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.
Praying Colossians 7
July 8, 2009
Today, we have before us to form a prayer from Colossians 1:15-16.
1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,
1:16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him.
Prayer: Jesus, you are the image of our Father whom we have never seen and whom only in you do we see. How much like him you are! How much like you he is! How much love flows between you! You have experienced our Father’s suffering at the hand of his creation in the same way as earthly fathers suffer when their children go astray. Except, in your case, Jesus, you were always the apple of our Father’s eye. You have never fallen short of his glory. You have never been at enmity with Him. You have always done his will. We haven’t. What we mortals love so much about you is your obedience to death because of your deep love to our Father.
There are ways you are like the Father that we cannot imagine unless we live to imitate you. But you have revealed enough of our Father that we could see what we need to see. When our Father spun the world into existence, you designed it together. You put your beauty in it. You stamped it with your design. How wonderful it is. You colabored with our Father. You breathed life into dry ground, into dead bones, into shriveled lives. Grant that I may see all you have done and all that has your signature on it and marvel that you, creator of all, died for all. Amen. Christ, have mercy.
Praying Colossians 5
June 23, 2009
1:9-13 is a prayer Paul prays. Prayers need no comments. They beg to be prayed. So I pray with Paul with the help of Eugene Peterson. I Pray this for myself. I pray it for family members. I pray it for those I work with. We pray it for our leaders. The prayer applies and is necessary to all of us.
… asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. (And who could ask for anything more?)
We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. Amen!
As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.
We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul–not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
… May every thought and sentiment of this prayer be true in my life and all who are within my sphere of influence. I thank God for Paul who teaches us to pray as Jesus taught him to pray. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Praying Colossians 4
May 19, 2009
Praying Scripture is a rewarding experience. Using Holy Spirit inspired words (their attendant meanings and referents) that have been comforting believers for millennia is an edifying experience. Praying Scripture also assures us that we are praying according to the will of God which instructs us to be fully prepared to serve him faithfully.
Today, we pray with Paul and the Church from Colossians 1: 7-8.
1:7 You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave - a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf – 1:8 who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Paul continues to commend the Colossians in a spirit of gratitude to God for receiving the gospel, for living the gospel, and for loving God and one another in the Spirit according to the gospel teachings.
Prayer: So today, Jesus, I pray with gratitude for those who have been faithful like Epaphras to bring the gospel to me. I name Kathy, Billie, Paul, Dan, Dianne and others. I also thank you, O Revealer of all truth, for opening my eyes to see, and moving me to enter into the kingdom of light in Christ Jesus. This is no personal achivement by sheer grace. I confess before you and before the world of my inability to live the gospel but for your strong presence in my weakness. I also pray, lover of my soul, that the world may see me and your church and marvel at the love we have for you, and for the world. Glorify your name in all the earth through your church. Amen, Christ have mercy.
Praying Colossians 3
May 13, 2009
In this series of praying through Scriptures, I am learning that in order to pray the Scriptures, time is needed for reflection, for paying attention to the presence of God, and for paying attention to the condition of my soul, and my heart’s desire. I have the impression that Paul, though he did not know he was writing Scripture, he was in deep prayer (communion with God) and that this letter was not just dictated but breathed by God through Paul for the sake of the the Colossians, North Carolinians, Topekans, and Kansas Citians.
1:5 Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel 1:6 that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.
Prayer: Jesus, I am experiencing the truth of these words of your servant Paul and the Holy Spirit. I am tasting faith and love that spring from hope. I see brokenness around me always and this present brokenness, which I know will be put to rights, inspires me to express love, trust, and faithfulness in my walk with you and for the sake of others. Your word is alive in me. What more do I want?
I also pray that the power of the gospel, which is foolishness to paganism, will continue to spread in our world, the only hope our world has. Help me and my brothers and sisters in Christ, in our various societies of Jesus, to increase in our faith and undrstanding of the unlimited truth that is the gospel. This is good news about you, it’s you, and by default is unfathomable. Give me my share of it. I trust you for it. Give my borthers and sister in Christ their shares of it and together we will be the wiser for it. Amen. Christ have mercy.
Confession 6
May 12, 2009
In Isaiah 30, God i
s chiding and promising Israel. Chiding them for seeking their protection in the shade of Egypt. Encouraging them to seek their refuge in Him. The composers of CDP offer a reflection in today’s reading upon Isaiah 30 (see below). This strophe caught my attention more than the others. I offer it by way of confession. Confession happens when a “confessee” (me) agrees with a confessor (God).
My Confession: I am reluctant, O Perfect and merciful Listener, to allow myself to be conquered by you. I would, in my flesh, much rather seek by protection with the “Egypts” of self-sufficiency, and will-power. Yet I know that rest for my soul could only come when I find my rest in you, as your servant Augustine also discovered and teaches me. Conquer me indeed, and bless me indeed with yourself.
But the Lord still waits for you
to show to you His love
as He has said.
And He, He will conquer you
so that He may bless you
with Himself.
Blessed are they
who wait upon the Lord
for they shall weep no more,
neither be afraid.
CDP 2
May 8, 2009
Celtic Daily Prayer has been our chosen way at Missional Order to order our days. We have chosen to order our days around four spiritual pauses to focus our hearts, souls, and minds on the only Ground of our being: father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is a valuable way to help us be intentional about growing in grace. Experience tells us that without intention it is impossible to accomplish the vision of Christ likeness we so desire as those intent on doing life with God. A garden untended grows wild. A life untended grows stale.
Today’s readings from CDP are all about intention. Here they are:
Psalm 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.
A conversation with ourselves is an essential way of attending to our inner thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. Whatever that conversation yields is placed in hope into the hands of God. By default, O Lord, make me to always hope in you.
Jeremiah 21:8 Furthermore, tell the people, This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
We come to forks in the road daily, hourly, even more often. Choosing the way of life must be a deliberate action. The inner voice always cries out for the right choice unless the cares of this world have choked it out. Our baser parts heed the wrong voice for a wrong choice leading to interrupted relationality with the Lord. A moment of decision sets the course of a day, even a life. You bid me, my Lord, to tell the people. So I tell, first my soul, then the soul of others: Mind the little decisions.
2 Corinthians 11:3–4 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
Deception is constant. It is as constant as our wills are determined on devotion to Christ. The cosmic forces that seek to thwart our attention away from God, Jesus, and the gospel are not only real but also disguised. It takes the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of Job to be discerning. Lord Jesus Christ make me discerning of anything that would come between us and merciless in eliminating it from my life.
[May] I find Thee enthroned in my heart,
my Lord Jesus.
It is enough.
I know that Thou art throned
in heaven.
[May} My heart and heaven are [be] one.
Alistair Maclean
What do you do?
April 23, 2009
What do you do when you sense an oppressive enmity settling on you? I have been feeling such an enmity lately and today’s morning prayer helped a lot.
Readings for Day 23
April 23
Psalm 57:1-11 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness. 4 I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts– men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. 6 They spread a net for my feet– I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path– but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
1 Samuel 27:1But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”
James 5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
Whoever “they” are in the Psalm (unspecified) they are no match to what God sends from heaven: to “they” he sends rebuke; to me he sends His love, His faithfulness, His Hesed. I can hardly wait for the day to unfold to be surprised where I will find this love, faithfulness, and hesed.
Thanks Papa. Your mercy endures for ever.
Rule of Benedict 23
March 23, 2009
Chapter 4 of the Rule of Benedict is entitled The Instruments of Good Works.
Verse 1:
In the first place to love the Lord God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength (Ex 20:2; Matt 22:37-39; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:47).
Today verse 1 sets the tone of the chapter, much of which is taken directly from Scripture by the founder of the Benedictine Order. I cite Norvene Vest for a few excellent comments. Her comments are in quotes.
“In a sense, this chapter of the Rule is an icon for the entire Rule itself, a summary, a window opening onto the whole vision of the life to which the Christian is called.”
The most appealing aspect of Benedict’s Rule to me as one with a high view of Scripture is how faithful the Rule is to Scripture, often quoting chunks of it as the heart of the Rule.
And
“The way we respond best to God’s presence within the ordinary occasions of each day is to offer each of those occasions to God. God is involved in everything; we come to know that by offering everything to God.”
We come to know that God is with us, by the actions of the Holy Spirit who reminds us of the sacredness of each occasion in time.
And
“This work of offering or consecrating every moment to God is the basic work of Christian formation. It is thus practiced and learned and deepened in us within every moment. This simple task is a life-long one.”
This is a freeing thing. Christian formation needs not be any more complicated than being aware that each moment we live belongs to God who beautifies it, imbues it with meaning, and embeds himself within time. The work of God in sanctifying time, is also our work.
Lectio: What a glorious start to any Rule of life, to begin with our love for God, premised on the love of God for us. Rules that are not premised on love and that do not have love as a goal, are chains that bind freedom in Christ and suck the joy of living out of Christianity. God begins with love. I must begin here.
Norvene Vest’s testimony of The Shema quoted by Benedict is: “When I think of the phrase with my mind, as a command, I get confused and I don’t know where to start [and a puny start it will be]. But when I let it be the prayer of my heart and my body, I am comforted (in the old sense of being both heartened and strengthened), because I know this phrase to be something the Spirit does in me. I know it to be one of those ‘effective words’ of God, whose empowering presence is taking root in me.”
Prayer: Dear God, thanks for starting with love. You inspire me to start there. I can love because you are love. Shed more of it abroad in my heart. Amen. Have mercy, O lover of my soul.
Rule of Benedict 20
March 16, 2009
Verses 37-40 close out chapter 2.
Let the abbot know that he who has undertaken the government of souls, must prepare himself to render an account of them. And whatever may be the number of the brethren under his care, let him be certainly assured that on the Day of Judgment he will have to give an account to the Lord of all these souls, as well as of his own. And thus, being ever fearful of the coming judgment of the shepherd concerning the state of the flock committed to him, while he is careful on others’ accounts, he will be solicitous also on his own. And so, while correcting others by his admonitions, he will be himself cured of his own defects.
Lectio: Hebrews 13:17 is inspiring this section of the Rule. It says this: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Lord, I hear you saying that in correcting others, I would also pay attention to my own defects so that in the process of correcting others I too may be cured. The leader who humbly corrects others will be cured also by the very same correction.
Prayer: Lord, you have designed that the humble receive your correction even while correcting others. Help me to be willing to stand corrected in midst of correcting others. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Rule of Benedict 19
March 15, 2009
After a little hiatus because of illness, I come back to our daily look at Chapter 2:30-36.
The abbot ought always to remember what he is, and what he is called, and to know that to whom more is committed, more is required. And he must consider how difficult and arduous a task he has undertaken, of ruling souls and adapting himself to many dispositions. Let him so accommodate and suit himself to the character and intelligence of each, winning some by kindness, others by reproof, others by persuasion, that he may not only suffer no loss in the flock committed to him, but may even rejoice in their virtuous increase.
Above all let him not, overlooking or undervaluing the salvation of the souls entrusted to him, be more solicitous for fleeting, earthly, and perishable things; but let him ever bear in mind that he has undertaken the government of souls, of which he shall have to give account. And that he may not complain for want of worldly resources, let him remember what is written: Seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you (Matt 6:33), and again: Nothing is wanting to them that fear him (Ps 34:9).
Lectio: the one who is called by God to the vocation of the cure of souls has a great task that demands discernment and skill to evaluate the best way to help others reach their potential as followers of Christ. To whom much is committed much is required. Let your enabling equip me to the task you have chosen for me. Nothing is more serious than the task of helping others accomplish their God-given goals.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to model a willingness to be brought nearer to the ways of Christ so that others may also with our help be inclined to follow and walk with the Master. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Do you consider that the task you have been given includes being in charge of souls? How do you dispense this charge toward those in your care?
Rule of Benedict 17
March 9, 2009
Chapter 2:16-22 of the Rule of Benedict speaks to me regarding the issue of discernment of those we lead. Perhaps something else will grab you.
How do you see how others in your circles of influence are growing in Christ? Beside prayer, what do you look for as marks in a person who is growing in Christ?
The abbot is not to make any distinction of person in the monastery. He should not love one more than another unless he finds one better in good actions and obedience. A free-born man is not to be put before a slave who becomes a monk, except for some other reasonable cause. Although, if justice requires it, the abbot may see fit to change anyone’s rank. Otherwise let each keep to his regular place, because whether we a re slaves or free, we are all one in Christ (Gal 3:28), Eph 6:8) and serve alike in the army of the one Lord; for with God there in son partiality among peersons (Rom 2:11).
Solely in this only are we distinguished in his sight: if we are found to surpass others in good works and in humility. Therefore, let the abbot show equal love to all and impose on all the same discipline, according to their merits.
Lectio: Discernment is the thought that kept grabbing my attention here. Though the word is not in the text, I am reading it into the abbot may see fit. This ability to see, I am calling discernment. How can I see unless Someone show me and how can Someone show me unless I am paying attention closely?
Comment: It is a difficult thing to measure spiritual growth (in others, more than in myself). But the fruit of the spirit is observable in the life (interactions between Chrstians) of the commnity. Norvene Vest, the commentator on the Rule, speaks of the “work of the heart the hidden action of amenability to the Spirit’s graces, the evolving disposition toward the mind of Christ–all of these are manifest for the one who has eyes to see and ears to hear.” Norvene mentions two concrete evidences that Benedict will elaborate on later: Good works, and Humilty/obedience.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see your work in me. Help me to see your work in those around me. Help to rejoice when I see it. And to weep at the absence of evidennce. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Rule of Benedict 16
March 3, 2009
Rule of Benedict, Chapter 2:11-15
Therefore, when anyone receives the name of abbot he is to govern his disciples by a twofold teaching: that is he must show forth all that is good and holy more by deeds than by words; declaring to receptive disciples the commandments of the Lord with words, but demonstrating the divine precepts to the stubborn and the simple-minded by the example of his deeds. And it should be seen in his teaching and in his actions that those things contrary to the law of God are not to be done, lest while preaching to others he himself be found reprobate (1 Cor 9:27); and God say to him in his sin: How is it that you receive my justice and declare my covenant with your mouth, when you hate discipline and cast my words behind you (Ps 50:16-17)? And also this: How is it that you can see a speck in your brother’s eye, and not notice the plank in your own (Matt 7:3)?
Lectio: This passage reminds me of Paul’s words when he said in 1 Cor 11:1 “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ Jesus.” Leading the people we serve by modeling imitation of Christ is the cry of the heart. Paul, the abbot of Christ’s followers in Corinth, is confident not in his own model of ministry, or one which is borrowed from somewhere, but the model he believes is Christ’s model of being and doing. Surely until I have imitated Christ I cannot truly model discipleship to him.
Dallas Willard insists on asking us: Who is your teacher? If you are a disciple, who teaches you the life of a disciple? Who’s your model, whom do you imitate? What do you think of this statement: The main task of a leader, pastor, abbot, is to become like Christ so others may also become Christ-like. That’s the first calling.
Have we made calling the ministries we do such as preaching, or teaching? while neglecting the higher calling of imitation of him?
Do you ever struggle with the question? Or not? What do you consider to be your main role as a leader of the people of God?
Prayer: Lord, make me like you. Train like you, live like you did, relate the way you did, love as you did, live for others as you did. Till others see Jesus in me, Lord make me faithful be to thee. Amen. Christ, have mercy.
Rule of Benedict 15
March 2, 2009
Chapter 2:6-10
Let the abbot remember always that at the fearful judgment of God both his (the abbot’s) teaching and the obedience of his disciples–both of these matters–will be examined. The abbot must, therefore, know that the shepherd will be considered at fault if the father of the household finds that the sheep have yielded no profit. If, on the other hand, he has exercised all pastoral diligence over a restless and disobedient flock, always striving to heal their unhealthy ways; then the shepherd will be acquitted at the judgment of the Lord, and will say to the Lord with the prophet: I have not hidden your justice in my heart; I have declared your truth and your salvation (Ps 40:11), but they condemened and spurned me (Isa 1:2; Ezek 20:27). Then at last the sheep disobedient to his care will be punished by overpowering death.
Lectio: The words that arose in my mind as I read are these: agonize by striving for the disobedient. It seems that when there is a failure of obedience in the flock, the shpeherd must do some self-examination as to his reponsibility in the matter! Sobering! Members of the flock must also do the same.
The image I get is that of a pastor (abbot) agonizing over the disobedience of the prodigals in the churches, of those under their care. After all the role they play is that of paterfamilias. All too often we may give up too quickly on those who don’t listen. We may not agonize over them, struggle to help them understand the consequences of their disobedience.
Here’s a hard saying: We cannot take the spiritual formation of every soul, obedience to the faith, and total devotion to the whatsoever he has commanded us as optional for the church. Christianity is no smorgasbord. We feel if we present the truth and people don’t buy into it, it’s their choice and that’s the end of the matter. Benedict seems to be teaching more responsibility, more perseverance, more striving, even agonizing, in the work of abbot or leader, or true shepherd. Paul talks about the burdens. 2Co 11:28; Galatians 6:2 say respectively: Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches and Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Prayer: Forgive me, Lord, when I have given up on others too soon. Forgive the sheep who fail to recognize your voice and the shepherd for failing to persevere with those who do. Amen. Christ, have mercy.
Rule of Benedict 13
February 27, 2009
In chapter one of the Rule of Benedict we are treated to the Saint’s preference of the kind of monk and monastery he wishes to have. In this chapter he names 4 types of monks: The cenobites, the anchorites, the sarabaites, and in today’s verses (10-13) he names the last, the gyrovagues. I quote the verses:
The fourth kind of monks are those called gyrovagues, who spend their whole lives seeking hospitality in province after province, monastery after monastery, staying three or four days at a time; always wandering and never stable, they are slaves to self-will and the snares of appetite: they are in all things worse than the sarabaites.
Of the most wretched life of all these it is better to remain silent than to speak. Leaving these behind us, therefore, let us proceed, with the help of God, to make provision for the cenobites–the strong kind of monks.
Lectio: With nothing good to say about the wretched existence of the gyrovagues, Benedict prefers silence to speech; grace and love, to condemnation. Benedict is a discerning leader.
This is what I heard and am meditating on: You have nothing to say? Say nothing. You don’t think your words edify? It is best to keep them inside and not sound like a clanging cymbal and a noisy gong. Jesus kept silence when his life and ours hung in the balance and I am sure many other times. That takes training of the will. Our tendency is unbridled speech. Too much to say if only some will listen. Say little and many will listen when you have something to say. I don’t have to say everything that comes into the mind. Too much talk is a human luxury no one could afford.
Experience also taught gracious Benedict that stability, staying put in one place for a long time, if not until death, provides a grounding in God, and helps overcome a life governed by self-will rather than by the will of God. Stability is one of the vows Benedictines take, if my memory serves me well. Doing life together with a few other people for life is a feat not many accomplish. Loving the same people, foibles and all is no easy thing. Serving God with others in the same congregation for life for life. Is that ever a consideration when better job opportunities come knocking? Heck, 50% or more of us can’t do it with a wife/husband! Mobility has its drawbacks. By raising all these questions I am becoming aware that stability is no longer a core value to us as a society or perhaps as a society of Jesus.
Is this true in your experience? What do you think we gain by stability? What do you think we lose without it?
Prayer: It is good for brothers to dwell together in harmony in your presence, dear Lord. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Missio Dei 3
February 26, 2009
A favorite and simple definition of spiritual formation comes from the heart of Robert Mulholland. Spiritual Formation is the process of becoming conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others. The words “for the sake of others” are missional words. Spirituality is about change, personal change that spills out into the world. Christianity is the movement of people who gather and scatter in participation with the work God is doing in and out of the church to expand his kingdom.
What I am concerned with here is to build a life around this principle of living that includes a “for the sake of others.” What will it take to become the kind of person who sees himself as sent by God? How do I change to become aware all the time that I am a missio dei tool in the hand of God? Last week I began to tackle the question of time. So I have made a commitment to “unbusy my life.” Now what? What goes, what stays? What do I do? That’s too big to tackle all at once. So what goes this week, what stays this week, what do I do this week? Too big still. Today?
I will walk up and down the street I live on twice, east and west sides. I will pray for each home’s residents. I will ask my life group to join me so we are doing it in community.
My prayer will be simple: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on the people of this home. Open their eyes that they may see and enter the kingdom of God. I am a tool in the hands of God.
Rule of Benedict 12
February 25, 2009
Chapter 1: 6-9 of Benedict’s Rule tell of the third kind of monk. He says,
A third and detestable kind of monks are the sarabites, who have been tried neither by rule nor by experience as gold by the furnace (Proverbs 27:21); but, being as soft as lead, still keep faith with the world in their behavior, lying to God with their tonsure. Living in twos or threes, or even singly without a shepherd they enclose themselves not in the Lord’s sheepfolds but in their own. Their law consists in their own pleasures and desires: whatever they think fit or choose to do, that they call holy; and what they do not like, that they consider unlawful.
I quote Norvene Vest’s comments on this passage from her book Preferring Christ (23-24). She expresses my thoughts upon reading these verses better than I could do.
“Strong language here! In Benedict’s day the Roman world as it was known was falling apart. Many persons were intensely seeking roots, something that would give security and stability in a time of great change. Yet Benedict suggests that there are those who try to fool themselves–or others–into believing that they have found something worthwhile, but it is really a vast illusion, and a cynical one at that. When someone pretends to believe in God and is quite without inspiration, he or she either doesn’t believe there is a God or believes that God has no power.
True commitment to God demands submission both to tradition and authority. Both tradition and authority have their limits, but we are only qualified to speak to those limits after being tested. At first and for a long time we must submit to the wisdom contained in tradition and in the elders. We must find a good school and undergo strenuous training–training that will often demand something different than what we would “freely” choose. Even our wills must be taught to recognize the good, and to choose it in daily situations.
Make no mistake: there is real and awesome power here! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, and while we may do so gladly, it behooves us to do it with the utmost respect and obedience.”
Norvene’s reflections on the passage are these:
“Again I hear the phrase: ’still keep faith with the world in their behavior’– and I am indicted and humbled by it! I keep forgetting how deeply my most ‘personal’ desires have been formed by the crass, egoistic, and compulsive culture in which we live. What are most damning are those moments I realize how utterly incapable I am of choosing for myself that which (even) is my own good. I don’t yet know enough to make such choices; more profoundly, I don’t yet love enough. I am often aware of what a puny thing my loving is!
There is great comfort in the possibility that I can rest in and be formed by something I can trust which is “bigger” and wiser than I am. Something [someone] incarnated, something that [someone who] belongs to the human community as God’s gift. There is also great risk in the vulnerability entailed in giving myself to such tradition and authority. But perhaps the power of my need and any longing is now great enough to allow me to take that risk.”
Amen. Lord, have mercy!
Rule of Benedict 11
February 23, 2009
Chapter 1: 3-5 of Benedict’s Rule:
The second are the anchorites–(for the first see RB10, the Cenobites) hermits: that is, those who, not in the first fervor of monastic life, but after long probation in the monastery have learned by the help and experience of others to fight against the devil. They go forth well-armed from the ranks of their brethren to the solitary combat of the desert. They are now able to fight safely without the support of others, by their own strength and with God’s assistance, against the ices of flesh and thoughts.
In chapter one of the Rule, Benedict describes the kinds of monks he knows about. By rule Benedict means the set of guidelines by which the community takes its direction from in order to live obediently into Christ. I don’t think Benedict intends to recommend any kind of cloistered or monastic existence for everyone. But those who are called to rule their lives will truly find him helpful in or out of the monastery.
Lectio: As I carefully read this passage, and reflect on it, there is one thing that attracts my attention: The much needed help of the community in preparing each other for the tough slugging life takes. There are temptations to be fought and won. Sin to be overcome. Without a fight, without active resistance, and the crucial help of the community, the battle looms larger. I know few communities that mount a communal active resistance to temptation and sin. Perhaps you do.
Would you mind sharing? How is active resistance to sin done together in your community?
Does your community practice “catch and realease” quickly Christianity, or “catch and keep till ready” Christianity? When ready release them to overcome the lions, the wolves, and the inner self with the help of others.
Praying this passage down from my head into my heart: Lord, you teach us in Hebrews (10:24-25; Acts 2, etc.), that we ought to do life together in community. Teach us to resist temptation in our communities of faith. Teach us, Lord, to learn to say no together. Train us to be fighters of injustice. Coach us in doing life that is truly life as one body. If Christ be for US who dares stand against US? Lord, pluralize our individualistic American Christianity. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
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