Chapter 73
The Rule of Benedict August 31
Benedict reminds us here at the end of the Rule that means to do not equal ends, and it is the end, the goal, the telos of our life that is the priority. We are formed by our Benedictine practices to find our true self at home with God, and to find God at home in our lives. We are all beginners. And we will always need to begin again.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
August 30
Chapter 72
The Rule of Benedict August 30
I find it helpful that Benedict refers to good zeal as a practice and not simply as a happy phenomenon. His list of actions are, then, something that we can choose to do.
I ask you to spend some time with this list in your prayers today. Listen for what the Spirit has to say to you. Ask for the grace to practice this good zeal in our life together as we move forward.
The Rule of Benedict August 30
I find it helpful that Benedict refers to good zeal as a practice and not simply as a happy phenomenon. His list of actions are, then, something that we can choose to do.
I ask you to spend some time with this list in your prayers today. Listen for what the Spirit has to say to you. Ask for the grace to practice this good zeal in our life together as we move forward.
Monday, August 29, 2011
August 29
Chapter 71
The Rule of Benedict August 29
From April:
Benedictine obedience comes down the point at which we, in the thick of our emotions, desires, and will, submit to another. It is a painfully difficult practice. It requires the laying down of whatever story I tell myself that places me in the possession of what is right. And at no time are the feelings of being right stronger than when I am in conflict. Yet it is precisely at this point that Benedict instructs us to quickly and decisively put aside excuses and blame.
Next time you find yourself being offended, imagine what it would take to extend a blessing rather than a rebuttal or a curse. And next time you find yourself having given offense, imagine setting aside explanations and asking for unqualified forgiveness. This is the inner freedom that Benedict seeks to cultivate in us.
The Rule of Benedict August 29
From April:
Benedictine obedience comes down the point at which we, in the thick of our emotions, desires, and will, submit to another. It is a painfully difficult practice. It requires the laying down of whatever story I tell myself that places me in the possession of what is right. And at no time are the feelings of being right stronger than when I am in conflict. Yet it is precisely at this point that Benedict instructs us to quickly and decisively put aside excuses and blame.
Next time you find yourself being offended, imagine what it would take to extend a blessing rather than a rebuttal or a curse. And next time you find yourself having given offense, imagine setting aside explanations and asking for unqualified forgiveness. This is the inner freedom that Benedict seeks to cultivate in us.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
August 28
Chapter 70
The Rule of Benedict August 28
I find it so easy to set myself up as judge and executer. So often my perspective is trapped behind my two small eyes, and I succumb to the temptation to act as though I see Reality. Benedict seeks to prevent this very impulse in this chapter.
As a non-cloistered community, let us consider carefully how we posture ourselves with each other and with those we encounter in our daily lives. As much as it appears at times to be the case, God has not set us up as vigilantes for God's own Truth.
The Rule of Benedict August 28
I find it so easy to set myself up as judge and executer. So often my perspective is trapped behind my two small eyes, and I succumb to the temptation to act as though I see Reality. Benedict seeks to prevent this very impulse in this chapter.
As a non-cloistered community, let us consider carefully how we posture ourselves with each other and with those we encounter in our daily lives. As much as it appears at times to be the case, God has not set us up as vigilantes for God's own Truth.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
August 27
Chapter 69
The Rule of Benedict August 27
From April:
An unspoken assumption in this chapter provides a key to understanding its deepest meaning. The assumption is that God is the one against whom any act of defense is undertaken in a monastery. Each monk has handed himself over totally to being formed by God, a sacred relationship that must not be compromised by even the best of intentions.
It takes true discipline both to submit to being formed and to keep from stepping in when we perceive the struggles of another in her formation.
The Rule of Benedict August 27
From April:
An unspoken assumption in this chapter provides a key to understanding its deepest meaning. The assumption is that God is the one against whom any act of defense is undertaken in a monastery. Each monk has handed himself over totally to being formed by God, a sacred relationship that must not be compromised by even the best of intentions.
It takes true discipline both to submit to being formed and to keep from stepping in when we perceive the struggles of another in her formation.
Friday, August 26, 2011
August 26
Chapter 68
The Rule of Benedict August 26
Let us renew our resolve to follow the clear instructions of our true Superior, the Spirit, and face the difficult task assigned to us of establishing a practice of prayer in our daily lives. This is the basis upon which all else that God has for us will be built.
The Rule of Benedict August 26
Let us renew our resolve to follow the clear instructions of our true Superior, the Spirit, and face the difficult task assigned to us of establishing a practice of prayer in our daily lives. This is the basis upon which all else that God has for us will be built.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
August 25
Chapter 67
The Rule of Benedict August 25
From April:
This chapter is the reason why we remember all our absent members before the closing prayer on Thursday evenings.
Our Father Benedict acknowledges and seeks to deal with a spiritual reality here that I have experienced often during that last year or so. Gil has talked for a long time about the fact each person brings with her to church an invisible crowd of other people that affect the spiritual climate of the gathering. Benedict is wise to make this explicit and establish a protocol for returning monks whereby the spiritual climate of the monastery can be cleansed from any unintended negative effects. Let us pay attention to who we bring with us to our gatherings [and what we bring spiritually to our common life of prayer], and let us pray for each other that we may ourselves be free and present to our community.
The Rule of Benedict August 25
From April:
This chapter is the reason why we remember all our absent members before the closing prayer on Thursday evenings.
Our Father Benedict acknowledges and seeks to deal with a spiritual reality here that I have experienced often during that last year or so. Gil has talked for a long time about the fact each person brings with her to church an invisible crowd of other people that affect the spiritual climate of the gathering. Benedict is wise to make this explicit and establish a protocol for returning monks whereby the spiritual climate of the monastery can be cleansed from any unintended negative effects. Let us pay attention to who we bring with us to our gatherings [and what we bring spiritually to our common life of prayer], and let us pray for each other that we may ourselves be free and present to our community.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)