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.
Comments
Got something to say?
-
Subscribe To MO
