Lent 2026 Guide-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 15
Reflection
In the struggle for civil rights, Thomas Merton insisted that Christians had
a moral duty to address racism – in our hearts and in the systems we sustain.
His words still stand. Merton names racism as a spiritual and social evil that
fractures communities, and he urges us to resist it with faith that acts, hope
that persists and love that disrupts injustice.
Action in Contemplation
Merton writes that real racial reckoning requires a deep metanoia—a
turning that shakes us awake. What are some “crying injustices and
deep-seated problems” you have been waking up to? Being awake can be
challenging, so consider others you could link hands with as you pursue
faith, hope and love in response. Be curious and use your imagination to
dream wildly about what is possible. Let the warmth of others’ hands in
yours give you fuel for future actions.
– Karen Downing, Anti-Racism Committee
“The Light Shines in Darkness” (2016), Beth Ann Edwards
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