Joan Chittister - Grace

In the midst of all the noise of everyday life: July in review

Early in July, Tom reminded us that Benedict’s rules serve to help us live together in community with the presumption that we are striving to live as Christ.  The instructions to the cellarer, who manages the community’s goods and provides for the material needs of each member in the community, remind us today about attitudes -- not only toward material goods -- but attitudes toward service and stewardship and work. This is an attitude of service and caring for one another.  We ended our conversation with these questions:  Am I doing the best job I can?  Am I caring for the people for  and with whom I work?  Am I being kind to people?

The following week Daniel posed these questions:  Are we paying attention to the shepherd? Do we recognize the Shepherd working in our lives?  A shepherd nudges with his crook to guide sheep in the direction he would have them go.  In the midst of the business of the world, we often miss the Good Shepherd’s directions, going our own way rather than the way Christ would have us go.  Daniel led us in a discussion about being aware and paying attention and listening for Christ in our lives.  Sara reminded us that the Rule begins with the word “Listen.”

The noise of our lives and our culture distracts us from the voice of Christ.  This week’s readings spoke to the conversation begun by Daniel: one reading focused on the silence following Compline; one, on reading at meals.  The silence is not just about quiet and holding our tongues, but stilling our minds and emptying out the world’s need, enabling us to listen and enabling our souls to be emptied and filled with the spirit of Christ.  This listening and stillness is prayer that centers us in faith and Christ. Larry connected this listening to the Benedictine practice of reading during meals, not difficult or rigorous texts, but readings to feed the soul as the food feeds the body. Larry ended our discussion with these words from Sr. Joan: 

“The point is that it isn’t so much the practice of reading at the table that is important in this chapter; it is the idea of groundedness in the spiritual life that could make us stop and think.  We’re all busy.  We’re all overscheduled.  We’re all trying to deal with people and projects that consume us.  We’re all spiritually thirsty.  And, we’re all responsible for filling the mind with rich ideas in order to leaven the soul.”

The Way

Reading today’s readings from Leviticus, Hebrews, and Matthew, Tom – today’s worship leader—asked us to hear these words with Benedictine ears.  We heard in these readings that rules – decrees, commandments – lead us in the way.  Following the rules we find a deeper understanding of Christ.  Conversely we also heard that when we deviate from the way, we are broken and desolate, but that if our heart is humbled and we make amends – when we remember the covenant, the rule, the way – God also remembers.  We are healed; we are chosen; we are his children.

The collect for this week focus us on Jesus as “the way, the truth, the life.”  Benedict created a community that walks in this way.  We continue to find wisdom in these Rules.

Tom also shared the song in the next post:  “Picture of Jesus” by Ben Harris.  Here are the lyrics:

Picture Of Jesus

Credits:  Ben Harper

Original Artist:  Ben Harper

It hangs above my altar


Like they hung him from a cross


I keep one in my wallet
for the times that

I feel lost


In a wooden frame with splinters


Where my family kneels to pray


And if you listen close


You'll hear the words he used to say

It has been spoken


He would come again


But would we recognize


His king among men


There was a man in our time


His words shine bright like the sun


He tried to lift the masses


And was crucified by gun

Some days have no beginning


And some days have no end


Some roads are straight and narrow


And some roads only ben
d

So let us say a prayer


For every living thing


Walking towards a light


From the cross of a king

I’ve got a picture of Jesus


In his arms my prayers rest


I've got a picture of Jesus


And with him we shall be forever blessed

Picture Of Jesus - Ben Harper

Tom shared this song with our community this morning.

Following the Tools of Good Works in our Hearts

This morning we read from Leviticus, hearing the rules to keep the people holy; we read the urgings of Paul to the Thessalonians to act as holy people.   This week in the Rule of Benedict we have begun to read about the Tools of Good Works – 73 tools to use in our work for Christ.  How we behave should be an extension of our faith and our love of Christ.  We are reminded to be guided be these rules and live by these rules with the help of the community and the leadership of the Abbot.

Our discussion this morning of the readings from scripture illuminated our the readings in Benedict. Following the rule does not bring us to Christ, but our love of Christ brings us to follow the rule so as to live our faith.   Our motivation should be for Christ not ourselves or our own rewards.  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21)

We spoke of transparency; our motives should be apparent.  Our hearts should be focused on Christ, and love of Christ should be visible in our works.  We are His people. 

Begin ....

“…. In the first place, beg of Him by most earnest prayer, that He perfect whatever good thou dost begin…” St. Benedict (2011-04-30). The Rule of St. Benedict (Kindle Locations 116-117). PlanetMonk Books. Kindle Edition.

This week ends the reading of the Rule with an admonition to embrace a zeal for goodness, recognition that the Rule is just the beginning, and the requirement to listen to the wisdom who have walked this road before us. 

This week begins the reading of the rule with a prayer that any good we do be perfected in Christ, a recognition that we are at the beginning of a journey, and the command to listen --- to incline the ear of the heart to hear Christ in the Rule. 

The ending and the beginning of the journey are the same discipline:  Work for the good, Listen for the voice of Christ in the world and words and wisdom around us, begin.  Today, each day, we begin.

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

Gratitude: Louie Schwartzberg at TEDxSF

Recently, as Tom led us in our morning prayer reflection on The Rule, we
spoke of paying attention to signs of God in our presence, listening to
the voice of God in those we meet each day, and being mindful of our
response to God in our midst.  The practice of piloting our day with God
as our navigator should shift how we see the world around us.  Tom
shared as story:  he has been visiting Martin's during its renovations,
and as a man who enjoys order, this has often been frustrating; however,
as the renovations came together, he began to appreciate the work and
efforts of the staff who have created a truly wonderful store; in a God
moment, he shared his appreciation with the store's manager, a man who
had been hearing many frustrated tales and was grateful to be recognized
for his hard work.  In light of this story, Daniel shared this video about
gratitude: