Complicity and Participation in the Mystery of Evil

In previous posts I've commented on the tendency to demonize those with whom we do not agree. Many of us must confess to this from time to time. Here are some intriguing words written on the subject:

"We have to train ourselves to recognize how we're giving an 'affective charge' to an offense, how we are getting energy from mulling over someone else's mistakes. We can build a case with no effort at all. We wrap and embellish and by the time our twenty minutes of 'prayer' are over, we have a complete case. The verdict is in: the other person is guilty. And wrong besides. And because the other is wrong, we are right. 'Scapegoating' is when we displace the issue and project it over there instead of owning it here, too. Only the contemplative mind can recognize its own complicity and participation in this great mystery of evil. The contemplative mind holds the tension and refuses to ease itself by projecting evil elsewhere." (Richard Rohr)

As one who recognizes that I am the recipient of unfathomable forgiveness from the Great Forgiver (Jesus), I find this both convicting and challenging. Just some food for thought. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.