“It is a weakness of righteous men that they cannot discern praiseworthy things in a vice-ridden man” (Souda, a 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia).
Welcome Lucille, Jill, and Roxanne, Bible Study Evangelista’s newest friends of the show! Thank you for loving and lifting me.
LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin.
L – Listen (Receive the Word.)
O – Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)
F | Franciscan – Take a look at a crucifix; if possible, hold it in your hand. Touch His five wounds. Think about the worst sin you can remember committing in your life. Was Jesus ever unkind to you about your sin?
I | Ignatian – Imagine Jesus is sitting across from you. Become aware of your breath. Use your five senses to imagine the scenario as Jesus sits across from you, and you talk together about your speech habits. What does he say?
A | Augustinian – What was the most significant scripture or idea you heard in the show on kindness? How has God spoken to you about your speech habits? What can you do this week to assure that the Law of Kindness remains in your mouth?
T | Thomistic – Who do you routinely encounter that you can go out of your way to be kinder to? Why do you sometimes feel unkind toward this person? Where and when do you usually encounter this person? What sincere, kind thing will you say to this person the next time you see him or her?
V – Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
Where has Jesus challenged your habits of speech today? What do you sense He wants from you now? Talk to Him about that in your journal or on your journal page (get a free page and user guide to the right).
E – Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)
Holy Spirit, guard my speech; convict me before I am unkind. May I anticipate situations in which I can be deliberately kind, so that your Law of Kindness remains in my mouth. + Amen.
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*LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.
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Episode Resources
Tell me about the kindest thing you ever heard a stranger say to you in our Facebook discussion community, where you can also post or chat with others about your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway.
References
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Kindness
Catholic Dictionary, Kindness
On the Pulse of the Morning, Maya Angelou
Read the Transcript
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Courtesy of Kristie Hynniman who does our transcriptions for you.
Love the poem by maya. Also the quote out of the Souda
Sonja, you spoke right to me today. I have been unkind through my words to my husband and my mother, most especially. They say we “throw up” on the people closest to us, right? Your reflection reminded me of the book “Hung by the Tongue” by Francis P. Martin. Thank you for this reminder to help me grow more spiritually mature day by day. This is one of the hardest sins I need to overcome, for I have the tendency to judge/criticize others through my words because I am also so critical of myself. This also reminds me of the exercise I did with my Girls on the Run team. We had them push out a whole tube of toothpaste onto a plate and then had the girls try to fit the toothpaste back into the tube. This taught the girls (and us, the coaches) that our mean words/gossip can never be taken back, WOW, what a physical reminder of the power of our words.
Thank you for sharing Maya Angelou’s poem.