Rule of Benedict 45
March 28, 2010
Benedict continues dealing with humility in verses 9-13 of Chapter 7 of his rule. Previously he spoke of Jacob’s ladder. He continues on the same theme.
The sides of the same ladder we understand to be our body and soul, in which the call of God has placed various steps of humility or discipline, which we must ascend. The first step of humility, then, is that a person always keeps the fear of God before his eyes (Ps 36:2), avoiding forgetfulness: that he is ever mindful of all that God has commanded; that those who despise God will be consumed in hell for their sins; and that he always considers that life everlasting is prepared for those who fear God. And keeping himself at all times from sin and vice, whether of thoughts, tongue, eyes, hands, feet, or his own will, let him thus hasten to cast away the desires of the flesh. Let him consider that he is always beheld from heaven by God, and that his actions are everywhere seen by the eye of the Divine Majesty, and are every hour reported to God by the angels.
Two thoughts: one, humility is not a passive stance. We can do something to humble ourselves before almighty God by living in awe of God, not forgetting his ways, not giving free will to our sinful nature. Two, that our lives are open books, lived in the presence of God. We can hide nothing, not with figs, not with twigs, not with brick or mortar, not with denial. The Divine Majesty pays attention to our lives. We give account. We live in the company of angels, open to the cosmos to see. What we do in the dark, is revealed in the light. Not for condemnation but for mercy.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. I desire to climb this ladder of humility but with God’s enabling. The upward mobility that I seek is from an external show of humility to the internal height of self-denial, and holy self-love. I desire to live by the fear of the Lord as guide and I desire to live in obedience so that the crown of righteousness I receive from your hand can be placed at your feet: “Lord you showed mercy. I give back to you the gift of humility.”
Lord Jesus, have mercy. Amen.
Rule of Benedict 41
August 17, 2009
Verses 14-19 of the Rule of Benedict state similar to the previous verses focus on obedience:
But this very obedience will be acceptable to God and sweet to others only if what is commanded is done, not fearfully, tardily, nor lukewarmly, not with murmuring, nor with an answer showing unwillingness: for the obedience which is given to superiors is given to God, since God Himself has said: he one who hears you hears me (Luke 10:16). And this obedience ought to be given with a good will, because God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7)
For if the disciple obeys with ill will, murmuring not only with his lips but also in his heart, even though he fulfill the command he will not be acceptable to God. For God sees the heart of the murmurer. And for such action he will gain no reward; rather he will incur the punishment due to murmurers, unless he amends and makes satisfaction.
Wow! Ouch! I knew it all along. Knowing and doing or not doing are different matters. Don’t complain in serving the Lord. Jesus also never did. Paul said in Philippians 2:14 that our actions, obedience and everything we set our minds on doing should be done without grumbling (other translations have murmuring, complaining).
When obedience is done unwillingly or halfheartedly the blessings of surrender are missing, humility is replaced with selfish desires, and we reject the blessings God and others want to bestow on us by giving some direction to our lives.
Prayer: Lord, have mercy on us and help us to replace murmuring with praise and gratitude. We confess it is thinking less highly of you when we have leaders we refuse to listen to. It is thinking too little of your gifts to us.
Rule of Benedict 40
August 10, 2009
Chapter 5:10-13 of the Rule of St Benedict follow:
These [the humble and the obedient] therefore choose the narrow way, upon whom presses the desire to attain eternal life, of whom the Lord says: Narrow is the way which leads to life (Matthew 7:14). So that living not by their will, nor obeying their own desires and pleasures, they walk according to the judgment and command of another: thus they live in community, and desire to have an abbot over them. Such as these without doubt fulfill that saying of the Lord: I came not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me (John 6:38).
Obedience and humility are the sources of all disciplined Christian living. The narrow way, the Jesus way, is the cruciform way of life we opt to live.
Submission to the will of God often implies submission to the will of another (not always obviously, for humans are fallible). Submission implies the willingness to let another determine what I do. I must obviously have confidence in this other believing he or she wills only what is god for me.
This is a radical way of thinking about our will. Left to my own I will often cater to my desires and pleasures as Benedict astutely discerns. Willingly submitting to another helps me eliminate or at least curtail my craving to please myself first by catering to my desires.
Other than a spouse, do you have the will or inclination to let another person of your choosing help you decide the path of life with you and at times for you?
Individualistic Christian living often prevents us from communal living or submission to the direction of the community we belong to. However, we must not detour the Christian highway, which is the communal way.
Do you agree with the primacy of the corporate nature of our Christian life? Is this the reality in your church community?
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.
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