The Gospel: Luke 22: 24-27
A dispute also arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves.
After the Gospel:
The apostles disputed about Greatness. They were closer to Jesus than anyone else, they heard all his teachings, they witnessed all those things no man had ever done before, yet they remained so unchanged, their earthy failings jump off the page.
Jesus had to correct them: “Look at me, I’m among you as one who serves.”
It’s an appropriate reminder as we celebrate St Benedict, the Patriarch of Western Monasticism,
the Father of Monks who live together in his communities.
His Rule for Monasteries has remained intact, it’s been a pattern for 1,500 years.
All through that Rule, it’s like Benedict saw the pitfalls where pride and envy and hankerings for superiority might fester.
So he created a vision of what monastic life MIGHT be and CAN be.
Our motive has to be LOVE – we’re in this for love of God –
and we get to Love by serving one another in the ordinary things of our everyday life.
Right up front in the opening lines of the Prologue, monks are told they must engage in the service of Christ by renouncing their own will. They’re serving Christ, no promotions are mentioned or promised.
It’s all humble service, nothing you can write home about.
For example, the Chapter on Kitchen Servers of the week – which stipulates that all are to take turns, no one will be excused from kitchen service unless he is sick or engaged in other important business. The brothers have to serve one another, because it’s their service that fosters love and is the source of their reward.
On Sunday, there is a blessing for the servers as they act in the name of the community.
It’s a blessing and also a reminder … they’re doing it for Christ.
On Saturday, the weekly servers are called to wash the feet of everyone.
Jesus himself set the example as he stooped down to wash the feet of the Apostles, even those of Judas.
Meals should be in silence, with a brother reading during the meals. That’s his service.
The other brothers seated at table serve one another’s needs as they eat and drink so that no one has to ask for anything, one brother anticipates the needs of another.
Manual labor is one great equalizer in the monastery.
Daily manual labor is for everyone, because idleness is the enemy of the soul.
Even if it means bringing in the harvest themselves, they are not to be distressed.
They are truly monks when they live by the labor of their hands just as the early monks did.
Another big equalizer is the system for establishing Community Rank.
They basically keep their rank according to their date of entry.
Someone who comes to the monastery at the second hour of the day will be junior to the one who came at the first hour, regardless of age or experience or social distinction.
Social positions or wealth or family name are to mean nothing.
As if to emphasize this, there is a special chapter which begins: “If any ordained priest asks to be received into the monastery do not agree too quickly.”
Should he persist, he will have to observe the entire rule, not make any exceptions for himself, but rather give everyone an example of humility.
He always takes the place that corresponds to his date of entry, nothing special is granted him out of respect for his priesthood.
His priesthood is for the service of all, not for his own glory.
The Abbot, of course, can name helpers, assistants, and appoint them to special offices.
Even among these trusted lieutenants, the officials of the monastery,
the Prior, the deans, the cellarer, the priests… the craftsmen .. everyone must be on guard against being “puffed up with pride.” No one lords it over another.
In the Chapter on the Artisans of the Monastery, Benedict lays down that artisans are to practice their craft with all humility and only with the Abbot’s permission. Should one of them become puffed up by his skillfulness and feels that he is conferring something on the monastery, he is to be removed from practicing his craft.
Those are some of the safeguards Benedict built in to prevent arguments about who would be greatest.
Monastic life is not a democracy, it’s a place where all the brothers are equal,
there is neither Jew nor Greek, rich or poor, slave or free, but all are one in Christ Jesus.
They’re all brothers gathered around their one Father, the Abbot, who takes the place of Christ.
In different ways, Benedict makes The Rule their Great Equalizer.
One of the monastic goals is that Christ should increase, and the selfishness of the monk must decrease, so service for the brothers is the tool he calls for.
These brothers are the “neighbors” we are commanded to love as ourselves.
Our humble service to them is the glue that holds the community together, keeps the place going.
More importantly, it’s how we see and serve Christ.
Ultimately, our humble service, done with love, will become our ticket to Heaven.