Learning to Listen (2)
“O that today you would listen to his voice. Harden not your hearts.” (Psalm 95:7-8)
[Monks and nuns begin their day together with a
service of scripture reading and prayer that begins very early in the
morning. The words from Psalm 95—either read or sung aloud—are usually the first words
from their mouths each day.]
I. Required readings
Benedict of Nursia
Christian Biographies for the Day: Mary and Martha of Bethany
Christ in the House of Martha and Mary by Vermeer (Commentary)
Joan Chittister, Wisdom Distilled from the Daily:
Appendix and Glossary (208-16)
Chapter 1 (1-13)
through Canvas. (Link to film via Film Reflection Assignment on Canvas.)
II. Quotation for the
day
“You wish to see: listen. Hearing is a step toward vision.”
--Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
III. Journal prompt
While reading Chittister's book, try to keep in mind our purposes for reading it. Because the monastic movement has for 1700 years kept alive the notion that the gospel's call is a radical call--is a call to be a people set apart to a different way of life--then it may well be that there is considerable wisdom within that tradition that those Christians outside the monastery might want to examine carefully. The question is not: Should we all become monks and nuns in order to follow Jesus faithfully? Rather, the question is: Can those who desire to follow Jesus faithfully learn anything from monks and nuns about what following Jesus might look like in day-to-day life?
1. Chittister takes some time to explain why the "Rule of St. Benedict" is not really a "rule" in the way we normally think of that. How does Chittister understand the Rule, and most especially, how does she understand its relationship to scripture?
2. On p. 9, Chittister asserts that contrary to popular mythology, there might be many things that a person in a monastery sees more clearly about the world than does a person completely immersed in the world. Reflect carefully on her examples. Do you think she might be right about this?
3. The role of Christian monasticism within the Body of Christ is easily misunderstood. Does Armstrong's brief article (listed below in "Links of Possible Interest") help you better understand that role, both historically and theologically? What does he help you see about monasticism that perhaps you didn't see before? What questions remain for you?
IV. Links of possible
interest
For an English translation of “The Rule of St. Benedict,” click here.
Some Christians believe our time is ripe for a new form of monasticism to take root in Western societies as a form of witness to the world. To read about one group of (largely Protestant) folks who are working together to imagine what this might look like, click here.
There is a great deal of variety within monastic orders. For a brief glimpse into the day of one Franciscan monk, watch this YouTube video.