Vigils Reading – St Benedict

THE TABERNACLE OF GOD

From a sermon by St Aelred of Rievaulx

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Benedict was filled not only with the spirit of Moses, he was also

somehow, as someone has said, filled with the spirit of all the just. He built a

spiritual tabernacle from the offerings of the children of Israel. In his Rule

sparkles the god of blessed Augustine, the silver of Jerome, the double-dyed

purple of Gregory, not to mention the jewel-like sayings of the holy fathers; with

all these this heavenly edifice is embellished. You, my brothers, are the

tabernacle of God; you are the temple of God. As the apostle says: Holy is the

temple of God, which you are. A temple, because the Lord will reign forever in

you. Yet still a tabernacle, because he is on pilgrimage in you, he hungers in you,

he thirsts in you…

This, my brothers, is what a tabernacle puts up with as long as it is being

carried through the desert of this world, until it is taken into the Land of

Promise and becomes a temple instead of a tabernacle. Then a twofold stole will

be given to each – immortality for the body, blessedness for the soul. Yet even

now, brothers, let each of us make our own offering for the construction of this

tabernacle.

For each one of us has his unique gift from God, one this but another that.

One person can make an offering of more work; another, more vigils; another,

more fasting; another, more prayer; and another more lectio or meditation.

From all these offerings let one tabernacle be made, so that, as our legislator

commands: No one may presume that anything is his own but al things are

common to all. This is to be understood, brothers, not only of cowls or robes but

far more of our strengths and spiritual gifts.

No one therefore should boast on his own about any grace given by God as

if it were exclusively his own. No one should envy his brother because of some

grace, as if it were exclusively his. Whatever he has, he should consider the

property of all his brothers, and whatever his brother has, he should never

doubt is also his. For in his caring way…he causes each person to need the other

and to have in this other what one does not possess in oneself. Thus humility is

preserved, charity increased and unity recognized. Therefore each belongs to all

and all belong to each.

If, then, we are buried with Jesus, like him in his death, we shall be his

companions also in the resurrection, walking in newness of life. When Christ

our life appears, we, too, shall appear with him in glory. Through the merits and

prayers of our blessed Father Benedict may this be granted to us by our Lord

Jesus Christ Himself who with the Father and Holy Spirit, lives and reigns God

through all the ages of ages.