RB: Ch 72 The Good Zeal of Monks
Mass: Jer 20:7-9; Resp Ps 63; Rom 12:1-2; Mt 16:21-27
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
WHOEVER WISHES TO COME AFTER ME MUST DENY HIMSELF, TAKE US HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.
(Mt 16:24)
This is something the Holy Father said in his Sunday Angelus Address about today's Gospel: Jesus "indicates the way of a true disciple, showing two attitudes: renouncing oneself, which means a real conversion; and taking up one's cross, which is not just a matter of patiently enduring daily tribulations but of bearing with faith and responsibility that part of toil and suffering that the struggle of evil entails."(Mt 16:24)
A fitting response to this, or ways in which to embrace these two attitudes is found in today's reading from the Holy Rule. We are gifted once again with the most beautiful chapter in the Holy Rule, "The Good Zeal of Monks." Good zeal is about conversion and taking up one's cross, which includes a matter of daily patience, but does ultimately bear with faith and responsibility the battle against wicked zeal.
Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life. This, then, is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rom 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow monks they show the pure love of brothers; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life.
(RB 72)
HEART OF JESUS, SALVATION OF ALL WHO TRUST IN YOU,
HAVE MERCY ON US.
© Gertrude Feick 2020
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