“Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” (James 1:20)
“ Make every effort to live in peace with all men.” (Hebrews 12:14)
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)

The one who seeks harmony always looks for bridges.


Gentleness is humble, does its work without needing attention.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

Gentleness does its work for the good of others.

[We] “…must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” (Ephesians 4:28)

Gentleness is willing to confront in terms of the common good, it seeks resolution and restitution. Paul writes about a situation in Philippi,

“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel (Philippians 4:2-3a)

Gentleness does not seek punishment for punishment's sake. Paul writes to Timothy about what a servant of the Lord must be like:

“Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” (II Timothy 2:25)

Is always ready and willing to honestly forgive. Forgiveness looks the offense in the eye and decides to take appropriate risks again. In today’s second lesson Paul writes,

“But God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Gentleness has an openness of spirit that negotiates honestly, focused on the goal and not personalities.

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill…But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” (Philippians 1:25-28)

Gentleness does not hide the truth:

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. (Ephesians 4:25).

Gentleness is tractable, reasonable and flexible.

“Be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. (II Cor. 13:11b)

Gentleness does not quickly give offense, it is polite and considerate.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Gentleness is approachable, accommodating, not off-putting:

“Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (I Corinthians 10:32-33)

Gentleness is self-aware, it knows one's limits and strengths.

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:3)

Gentleness can see itself through others' eyes:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)

Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is produced when the plant is healthy and strong. When your relationship with Christ is healthy and strong your life will demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit. To have the fruit of the Spirit you must nurture your relationship with Christ. There are three parts to it:

1. The life of prayer, both personal and in the Family, seeks to join your spirit with the Spirit of Christ.

2. The life of study informs the mind and actions so that they may be patterned after the pattern of our Lord.

3. The life of action takes the union of spirits and the information and works to bring the world into reconciliation with God through Christ.

The nurturing of your spiritual life follows a process described in the Epistle lesson today:

“We boast in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

Perhaps the way we suffer most these days is when the Spirit brings us up against those parts of our own souls that we do not see. By whatever means the Spirit chooses, when we come to greater self-understanding we see our sin more clearly, we apprehend its depths more completely, and we ache for ourselves. But this suffering, if we will not run from it but will walk into it bravely, speaking the truth to ourselves in love, will produce endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Hope in what? In the love of Christ poured into our hearts.

This is the secret to gentleness: The gentle person has so made peace with their own brokenness through God’s grace that they can treat others’ brokenness with the grace they have received.

Fr. Paul Moore+