Our major concern should be those for whom God has entrusted to our care. We need to avoid the distraction of shallow connections with large groups of people
In Conjectures, pp. 92-93 Merton has the following statement:
“A distinction: to be “thought of” kindly by many and to “think of” them kindly is only a diluted benevolence, a collective illusion of friendship. Its function is not the sharing of love but complicity in a mutual reassurance that is based on nothing. Instead of cultivating this diffuse aura of benevolence, you should enter with trepidation into the deep and genuine concern for those few persons God has committed to your care – your family, your students, your employees, your parishioners. This concern is an involvement, a distraction, and it is vitally urgent. You are not allowed to evade it even though it may disturb your “peace of mind.” It is good and right that your peace should be thus disturbed, that you should suffer and bear the small burden of these cares that cannot usually be told to anyone. There is no special glory in this, it is only duty. But in the long run it brings with it the best of all gifts: it gives life.“Unlike the great benevolent and public movements, full of noisy and shared concern, it is not foggy, diffuse, devouring, and absurd. Only a person concern of this kind leads to love.”
My comment:
In my teaching and preaching I often use the following example to help people discern the will of God in their life.
I tell them to imagine a little table near the bed when the wake up in the morning. God has placed a note for the day to tell you what the agenda is for today!
In the note are a list of people and their needs starting with your loved one. Then there ae those for whom you have aa responsible relationship. This is followed by a list of special persons who will be truly blessed by your unique concern and attention this day.
The third list contains your talents that God has given you. These can help you truly make a difference in the way you sow the seeds of peace and reconciliation, justice and harmony.
God is saying charity begins at home but it grows from there to include all the world. In the 80’s and 90’s there was a truly wise dictum that still fits our lives today. “Act locally and think globally.”
Merton’s point is clear and forceful: start with the relationships and responsibilities God has given us. This is God’s will for us. In service and love to the people in our immediate orbit of love and attention we will find the wisdom to deal with the larger world in the most meaningful way.
II
I made my own decision on the use of Facebook and the value of my time after three or four months into the demanding commitment. I think Merton offers a challenge to all to discern if Facebook is helping you pursue God’s will. This is no easy choice either way. It demands reflection, prayer and openness. It is surely worth the time and effort to evaluate your commitment.
III
Pope Francis has a great section on fraternal charity in The Joy of the Gospel. The title is No to Warring among ourselves, numbers 98 to 101. In the final paragraph, he says,
“Let us ask the Lord to help us understand the law of love. How good it is to have this law! How much good it does us to love one another, in spite of everything. Yes, in spite of everything! St. Paul’s exhortation is directed to each of us: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom 12:21) and again,: “let us not grow weary in doing what is right.” (Gal 6:9). We all have our likes and dislikes, and perhaps at this very moment we are angry with someone. At least let us say to the Lord: “Lord, I am angry with this person, that person. I pray to you for him and for her.” To pray for a person with whom I am irritated is a beautiful step forward in love, and an act of evangelization. Let us do it today! Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of the ideal of fraternal love.” (# 101)
IV
In the late 70’s I was closing out an activist social ministry. It was a mixture of generosity, sacrifice and service wrapped up in a litany of self-deception that Merton clarifies in all his writing.
I came across the following quote from Merton at the time. It has been tremendously life-giving for me over the years. I have used its message to help many others along the way.
In 1966, some tired, frustrated and struggling workers for peace came to him for guidance. He spoke to their hearts with a message of hope. His words laid out the way of growth and inclusion that have set the pattern for the next five decades.
“All the good you will do will not come from you but from the fact that you have allowed yourself, in obedience of faith, to be used by God’s love. Think of this more and gradually you will be free from the need to prove yourself, and you will be more open to the power that will work through you without you knowing it. If you can get free of the domination of causes and first serve Christ’s truth, you will be able to do more and be less crushed by the inevitable
disappointments. The real hope, then, is not in something we think we can do, but in God who is making something good out of it in some way we cannot see. If we can do His will, we will be helping in the process. But, we will not necessarily know about it beforehand.”
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iSojourner’s, February, 1979
p. 18.
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