Word to the Wise
Saturday, July 11, 2009 - St. Benedict, abbot
[Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26A and Matthew 10:24-33]No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master.
As I write this, I am on my way to a Benedictine Monastery in Arkansas to preach a retreat! I suspect tomorrow the place may be a bit more festive than usual for the feast of the founder of Western Christian monasticism, St. Benedict of Nursia! Today's gospel scripture reminded me right away of the opening words of the Rule of St. Benedict: "Listen, my children.....!" To many in the secular world (and to some in the religious world, too, unfortunately) monasticism is a quaint relic of an earlier time! Yet it continues to be popular as a way of discipleship. Whether it be the male or female form [monks or nuns], a monastery has a mysterious and mystic quality to a lot of people and they are drawn to it in a vicarious way as a source of spiritual strength. Yet those monks and nuns would disclaim any special place in God's affections. They would say that the monastic way of life is a calling like all others and is subject to all the usual human virtues and vices. The most frequent comment I hear reflects the utilitarian quality of modern life: "What do they DO all day in that place?" The short answer is found in the motto of Benedictine life: "Ora et Labora!" (Pray and work!). The longer answer is that a monastery is not founded to serve as some kind of factory or office for a profession like the law and medicine, etc. The monks at Subiaco monastery in Arkansas run a boys high school, but that was not the reason they were founded there. When I lived in Kentucky, I was a half hour from a Trappist monastery (they follow the Rule of St. Benedict as well) and they supported the monastery by making cheese and candy. The monastery is meant to be a witness to gospel values - the same values that are reflected in today's gospel scripture! I heartily recommend reading the Rule of St. Benedict. It doesn't take long and its common sense and faith are as modern as they are ancient. Visit a monastery and meet monks or nuns! Perhaps it will be an occasion of learning the importance of the beginning words of the Rule: "Listen my children..." AMEN
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