A Second Sunday of Lent Thought to Start the Week Off Right
By the Second Sunday of Lent, we should all be in the swing of our special prayer, penance, and almsgiving. If not, get with the program!
When it comes to penance - typically some form of fasting and/or abstinence - our objective isn't to make ourselves weak and miserable. Rather, we're looking for, at the very least, an increase in the virtue of temperance. Overeating, drinking too much, or any other type of self-indulgence can be tempered with fasting and abstinence. It's not all that complicated.
So today, let's focus on one area where probably most of us could use some tempering: our tongues.
It's not so much that we talk too much; it's got more to do with what we say: bad language to be sure; lying, well yeah; critical comments - even when they're "deserving" - said without any sense of charity. Then there's what may be worst of all: detraction. That's when we not only gossip about others, but outright say things detrimental to their character or reputation. It's pretty common. And even those of us who don't usually "bad mouth" others can slip into this from time to time. We've posted on this from time to time, especially as it applies to the work place (examples HERE and HERE).
The entry for the Second Sunday of Lent in The Inner Life of the Soul comes at this through today's Gospel about the Transfiguration. When the vision ends and Our Lord descends the mountain with Peter, James, and John, He tells them: "Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of Man be risen from the dead." He was calling on them to exercise "mortification of the tongue." Of all the various forms of mortification out there, this could very well be one of the toughest.
Even those of us who aren't particularly chatty can suffer from a loose tongue when it comes to talking about others in an uncharitable way. There's really only one cure for it: stone cold silence. And it's not just a matter of avoiding uncharitable speech. The cure goes beyond restraint from harmful, sinful talk. Consider the following:
"...we can close our lips when vivacity would lead us to reply, and vanity to speak; if there is something we want very much to see and to talk about, we can turn away our eyes occasionally, and say nothing. The wish to hear, to tell news, or to know everything that is going on, is a constant source of mortification; so also is a clever or an amusing word which might make us admired, and which we can check in order to conquer pride and gain humility."
A lot to consider there, don't you think? But wait; there's more. This one really got my attention. And it's not only that my work frequently requires strict attention to detail. It's also because I have a tendency to focus in an exclusive manner when I'm reading or even just thinking about something important. So when I'm interrupted, my reactions could stand some improvement. The following might help:
"Suppose we are interrupted fifty times in a very serious occupation, fifty times let us hush our impatient tongues, check even an impatient frown or gesture, and listen with as much sweetness as though we were not busy..."
Gotta work on this, and Lent will be the perfect time to do that. (I'm picturing now the reaction of family members to my reacting with "sweetness" as if I'm not busy. They may wonder if I'm OK.)
Now here's some advice we can all take in and lock up for future use, if and when we're ever tempted to talk about our neighbor. Remember, the idea here is that even in a case where the guy or gal has, in fact, done something wrong, we've got to get that tongue under control.
"What do we know of our neighbor's motive, his hidden intention, that thing which, in the sight of God, makes many an action fair and holy, which we dare to blame? There is a brilliantly acute as well as a saintly saying worthy to be set in letters of gold: 'Never be scandalized or surprised at what you see or hear. If you lived among the angels, and gave heed to what was going on, many things would seem to you not to be good, because you do not understand them.'..."
Remember these words no matter how astute you may think you are at deciphering others' words or discerning their motives. And maybe add this simple conclusion:
"Ah, if we could see into souls as God's eye sees, many would stand transfigured before us in an amazing likeness to our Lord on Mount Thabor, and before them we should veil our eyes in silent awe!"
When it comes to penance - typically some form of fasting and/or abstinence - our objective isn't to make ourselves weak and miserable. Rather, we're looking for, at the very least, an increase in the virtue of temperance. Overeating, drinking too much, or any other type of self-indulgence can be tempered with fasting and abstinence. It's not all that complicated.
So today, let's focus on one area where probably most of us could use some tempering: our tongues.
It's not so much that we talk too much; it's got more to do with what we say: bad language to be sure; lying, well yeah; critical comments - even when they're "deserving" - said without any sense of charity. Then there's what may be worst of all: detraction. That's when we not only gossip about others, but outright say things detrimental to their character or reputation. It's pretty common. And even those of us who don't usually "bad mouth" others can slip into this from time to time. We've posted on this from time to time, especially as it applies to the work place (examples HERE and HERE).
The entry for the Second Sunday of Lent in The Inner Life of the Soul comes at this through today's Gospel about the Transfiguration. When the vision ends and Our Lord descends the mountain with Peter, James, and John, He tells them: "Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of Man be risen from the dead." He was calling on them to exercise "mortification of the tongue." Of all the various forms of mortification out there, this could very well be one of the toughest.
Even those of us who aren't particularly chatty can suffer from a loose tongue when it comes to talking about others in an uncharitable way. There's really only one cure for it: stone cold silence. And it's not just a matter of avoiding uncharitable speech. The cure goes beyond restraint from harmful, sinful talk. Consider the following:
"...we can close our lips when vivacity would lead us to reply, and vanity to speak; if there is something we want very much to see and to talk about, we can turn away our eyes occasionally, and say nothing. The wish to hear, to tell news, or to know everything that is going on, is a constant source of mortification; so also is a clever or an amusing word which might make us admired, and which we can check in order to conquer pride and gain humility."
A lot to consider there, don't you think? But wait; there's more. This one really got my attention. And it's not only that my work frequently requires strict attention to detail. It's also because I have a tendency to focus in an exclusive manner when I'm reading or even just thinking about something important. So when I'm interrupted, my reactions could stand some improvement. The following might help:
"Suppose we are interrupted fifty times in a very serious occupation, fifty times let us hush our impatient tongues, check even an impatient frown or gesture, and listen with as much sweetness as though we were not busy..."
Gotta work on this, and Lent will be the perfect time to do that. (I'm picturing now the reaction of family members to my reacting with "sweetness" as if I'm not busy. They may wonder if I'm OK.)
Now here's some advice we can all take in and lock up for future use, if and when we're ever tempted to talk about our neighbor. Remember, the idea here is that even in a case where the guy or gal has, in fact, done something wrong, we've got to get that tongue under control.
"What do we know of our neighbor's motive, his hidden intention, that thing which, in the sight of God, makes many an action fair and holy, which we dare to blame? There is a brilliantly acute as well as a saintly saying worthy to be set in letters of gold: 'Never be scandalized or surprised at what you see or hear. If you lived among the angels, and gave heed to what was going on, many things would seem to you not to be good, because you do not understand them.'..."
Remember these words no matter how astute you may think you are at deciphering others' words or discerning their motives. And maybe add this simple conclusion:
"Ah, if we could see into souls as God's eye sees, many would stand transfigured before us in an amazing likeness to our Lord on Mount Thabor, and before them we should veil our eyes in silent awe!"
We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee,
Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou Hast Redeemed the world.
Comments