Chapter 32: The tools and property of the monastery
Anyone who is negligent in dealing with the monastery property or allows it to deteriorate must be corrected with a view to improvement. (From para. 2 of Ch. 32 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
If this isn't a materialistic directive, then what is it? It's St. Benedict reminding me that the community I'm a part of is shot through with grace that I'm in danger of overlooking, unless I care for everything as if it's part of the Kingdom.
This rules brings to mind this passage of scripture: Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10
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