1/29/2023

Today as I write this is the Feast of the Conversion of Saul to St. Paul. In talking to the children at Mass today, one of them asked me what “zealous” means. I had said that Paul was zealous both in his persecution of the Christians, then later after his conversion in the preaching of the gospel, especially to the Gentiles (non-Jews). This reminded me of Chapter 72 of the Rule of St. Benedict (RB) entitled, “The Good Zeal of Monks.” It goes as follows (taken from RB80:

The Rule of St. Benedict in English, The Liturgical Press, 1981): Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life. This, then, is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: ‘They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other’ (Rom 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what they judge better for themselves, but instead, what they judge better for someone else. To their fellow monks they show the pure love of sisters and brothers; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may Christ bring us all together to everlasting life.

This is perhaps the most beautiful and inspiring chapter in the RB. The first part may apply to Saul as he persecuted Christians – angry, maybe bitter, and destructive as he sought to stamp out what he thought were Jews who had gone astray. This leads to hell. But in the Divine Providence of God, that which is capable of terrible evil (killing of Christians) is also capable of great good when channeled in the right way – great sinners make great saints. So it was with Paul after Christ appeared to him.
The good zeal inspires one to “be the first to show respect to the other.” That respect is based not on something that one has done to earn it, but on the fact that by our baptism we are Children of God and by our Creator we are made in the image and likeness of God. St. Benedict quoted St. Paul from Romans, and his advice is meant to be received by monks living in community. But it also applies to families, married couples, or anyone who lives together. As the saying goes,

Born to do,
Do to get,
Get to give,
Give to live.

Somehow in the course of our lives we need to look out for the well being of others more than of ourselves. That is what maturity looks like in a Christian adult – someone who has learned how to delay one’s own gratification for the sake of others. That is what good zeal looks like.
May God bless our pilgrimage together towards our heavenly home!

Father Albert, O.S.B