Friday, October 14

a unique claim

THAT THE INNER TRUTH OF MAN AND OF HUMAN EXISTANCE IS REVEALED IN A CERTAIN KIND OF EVENT. THIS EVENT HAS THE NATURE OF KAIROS, CRISIS OR JUDGMENT. CHALLENGED BY A DIRECT HISTORICAL INTERVENTION OF GOD (WHICH MAY BE DOUBTFUL AND OBSCURE BUT IS NONE THE LESS DECISIVE), MAN CAN RESPOND WITH THE ENGAGEMENT OF HIS DEEPEST FREEDOM, OR HE CAN EVADE THE ENCOUNTER BY VARIOUS SPECIOUS EXCUSES. IF THE ENCOUNTER IS EVADED, MAN'S FREEDOM IS NOT VINDICATED BUT IS MORTGAGED AND FORFEITED. (But the confrontation can be renewed in other circumstances. One may get another chance!) WHEN THE ENCOUNTER IS REAL AND COMPLETE, A NEW KIND OF RELATIONSHIP IS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN OUR OWN FREEDOM AND THAT ULTIMATE FREEDOM AND SPIRIT: THE GOD WHO IS LOVE AND WHO IS ALSO THE "LORD OF HISTORY." AT THE SAME TIME A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER MEN COMES INTO BEING: INSTEAD OF LIVING FOR OURSELVES, WE LIVE FOR THEM. IDEALLY SPEAKING, IF WE ALL LIVED IN THIS KIND OF ALTRUISTIC CONCERN AND ENGAGEMENT, HUMAN HISTORY WOULD CULMINATE IN AN EPIPHANY OF GOD IN MAN. MANKIND WOULD VISIBLY BE "CHRIST."
-Thomas Merton

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