Readings: Proverbs 2:1-9; Psalm 33; Matthew 19:27-29
Today we celebrate Saint Benedict, a figure renowned for his role in establishing monasticism in the Latin church through his Rule which still regulates the lives of many religious and inspires many of the lay faithful. Widely respected both within the church as saint and without as sage, today’s first reading is like a waterfall pouring out the attributes of such a figure – ‘turning [one’s] ear to wisdom and applying [the] heart to truth’, seeking discernment ‘as if it were silver’ and searching for it as for buried treasure’. This spiritual seeking stands opens to ‘the knowledge of God’ since ‘the Lord himself is giver of wisdom’. Today’s reading from Proverbs closes with a profile of the wise person who is just in his or her judgements, whose character cannot be impugned by those playing politics rather than practicing ‘justice and fair dealing’. The Psalmist portrays the wise person in prayerful terms – ‘I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips’; ‘those who seek the lord lack no blessing’.
The Gospel reading relates the personal price in relational terms paid by those who ‘have left everything and followed’ Jesus. (This is rather humorously illustrated in the story of Benedict’s sister Scholastica who had to pray for a storm to prolong his stay with her.) This resonates with and indeed reflects the recommendation in the Rule, ‘This is the kind of zeal then which monks should exercise with fervent love…let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he lead us all alike to everlasting life’. The ‘reward’ which Christ promises is fleshed out, ‘And everyone who has left…for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life’.
Having taken his name as Pope, Benedict XVI wrote about him, ‘The obedience of the disciple must correspond with the wisdom of the Abbot’[1], about whose office he has many insights to offer, not least the need to listen to ‘the brethern’s views, because the lord often reveals to the youngest what is best’.[2] The Pope’s commentary is timely: ‘This provision makes a Rule written almost 15 centuries ago surprisingly modern! A man with public responsibility even in small circles must always be a man who can listen and learn from what he hears’.[3]
Kevin O’Gorman SMA
[1] The Pope Benedict XVI Reader, Park Ridge, Ill: Word of Fire Institute, 2021, 294.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.