Today is June 30, 2024. Sister Joan's commentary on Chapter 23 observes that though the Rule of Benedict is one of the most gentle monastic rules ever written, Benedict devotes eight chapters to punishment–of which none of them are acceptable or applicable in today's culture. While all of us live in some form of community most of us do not live under a prior or prioress.
However, in Sister Joan's closing paragraph, she reminds us that the rule does expect discipline and atonement even from us today. We are called to mend things broken; to curb and straighten things running away and awry in us. Self-control doesn't happen by accident and it must be honest and real. Where does it begin?
A beautiful place to start is to slowly read and meditate on Psalm 119. Find a quiet place to sit. Do not be in a hurry. Open you heart and your mind to His word. Allow His Grace to enter in. Today would be a lovely time to start. Amen.
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