Chapter 39: The amount of food to be made available
We must always be careful, however, to avoid excessive eating which might also cause indigestion. Nothing is so opposed to Christian values as overeating, as we can see from the words of our Lord: take care that your hearts are not weighed down by overeating. (From para. 2 of Ch. 39 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry OSB, 1997.)
I'm always startled by the strength of these words: Nothing is so opposed to Christian values as overeating. I can think of a lot of worse behaviors than overeating, and yet Benedict challenges me to grasp his point. Perhaps he's telling me that any kind of addiction weighs down my consciousness and limits my freedom of spirit. Perhaps he's telling me that the physical heart and the spiritual heart are mysteriously bonded, and that I should extend the utmost care to them both.
My hyperactivity disease tells me that “Anything worth doing is worth doing to excess”: but food, drink, work, exercise, sex, even helping others, each and every one, do nothing but temporarily fix this quest of mine for more. Each brings but momentary comfort to my itchy soul. My heart is always restless until I rest in You, Abba. Twice-daily meditation begins gently to calm the hyperactive me. I begin to comprehend the word serenity and know peace.
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