Gossip and Idle Chatter

•A person too who would talk with thee in idle words, or of the world; or who murmurs at what he cannot remedy or prevent, but who would distress thee more should he be a tattler between friends and foes, thou shalt not admit him to thee, but at once give him thy benediction should he deserve it. 

Be aware of any person or group who by any lack of Charity in word or deed would worry you needlessly or would draw you into sin.  Stay clear of such persons, except if they seek spiritual renewal and blessing.

Reflection:  Life is too short to spend with people who make me lose my peace.  This is not to say I don’t get drawn into things, I certainly do.  Especially if the person knows where my “buttons” are.  But for the most part, I have no discourse with those who might cause me trouble or draw me into gossip or other dark places.  People who are like this and want to change, and are willing to change, can be worked with.  I have seen it in AA.  

One will occasionally run into someone like this in a church setting.  They like nothing better than setting the cat among the pigeons, so to speak.  Because many of us have an innocent heart, we can be drawn in almost before we realize it.  It may be necessary to extricate ourselves from the relationship, although we do not cease to love the person.  I consider myself too weak spiritually to deal with this kind of person, as they tempt me to anger, which is already my chief weakness!  This point of the rule is important, and I don’t think I’ve ever considered it more important than now, in my old age.

Whether the person I decide to stay clear of acts in such manner consciously or not, it is a mercy to myself to avoid the chaos they bring, and a mercy to them because it avoids encouraging their behavior.  

Community

•A few religious men to converse with thee of God and his Testament; to visit thee on days of solemnity; to strengthen thee in the Testaments of God, and the narratives of the Scriptures.

 

Find spiritual communion with those in the Order and with holy Christians who seek union with God.  Join with the community of merciful Christian Sisters and Brothers on holy feasts and whenever possible for prayer and celebration.  Share the Faith you have with others.  Build one another up in Faith, Hope and Charity and in Poverty of spirit, Purity of heart, and Obedience to God through the lessons in Sacred Scripture.

Reflection:  We can’t often get together, except for Cait and I, but even at a distance, we can be together on line or via Skype and email.  I have found the simple knowledge that others are out there trying to live out our vocation of mercy has helped me get through some tough times.  And we are always available by phone to encourage, commiserate, and build each other up.  Some of the best times have included gales of hysterical laughter.  Ask Sr. Peggy about “The Bishop on the Roof” song!

Enclosed in the Love of God

•Let a fast place, with one door, enclose thee.

Whether you live in common or alone, let it be holy ground which is secure, enabling you to live this life enclosed in the Love of God.

Reflection: I hardly ever know what to write about this point of the Rule.  I live in an intentional community.  I do have my private room, but for me the whole property is a holy place, enclosed in the Love of God.  

I think this rule may reflect the way of life of the time it was written, when many people lived in one room, sometimes even with the critters inside, where it would be difficult to find alone time, which is essential for building up the one-to-one relationship with God.  Even today, there are houses crammed with families who cannot afford to live alone.  In that situation, it would be very difficult to live at peace unless one had many years of practice of enclosure of the heart.  It makes me deeply grateful for both the privacy I enjoy and the fact that I live with like-minded people.

What Can We Do?

I don’t recall ever feeling so oppressed by conditions in this country and our dealings with the world as I now feel.  Unless I am very mistaken, our government has decided to go to war in Syria in spite of the will of the people.  If we had any excuse to trust that the government serves anything except the will of multinational corporations, there might be reason to hope.  As it is, I am led to a feeling of helplessness and a kind of free-floating anger.  Who is there to blame?  Is there anything we can do?  Where are we going on this road of endless conflict?

The Old Testament answer from God was, “Where were you when I created the world?” 

The New Testament, however, suggests the new commandment:  “Love one another as I have loved you.”  Christ bids us to love in the face of hatred.  We are to love against all evidence of hopelessness.  We are to love and not rage.  What does that mean in a practical sense?

In my life it takes the form of prayer and generosity with time and resources.  It takes the form of recognition of my poverty – I have no power to change things.  They are beyond my control.  In light of that powerlessness, I find myself called to be peaceful in my heart and in my words and in my actions.  God seems to put in my path the people I am supposed to help and the people who can teach me.  Therefore, my response to chaos is to love, and to remain at peace.

There are those whose vocation it is to fight, and in my youth I fought injustice where and as I could.  In my old age, I must fight injustice with my words and with my prayers, and by loving action.  I weep with those who are suffering and dying in the world.   I pray for those to be called forth who can change the things that must be changed in the world. 

Let us pray for peace.  Let us love one another as Christ loves us, and make enclaves of love wherever we dwell.