Meeting Evil with Mercy tells the absorbing story of Martin Israel, a Jewish doctor turned Christian priest, who always emphasised the sanctity of life and the sacrament of the present moment. His testimony of mercy is of the greatest value in todays troubled world, living as it does under the shadow of terrorist outrage, as Christians and other wartime refugees have fled savage persecution of the most appalling kind, giving rise to a migrant crisis in Europe of immense proportions. In the face of such great suffering, hardly ever has there been a greater need for the soothing balm of reconciliation — yet total resolution of any crisis can never come without deep understanding of the true nature of sorrow. It will take the resolute qualities of courage and loving kindness by all people of goodwill to enable them to confront the full fury of their inner demons too, but it is vital that this is attempted, since to pacify these dark energies is to calm the outer world in which they find eventual expression in such brutal violence. This is the unequivocal message of this heartening biography, which does not evade disturbing aspects of conflict and evil, but instead offers profound hope of enduring peace through calm reflection, heartfelt prayer and decisive action.
