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.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Chapter 73: This Rule is only a beginning

We, however, can only blush with shame when we reflect on the negligence and inadequacy of the monastic lives we lead. (From para. 1 of Ch. 73 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

I think my negligence and inadequacy would cause me to give up, if I hadn't experienced, over time, the grace of finding God hidden within my weaknesses. Surely this grace must be one of the fruits of meditation.

1 comment:

Wally SaundersApril 29, 2015 at 6:47 AM
“Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing for joy.” (Lauds, Wednesday)
St. Thomas Acquinas defined meditation/contemplation as “Simple enjoyment of the truth.” Abba, may my twice-daily twenty to thirty minute commitment to "en-joy-ment" make me a channel of you and your joy to everyone I encounter today. Keep me, like St. Francis of Assisi, all day, “Eager to Love” (ala Richard Rohr ‘s new book).
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment