using resource loader so class path is considered first

if the file is present in both "/home/<user>" and "merlin/src/resources/" , file is "home" was given priority earlier. 
here in the code in ConfigurationUtils responsible for same 


       // attempt to load from the user home directory
        if (url == null)
        {
            try
            {
                File file = constructFile(System.getProperty("user.home"), name);
                if (file != null && file.exists())
                {
                    url = toURL(file);
                }

                if (url != null)
                {
                    log.debug("Loading configuration from the home path " + file);
                }

            }
            catch (MalformedURLException e)
            {
                log.warn("Could not obtain URL from file", e);
            }
        }

        // attempt to load from classpath
        if (url == null)
        {
            url = locateFromClasspath(name);
        }
        return url;