Reading for Jan 12, 2008

Today's reading from the Rule of St. Benedict http://www.osb.org/rb/

January 12, May 13, September 12
Chapter 2: What Kind of Person the Abbess Ought to Be

Let her make no distinction of persons in the monastery.
Let her not love one more than another,
unless it be one whom she finds better
in good works or in obedience.
Let her not advance one of noble birth
ahead of one who was formerly a slave,
unless there be some other reasonable ground for it.
But if the Abbess for just reason think fit to do so,
let her advance one of any rank whatever.
Otherwise let them keep their due places;
because, whether slaves or free, we are all one in Christ (Gal. 3:28)
and bear in equal burden of service
in the army of the same Lord.
For with God there is no respect of persons (Rom. 2:11).
Only for one reason are we preferred in His sight:
if we be found better than others in good works and humility.
Therefore let the Abbess show equal love to all
and impose the same discipline on all
according to their deserts.

It refreshes me to read this. Here in the USA we are apt to give precedence to the oddest people, according celebrity status to seriously broken people, voyeuristically devouring the symptoms of their brokenness, celebrating their lapses and returns to rehab.

Here in the RB, though, we have refuge from that dysfunction. Nobody is better or worse than another. We are all one in Christ Jesus. Thank God, oh thank you, God.