Lectio: Tools for Good Works (con't)

SAINTS ANDREW KIM TAEI-GŎN AND PAUL CHŎNG HA-SANG, AND COMPANIONS

Readings of the day: RB 4:44-62

Mass: 1 Timothy 3:14-16; Resp. Psalm 111; Luke 7:31-35

Day three of Saint Benedict’s tools for good works. What tool speaks to you today; how will it guide your words and deeds?

⁴⁴You should recognize with awe that there will be a day of judgment for all of us,

⁴⁵which should make us fear the doom of an evil life.

⁴⁶Above all, however, you should cultivate a longing for eternal life with a desire of great spiritual intensity.

⁴⁷Keep the reality of death always before your eyes.

⁴⁸Have a care about how you act every hour of your life.

⁴⁹And be sure that God is present everywhere and that he certainly sees and understands what you are about.

⁵⁰Whenever evil thoughts occur to you mind, cast them down at the feet of Christ and talk about them frankly to your spirit)tual father or mother.

⁵¹Take care to avoid any speech that is evil and degenerate.

^52-53It is also well to avoid empty talk that has no purpose except to raise a laugh.

⁵⁴As for laughter that is unrestrained and raucous, it is not good to be attracted to that sort of thing.

⁵⁵You should take delight in listening to sacred reading.

⁵⁶And in often turning generously to prayer.

⁵⁷You should also in that prayer daily confess to God with heartfelt repentance any evil you have done in the past.

⁵⁸And for the future have the firm purpose to right any wrong you may have done.

⁵⁹Don’t act out sensuous desires that occur to you naturally.

⁶⁰Turn away from the pursuit of your own will.

⁶¹Rather, you should follow in obedience the directions your abbot or abbess gives you, even if they, which God forbid, should contradict their own teaching by the way they live. In such a case just remember the Lord’s advice about the example of the Pharisees: Accept and follow their teaching but on no account imitate their actions.

⁶²No one should aspire to gain a reputation for holiness. First of all, we must actually become holy; then there would be some truth in having a reputation for it. 

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life, you have the words of everlasting life

(Gospel Acclamation, Mass)

SAINTS ANDREW KIM TAEI-GŎN AND PAUL CHŎNG HA-SANG,

AND COMPANIONS, PRAY FOR US.