Little Portion in Snow

Entering the Blogosphere

We at Little Portion have entered the blogosphere on two levels. Here on Blogger we will share with you reflections on key scriptures from the living Word of God, give you in-depth messages, and also provide behind the scene glimpses of life with The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage. Our site on MySpace has photos, blog entries and song snippets, as well as our upcoming concert schedule. Unique to MySpace is the opportunity to interact with "Friends." To access that site, click here.

I've spent a lot of time going back and forth between my hermitage at Little Portion in the Arkansas Ozarks and Nashville in the past few weeks, enjoying working on my new 50th CD. This hallmark event is highlighted by my return to the more neoclassical, meditative sound for which I am best known. Yet this album is also a creative step forward for me musically. More details are available at MySpace and at my website (click here).

Thank you for joining me here at Blogger for this new venture.

Life at Little Portion

This slideshow portrays a small slice of life, as well as the beautiful grounds, at Little Portion. For more on The Brothers and Sisters of Charity and Little Portion Hermitage, click here.

Rich Masters & Humble Dogs

Even the dogs under the table eat the family’s leavings. Mark 7:28

Today we come to the issue that forced the early church to rethink its approach to the external demands of Jewish religious law: the conversion of the Gentiles to Christianity. A Jewish Christian with the Spirit could look to the heart of the law as he met its external demands. Adding a few “lawless” Gentile converts to the Jewish church did not disrupt this practice. However, when Gentile converts increased to a majority, this became a pressing issue to the Church of the Gospels, necessitating change.

Jewish Savior Ministers to Gentile

Despite hints that Gentiles would later be included, Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “salvation is from the Jews” (Jn 4:22.). Then something significant happened. After first reaffirming the position of the Jews as God’s chosen people (“It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs”), Jesus ministers directly to a Gentile.

How does this “dog” win the healing response of Jesus? By demanding her rights as a recipient of the foretold New Covenant? By forcing Jesus into universal ministry? No! By humility! She said, “Please, Lord ... even the dogs under the table eat the family’s leavings.”

Gentiles & Jews in Christianity

We also have “Gentiles” and “Jews” in modern Chris­tianity. We could call the “Jews” those who trace historical, apostolic succession directly back to Christ. The “Gentiles” are those outside this apostolic company. As Paul said of the Jews, “theirs were the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law-giving, the worship, and the promises.” Likewise, we could rightly say: ours are the apostolic succession, the apostolic tradition, the Scriptures, and the sacraments.

Let Us Unite in Christ

Are we “Jews” open to bringing the richness of apostolic tradition to those outside its boundaries? Such mutual openness and humility is mandatory if we are to be fully united again in Christ.

John Michael Talbot

Gossip Kills

The more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. Mark 7:36

Gossip is one of the most difficult problems encountered in building intentional Christian community in America. This sin is often communicated with more zeal and interest than open and honest dialogue. Indeed, those who work in offices have observed this principle: to excite interest, call a confidential meeting behind closed doors. To have a policy followed half-heartedly, announce it publicly.

The tendency to gossip is related to the universal bondage of sin. St. Paul said, “There is no just man, not even one; all have taken the wrong course . . . not one of them acts uprightly, no, not one . . . they use their tongue to deceive; the venom of asps lies behind their lips . . . Swiftly run their feet to shed blood; ruin and misery strew their course. The path of peace is unknown to them; the fear of God is not before their eyes.” (Rom 3:10-18)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated that a gossiper is the same as a murderer, only the device is different. One uses the tongue, the other resorts to an external tool, but the effect is the same: death, murder, and destruction.

How to Overcome the Tendency to Gossip

You may discuss all issues with a spiritual director or confessor. Otherwise, anything negative or critical should be said privately to the individual concerned. If you are not heard, then bring in another person involved in the issue. If there is no resolution, then bring in leadership. If you go outside this teaching from the gospels, then you are guilty of the grave sin of gossip.

We should reflect on this: Do we get more excited about a secret story than about an open truth? Among friends do we use the guise of conversation to gossip? If so, let us repent and obey scripture. When Jesus tells us not to say anything, let us simply be silent!

John Michael Talbot

Photo: Originally uploaded by Dano.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mukluk/