Chapter 70: The offence of striking another
Every occasion for presumptuous behaviour in a monastery must be avoided, so we insist that no one in the community may excommunicate or strike another unless given the power to do so by the superior. (From Ch. 70 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
Presumptiveness and the desire to control flare from my ego. But my spirit moves tenderly.
Words can wound. I have used them and can still be tempted to use them to strike others. Sarcasm, in fact, means, literally, “to tear the flesh”. My sarcastic humor can feed my ego while it too often gets me laughs at the expense of those I supposedly love. I learned sarcasm as an adolescent, with my siblings and peers. Now, by your grace, Abba, I get to grow up. I learn new ways to relate to myself and my fellows, through the gift of the daily practice of the stillness, silence and simplicity of meditation.
ReplyDelete“Every occasion of presumption shall be avoided in the monastery, and we decree that no one be allowed to excommunicate or to strike any of her sisters unless the abbess has given her authority.” This calls for my being gentle and merciful with myself and with others.
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