One day before Brother Weeps began his daily conference with the novices, a young monk raised his hand.

“Yes, Brother Placid,” said Brother Weeps.

“Brother Weeps, why when church groups or organizations come to the Abbey for retreat do you always encourage them to go home and join the choir if they are not already part of it.”

“Ha! That’s very observant of you, Brother Placid,” said Brother Weeps. “You’re right. I do that very consciously and regularly. I do it so that when someone is teaching them here or at church or school or home, whether in person or by book or online, and the teacher emphasizes the gospel call to each of us to live lives of justice, to practice non-violence, to put faith into action, to do good daily, to offer inclusive love, to practice oohing and aahing, to care for the most vulnerable, and to live in kinship with all the earth, they can say to themselves or out loud to the speaker, “Hey. You’re preaching to the choir here.”

Brother Placid nodded his head. “I was just wondering.”

“Won’t that be something,” said Brother Weeps, “when everyone joins the choir?”

“Hey, you’re preaching to the choir.”

© Dan Miller, 2021. All Rights Reserved.

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