Luc-Olivier Merson, “Rest on the Flight into Egypt” (1879), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
While being interviewed by Krista Tippett for the On Being podcast, actor and activist Martin Sheen shared his favorite passage from Trappist monk and author Thomas Merton… words that I’ve not been able to get out of my head since I first listened. I share them with the Daily Theology community so they might serve as a spark for prayer and reflection during this holy season.
Into this world, this demented inn,
in which there is absolutely no room for Him at all,
Christ has come uninvited.
But because He cannot be at home in it,
because He is out of place in it, and yet he must be in it,
His place is with those others for whom there is no room.
His place is with those who do not belong,
who are rejected by power because they are regarded as weak,
those who are discredited,
who are denied the status of persons, tortured, excommunicated.
With those for whom there is no room,
Christ is present in this world.
~ Thomas Merton, Raids on the Unspeakable
Thank you all for your reflections. Can we get the webpage to allow sharing on Twitter and FB, please ! Pat Dougherty
From: Daily Theology To: doughertyjp@sbcglobal.net Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2015 6:09 PM Subject: [New post] Christ Comes Uninvited #yiv0493336368 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv0493336368 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv0493336368 a.yiv0493336368primaryactionlink:link, #yiv0493336368 a.yiv0493336368primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv0493336368 a.yiv0493336368primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv0493336368 a.yiv0493336368primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv0493336368 WordPress.com | Andrew Staron posted: ” While being interviewed by Krista Tippett for the “On Being” podcast, actor and activist Martin Sheen shared his favorite passage from Trappist monk and author Thomas Merton… words that I’ve not been able to get out of my head since I firs” | |
I wanted to write something using these words today, but no time… I’m glad that I did not, your use of them this way is what I needed. Thank you.
Thank you Andrew, esp for using Merson art. I just used that as the basis for a Visio Divina on displacement in an Advent Reflection morning. Merton quote is perfect for Advent 2015.
The quote from Merton is profound, as always. Please feel free to visit my WordPress blog, as I sense that we have overlapping interests. http://www.therapyviews.com