Rule of Benedict 1
February 8, 2009
Many evangelicals are discovering the Rule of St Benedict (RB). I have only read bits and pieces of it. For the next while I would like to take portions of it and discover for myself what’s helpful in seeking sacred, transformed, and missional lives.
My pattern will be to take a small passage, say a couple of things about it, and offer a prayer or a response. I am using as a guide the wonderful book by Norvene Vest entitled Preferring Christ by Morehouse Publishers. I am not in any way an expert on the Rule. Au contraire, I am a novice looking at what the Father of Monasticism can teach us today with our three common commitments.
Prologue: verses 1-2. Listen, O my son to the precepts of the master, and incline the ear of your heart: willingly receive and faithfully fulfill the admonition of your loving father; that you may return by the labor of obedience to him from whom you had departed through the sloth of disobedience.
It is obvious that RB (Rule of Benedict) is using a biblical formula we find in the book of Proverbs, and the Psalms (see Psalms 95, 34:12; 15:1. It is said that RB is in harmony with Scripture. My experience is that it is very biblical in its content.
I notice that listening and obedience go hand in hand in RB for those who are willing to receive the call to follow God. Listening without obedience is a waste of time, and energy for all.
Prayer: Jesus, you battled hard the hard of hearing people throughout your minsitry. You had harsh words for those who could hear but refused to hear. Much of what I hear from your word is slow to make it to my inner ear and out into obedient actions. Help me to labor hard after obedience to what I hear and to bless you by it. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
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I am really looking forward to following this series. I find it very interesting that the very first word is “Listen”, followed shortly by “incline” and “receive”. I am already sensing a different posture from Benedict than the posture I see in many who find themselves writing today.
I know when when I ask my son, “Why did you not listen to me?” I am asking “why did you not follow my instructions”, not “why did you not hear me.”