“We need to understand where we’ve come from and then we need to imagine greater things for our future. That’s the battle we have in front of us, a battle of the imagination.”—Erin Matariki Carr, “The Resurgence of Māori Law”
Verse of the day
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
– 2 Corinthians 4:16
Voice of the day
The pain that brings us to struggle is also the root of joy. Both assert that we are alive.
– Edgar Rivera Colón, “Soul Care for Weary Activists”
Prayer of the day
God, in the midst of pain and struggle, renew our hearts day by day, that we may find in our suffering the roots of joy and the deep assurance that we are truly alive in you.
We are struggling with a debased concept of self. It’s debased to some extent by popular psychology, and of course, again, my advertising. It’s a question of who you identify with; and if they can get you to identify with the person who has certain fears and certain needs—they’ve got you… Just think of how people are dominated in this country by the need to be loved—in a superficial way; not real love, but the need to be accepted and appreciated. You can’t begin unless you are free to some extent from that. — Thomas Merton in California: The Redwoods Conference and Letters, p. 65
It is now evident that good politics cannot come from the culture of power understood as domination and oppression, but only from a culture of care, care for the person and his or her dignity, and care for our common home. — Against War: Building A Culture of Peace, p. 11
Verse of the day
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
– Psalms 34:14
Voice of the day
The God of peace is never glorified by human violence.
– Thomas Merton
Prayer of the day
God of peace, grant us the courage to turn from evil, the strength to do good, and the grace to seek peace relentlessly, that in a world torn by war and violence, love may yet prevail.
Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women and men who leave or who are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more. — MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR THE WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES (2014)
People ask me if I believe songs can change the world. My answer is yes, absolutely. Here’s how: A song can change a heart by creating empathy. A changed heart has the power to change a mind. And when a mind changes, a person changes. When people change, the world changes. One song, one heart, one mind, one person at a time. Songs can bring us to a deeper understanding of each other and ourselves and open the heart to love. — Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting, p. 2
To follow Jesus means to live our lives as authentically as he lived his. It means to give away our ego and to follow the God of Love as Jesus shows us. Following Jesus requires a conversion. It requires a new heart and a new mind.
“We can no longer afford to ignore our obligation to work for the abolition of war as a means of solving international problems.”—Thomas Merton, Peace in the Post-Christian Era
Greed, intolerance, ambition for power, and violence are motives that push forward the decision for war, and these motives are often justified by a war ideology that forgets the immeasurable dignity of human life, of every human life, and the respect and care we owe them. — Against War: Building a Culture of Peace, p. 8 (Kindle edition)
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