Ever Present God

God is everywhere. God sees everything. God knows everything. These are all truths about God that I learned as a child. Pretty basic, right? If so, then why do these same statements turn my life upsidedown sometimes?

While I usually find comfort in God's "allness" there are times when I seek to hide from God. Usually when I am scared, embarrassed or ashamed, I tend to forget easily that God loves me, especially when I don't find myself particularly loveable.

That is when I need to embrace those simple statements and believe in God's love. God loved me first. My response should be love.

Sr. Catherine, OSB

Whose Soul Do I Save?

Do you think there’s a chance we will be asking the Lord on judgment day: “When did we see you hungry and did not feed you? See you naked and did not clothe you? See you homeless and did not take you in?" We will all be accountable on judgment day not only for the state of my own soul, but also for the souls of those whose lives I have touched. This is the warning Benedict gives to the abbot.

We have all heard it said that we do not get to heaven or hell on our own. We always take someone with us. If we keep the great commandment Jesus gave us--Love God with all your heart, Love your neighbor as yourself with all your heart, Love yourself with all your heart—assures us that we will save our own souls and the souls of others.

Sr. Veronica, OSB

The Splinter and Plank Scandal

The splinter and plank scandal has been around since the beginning of human history. Jesus creates a picture story to show us how outrageous it is. Picture yourself with a 6 foot cedar post sticking out of your eye trying to get close enough to a person to remove a tiny speck in his eye. Every time you move, you beat the person in front of you with your post. That’s why Jesus tells us not to play God, but to admit our faults and stop judging others. If we do the judging of others, all of us come out beat up and our sins remain.

So Benedict tells us and the abbot: If you wish to build a peaceful community, stop judging one another, let God do the judging.

Sr. Veronica, OSB

Distribution of Goods

“Necessary items are to be requested and given at the proper times, so that no one may be disquieted or distressed in the house of God.” RB 31

Benedict makes it clear that although one member of the community is in charge of the distribution of goods (supplies, linens, even food), there is to be no withholding goods on a whim, no power plays to prove “who’s in charge.” The one who distributes what the community members need is to do so with all humbleness and with an awareness that ultimately it is God who will judge his or her motives.

Of course, the same goes for each of us – our motives may appear to be well-intentioned, but it is God who knows our mind and heart and reads our motivation for everything we do. Arrogance, passive aggressive behavior, or laziness are not excuses when it comes to doing what others rely on us to do. It is how we serve God – through serving one another.

Sr. Christine, OSB

Lens of Patience

“Let the abbot always remember that at the fearful judgment of God, not only his teaching but also his disciples’ obedience will come under scrutiny.” (RB 2.6)

How do you experience God’s scrutiny? St. Benedict sees it through the lens of patience, loving kindness and the ability to forgive and be forgiven. How amazingly difficult it is for us to allow God to be God in our lives!

Sr. Barbara, OSB