Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot
I have the privilege of helping with the Children’s Liturgy of the Word on Sundays. There are times when the discussion of the readings leads to insights from the children. At a recent gathering, the children shared that it was easier to do something that was not a good decision than to do the action that they knew was the better choice. If we think about the honesty of these young disciples, we would agree that living the teachings of Jesus is not always easy. St. Benedict, whose feast we celebrate today, offers us some practices to help us to follow Christ.
Today’s gospel reading recounts the story of Jesus sending the apostles to proclaim that the “kingdom is at hand.” He tells them not to take any money, extra clothes or provisions, and to rely on others for their needs. What a challenging job to do! Although there are no details to describe the apostles’ travels, I could imagine that they found these stipulations to be difficult and at times they did not succeed. How were they able to keep on trying? Was it the great love of Jesus and their devotion to him?
As written in the first reading from Hosea, God’s love continues to forgive and call as back even when we turn away. There are saints who have developed ways that help us make a return to the Lord. Today is the feast day of St. Benedict of Nursia who wrote The Rule to help direct the monasteries of his time. Even though St. Benedict lived long ago, he still offers sound advice for us today as we attempt to navigate the difficulties of serving the Lord. The Rule includes five practices that we can use in our own lives:
Prayer- for the those living in monasteries this would revolve around the Liturgy of the Hours and other types of private prayer ( e.g. Lectio Divina) Prayer for us could be saying the rosary, private prayer, attending Mass, or through the course of the day taking a short break to “turn to the Lord” with thanks and praise.
Work- Work is something we all do in our daily lives. Even those who may not be employed outside of the home, perform tasks that help the community, family, or creation. St. Benedict stresses that work gives dignity and value to individuals. If we do our work being mindful that our work is a part of God’s call to us, then even the smallest chore can be holy.
Study- St. Benedict instructs that those following his Rule should read scripture or other texts to deepen their spiritual lives. Even in our busy days, taking time to read the daily Mass readings can be a way to help us stay grounded in God’s truth.
Hospitality- Although we might think of this as welcoming people into our homes, this idea of hospitality from St. Benedict goes further, since it implies that we welcome others into our lives and see them as Christ among us. This includes the stranger and those on the periphery as well as those people within our own household.
Renewal- The Rule of St. Benedict stresses the importance of taking time to rest (e.g. keeping the Sabbath) as well as finding ways to seek and find God in our daily lives (this could be taking a hike or painting or some other form of recreation.) Even when we are enjoying time away from the routine, St. Benedict wants to remind us that God should still be at our center.
(http://www.benedictfriend.org/the-rule.html)
Although I do not live in a monastery, I find the Rule of St. Benedict provides helpful practices that make the challenges of being a disciple a little easier. When I take time to pray, read scripture, work with love, offer compassion and hospitality to others, and even use my times of recreation to remember God, I believe that I will be more deeply planted in God’s love. Following Christ is challenging, but these spiritual practices make it easier to find the Way.
Loving God, your love for us is great even when we turn away. We want to grow in our love for you as we follow Jesus, but we often struggle. Send your Spirit to give us the wisdom, courage and grace, so we can live holy lives. May the practices of St. Benedict bring us closer to you and your love. We pray this in Christ’s name AMEN.
-Marylynn Herchline