RB Reflection: 6 September 2008

Brothers [Sisters], now that we have asked the Lord who will dwell in his tent, we have heard the instruction for dwelling in it, but only if we fulfill the obligations of those who live there. We must, then, prepare our hearts and bodies for the battle of holy obedience to his instructions. What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Lord to supply by the help of his grace. If we wish to reach eternal life, even as we avoid the torments of hell, then -- while there is sitll time, while we are in this body and have the time to accomplish all these things by the light of life -- we must run and do now what will profit us forever.

"Prepare our hearts and bodies for the battle of holy obedience." It is sad, but true, that for humans to be obedient it is a battle. As children we are disobedient, punished, and learn to be obedient. As we grow up we learn how to hide our disobedience by a show of obedience. In other words, we get better at concealing the truth.

"What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Lord to supply by the help of his grace." Having used examples in the past to illustrate points of obedience and grace has gotten me into some hot water, yet, I don't care any longer whether or not it does, the fact remains that we all resist obedience to God, to each other, to our LCG group, even to those closest to us in life. Throughout the entire International Lay Cistercian movement there is a fear that we will be "taken over" by the order. I'm not sure what that fear is, except of obedience.

When people are asked what do you think would happen if you gave yourself completely to God's will, they say either "I will get cancer," or, "I will lose my identity." That doesn't show much faith in God's goodness. In fact, such attitudes almost make reading the rule a pointless exercise! The goodness of God is so much more than giving us cancer, or taking away our identity. As this relates to the LCG we should be comforted by the document Lay Cistercian Identity (Huerta 2008).

2.1 We are convinced that it is possible to adapt Cistercian spirituality to the lifestyle of a lay person though it is very clear that there are two different ways to live it, monastic and lay, and both are complementary. This shows us the vitality of the monastic life. Lay people have found in Cistercian spirituality a way to live in the world with greater commitment and spiritual depth. We are unanimous in our belief that the Cistercian charism can be lived outside the monastery.

There will be some monks and nuns who find that last sentence to be a great threat to them and the order. They need only rely on God's grace. The protestants of the LCG will worry that they're going to have to be a Roman Catholic. The above paragraph says nothing about that, so perhaps it's time for them to rely on God's grace as well.

I cannot end today's reflection without recalling St. Paul and his instructions to put on the armor of God. Can you find the reference in today's reading to the armor of God?

May God bring us altogether to everlasting life.

RB Reflection: 5 Sept. 2008 Guest Writer

RB Prologue 31-38

Thus also the Apostle Paul hath not taken to himself any credit for his preaching, saying: "By the grace of God, I am what I am" (1 Cor 15:10). And again he saith: "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (2 Cor 10:17).

Hence, the Lord also saith in the Gospel: "He that heareth these my words and doeth them, shall be likened to a wise man who built his house upon a rock; the floods came, the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock" (Mt 7:24-25). The Lord fulfilling these words waiteth for us from day to day, that we respond to His holy admonitions by our works. Therefore, our days are lengthened to a truce for the amendment of the misdeeds of our present life; as the Apostle saith: "Knowest thou not that the patience of God leadeth thee to penance" (Rom 2:4)? For the good Lord saith: "I will not the death of the sinner, but that he be converted and live" (Ezek 33:11).

We are who and what we are only by the grace (unmerited favor) of God. This is a very hard thing to admit and accept. We are not self-made persons. It is God who has made us and redeemed us.

I remember when I was in the military that I had the attitude of not being real good so Satan would not mess with my “success” and not being real bad so God would not mess with my “success.” One day I went to my pastor’s house and explained to him my attitude. My pastor looked at me and asked, “Who do you think gave you your mind, your body, your drive?” At that point I began to realize that Jesus loved me beyond the cross.

The truth of matter was that I was really worshipping success, perfectionism, and admiration from others. I had committed idolatry. But when I confessed (saying the same thing as God) and repented of my sin (turning from sin and turning to God) then God forgave my sin and with time granted me His success in not just one area of my life but in all areas.

God is a God who is for us. God desired our fellowship with Him so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins to rise victorious.

By living out His commands and more specifically following the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and with the aid of the RB, we can live the life God wants us to and enjoy His blessings even in the midst of difficult times.

Blessings to all!!!!

RB Reflection: 4 September 2008

A little recycling never hurt anyone. :-)

Jan. 4, May 5, Sept. 4

Having our loins girded, therefore,
with faith and the performance of good works (Eph. 6:14),
let us walk in His paths
by the guidance of the Gospel,
that we may deserve to see Him
who has called us to His kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12).

For if we wish to dwell in the tent of that kingdom,
we must run to it by good deeds
or we shall never reach it.

But let us ask the Lord, with the Prophet,
"Lord, who shall dwell in Your tent,
or who shall rest upon Your holy mountain" (Ps. 14:1)?

After this question,
let us listen to the Lord
as He answers and shows us the way to that tent, saying,

"The one Who walks without stain and practices justice;
who speaks truth from his heart;
who has not used his tongue for deceit;
who has done no evil to his neighbor;
who has given no place to slander against his neighbor."

This is the one who,
under any temptation from the malicious devil,
has brought him to naught (Ps. 14:4)
by casting him and his temptation from the sight of his heart;
and who has laid hold of his thoughts
while they were still young
and dashed them against Christ (Ps. 136:9).

It is they who,
fearing the Lord (Ps. 14:4),
do not pride themselves on their good observance;
but,
convinced that the good which is in them
cannot come from themselves and must be from the Lord,
glorify the Lord's work in them (Ps. 14:4),
using the words of the Prophet,
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to Your name give the glory" (Ps. 113, 2nd part:1).
Thus also the Apostle Paul
attributed nothing of the success of his preaching to himself,
but said,
"By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10).
And again he says,
"He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (2 Cor. 10:17).

This is a daunting snippet of the rule today. I find it challenging me "what do you say that I am?" It's almost personal from Benedict to me.

Benedict: What am I saying? To what am I challenging you?

Steve: Now we are dressed with faith for good works and now we're setting out to see the kingdom. I am involved with trying to do the same thing with the Lay Cistercain's of Gethsemani.

Benedict: By what path?

Steve: By following the path of the gospel.

Benedict: God tells us who may "The one Who walks without stain and practices justice;
who speaks truth from his heart;
who has not used his tongue for deceit;
who has done no evil to his neighbor;
who has given no place to slander against his neighbor."

Steve: I have done all those things.

Benedict: This is the one who,
under any temptation from the malicious devil,
has brought him to naught (Ps. 14:4)
by casting him and his temptation from the sight of his heart;
and who has laid hold of his thoughts
while they were still young
and dashed them against Christ (Ps. 136:9).

Steve: So you are saying that by practicing this right now, I can become one who might cling to Christ?

Benedict: Yes, and you must lay hold of those thoughts and temptations in the first moment they appear in your mind and let them be dashed them against Christ (Ps. 136:9).

Steve: What can the Lay Cistercian's of Gethsemani learn from this?

Benedict: By purifying your own thoughts, you own opinions. Let the Holy Spirit work within the Lay Cistercian's of Gethsemani, as it is working already for the upcoming Lay Encounter in Spain.

Steve: We are very busy people.

Benedict: It is they who,
fearing the Lord (Ps. 14:4),
do not pride themselves on their good observance;
but,
convinced that the good which is in them
cannot come from themselves and must be from the Lord,
glorify the Lord's work in them (Ps. 14:4),
using the words of the Prophet,
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to Your name give the glory" (Ps. 113, 2nd part:1).

RB Reflection 3 September 2008

Prologue 14-20

Seeking his workman in a multitude of people, the Lord calls out to him and lifts his voice again: Is there anyone here who yearns for life and desires to see good days? (Ps 33[34]:13) If you hear this and your answer is "I do," God then directs these words to you: If you desire true and eternal life, keep your tongue free from vicious talk and your lips from all deceit; turn away from evil and do good; let peace be your quest and aim (Ps. 33[34]:14-15). Once you have done this, my eyes will be upon you and my ears will listen for your prayers; and even before you ask me, I will say to you: Here I am (Is 58.9). What, dear brothers, is more delightful than this voice of the Lord calling to us? See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life.

Is there anyone among us who would answer no to the question of this paragraph? Are we not LCG because we seek to more and more bring our lives in line with the will of God? We have made the steps to come closer to God...but a question remains -- do we keep our tongue from vicious talk? Have we really turned from evil to do good? Is peace our aim?

At various times we can all say yes to each question, and at other times we have to say a sad, no. And, I say so what? Of all the tapes I've heard of Thomas Merton the one line that stands out for me above all the others was when speaking to his group of novices, "What does the monk do who falls?" There was a rather astounding silence. Merton said, "He gets up again. We fail as monks when we stop getting up again."

I am a sin specialist. I am also a Christian and a member of the LCG. I fall, I get up. I fall, I get up. I fall.......get up......fall................up.......

RB Reflection: 1 & 2 September 2008

L I S T E N carefully, my child, to your master's precepts, and incline the ear of your heart (Prov. 4:20). Receive willingly and carry out effectively your loving father's advice, that by the labor of obedience you may return to Him from whom you had departed by the sloth of disobedience.

To you, therefore, my words are now addressed, whoever you may be, who are renouncing your own will to do battle under the Lord Christ, the true King, and are taking up the strong, bright weapons of obedience.

And first of all, whatever good work you begin to do, beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect it, that He who has now deigned to count us among His children may not at any time be grieved by our evil deeds. For we must always so serve Him with the good things He has given us, that He will never as an angry Father disinherit His children, nor ever as a dread Lord, provoked by our evil actions, deliver us to everlasting punishment as wicked servants who would not follow Him to glory.

Let us arise, then, at last, for the Scripture stirs us up, saying, "Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep" (Rom. 13:11). Let us open our eyes to the deifying light, let us hear with attentive ears the warning which the divine voice cries daily to us, "Today if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts" (Ps. 94:8). And again, "Whoever has ears to hear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Matt. 11-15; Apoc. 2:7). And what does He say? "Come, My children, listen to Me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord" (Ps. 33:12). "Run while you have the light of life, lest the darkness of death overtake you" (John 12:35).

Many of you will realize that I lifted the two days of readings directly from the OSB website.

"That by the labor of obedience you may return to Him from whom you had departed by the sloth of disobedience." The thought rises that perhaps this is the reason we have decided to become Lay Cistercians of Gethsemani, in order to put off that "sloth of disobedience." We do this by adopting the Rule of Benedict, and the Rule of Life, designed for the LCG, by the LCG and Fr. Michael.

Every Christian might well say, but by following Christ we are already doing Christ's will. That may be, it may also be that you are stronger than I am who needs the Rule of Benedict, and the Rule of Life, just to stay faithful long enough to allow Christ's redemptive work to have a chance in me.

As human beings we are prone to think of ourselves as somewhere between, I am a worm; or, I don't need any help, thank you very much. The Rule today is saying if you have made your decision to take up the battle of renouncing your own will in order to follow the will of Christ, then you have "chosen the better part." Salvation is open to all, and attainable by many paths, but we are a group who need the Rule of Benedict and the Rule of Life to keep us on the right path.

May God bring us altogether to everlasting life.

RB Reflection: 31 August 2008

Chapter 73. The Rule Only a Beginning of Perfection

The reason we have written this rule is that, by observing it in monasteries, we can show that we have some degree of virtue and the beginnings of monastic life. But for anyone hastening on to the perfection of monastic life, there are the teachings of the holy Fathers, the observance of which will lead him to the very heights of perfection. what page, what passage of the inspired books of the Old and New Testaments is not the truest of guides for human life? What book of the holy catholic Fathers does not resoundingly summon us along the true way to reach the Creator? then, besides the Conferences of the Fathers, their Institutes and their Lives, there is also the rule of our holy father Basil. For observant and obedient monks, all these are nothing less than tools for the cultivation of virtues; but as for us, they make us blush for shame at being so slothful, so unobservant, so negligent. Are you hastening toward your heavenly home? Then with Christ's help, keep this little that we we have written for beginners. After that, you can set out for the loftier summits of the teaching and virtues we mentioned above, and under God's protection you will reach them. Amen.

"But as for us, they make us blush for shame at being so slothful, so unobservant, so negligent." Either Benedict was, as they say, "protesting too much," or he really thought his rule was fairly shoddy work. He compared himself and his rule to the desert Fathers and to Cassian, and personally, I think they comparison is unfair. The desert Fathers barely had the entire Bible, Cassian was just reporting what he'd seen in Egypt -- Benedict was doing his best to make a way of life for the very real monks who lived with him under very real circumstances. In other words, in a world where everyone was feeling their way along to the road to righteousness, Benedict did a great job of making a rule even we today may live with.

How many of us would live as the Father's and Mother's of the desert? Zero. How many of us would put up with the brutality that is evident in some of Cassian's reports of the eastern monastics? Zero. In both instances we find excess. In Benedict we find very little of excess, and a great deal of moderation. In Benedict we find a way of life that we can live today, in monasteries and outside of monasteries. You can't say that for the desert Father's and Mother's. We read them for their insights, but we do not live by their methods.

So in this last chapter of the rule, let us, the LCG, be thankful to St. Benedict for his "little rule for beginners."

RB Reflection: 30 August 2008

The Holy Rule of St Benedict

Chapter 72: On the Good Zeal Which They Ought to Have

Apr. 30 - Aug. 30 - Dec. 30

Just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness
which separates from God and leads to hell,
so there is a good zeal
which separates from vices and leads to God
and to life everlasting.
This zeal, therefore, the sisters should practice
with the most fervent love.
Thus they should anticipate one another in honor (Rom. 12:10);
most patiently endure one another's infirmities,
whether of body or of character;
vie in paying obedience one to another --
no one following what she considers useful for herself,
but rather what benefits another -- ;
tender the charity of sisterhood chastely;
fear God in love;
love their Abbess with a sincere and humble charity;
prefer nothing whatever to Christ.
And may He bring us all together to life everlasting!

Every person who comes into our lives is a gift from God. Some for a moment others for a life time, some for too short a time. Cherish; value each gift, each moment. I lost two friends not long ago. One who went to be with the Lord. One who just walked out of my life. How do I cope with loss? The realization that I was so very blessed with the gift I had from God of these two wonderful folks who came into my life for too short a time. I cherish each moment they were with me. May He bring us together in life everlasting.

As LCG members do we consider what benefits another? Must we have our way? Do we even really listen to the other? I love the Bridges to Contemplative Living Course I facilitate (actually all I am is the time keeper). Listening to what is said by the group members as we take our turns. Listening to this child of God He has so graciously placed in my life. A different life than mine. A different personality. A different expression of God creation. Listen without judging without asking a question or disagreeing or agreeing. They feed me. They bless me.

Listening to the prayer class giving feedback. What do you need now? One of the questions they answer each session. People so different from each other who come together in a union that can only be accomplished by the Spirit. They feed me. They bless me.

Can we hold a dying persons hand whom we love and don’t want to lose and say, “Go to Jesus, friend”? Do we do as God calls us to do in our relationships even though it hurts? Do we honor each other? Do we honor our differences? Do we allow another to have their way? Do we look beyond our provincialism? Do we prefer nothing, not husband, wife, mother, father, daughter, son or our sweetest friend, to the Love of Christ? Do we love Jesus more than having it our way?

Call me Mara Naomi said to Ruth. Mara the word for bitterness. An evil zeal of inward turning, which St Benedict warns separates us from God and leads to hell. Do we separate ourselves because our world isn’t our way? It isn’t God way either. He comes to save His world not condemn it. Can we follow in His steps? Can we reach to each other? Come together in the Love of Christ? As Lay Cistercians do we share the Love of Christ? If we do there is hope.

LCG Grandma