Chapter 50: Those whose work takes them away from the monastery
Those whose work takes them some distance from the monastery so that they cannot manage to get to the oratory at the right times for prayer must kneel with profound reverence for the Lord and perform the work of God at their place of work. (From para. 1 of Ch. 50 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
For me, St Benedict's call to faithfulness in doing the work of God, echoes Fr John's teaching that the only progress in meditation is in growing fidelity to the practice. I think that in this fidelity, the gap closes between "times of meditation" and daily life, and that the fruit of continuous prayer is allowed to grow.
" . . . shall perform the Work of God
ReplyDeletein the place where they are working,
bending their knees in reverence before God."
Experts tell me that getting down on my knees, for even a few moments, before you, Abba, is a good orthopedic exercise for my aging arthritic bones and muscles. The practice, no matter how brief, also reminds me of how the "serious eyes of a child" (John Main's words) view and explore and adventure in our ever-new world.