When we love others with His love, we no longer know good and evil (which is what the serpent promised) but only good. We overcome the evil in the world by the charity and compassion of God, and in so doing we drive all evil out of our own hearts.
~Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island

Today is the second anniversary of John Paul II's death, and while I haven't yet publicly proclaimed my desire to join the Church, it's a special day for this Catholic-Friend, too. Special because, even in death, JP II means a lot me -- especially today. I can't describe why he has this impact on me, nor can I pinpoint a most profound homily of his that warrants so much love and admiration. The best explanation that I can conceive is it is his deep, personal love for God and consequent love for others that attracts me to him. If I'm certain about anything it's that I'm attracted to that kind of love not because I have it in me, but rather because I am in want of it.

I first began taking a serious interest in his life and teachings during the highly covered moments of his death and funeral. Although I had felt drawn to the Church before then, there is no doubt that those prayerful services inspired me to learn even more. The haunting responsorial hymn during his funeral procession touched my heart most of all. It was then that I began attending Mass and grabbing every JP II book I could find. With the help of the Holy Spirit (I'm convinced), I have since cultivated a close relationship with JP II's memory and, more importantly, with the Church. I believe that if it weren't for his singular life and death I would not be where I am today -- called to Communion.

Bringing Star Wars into the picture, I have to shake my head once again at the Sith, who aren't known for honoring those who have transformed into the Force. The one time Palpatine expressed admiration for his mentor he quickly cancelled it with a comment on the irony of his death. How evil can you get? It reminds me of a sentence from Merton's book: "To consider persons and events and situations only in the light of their effect upon myself is to live on the doorstep of hell." However, I have no place to judge as I too have found myself there, perhaps even with a foot through the door. Although Palpatine's brand of selfishness is effectively exaggerated, the stuff of Hollywood, I am in a sense right there with him. And today is as good as any to meditate on this fact and to resolve to improve. Thanks, in part, to the wonderful example given us by John Paul the Great.