WCCM Oblate Blog: Reflections from Daily Reading of the Rule of St. Benedict

WCCM Benedictine Oblates are encouraged to read a designated portion of the Rule daily, and to write a brief, personal response. I hope that this blog will support our Oblate community in this practice. Please, keep blog entries brief and in a first-person ("I") voice. Refrain from discussing, offering an opinion, or commenting on other entries. Simply consider how a particular section of the Rule is speaking to you in your present circumstances.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Chapter 43: Late-comers for the work of God or in the refectory (paragraphs 4-5)

In the refectory all must come to table together so as to offer their grace together as one community.

(From para. 4 of Ch. 43 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

Here, grace means thanksgiving, and Benedict instructs me to offer my grace together as one with others. In this way, I also understand grace to mean the way the way the Spirit is present and active in loving community.

1 comment:

Wally SaundersNovember 22, 2016 at 5:31 AM
Procrastination, tardiness, and imperfection shine forth in today’s reading of The Rule. Benedict accepts these as inevitable, even and perhaps especially for those of us seeking you, Abba, with all our hearts. May these defects in my character daily help me to grow in childlike surrender and compassion, fidelity and patience, but above all, in openness to your ever-forgiving love.
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