WCCM Oblate Blog: Reflections from Daily Reading of the Rule of St. Benedict

WCCM Benedictine Oblates are encouraged to read a designated portion of the Rule daily, and to write a brief, personal response. I hope that this blog will support our Oblate community in this practice. Please, keep blog entries brief and in a first-person ("I") voice. Refrain from discussing, offering an opinion, or commenting on other entries. Simply consider how a particular section of the Rule is speaking to you in your present circumstances.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Chapter 34: Fair provision for the needs of all

This principle from scripture should be established in the monastery, namely that distribution was made to each in accordance with their needs. This, however, should not be taken to mean that favouritism of individuals can be tolerated; far from it. It should simply be a way of showing proper consideration for needs arising from individual weakness. (From Ch. 34 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

Fair provision is about putting the weakest members of the community at the center; thus it's not about justice for an individual (including me), but mercy for the Body of Christ. May I serve all who come with mercy.

1 comment:

Wally SaundersMarch 13, 2015 at 5:26 AM
Abba, you clothe me more splendidly than Solomon in all his glory, just as I am. I am enough, I have enough, I do enough, you tell me, when I embrace the sacrament of this glorious moment. The here and the now and you is where the gift of meditation and the mantra bring me.
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