RB Reflection: 30 June 2008

Chapter 23 Excommunication for Faults

If a brother is found to be stubborn or disobedient or proud, if he grumbles or in any way despises the holy rule and defies the orders of his seniors, he should be warned twice privately by the seniors in accord with our Lord's injunction (Matt 18:15-16). If he does not amend, he must be rebuked publicly in the presence of everyone. But if even then he does not reform, let him be excommunicated, provided that he understands the nature of this punishment. If however he lacks understanding, let him undergo corporal punishment.

Should we let this chapter serve as a lesson that if you are not a cooperative Lay Cistercian you may end up being whipped?

For heaven sake, no! Many people read this chapter, come to the last sentence, and then promptly forget everything that came before.

Do you know any Lay Cistercian who is;
1. Stubborn?
2. Disobedient?
3. Proud?
4. Complainer/Grumbler?
5. Pooh-poohs the rule?
6. Blatantly ignores what the seniors of the group tell them?

Are you one of those? Personally, I am every one of those things at some point, not just in my Lay Cistercian life, but in life in general. Although, Praise be to God, I am less of each because of the conversion of life that is part of the Lay Cistercian life. We all have each of those six things in us, but the grace of Christ is always available to us. Let us then throw ourselves upon the grace of Christ.

May God bring us altogether to everlasting life.