May Week 1 — Mission Cleveland Parish

Virtue: Remembrance
Resolution: I choose to learn from the rich history of the Church and the mystery of the faith to hold me close to Christ.

Human Story: St. Benedict Of Nursia (480-547)

The early church was a radical and counter-cultural movement that is unmatched in human history. Its transition from an insignificant village in the Middle East to a globally known religion was due to the compelling message of Christ and how this message was lived out by His followers. The church was known for its compassion and dedication. Many scholars believe that the culture of Christianity began to change once Constantine declared it the official religion of the Roman Empire and began to conquer others in the name of Christ, flying in the face of Jesus’ instruction of peacemaking and gentleness in the sermon on the mount. A couple of hundred years after Constantine, the church was in the dark ages. The church lost its way and Rome began to crumble. Into this world, Benedict of Nursia was born. Galbraith and Galbraith wrote:

The vast Roman Empire was dying rapidly. The cities were in decay, the economy was in shambles, and the countryside was insecure. Roma was literally crumbling around the young Benedict as invading barbarian tribes and corrupt politicians jostled with each other for power. It was here, surrounded by the decadence of the pagan world, that the young Benedict found the desire to pursue a higher mission. (p. xvii)

Benedict was born to a noble family around the year 480 AD and moved to Rome as a young man. Out of frustration for the state of the church and Roman culture, he withdrew from society and lived as a hermit in a cave for 3 years. During his time in solitude, which was broken only by occasional communication with the outer world, Benedict matured in mind and character. Others began to be drawn to him and his perspective on the church and the world. Many came to request that he begin a community for like-minded individuals. He eventually became a spiritual leader, establishing a series of 12 monasteries and a school for children. He also wrote his “Rule” that outlined how his communities would function. This is considered by many to be one of the most important works in the history of the Western hemisphere.

Benedict is one example of an ancient leader who established a movement in the midst of a chaotic and tumultuous culture that not only grew but experienced longevity and success well beyond his lifetime. Thousands of Benedictine communities, schools, hospitals, homes, and organizations are still in existence – carrying out his counter-cultural, yet compelling, form of discipleship.

In recent years, the book The Benedict Option, has once again popularized Benedict. The book has been tremendously well received in the Christian world because we find ourselves in a culture where many Christians have lost their way, become overly politicized, and have forgotten the model of Christ, especially, his instructions in the sermon on the mount.

References:
Galbraith, C., & Galbraith, O. (2004). The Benedictine rule of leadership. Classic management secrets you can use today. Avon, MA: Adams Media.

Dreher, Rod. (2017). The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in Post-Christian Nation. New York. Random House.

Lesson: Luke 14:11

Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.

Jesus insisted on an upside-down view of power. In a culture that was obsessed with promotion (exaltation), Jesus says to view oneself soberly and accurately (humbly) and be content with God’s promotion. This theme introduced by Jesus carried over into the early church. In fact, many scholars note that humility became the virtue among all virtues for the early church. It was what kept unity among the diverse mix of early church leaders.

This scripture was also significant for St. Benedict and the development of his communities. It is the first among many scriptures referenced in the chapter on humility in his Rule which most Benedictine scholars believe to be the most important section of this writing. To pursue and become saturated with humility seems to be considered the pinnacle of spiritual life for Benedict and the goal of Benedict’s community.

He viewed the development of humility as a process that he described as climbing a ladder. A young disciple would start on the first rung and move up the ladder through a process of mentorship and eventually reach a point, late in life, of saturation of humility. The specific steps described by Benedict are in the Remembrance section below. Benedict believed that the principles of humility, if properly utilized, were the centerpiece to a thriving, long-lasting, and transformative community.

A wonderful way to view humility is defined by one ancient Rabbi as “strength under control.” It is not becoming weak, but it is understanding how to control our strength and leverage it for others. This is, after all, the exact type of leadership Jesus demonstrated- the son of God, full of ultimate strength, controlled it to the point of vulnerability as an infant.

Remembrance

Benedict described the development of humility as a step-by-step process. Below is a re-wording/modernizing of his steps from the book by Galbraith and Galbraith mentioned earlier (pp.121-122) with additional editing for the purposes of this devotional. These steps were written for monastic leaders but contemplate how they apply to your relationships with others.

Revere the simple rules: strive to obey and follow the basic rules of courtesy and the organization; model good behavior to those around you.
Reject your personal desires: curb your own desires for fame and achievement, ever aware of the possibilities of pride and arrogance.
Obey others: readily follow and obey those placed over you in positions of authority.
Endure affliction: willingly turn the other cheek in situations of conflict and work toward peace and harmony.
Confess your weakness: Be honest and transparent about your own limitations and weaknesses; communicate these regularly to those close to you.
Practice contentment: try to be content in your current positions, jobs and general situations in life.
Learn self-reproach: adopt the disciplines of internal reflection and do not seek to place blame on others.
Obey the common rule: obey all the organizational rules, not just in letter, but also in spirit.
Understand that silence is golden: control your speech and adopt plain and clear avenues of communication.
Meditate on humility: consciously seek to cultivate humility and seek to understand what this means in an organizational setting.
Speak simply: talk in a low voice, speak gently, and with kindness to others
Act humbly in appearance: act humble in appearance as well as in the heart.

Challenge

Think through your current definition of humility. Compare and contrast your definition with Benedict’s (in the Remembrance section) and see if there are some areas of your life where “false humility” has crept in.

May we rediscover the Benedict option- a way of living that is separate from but engaged in culture, a way of interacting with the world that is simultaneously critical and compelling. May we listen to this ancient figure who calls us to authentic Christianity, humility, and love for others. May we be willing to incorporate ourselves into a community of faith in a very disciplined and strategic manner.

Reflection

Like Benedict, we too may want to run away from what is currently happening in our country and world. How can we continue to engage culture and society in the midst of these frustrations? What are some practical ways you can practice “strength under control” this week?

Further Growth

Virtue: Remembrance Resolution: I choose to learn from the rich history of the Church and the mystery of the faith to hold me close to Christ.