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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