Rule of St Benedict Reading for September 3, 2009

January 3, May 4, September 3

Prologue

And the Lord, seeking his laborer
in the multitude to whom He thus cries out,
says again,
"Who is the one who will have life,
and desires to see good days" (Ps. 33[34]:13)?
And if, hearing Him, you answer,
"I am the one,"
God says to you,
"If you will have true and everlasting life,
keep your tongue from evil
and your lips that they speak no guile.
Turn away from evil and do good;
seek after peace and pursue it" (Ps. 33[34]:14-15).
And when you have done these things,
My eyes shall be upon you
and My ears open to your prayers;
and before you call upon Me,
I will say to you,
'Behold, here I am'" (Ps. 33[34]:16; Is. 65:24; 58:9).

What can be sweeter to us, dear ones,
than this voice of the Lord inviting us?
Behold, in His loving kindness
the Lord shows us the way of life.

Some thoughts:

Through the RB, St Benedict establishes a school in which we will learn how to do all the things mentioned on 9/2. Knowing that we are just ordinary people, he promises nothing harsh or burdensome. Although he prompts us to a little strictness, he asks that we do not become discouraged. We will learn to appreciate the discipline imposed upon us by the Rule. In time what we first due out of obedience, we will do out of love because we will discover how living the Benedictine path increases the love we share with God on an individual basis and with each other human being.