Idleness may be the enemy of the soul, but so is busyness when it is purposely pursued—often as a way of dealing with anxiety and restlessness. Peter seems to have done precisely this when, being at something of a loose end in those confusing hours and days following the crucifixion, he announced that he was going fishing. His fellow disciples, grateful for this distraction from their own inner turmoil, anxiety, and sadness, immediately replied, we also will come with you. Considering the psychological purpose of sought-out busyness, it is perhaps not surprising that their busyness yielded nothing by way of a catch of fish. As monastics committed to a life that intentionally incorporates manual labor and can sometimes be very busy, we need to remain vigilant and not create extra busyness as an escape from the necessary inner battles, without which we fail to grow. As we know, in our Cistercian tradition the antidote to unnecessary busyness is not idleness, but that holy leisure that opens onto prayer, lectio, and contemplation. Through this Eucharist may we given the grace to cherish holy leisure and guard against a concocted busyness that, like idleness, is the enemy of the soul.
Peggy Anderson says
Thanks, Fr. Joseph for this needed reminder. It’s so easy, even in this time of shelter-in-place, to feel an urgency to get certain projects completed. The real question for me to reflect on is the origin/stimulus for the supposed urgency. What am I placing on the sidelines to “finish the project?” Holy leisure, perhaps.