Prologue, part 5 - January 5

Hence the Lord says in the Gospel, "Whoever listens to these words of Mine and acts upon them, I will liken to a wise person who built a house on rock. The floods came, the winds blew and beat against that house, and it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock" (Matt. 7:24-25).

Having given us these assurances, the Lord is waiting every day for us to respond by our deeds to His holy admonitions. And the days of this life are lengthened and a truce granted us for this very reason, that we may amend our evil ways.  As the Apostle says, "Do you not know that God's patience is inviting you to repent" (Rom. 2:4)? For the merciful Lord tells us, "I desire not the death of the sinner, but that the sinner should be converted and live" (Ezech. 33:11).

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The image that is called to mind is the Benedictine notion of Stability. The Lord calls for us to be stable and clearly building on rock lends stability to our faith. A rock solid foundation will prevail against any storm. Stability is not that simple. It also calls us to remain in place, not just from a perspective geographic place but also to be grounded in the community. As an oblate of Mt. Angel Abbey, I am not only connected by profession to the Abbey itself, sitting on a hilltop overlooking the fertile Willamette Valley, but also to the community of monks who reside there. They pray for me as an oblate daily and I am called to pray for them as well.

This subject will come back again in Chapter 7 but for now, it is easy to see where we are headed based upon what we are reminded of today and at this point in the prologue.

Prologue, part 4 - January 4

Having our loins girded, therefore, with faith and the performance of good works (Eph. 6:14), let us walk in His paths by the guidance of the Gospel, that we may deserve to see Him who has called us to His kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12).

For if we wish to dwell in the tent of that kingdom, we must run to it by good deeds or we shall never reach it. But let us ask the Lord, with the Prophet, "Lord, who shall dwell in Your tent, or who shall rest upon Your holy mountain" (Ps. 14[15]:1)?

After this question, brothers and sisters, let us listen to the Lord as He answers and shows us the way to that tent, saying, "The one Who walks without stain and practices justice; who speaks truth from his heart; who has not used his tongue for deceit; who has done no evil to his neighbor; who has given no place to slander against his neighbor." This is the one who, under any temptation from the malicious devil, has brought him to naught (Ps. 14[15]:4) by casting him and his temptation from the sight of his heart; and who has laid hold of his thoughts while they were still young and dashed them against Christ (Ps. 14[15]:4; 136[137]:9).

It is they who, fearing the Lord (Ps. 14[15]:4), do not pride themselves on their good observance; but, convinced that the good which is in them cannot come from themselves and must be from the Lord, glorify the Lord's work in them (Ps. 14[15]:4), using the words of the Prophet, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give the glory" (Ps. 113[115:1]:9). 

Thus also the Apostle Paul attributed nothing of the success of his preaching to himself, but said, "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). And again he says, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (2 Cor. 10:17).

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In the old TV series, Star Trek the Next Generation, there was character called Dathon. He and his people spoke only through the use of allegory and Benedict seems to be able to communicate in a similar fashion. The difference is Benedict's scriptural references are familiar and don't point to events or circumstances totally unknown to me. What Benedict intends to communicate is clear. He is inviting us to be prepared to hold fast to our faith and engage in good deeds to earn the right to see God.

In the next paragraph, we encounter yet another reference to the need to be speedy. We must "run to it by our good deeds." 1600 years later the words still evoke the need to be intentional and urgent regarding the disposition of our souls.

Humility also makes an appearance. We are told "do not pride ourselves" because the good we do does not come from within us but results from a response to God's call to us. Whenever I have an opportunity to read at mass or serve as a eucharistic minister, I remind myself, "Not for my glory, but for yours, Lord." The thought is no original to me but has been lesson for Benedictines from the very start.

What I have, I have through God's grace.

Prologue, part 3 - January 3

And the Lord, seeking his laborer in the multitude to whom He thus cries out, says again, "Who is the one who will have life, and desires to see good days" (Ps. 33[34]:13)? 

And if, hearing Him, you answer, "I am the one," God says to you, "If you will have true and everlasting life, keep your tongue from evil and your lips that they speak no guile. Turn away from evil and do good; seek after peace and pursue it" (Ps. 33[34]:14-15).

And when you have done these things, My eyes shall be upon you and My ears open to your prayers; and before you call upon Me, I will say to you, 'Behold, here I am'" (Ps. 33[34]:16; Is. 65:24; 58:9).

What can be sweeter to us, dear ones, than this voice of the Lord inviting us? Behold, in His loving kindness the Lord shows us the way of life.

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As Benedictines, we are called but it is call we seek because we sense something lacking or desire to uncover something more than the life construct we previously lived within. We don't run ads in bulletins or post invitations on social media to prospect for those who might be interested in the Benedictines. When we here the cry of the Lord asking who seeks him, it is because we are already listening for the invitation usually without knowing what it is we seek. We are looking for life and a desire to see good days, not in the next world or next week or next week but now. Today. At this very moment. We respond him that we are the ones he calls out to and he next responds with a promise to be present for us and what a presence it is we are given, one that leads to true and everlasting life.

Our commission is simple. Speak without deceit or unholy intent and to turn away from evil and do good, and seek peace but as is said to the point of being tiresome, simple does not mean easy. Note we invited to journey toward a destination and not to consider ourselves with to have completed a journey without the need of further investment of effort. We can speak without negative intention but we only have to turn away from evil and do good, not be good. To see it any other will result in disaster.

To seek peace is possible, to be at peace with any sense of permanency is not. We, can however, find peace by turning toward holiness in sufficient measure to sustain us. There is nothing sweeter.

Prologue, part 2 - January 2

Let us arise, then, at last, for the Scripture stirs us up, saying, "Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep" (Rom. 13:11).

Let us open our eyes to the deifying light, let us hear with attentive ears the warning which the divine voice cries daily to us, "Today if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts" (Ps. 94[95]:8). 

And again, "Whoever has ears to hear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Matt. 11-15; Apoc. 2:7). And what does He say? "Come, My children, listen to Me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord" (Ps. 3[34]:12). "Run while you have the light of life, lest the darkness of death overtake you" (John 12:35).

Listen is the watch word as we begin this little voyage. I fully appreciate how Benedict used scripture to lay out the Rule using his own words only as a means of connecting the main ideas he wised to express. Listen, he said first and now in the next breath he urged us to literally wake up so we not only hear but see what we are supposed to learn. His first challenge is to not fall into the same habit as the ancient Hebrews who failed to listen to God when they were in the desert and, but for the heartfelt pleading of Moses, may have perished there because of their insolence.

I am prepared to listen. The call from Psalm 95 is daily reminder in the Invitatory to be open to the word which may come to us that day. My concern, as already voiced, is how to be certain the voice is that of the Lord and not something originating within me that lacks divine influence. I am optimistic that as the calendar pages flip forward more wisdom, more knowledge, more tools will come to guide discernment.

We also catch our first instance of another recurring theme, zeal. Run, we are told, before the darkness overtakes us. There is urgency in the rule which falls right in on another understanding I recently embraced. In matters of faith and spirituality, there is only now. Every now, or moment, that slips by is a lost opportunity to grow our faith and devotion and to be of service. Certainly by the time tomorrow comes, everything may have changed. In his day, some kind of tragedy might suddenly strike and the same might be true for us. For me.

There is balance to find. First there has to be no delay in making the commitment. I also need to work diligently everyday but must be prepared to be patient. The fruits of faith are not always quick to be mature. I can't do this on my own. I need his help but also have to do my part.

Rule of St. Benedict - Reflections to start a new year.

Prologue

LISTEN  carefully, my child, to your master's precepts, and incline the ear of your heart (Prov. 4:20).

Receive willingly and carry out effectively your loving father's advice, that by the labor of obedience you may return to Him from whom you had departed by the sloth of disobedience.

To you, therefore, my words are now addressed, whoever you may be, who are renouncing your own will to do battle under the Lord Christ, the true King, and are taking up the strong, bright weapons of obedience. And first of all, whatever good work you begin to do, beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect it, that He who has now deigned to count us among His children may not at any time be grieved by our evil deeds.

For we must always so serve Him with the good things He has given us, that He will never as an angry Father disinherit His children, nor ever as a dread Lord, provoked by our evil actions, deliver us to everlasting punishment as wicked servants who would not follow Him to glory.

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I begin on this first day of the year with a solemn promise and desire: to grow closer to the path a I chose as an Oblate of Mt. Angel Abbey, a monastery of the Order of St. Benedict. This is my first step but I invite whoever might read these words to travel with me on this path of faith. My prayer an my intent for me to grow ever less and less so the will, word and love God can grow more and more within me.

I have frequently considered these first few words of the rule. The first word can often times simply free me in place. Listen! To listen to the master's precepts should be easy enough but there is a cautionary note for me. 

When I listen, what am I actually hearing? The word's of my master or words of my own? Worse yet are they words of another to whom I should never listen but who often seems to be at the edge of my ear?

What I hear, see and experience cannot be trusted without careful study. I have learned that my feelings are driven by emotions projected out of my past and they can subtly, or profoundly morph, what is real and true into something colored by the peculiar construct of my individual reality. I no longer wish to listen to what is from me but only to what He wish for me the hear.

To listen is my desire, my hope and my new focus and direction but I must learn to discern what is from the master from what is not. I am reminded that the word obedience descends from the Latin word obedire which means to listen but not just listen but to listen deeply to where listening becomes a transformative encounter.

On this first day of 2019, I pledge obedience. I will listen.