Benedict’s Rule 43
August 19, 2009
Chapter 7 is about that other virtue in Benedictine monasticism: Humility. Chapter 5 was about Obedience, chapter 6 about silence.
Verses 1-8 say this about humility:
The Holy Scripture cries out to us, brothers, saying: Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and one who humbles himself shall be exalted (Luke 4:11; 18:14). In saying this, it teaches us that all exaltation is a kind of pride, against which the prophet shows himself to be on his guard when he says: Lord. my heart is not exalted nor my eyes lifted up; nor have I walked in great things, nor in wonders above me (Ps 131:1). And why? If I did not think humbly, but exalted my soul; then like a child that is weaned from its mother–so you would treat my soul.
Therefore, brothers, if we wish to arrive at the highest point of humility, and speedily reach that heavenly exaltation to which we can only ascend by the humility of this present life, we must by our ever-ascending actions erect a ladder like the one which Jacob beheld in his dream, by which the angels appeared to him descending and ascending. This descent and ascent signifies nothing else than that we descend by exaltation and ascend by humility. And the ladder thus erected is our life in the world, which, if the heart is humbled, is lifted up by the Lord to heaven.
Pretty biblical if you ask me. This is a good starting point when speaking about such issues as concern our postures in life and in relationships.
Self-exaltation, or “look-at-me-ism” is standard around us. I used to hear this from a minister friend: “if you don’t toot your own horn, no one else is going to.” That was not good advice. Benedict, like Christ, his master, believes that the Christian way is the humble way. Not shunning big, glitzy, noticeable things is the self-ascending way. It earns us the reward which God promised: hay and stubble.
Pharisaic self-righteousness is good for no one. Its pleasures are deceptive, its benefits fleeting. Humility, if sought, must be sought indirectly. As many virtues in the Christian life, such as hope in adversity, faith, and love of our enemies, humility is acquired as a grace or gift from God. It comes to us when we engage in the means of grace: Solitude, silence, service, fasting, Scripture memory, etc… Soon these means of grace do their work in us transforming our desire for self-exaltation into humble submission, the clay that Christ uses to God-exaltation in us. It also comes as situations, placed in our lives by God, shape our hearts on the path to humility.
Lord, have mercy and enable us by your grace to do what you were able to do should you be in our place. We affirm with you that the humble way is the way of life in your kingdom. We come to you, heavy with burdens to receive from you humility of heart. Holy Spirit, thanks for undertaking the death of my ego to replace it with your very self. I pray your work will be complete in me.
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