Chapter 2: Gifts needed by an abbot or abbess (paragraph 2)
In fact they should remember that they will have to account in the awesome judgement of God both for their own teaching and also for the obedience of their disciples. (From para. 2 of Ch. 2 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
My hunch about the judgment of God is that it's "awesome" because it's somehow inclusive, and probably the term "judgment" doesn't really apply at all. I'm treading on mysterious territory here, but the contemplative experience helps me see that so-called judgment may actually be more of a purification -- a burning away of all that causes individual separateness -- but not of individual responsibility. I'm responsible for my own actions and the infinite ways they reverberate in the universe. This is a paradox of uniqueness and unity.
My hunch about the judgment of God is that it's "awesome" because it's somehow inclusive, and probably the term "judgment" doesn't really apply at all. I'm treading on mysterious territory here, but the contemplative experience helps me see that so-called judgment may actually be more of a purification -- a burning away of all that causes individual separateness -- but not of individual responsibility. I'm responsible for my own actions and the infinite ways they reverberate in the universe. This is a paradox of uniqueness and unity.
I am reminded that parenting or leading and other forms of "abboting" are all "boundary" work for me, Abba. Experts tell me that this boundary work is especially necessary in the 80 to 95% of families, like mine, they would classify as "dysfunctional". The Alanon program is designed precisely to support members of such families particularly relatives or friends of addicts or alcoholics. They told me that I have my own "ten acres", my loved ones each have their own "ten acres",and we have a common "ten acres". Most of my relationship problems arise because I confuse the boundaries between the acreages. I can so easily become a busy body, readily sticking my nose into another's acreage. Teach me discernment, Abba. Help me mind my--that's your and mine--own business.
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