In a world troubled with conflicting perspectives and peopled with those who live “conflicted” in their souls, here is a terrific NEW perspective!

Romans 12:15 tells us . . . Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.   That sounds good . . . it sounds right!

How concise! How pragmatic! How life-changing! How . . . irritating!

What we like to do, before we arrive in the Abbey, is to mourn when we want to and rejoice when we feel like it, but once inside, both mourning and rejoicing must give way to the Divine Office, to the worship and prayer of each day.

We can bring ourselves to mourn a little or a lot, but not always WITH others, entering into their grief, when we are — “good grief!” – up to our own eyeballs in our own little sorrows, transgressions, failures and, well, need for attention! It’s just about the same with shared joy. In practice, while Romans 12:15 will read our mail, it is also the check that’s in the mail, the discovery of what it is to comfort others with the comfort with which we’ve been comforted, to share their joys and sorrows and find that ours are important to those we love. In community, in family, we mustn’t let others sorrow or rejoice alone, for our God is with us in every dark and troubled place, and it pleases Him to bring us into many delights. As He is, so are we in this world; it is our inheritance and our glory.

And we can take THAT to the bank!

Sisters …. Abbey photo