Today is the first day of our Saturday adult formation discussion of Thomas Merton's book, "What Is Contemplation?" Merton claims that contemplation is an essential Christian experience, and that when you begin a life of contemplation, "you have left the beaten path and are traveling by paths that cannot be charted or measured." Today's meditation is from chapter one:
"What is Contemplation?"
by Thomas Merton
Infused contemplation is a powerful means of sanctification. It is the work of love and nothing is more effective in increasing our love of God. In fact, infused contemplation is intimately connected with the pure and perfect love of God which is God's greatest gift to the soul. It is deep and intimate knowledge of God by a union of love....If intimate union with God you must be willing to pay the price for it.
The price is small enough. In fact it is not even a price at all: it only seems to be so with us.We find it difficult to give up our desire for things that can never satisfy us in order to purchase the One Good in Whom is all our joy - and in Whom, moreover, we get back everything else that we have renounced besides!
The fact remains that contemplation will not be given to those who willfully remain at a distance from God, who confine their interior life to a few routine exercises of piety and a few external acts of worship and service performed as a matter of duty. Such people are careful to avoid sin. They respect God as a Master. But their heart does not belong to [God]. They are not really interested in [God], except in order to insure themselves against losing heaven and going to hell.
From "What is Contemplation" by Thomas Merton, Templegate Publishers, Springfield, Illinois, 1978.
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What is willfully keeping you at a distance from God?
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