Chapter 65: The prior or prioress of the monastery (paragraphs 2-3)
Then, since power is delegated to many, there is no room for pride to take hold of any individual. (From para. 2 of Ch. 65 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
I think that delegation is in the true spirit of servant leadership; it emanates discernment and a sense of unity that comes from living collaboratively on the ground of being.
The abbot must take care “ . . . lest the flame of envy or jealousy be kindled in his soul.” Sadness at the success of another: that’s envy. And the consumer culture around me promotes it, as it promotes desire for better, tastier, prettier things. It tells me I am not enough, I do not have enough, I do not do enough.
ReplyDeleteAgain, this reminds me that in the economy of God's Love everyone is gifted with equal power to love in various forms, in various ways. It is just through faith that one sees clearly. It is just a matter of love that one recognizes the love flowing in the veins of another.
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