1. By asking for the grace of God
to protect our souls from harm and
to do the good which we cannot do on our own
2. By looking through the eyes of mercy
mercy for those who do not know yet what they do
mercy for those who, knowing what they do
will merit eternal separation from the love of God
3. By forgiving and allowing God to heal us
for the pain caused by these evil,
and not expecting the one who caused us pain
to be the same healers of our wounds
4. By firmly believing that God is truly and indeed
the One who is still in control, and
good will certainly triumph in the end.
“Merely to resist evil with evil by hating those who hate us and seeking to destroy them, is actually no resistance at all. It is active and purposeful collaboration in evil that brings the Christian into direct and intimate contact with the same source of evil and hatred which inspires the acts of his enemy. It leads in practice to a denial of Christ and to the service of hatred rather than love.” – Thomas Merton, Passion for Peace; Reflections on War and Nonviolence
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"