Speaking & Teaching—The Master’s Task

The tongue holds the key to life and death. (RB80.6.4)

Why is it that our tongue betrays our actions so often? We forgive one another with words, but not actions. We say thank you with words, but not actions. We say we are happy with words, but not with our actions. It seems our words come too soon and we are not yet living what we are saying. We give double messages—one with our words and one with our actions. We are called to be a sign of God’s living presence in the world. What we live is much more important than what we say. The right way of living always leads to the right way of speaking.

Benedict was on the mark when he called for so much silence in the monastery. Silence enables us to get our living and speaking in tune.

Sr. Veronica, OSB