Chapter 50: Those whose work takes them away from the monastery
Those whose work takes them some distance from the monastery so that they cannot manage to get to the oratory at the right times for prayer must kneel with profound reverence for the Lord and perform the work of God at their place of work. (From para. 1 of Ch. 50 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, 1997.)
This morning I'm taken by the phrase, "perform the work of God at [my] place of work." If I take "the work of God" to mean something even broader than the Divine Office or the practice of meditation, I'm brought to reflect on the fruits of these practices of selfless attention. "Work of God/place of work" becomes one, becomes continuous prayer.
"...those who have been sent on a journey shall not let the appointed Hours pass by, but shall say the Office by themselves as well as they can and not neglect to render the task of their service."
ReplyDeleteEven if I can't be in physical proximity with other Oblates, when meditating our vibrations create a harmonic community that binds us together.