RB Reflections

Jan. 2, May 3, Sept 2

Let us go up then, at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us when they say: It is high time for us to arise from sleep (Romans 13:11). Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven that every day calls our this charge: If you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts (Ps 94 [95]:8). And again you have to listen to what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev. 2:7). And what does he say? Come and listen to me, sons; I will teach you the fear of the Lord (Ps. 33[34]:12). Run while you have the light of life, that darkness of death may not overtake you (John 12:35).

When I was young almost all of our family vacations began, "get up, boys, time's a wasting." My father liked to get started well before dawn so when the Sun came up we were in a whole new landscape. Often we'd be far into the panhandle of Texas (on our way to Colorado) and the landscape was drastically different from our home in Dallas.

Those family vacations come to mind as I ponder this section of the rule today. How comfortable my brother and I were in our beds, then mom and dad both (!) would wake us up. Worse yet, they with the audacity to be excited! Luckily, mom knew the secret to making the back seat of the car into a large and comfy sleeping spot, so my brother and I went back to sleep. When we woke up we were in another world.

Benedict is saying the same thing to us: "get up, get moving, times wasting, I want to reveal an entirely new landscape to you." In this large paragraph of scripture quotes, Benedict adds only three things:

1. Let us go up then, at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us;

2. Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven that every day calls;

3. And what does he say?

There is such urgency in his summons to get up, "run while you have the light of day," it is almost as if Benedict himself were too excited to hold it all in.

As members of the Lay Cistercian's of Gethsemani, we are reminded by this passage to shake off the sloth of our worldly lives, and run to our vocation while it is still light. We are to carry our Cistercian Charism to a world ever more in need of a God whom you may sit before in silence, and will sit with you, loving you, as well. That is the gift of the contemplative presence, that God loves us unconditionally. The Cistercian aspect of our contemplative presence is the base upon which the LCG is built. More and more people are called into this Charism for a simple reason: it offers a new landscape, to those willing to wake up enough from day to day living, to pay attention to the invisible, yet ever present God.

Haste like we see in today's selection seems out of place in so sober a thing as a monastic rule. Benedict makes it clear the haste is waking us up to the Lay Cistercian's of Gethsemani, and telling us toward our great mission.

What mission? Benedict supplies the answer.

And again you have to listen to what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev. 2:7)