Chapter 43: Late-comers for the work of God or in the refectory (paragraphs 1-3)

When the time comes for one of the Divine offices to begin, as soon as the signal is heard, everyone must set aside whatever they may have in hand and hurry as fast as possible to the oratory, but of course they should do so in a dignified way which avoids giving rise to any boisterous behaviour. The essential point is that nothing should be accounted more important that the work of God. (From para. 1 of Ch. 43 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

St Benedict arouses for me some of the sharp emotions of being interrupted: having to tear myself from my work, needing to hurry so as not to be late, being dignified rather than disgruntled and serious rather than boisterous, or whatever other disruptive ways my ego might respond. But then Benedict gives me a clear focus: Nothing is more important than the work of God.