I think back to the time when I first stumbled upon Saint
Benedict and the Rule.
I had grown terribly dissatisfied with the modern approaches
to living the Christian life that I had known over the first four and a half decades
of my life – decades which, by the way, were lived in the realm of both
denominational and independent Reformational free-church approaches to
Christianity.
In my personal dissatisfaction, in my search for something
that made meaningful sense as a means to living the Christian life in this
modern world, I had been studying monastic spirituality. What I discovered in
those early monks and monastic communities was solidly historical in the
context of the Church. It was also vital, developing, and enduring. It was full
of spiritual life and personal devotion. Monasticism was, in those early
centuries, an antithesis to the chaos of early society.
There was something about Abbot Benedict and his
presentation of precepts for living that immediately grabbed me. His
antithetical approach to the chaos of the Sixth Century made sense. It made
sense then. It makes sense now in the chaos of these modern times.
One of the things that I have noticed about the Rule is that
it is vibrant and alive.
This living vibrancy was not as evident at first. It was inherently
evident but, in retrospect, in first coming to grips with the Rule as a way of
life, a lot of my focus on the Rule was largely cold and institutional – a booklet
of rules to memorize, quote, and promote in my own antithetical stand against
the chaos of the world. The Rule is a book of rules. It is, however, more than
a book of rules.
It is, if we allow it, the presence and voice of Saint
Benedict – a kind and warm presence and voice full of vibrant life – speaking to
us now, as a dear and loving father speaking to his children, this far this
side of the Sixth Century.
The Sainted Father Abbot says,
Let us therefore now
at length rise up as the Scripture incites us when it says: “Now is the hour
for us to arise from sleep.” (Romans 13:11)
And with our eyes open
to the divine light, let us with astonished ears listen to the admonition of
God’s voice daily crying out and saying: “Today if ye will hear His voice,
harden not your hearts.” (Psalm 95:8)
And again: “He who has
the hearing ear, let him hear what the Spirit announces to the churches.” (Revelation
2:7)
And what does the
Spirit say? “Come, children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the
Lord. (Psalm 34:11) Run while ye have the light of life, that the shades of
death envelop you not (John 12:35).”[1]
I cannot help but to sense the pleading in his voice as Abbot
Benedict directs this urgent appeal to those inquiring at the door of his
monastery. The pleading appeal reaches farther than to those initially seeking
admission. The appeal is universal. It extends to those who have already
entered in and sat down at his feet. It extends to every disciple of Christ’s
within and without the monastic enclosure.
Abbot Benedict, in his pleading, is showing me that I need
to wake up.
I like to think that I am awake. I have awakened to the truth,
but the honest truth of the matter is that I am never fully awake to the truth.
There are times when my eyes are more open. There are times when I allow the
things going on in the world around me to cloud my vision. There are times when
I get into my own way and cannot see the divine light. I am, I will ever be, in
need of a clearer vision of the divine light that Christ desires to shine upon
and through me.
He is showing me that the choice is mine to make. How
clearly and brightly this light shines into and through me will always be conditioned
by my willingness to open my heart to receive this divine light.
Abbot Benedict urges me to remember that nothing passes by
the watchful eyes of God and to consider the consequences of my actions. There
are some valuable lessons to learn from the Seven Churches.[2]
What was spoken to them as individual churches is applicable to everyone that
professes to be a disciple of Christ’s.
Then, through a line from a Psalm, Abbot Benedict offers
himself to me as mentor, teacher, and guide and encourages me to accept his
offering while I have light to see by.
Holy Saint Benedict, pray for us that accept your kind offer,
especially us Oblates.
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