Today’s essay by Thomas Merton builds on the thoughts of seeking Christ beyond suffering. Merton points out that seeking suffering just for suffering’s sake is dangerously self-centered. This is simple but so vitally important to avoiding the pitfalls of Lent in particular and Discipleship in general. The goal of living purposefully and passionately in Christ, is knowing Christ. This passage by Merton says it very well,
“To know the cross is to know that we are saved by the sufferings of Christ; more, it is to know the love of Christ who underwent suffering and death in order to save us. It is, then, to know Christ. For to know his love is not merely to know the story of his love, but to experience in our spirit that we are loved by him, and that in his love the Father manifests his own love for us, through his Spirit poured forth into our hearts…”
Christ is the embodiment of the Kingdom and He calls His follower to seek the kingdom first. Lent and discipleship are about seeking Christ.