Chapter 2: Gifts needed by an abbot or abbess (paragraph 4)
They should not select for special treatment any individual in the monastery. (From para. 4 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
I think this is almost humanly impossible. But as meditation helps me to rely less on the lens of my ego, I begin to see others more clearly, and delight in treating them each with uncommon respect.
Every so often, the daily Gospel readings give meaning to the day's reading of the Rule. In today's reading(Acts 1:15-17,20-26) Matthias is chosen by the drawing of lots to take the place of Judas, after the apostles prayed. I cannot know what is in another person's heart even though my ego would like to think it has superior insight. The reading from John says it all, "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you...to go and bear fruit that will remain."(John 15:16) There is the reason, "good works" and the real clincher, "humility" - humility in the knowledge that I really have nothing to do with choice or merit regarding myself or another. It is God who reads hearts.
ReplyDeleteSheep can be such smelly, ungainly creatures, and so can I so often be such a clumsy, ungainly, creature, Lord. Yet you, the Good Shepherd, lay down your life for me! Teach me how to love whomever of your sheep you entrust to me to be “abba” to, today--whomever I meet today,
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