Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

Readings of the day: RB 63:10-19

Mass: Ac 8:26-40; Resp Ps 66; Jn 6:44-51

CHIRST DIED FOR ALL, THAT THOSE WHO LIVE MAY LIVE NOT LONGER FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR HIM, WHO DIED FOR THEM AND IS RISEN, ALLELUIA.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)

This is the second of two days reading St Benedict’s Chapter 63, Community Rank. It is worth noting some of the wisdom contained therein. Rank, or order in a monastic community is based on three criteria: the date of the person’s entry to the monastery; the virtue of her life; and the decision of the abbess. In other words, one’s rank does not depend on level of education, net worth, age, career positions held, or even good looks! For example, if a person with a high school diploma enters the monastery at 1:00 P.M., and a person with a Ph.D. enters at 2 P.M., the former is senior to the latter. One might also leave her business cards behind as there won’t be much use for such things in the monastery. If a 30-year-old enters the monastery at 10:00 A.M., and a 55-year-old at 10:30 A.M., the latter is junior to the former, no matter the professional experience of the latter. St Benedict levels the playing field so to speak. When did you get here? Have you embraced and do you live a virtuous life? Are you loving, caring, compassionate, merciful, and humble…are you seeking God? This is your curriculum vitae so to speak. 

Then Benedict addresses the matters of respect and civility: the younger sisters must respect their seniors, and the seniors must love their juniors; whenever sisters meet, the junior asks her senior for a blessing. When an older sister comes by, the younger rises and offers her a seat, and does not presume to sit down unless the older bids her. In this way, they do what the words of Scripture say: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rm 12:10). (See RB 63:15-17)

Reflect on the beauty of St Benedict’s way of ordering things. How might Benedict’s way work in your place of employment, your organization or community? How might his way impact our encounters with one another? 

FOR ALL OF YOU WHO WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES WITH CHRIST. THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, THERE IS NEITHER SLAVE NOR FREE PERSON, THERE IS NOT MALE AND FEMALE; FOR YOU ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.

(Ga 3:27-28)

Mercy opens the door of the heart because

it makes us feel like we are all children of one Father.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, April 19, 2018)