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.