Let the Abbess always bear in mind that at the
dread Judgment of God there will be an examination of these two matters:
her teaching and the obedience of her disciples. And let the Abbess be
sure that any lack of profit the master of the house may find in the
sheep will be laid to the blame of the shepherd.
On the other hand, if the shepherd has bestowed
all her pastoral diligence on a restless, unruly flock and tried every
remedy for their unhealthy behavior, then she will be acquitted at the
Lord's Judgment and may say to the Lord with the Prophet: "I have not
concealed Your justice within my heart; Your truth and Your salvation I have
declared" (Ps. 39[40]:11).
"But they have despised and rejected me" (Is. 1:2; Ezech.
20:27). And then finally let death itself, irresistible, punish those
disobedient sheep under her charge.
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Again, I see myself as the abbot or shepherd of the
family who is charged with caring for the master's riches while he is away.
Teaching and obedience are the first two and most important charges. Obedience
continues as a main ingredient for monasticism. It is no less important in the
family or in secular life at large. Yes, the family should be obedient to the
head of the family but the authority of the abbot is not absolute and there has
to be limits, limits scribed in time by a
timeless call to holiness and righteousness. The abbot, abbess, lion or
father does not have all ending power to judge, only that which is granted by
God and without God's stamp, there is no real authority, no true mastery only
slavery and even abuse.
The leader must also
be obedient to the will and the word of the Lord. The father in the parable in
the prodigal son is the best example given us. Obedience, which is, in its
original meeting, means to listen at the level of an encounter. Those who are assigned
to a leader are obligated to obey or listen to their leader but the leader is
equally obligated to listen to his charges in return that he might learn and
understand their needs. Obedience, as we are shown by God, is bilateral. Each
must listen to the other just as God chooses to listen to us even if we are his
people, the flock he shepherds.
Teaching is the
first half of the two charges given leaders. Teaching is all important because
the purpose of obedience is to enforce and reinforce knowledge and
understanding so wisdom might also grow in measure. The teaching must be true
and based in the word of God or it means nothing and is worth even less. I did
not teach my children as well as I would have liked because at the time I was
not obedient beyond a token gesture offered in public but was not supported in practice. If I were
obedient, I would have listened and learned what I was supposed to transmit in
turn. A teacher cannot share what he does not have to share. Fortunately my
wife more than ably filled the gap. Still, my children learned only from the
lioness and as sons, they needed to have more taught to them by their father
who should have been the lion.
I will not be
acquitted because of the nature of my family but they have forgiven me. I will be only acquitted through
his gift of mercy and grace. My children were not disobedient. I was.
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