This will be the last posting from Thomas Merton on "the Root of War is Fear." Tomorrow we move to another resource.
So instead of loving what you think is peace, love other people and love God above all. And instead of hating the people yuo think are warmakers, hate the appetites and the disorder in your own soul, which are the causes of war. If you love peace, then hate injustice, hat tyranny, hate greed - but hate these things in yourself not in another.
The world becomes the home of peace when we bring peace home into our own lives. So it is aldo with justice and mercy and kindness and love. This does not mean that we merely stay focused on ourselves waiting until we each become the fullness of peace. Rather, we are on a journey in which we look at ourselves and we literally become a part of the change that is needed...and then...in that personal process of that transformation, peace is visible around us as we carry the way of peace in our own humanity. The act of loving others and loving God is the essential element of peacemaking because it is active. Love pulls us toward others - even those we would call enemies. Within the power of that pull, peace is made or at least a witness is given to the peace we always hold up in our prayers.
Connection: Again...we are this peace...we cannot ask that others change when we are not on that journey of change that disrupts the warring ways of our world.
Prince of Peace, guide us along this way of life that is a witness to the peace of your gracious Reign. We will resist your way and we will expect it from others but we must be inspired to step within the pathway of peace. Amen.
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