Chapter 30: The correction of young children
There is a proper way of dealing with every age and every degree of understanding, and we should find the right way of dealing with the young. (From Ch. 30 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
What should be my response to those whose mental or emotional development is immature? Firmness, yes, but also patience, and acceptance, and humble attention.
Today's Gospel reading(Mark 12.28b-34) is about loving God with my whole being, heart, soul, mind and strength and my neighbor as myself. I cannot correct other children and certainly not my own grandchildren in ways that the word "correcting" means. I would be overstepping my boundaries which I have done on occasion. With very young children, it is possible in very obvious ways, such as manners, and noise levels, to make corrections with loving firmness and specificity. With adolescents, it is dicey to say the least. That's where this reading takes some doing--to be loving without condoning,without judgment. That is not easy. Meditation brings me to Christ in silence with trust. It is from the silence of the heart, that I relate from my "own measure", to make known to those around me the mystery of Christ's love.(paraphrased from today's 2nd reading in the Office of Readings)
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