal racist. I would imagine that it must be a fear-filled and angry place to be - a real hell. What is it that wounded someone so deeply that they would find themselves stuck within such a life? Or what about someone lost in their own need for revenge against another. Their sin - their separation - is built on fear and hatred that is really limiting their own life - residing in hell again.



Connection: Sometimes it is good to listen to stories and begin to see what utter punishment is going on in the life of others as they live within their brokenness. It is then that we can be a part of the healing we are all called to take on as our life. We may also begin to see our own stories more closely and more critically



We long to be made whole by you, O God. It is too easy for us to separate ourselves from others and we are very good at coming up with "good reasons" for separation. In the meantime, we are building our own world of separation and pain and sin. Teach us the way of your forgiving Reign. Amen.