Feb 3 2006

A reading from the Rule of Our Holy Father Saint Benedict
Chapter 7: On Humility
The sixth degree of humility is that a monk be content with the poorest and worst of everything, and that in every occupation assigned him he consider himself a bad and worthless workman, saying with the Prophet,"I am brought to nothing and I am without understanding; I have become as a beast of burden before You, and I am always with You" (Ps:22-23).
I am at a loss for understanding what is happening in my life this morning. It is just not a good morning and was not a good night last night for me. The reading from the Rule is the reading for today from St John's Abbey's web site. I need to always be united with God no matter what my life is like. To be content with the poorest and worst of everything, I have to think, honestly is not my way. I live in a simple way and not extravagant in material ways. To emotionally or socially be content with the poorest and worst treatment is something I do not think I am called to. I think God wants me to be loving and respectful to others. Part of this reading is instructing me to be at the disposal of God and acknowledge that I belong to God.