St. Benedict’s Rule for
monastic living has been soul inspiring and formative for countless numbers of
persons who have lived as monks, nuns, priests, deacons, teachers, parish
workers, seekers of holiness, and so many others. It’s been a guidebook on the
path of Christian discipleship but also helpful to all people desiring to live
a good life, one that contributes to our global community. Which always involves the realization that
any vocation, to which we are called by God, is one of service, love, and
obedience to the Lord. St. Benedict’s Rule seems, in its first appearance, to be rather simple to understand and
follow. It is all that, of course, but looking at it with any kind of perceptive depth quickly reveals that so much
more is present.[1]
This is also how it was in the beginning with God. It starts out so very simple: Adam is told by God, “You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden…”(Gen 2:16) except that one, the one right there in the center of the garden. The tree of knowledge. Simple enough, yet there is so much more depth to this rule as Adam discovers when he was disobedient. So, it is also with the nation of Israel. God clearly outlines his covenant with them. It starts out easy enough with Moses, “keep my commandments” (Ex 20:2-17, Dt 5:6-22) all ten of them and the nation will prosper, and so it did. The problem often times is as humans once we become successful, we also tend to become forgetful. Forgetful of who is really the deliverer, the protector, the gift bearer, who is really God. The verses omitted from today’s reading describe Israel’s sins and God’s punishment. Let’s just say, much like Adam, the Nation of Israel learned the consequences for forgetting “the rule.”
In the Gospel, the disciples are sent out, just as we are sent out, into the world with specific instructions to proclaim, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 10:7)
How will the world know we are speaking the Truth? By witnessing to the #1 Rule: LOVE. This is the greatest commandment … “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22:37, 39) Do you want your proclamation to be believable? Be a witness to the depth of the love of Jesus. If you are still confused and unsure what this true love is because of the misguided definition of love our society witnesses to, allow yourself to enter deeply into the Eucharistic feast. Hear the love language in the prayers, comprehend the unfathomable depth of Jesus’ love for us and how he gave everything for our salvation. Then go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life, witnessing to the rule of love.
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