November 11

Seventeenth Monday after Trinity

With longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Ephesians 4:2.

THE overlooking of our neighbours' faults is a fundamental rule of charity. This is a great art, most necessary in society, most conducive to the pleasantness of life. How much easier it is to suit oneself to others than to bend them to our opinions and humours! The human mind is a mirror which readily reflects every colour presented to it, only we must beware not to be like the cameleon, which reflects every tint save white. Toleration without purity and candour is dangerous. We do well to take pity on sinners, but rather with a view to drag them out of their ditch than to let them perish in it through mistaken tenderness. It is a perverse compassion which looks on without venturing to help a neighbour from out of the peril of sin, by reaching forth a hand in the shape of a kind but honest remonstrance. One should forbear in all things short of offending God. This is the limit of all true forbearance. I do not say that one ought to rebuke a sinner under all circumstances. Discreet charity waits for a suitable opportunity to apply the required remedy. Impetuous zeal without wisdom does more harm than good. Some people do nothing because they aim at doing too much, and rend asunder that which they seek to unite. One must make haste slowly, one must be judicious in reproof as in forbearance. Be patient and forbearing, but when you make up your mind to reprove, use such wisdom and decision, such vigour and gentleness, that none can resist you.

Help us, O Lord! with patient love to bear Each other's faults, to suffer with true meekness; Help us each other's joys and griefs to share, But let us turn to Thee alone in weakness.