November 21

Chapter 43 pt. 1

The Rule of Benedict November 21

Clearly, the spiritual formation of the individual and the community is the intention that undergirds each instruction in Benedict's Rule, and this passage is no exception.  Discipline is applied to the latecomer, not because he really messes up the vibe, but because "nothing . . . [should] be put before the Work of God."  As a person who is rarely early, I can easily recognize the preferences and choices that result in my being late.  As Benedictines, we are called, in this passage, to consciously prefer and choose the Work of God over whatever else seems to demand our time and attention.

Let us "hasten with the greatest speed" today and hold up to God our sister, Julie, in her time of need.