Friday, June 7: “Speak Little”

Ecclesiastes 5: 1, 2: “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God, for God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.”

As Solomon has said earlier in this book, “To everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3: 1). We can become too “familiar” with our worship, and in our exuberance we make promises to God that our lives don’t back up. The beauty of the Eucharist is that it puts all the focus where it belongs, on Christ Himself. At the Table of the Lord we talk little; we listen (and receive) much.