jan 22 2006
Chapter 5: On Obedience
The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This is the virtue of those who hold nothing dearer to them than Christ; who, because of the holy service they have professed, and the fear of hell, and the glory of life everlasting, as soon as anything has been ordered by the Superior, receive it as a divine command and cannot suffer any delay in executing it. Of these the Lord says,"As soon as he heard, he obeyed Me" (Ps. 17:45). And again to teachers He says,"He who hears you, hears Me" (Luke 10:16). Such as these, therefore, immediately leaving their own affairs and forsaking their own will,dropping the work they were engaged on and leaving it unfinished,with the ready step of obedience follow up with their deeds the voice of him who commands. And so as it were at the same moment the master's command is given and the disciple's work is completed,the two things being speedily accomplished together in the swiftness of the fear of God by those who are moved with the desire of attaining life everlasting. That desire is their motive for choosing the narrow way,of which the Lord says,"Narrow is the way that leads to life" (Matt. 7:14), so that, not living according to their own choice nor obeying their own desires and pleasures but walking by another's judgment and command,they dwell in monasteries and desire to have an Abbot over them. Assuredly such as these are living up to that maxim of the Lordin which He says,"I have come not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38).
The reading today from the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict is giving a message that is intertwined with the Gospel message of today. The willingness to immediately drop the nets, the personal ways of living, and to follow Jesus. To follow without hesitation and to give the self will over to the will of God who is our source of all. Obedience that is ready is the first step of humility. Humility is of the earth, it is in my eyes being very real and losing false, foolish, frivolous ways. Obedience is one of the monastic vows. It is not a mindless, submissive, weak state. It is a freeing and empowering state to be humble and not burdened by false desires and misplaced paths. It gives energy and soundness and joy to be truly humble.
Of course, I am far from the example of humility and it is a case of regularly reminding myself of the path I am on and that all good and love comes from God and totally giving myself to God who gave me all that I am.
The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This is the virtue of those who hold nothing dearer to them than Christ; who, because of the holy service they have professed, and the fear of hell, and the glory of life everlasting, as soon as anything has been ordered by the Superior, receive it as a divine command and cannot suffer any delay in executing it. Of these the Lord says,"As soon as he heard, he obeyed Me" (Ps. 17:45). And again to teachers He says,"He who hears you, hears Me" (Luke 10:16). Such as these, therefore, immediately leaving their own affairs and forsaking their own will,dropping the work they were engaged on and leaving it unfinished,with the ready step of obedience follow up with their deeds the voice of him who commands. And so as it were at the same moment the master's command is given and the disciple's work is completed,the two things being speedily accomplished together in the swiftness of the fear of God by those who are moved with the desire of attaining life everlasting. That desire is their motive for choosing the narrow way,of which the Lord says,"Narrow is the way that leads to life" (Matt. 7:14), so that, not living according to their own choice nor obeying their own desires and pleasures but walking by another's judgment and command,they dwell in monasteries and desire to have an Abbot over them. Assuredly such as these are living up to that maxim of the Lordin which He says,"I have come not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38).
The reading today from the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict is giving a message that is intertwined with the Gospel message of today. The willingness to immediately drop the nets, the personal ways of living, and to follow Jesus. To follow without hesitation and to give the self will over to the will of God who is our source of all. Obedience that is ready is the first step of humility. Humility is of the earth, it is in my eyes being very real and losing false, foolish, frivolous ways. Obedience is one of the monastic vows. It is not a mindless, submissive, weak state. It is a freeing and empowering state to be humble and not burdened by false desires and misplaced paths. It gives energy and soundness and joy to be truly humble.
Of course, I am far from the example of humility and it is a case of regularly reminding myself of the path I am on and that all good and love comes from God and totally giving myself to God who gave me all that I am.
posted by Joan Morris at 6:05 AM
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