15th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Living Faithfully – The Rule of St Benedict
In the Exploring Faith Matters program or EFM – there is a theme for each of the four years of the program. Each theme begins with the words,
Living faithfully and so for participants this year it is Living faithfully into the journey with God.
It is I believe those first two words Living faithfully that best capture the challenge for all Christians and the question that we should ask ourselves from time to time – How can I live more faithfully? In other words, how can I live day by day the life that Jesus calls me to – a life that is honest, authentic and true to the gospel that Jesus himself lived and proclaimed?
In our second reading from the letter to the Ephesians we hear that indeed we have been blessed in Christ as we have been chosen from before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him. Again, that is another way of saying that we are to live lives that are faithful to our calling. The letter of the Ephesians then goes on to expand how followers of Christ are to do just that. Today as we celebrate and give thanks for St Benedict, we also have another great gift and source of guidance for living faithfully.
While the Feast of St Benedict is not generally observed as one of the major festivals, nonetheless the impact that this young man of the 6th century had on Christian life and the church cannot be underestimated. We don’t know a great deal about Benedict himself except through the Dialogues of Pope Gregory. However, as Pope Gregory notes – If anyone wishes to know his character and life more precisely, he may find in the ordinances of that Rule a complete account of the abbot’s practice; for the holy man cannot have taught otherwise than as he lived.” Pope Gregory is referring of course to the Rule of St Benedict … which he wrote after having decided to leave what he saw as a corrupted world, to go and live in solitude. We know that in time others gathered around him with that same goal of wanting to live faithfully – and be holy and blameless before God. Thus – under Benedict’s guidance monastic communities were formed and the Rule of Benedict established.
This Rule of St Benedict it has to be acknowledged was not a complete invention by Benedict. In fact, it was in large part based upon other rules for monastic communities already in existence. However what Benedict in his version of the Rule was to give those seeking to live a faithful Christian life in community – is a set of principles, values and tools that have endured to this day not only for monastic or religious communities but indeed for all who seek to live the Christian life faithfully whether that be in a monastic community or outside of it.
It has to be acknowledged that the Rule of St Benedict is an historical document that comes out of and speaks to a specific time in our history. In the unsettled, strife-torn Italy of the sixth century, Benedict’s Rule offered definitive direction and established an ordered way of life that gave security and stability. Benedict sought to lay down as the Rule says nothing harsh, nothing burdensome, but was intent on encouraging the person coming to the monastery. Benedict in the prologue to his Rule describes it as a little rule for beginners. It sets out in what at times seems like excruciating detail a pattern and structure for everyday life – from the arrangement of psalms for prayers, to details of clothing and the amount of food and drink that a monk was to receive. While a number of the rules or practices would seem either harsh or inappropriate today, still what stands out as both radical for its time and relevant for our own is an acknowledgement towards context and compassion for our human frailties. Benedict was clearly a keen observer of human nature and realised that people often fail. The Rule makes allowances for our human failures so that those who need more are given more and those who don’t are encouraged to be content with what has been given. Benedict directed the Abbot ‘that the strong have something to yearn for and the weak nothing to run from…’ For its time, the Rule was also radical in that no one who entered the monastery was given any special privilege or benefit because of their status or wealth in the wider community. Rank was determined purley by the date of entry into the monastery.
Benedict in his Rule acknowledged the importance of the individual person and the relationship of persons living in community. The Rule strikes a balance between the freedom and needs of the individual and that of the community as a whole. Benedict recognises that living faithfully for most of us can best be lived out in community be that a monastic community, a family, parish or faith community.
The Rule of St Benedict has endured over the centuries because I believe its values and principles for faithful Christian living have found meaning not only in monasteries around the world but indeed for Christians living their daily lives out in the community. As Joan Chittister – well known Benedictine and author describes the Rule as ‘Wisdom Distilled from the Daily’ – the title given to her book – Living the Rule of St Benedict Today.
From my own experience I can attest to the Rule as indeed Wisdom especially in its call for a balance between prayer, work and leisure – the pillars if you like of Christian life. It is beyond the scope of this sermon to explain these pillars in detail but the challenge of holding all of these in balance and having a structure or model for attaining this is of utmost value. Even in the monastery – that balance had to be adjusted according to context such as the seasons of the year. Thus, that balance may well and truly change depending on our own context – eg parents with young children and those who are retired. The principle remains though that nothing can be left out totally – all must be given some time and attention. Surely this speaks volumes to our own time and culture where maintaining a healthy balance amidst all the competing demands on our time is such a challenge.
The Rule of St Benedict is Christocentric and its principles are profoundly grounded in scripture with the goal of making the normal and the natural, the stepping stones of the Holy. The essential elements that emerge from the Rule are ones that we all need to give attention to in our lives if we are to live faithfully – and they are: prayer, lectio [ie reflective reading of scripture], community, balance, humility, mindfulness, obedient listening and stewardship of the earth.
In a Covid world, we are more than ever in need of structure, order, purpose, stability and community. Benedictine spirituality is I believe one of the great gifts and blessings that can go a good way to meeting those needs and in particular empowering us as followers of Jesus to live as faithfully as we possibly can.
Let us pray:
A prayer from St Benedict
O Gracious and Holy Father,
give us wisdom to receive you,
diligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate on you,
and a life to proclaim you;
through the power of the Spirit
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[St Benedict]