Ixesha lesikwere ParadeNguAlexander Chen
WE are living in dangerous times. But few are those who realize it. What I’m speaking of is not the threat of terrorism, climate change, or nuclear war, but something more subtle and insidious. It is the advance of an enemy that has already gained ground in many homes and hearts and is managing to wreak ominous destruction as it spreads throughout the world:
noise.
Ndithetha ngengxolo yasemoyeni. Ingxolo engxolayo emphefumlweni, eva iintliziyo, ithi yakuba nje ingene, ifihle ilizwi likaThixo, isibethe isazela, kwaye imfamekisa amehlo ukuze abone ubunyani. Yenye yeentshaba zethu eziyingozi zexesha lethu kuba, ngelixa imfazwe nobundlobongela benzakalisa umzimba, ingxolo ingumbulali womphefumlo. Kwaye umphefumlo ovale ilizwi likaThixo usemngciphekweni wokungaze uphinde umve ngonaphakade.
INGXOLO
Olu tshaba belusoloko lucele, kodwa mhlawumbi aluzange lube ngaphezulu kunamhlanje. Umpostile uSt. John ukulumkisa oko ingxolo Isimbonono somoya womchasi kristu:
Musani ukulithanda ihlabathi okanye izinto zehlabathi. Ukuba kukho othi alithande ihlabathi, uthando lukaYise alukho kuye. Yonke into esehlabathini, inkanuko yenyama, ukuthanda amehlo, nokuphila ngokuqhayisa, akuveli kuBawo, kodwa kuphuma ehlabathini. Nangona kunjalo ihlabathi kunye nomtsalane walo uyadlula. Ke yena owenza ukuthanda kukaThixo uhleli ngonaphakade. Bantwana, lilixa lokugqibela eli; kwaye njengokuba nevayo ukuba umchasi-Kristu uyeza, ngoku sele bebaninzi abachasi-Kristu. (1 Yohane 2: 15-18)
Inkanuko yenyama, ukuhendwa ngamehlo, ubomi bokuzithemba. Ezi ziindlela ezithi iziphathamandla kunye namagunya akhokele ukuqhushumba kwengxolo kuluntu olungalindelekanga.
UMSINDO WENKANZO
One cannot surf the internet, walk through an airport, or simply buy groceries without being assaulted by the noise of lust. Men, more than women, are susceptible to this because there is a stronger chemical response in men. It is a terrible noise, for it pulls not only the eyes, but one’s very body into its path. To even suggest today that a half-clad woman is immodest or inappropriate will draw bewilderment if not scorn. It has become socially acceptable, and at younger and younger ages, to sexualize and objectivy the body. It is no longer a vessel for transmitting, through modesty and charity, the truth of who the human person truly is, but has become a loudspeaker blaring a distorted message: that fulfillment comes ultimately from sex and sexiness, rather than the Creator. This noise alone, now broadcast through rancid imagery and language in nearly every facet of modern society, is doing more to destroy souls than perhaps any other.
INGXOLO YOBUGCISA
In the Western nations in particular, the noise of materialism—the enticement of new things—has reached a deafening pitch, yet few are resisting it. Ipads, ipods, ibooks, iphones, ifashions, iretirement plans…. Even the titles themselves reveal something of the potential danger that lurks behind the need for personal comfort, convenience and self-pleasure. It is all about “I”, not my brother in need. The exportation of manufacturing to third world 
amazwe (ahlala ezisa ukungabikho kokusesikweni ngokwawo ngemivuzo elusizi) azise itsunami yexabiso eliphantsi leempahla, elandelwa ngamaza wentengiso angayekiyo azibeka, hayi abamelwane, ngaphezulu kwe-totem yezinto eziphambili.
But the noise has taken on a different and more insidious tone in our day. The internet and wireless technology continually serve up a vast array of high definition color, news, gossip, photos, videos, goods, services—all in a split second. It is the perfect concoction of glitz and glamor to keep souls enamored—and often deaf to the hunger and thirst in their own soul for the transcendent, for God.
We cannot deny that the rapid changes occurring in our world also present some disturbing signs of fragmentation and a retreat into individualism. The expanding use of electronic communications has in some cases paradoxically resulted in greater isolation… —UPOPE BENEDICT XVI, intetho eCaweni yaseSt. Joseph, ngoAprili 8, 2008, Yorkville, New York; I-Catholic News Agency
INGXOLO YOKUZIPHATHA
St. John warns about the temptation to “pride of life.” This is not limited to simply wanting to be rich or famous. Today, it has taken on a more cunning temptation, once again, through technology. “Social 
networking”, while often serving to connect old friends and family, also feeds into a new individualism. With communication services like Facebook or Twitter, the trend is to put one’s every thought and action out there for the world to see, fostering a growing trend of narcissism (self-absorption). This is really in direct opposition to the rich spiritual heritage of the Saints in which idle chatter and frivolity are to be avoided, as they cultivate a spirit of worldliness and inattention.
ISIKHOKELO SENTLIZIYO
Ewe, yonke le ngxolo akufuneki ukuba ithathelwe ingqalelo njengobubi ngokungqongqo. Umzimba womntu kunye nokwabelana ngesondo zizipho ezivela kuThixo, hayi isithintelo esihlazo okanye esimdaka. Izinto eziphathekayo azilunganga okanye zimbi, zinjalo nje… de sizibeke esibingelelweni seentliziyo zethu sizenza izithixo. Kwaye i-intanethi ingasetyenziselwa okuhle.
Kwindlu yaseNazarete nakubulungiseleli bukaYesu, kwakukho 
always the background noise of the world. Jesus even walked into “the lions den,” eating with tax collectors and prostitutes. But He did so because He always maintained ukugcinwa kwentliziyo. UPaul Paul wabhala wathi,
Musani ke ukuthatha isimilo sabantu beli phakade, kodwa iingqondo zenu maziguquke zihlaziyeke (Roma 12: 2)
Ukugcinwa kwentliziyo kuthetha ukuba andizinzanga kwizinto zehlabathi, ekuhambisaneni neendlela zalo zokungahloneli Thixo, kodwa kubukumkani, iindlela zikaThixo. Oko kuthetha ukuphinda ndiyifumane intsingiselo yobomi kwaye ndilungelelanise iinjongo zam kuyo…
… Masisuse yonke imithwalo kunye nesono esisincamatheleyo sizingise ekubalekeni ugqatso oluphambi kwethu ngelixa sigcine amehlo ethu ethe ntsho kuYesu, inkokeli nomphelelisi wokholo. (Heb 12: 1-2)
In our baptismal vows, we promise to “reject the glamor of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin.” Custody of the heart means avoiding that first fatal step: being sucked into the glamor of evil, which, if we take the bait, leads to being mastered by it.
… Wonke umntu owenza isono ulikhoboka lesono. (UYohane 8:34)
Jesus walked among sinful people, but He kept Hi s heart unstained by continually seeking first the will of the Father. He walked in the truth that women were not objects, but reflections of His own image; in the truth that material things are to be used for the glory of God and the good of others; and by being small, humble, and hidden, meek and gentle of heart, Jesus shunned the worldly power and honor that others would have bestowed on Him.
KEEPING CUSTODY OF THE SENSES
In the traditional Act of Contrition prayed in sacramental Confession, one resolves to ‘sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.’ Custody of the heart means avoiding not just the sin itself, but those well-known traps that would cause me to fall into sin. “Yenza akukho malungiselelo enyama,” said St. Paul (see I-Tiger kwi-Cage.) A good friend of mine says that he hasn’t eaten sweets or had any alcohol in years. “I have an addictive personality,” he said. “If I eat one cookie, I want the whole bag.” Refreshing honesty. A man who avoids even the near occasion of sin—and you can see the freedom in his eyes.
inkanuko
Many years ago, a married fellow worker was lusting after the women who were walking by. Noting my lack of participation, he snorted, “One can still look at the menu without having to order!” But Jesus said something quite different:
… Wonke umntu ojonga umfazi ngenkanuko sele ekrexezile naye entliziyweni yakhe. (Mat 5:28)
Kwinkcubeko yethu yamanyala, umntu angazigcina njani ekuweleni kwisono sokukrexeza ngamehlo akhe? Impendulo kukubeka imenyu kude 
all together. For one thing, women aren’t objects, commodities to be owned. They are beautiful reflections of the Divine Creator: their sexuality, expressed as a receptacle of life-giving seed, is an image of the Church, which is a receptacle of the life-giving Word of God. Thus, even immodest dress or a sexualized appearance is a snare; it is the slippery slope that leads to wanting more and more. What is necessary, then, is to keep ukugcinwa kwamehlo:
Isibane somzimba liliso. Xa sukuba iliso lakho ngoko lingenakumbi, umzimba wakho uphela wokhanyiseleka. kodwa xa sukuba iliso lakho likhohlakele, umzimba wakho uphela woba sebumnyameni. (Mat 6: 22-23)
The eye is “bad” if we allow it to be dazzled by the “glamor of evil”: if we allow it to wander around the room, if we peruse the magazine covers, sidebar internet pictures, or watch movies or shows that are indecent.
Avert your eyes from a comely woman; gaze not upon the beauty of another’s wife——through woman’s beauty many perish, for lust for it burns like fire. (Sirach 9:8)
It is not a matter then of just avoiding pornography, but all forms of indecency. It means—for some men reading this—a complete transformation of the mind as to how women are perceived and even how we perceive ourselves—the exceptions we justify that, in reality, snare us, and drag us into the misery of sin.
Ukuthanda izinto eziphathekayo
Umntu angabhala incwadi ethetha ngentlupheko. Kodwa uSt. Paul mhlawumbi uyishwankathela ngcono:
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. (1 Tim 6:8-9)
Siphulukana nokugcinwa kwentliziyo ngokusoloko sithenga izinto ezingcono, ngento elandelayo elungileyo. 
Omnye weMiyalelo kukunganqweneli izinto zommelwane wam. Isizathu, u Yesu walumkisa, sesokuba umntu akanako ukwahlula intliziyo yakhe phakathi koThixo nobutyebi.
Akukho mntu unako ukukhonza nkosi mbini. Uya kuyithiya le, athande leya; athi mhlawumbi abambelele kule ayidele leya; (Mat 6: 24)
Ukugcina intliziyo kuthetha ukufumana, ubukhulu becala, into esiyifumanayo imfuneko Kunokuba sithini ufuna, hayi ukuziqwebela kodwa yabelana nabanye, ngakumbi amahlwempu.
Ubutyebi obugqithisileyo owabugcina kwaye wavuma ukuba babole xa ubufanele ubanike amalizo kwabasweleyo, iingubo ezigqwesileyo owawunazo kwaye wakhetha ukuzibona zityiwa ngamanundu kunokunxiba amahlwempu, negolide nesilivere Ukhethe ukubona ubuxoki ungasebenzi endaweni yokuchitha ukutya kwabasweleyo, zonke ezi zinto, ndizakukunika ubungqina ngoMhla woMgwebo. —St. URobert Bellarmine, Ubulumko beNgcwele, Jill Haakadels, iphe. 166
Ubungqina
Ukugcinwa kwentliziyo kukwathetha ukujonga amazwi ethu, ukuba nawo sigcine iilwimi zethu. For the tongue has the power to build-up or tear down, to snare or liberate. So often, we use the tongue out of pride, saying (or typing) this or that in hopes of making ourselves appear more important than we are, or to please others, gaining their approval. Other times, we simply release a wall of words to entertain ourselves by idle chatter.
There is a word in Catholic spirituality called “recollection.” It means simply to remember that I am always in God’s presence, and that He is always my goal and the fulfillment of all my desires. It means recognizing that His will is my food, and that, as His servant, I am called to follow Him in the path of charity. Recollection then, means that I “gather myself up” when I have lost custody of my heart, trusting in His mercy and forgiveness, and once again committing myself to loving and serving Him in umzuzu wangoku ngentliziyo yam yonke, umphefumlo, ingqondo, kunye namandla.
When it comes to social networking, we need to be careful. Is it humble to paste pictures of myself that stroke my vanity? When I “tweet” others, am I saying something that is necessary or not? Am I encouraging gossip or wasting other’s time?
Ndithi kuni, ngomhla womgwebo abantu baya kuziphendulela ngelizwi ngalinye elingakhathaliyo abalithethayo. (Mat. 12:36)
Cinga ngentliziyo yakho njengeziko. Umlomo wakho ngumnyango. Ngalo lonke ixesha uvula umnyango, uvumela ubushushu ukuba buphume. Xa uluvala ucango, ugcina uzikhumbuza ebukhweni bukaThixo, umlilo wothando lwaKhe oluNgcwele uya kukhula ushushu ngakumbi, ukuze, xa ixesha lilungile, amazwi akho angasebenza ukwakha, ukukhulula, kunye nokwenza lula ukuphiliswa kwabanye- zifudumele others with God’s love. At those times, even though we speak, because it is in the voice of Love, it serves to stoke the fires within. Otherwise, our soul, and that of others, grows cold when we keep the door open in meaningless or s inful chatter.
Ukuziphatha okubi okanye nakuphi na ukungcola okanye ukubawa makungakhe kukhankanywe kwaukukhankanywa phakathi kwenu, njengoko kufanelekile phakathi kwabo bangcwele, kungabikho manyala okanye intetho yobuyatha okanye engamanyala, engafanelekanga, kodwa endaweni yoko, ngumbulelo. (Efese 5: 3-4)
Abaphambukeli nabaphambukeli
Keeping custody of the heart is foreign sounding and counter-cultural. We live in a world that encourages people to experiment with a multitude of sexual acts and lifestyles, plaster themselves all over YouTube, seek to become a singing or dancing “Idol”, and be “tolerant” of anything and anybody (except practicing Catholics). In refusing this kind of noise, Jesus said that we would look odd in the world’s eyes; that they would persecute, mock, exclude and hate us because the light in believers would convict the darkness in others.
Kuba bonke abenza izinto ezimbi bayaluthiya ukhanyiso, bangezi elukhanyisweni, ukuze imisebenzi yabo ingabonakaliswa. (UYohane 3:20)
Keeping custody of the heart, then, is not some outdated practice of bygone ages, but the constant, true, and narrow road that leads to Heaven. It’s just that few are willing to take it, to resist the noise so that they can hear the voice of God that leads to eternal life.
Kuba apho bukhona ubutyebi benu, yoba lapho nentliziyo yenu. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. (Matt 6:21; 7:13-14)
Ukuthanda izinto zehlabathi lolunye uhlobo lwentaka, olubambisa umphefumlo luthintele ukuba lubhabhe luye kuThixo. —Augustine weMvubu, Ubulumko beNgcwele, Jill Haakadels, iphe. 164
KUFUNDWA NGOKUBA:
Enkosi ngenkxaso yakho!
