Today's Scripture Readings
Ruth 1:15-18 (NRSV)
Psalm 36 (BCP., p.632)
Mark 12: 28-34a (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
From: Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints.
St. Aelred was widely known for being gay. However, in his time the abstract terms we now use to define heterosexuality and homosexuality did not exist. One thing is quite clear about St. Aelred, is that friendship and love were central to his life as a Religious. He was not afraid to comfort a brother in a way that communicated God's love.
I would like to share something on a more personal note. This past October, I was received as a Postulant of the Companions of St. Luke/Order of St. Benedict. It took place as part of the Communities' Fall Convocation.
The Companions of St. Luke (CSL) is a Christian Community according to the Canons of The Episcopal Church. The Community incorporates Vowed Members and Oblates who may be called to celibacy, married or partnered. It is a "hybrid" of 'Christian Community' and Traditional Monastic Order. There are members who are dispersed in their local communities, with their families and relationships, and others who live in community together.
One of the things that I could not help notice as I was introduced to the Community in October, is that regardless of who the members are, what kinds of relationships they live in, everyone is so very well accepted. No one needed to talk about whether someone is included due to someone's sexual orientation or marital status. Our only interest, was seeking union with God through contemplative prayer and celebrating our time together as a Community under the Rule of St. Benedict. I could not help but sense an atmosphere of peace and friendship as we shared our time together. I found it to be healing of the many wounds I have sustained over these many years, as well as giving way to new life with in me.
I think it is quite possible that St. Aelred's commitment to friendship and love was centuries ahead of his time. It is a very important hallmark for a Monastic community and/or a 'Christian Community'. How much more important is it for society and the entire Church as we struggle with our identity as God's people, and whom we will include as leaders, celebrating Sacramental Rites, and seeking equality and justice? Imagine what society and the Church would be like if we all put aside our prejudices and cruel rhetoric and devoted ourselves to friendship and love with others, including those who are different than ourselves.
Such possibilities could become realities if we would consider the following by Adelbert van der Wielan:
Perhaps thinking on friendship and love as the opportunity to fulfill the commandments to love God, neighbor and self can help us all to reach out more. I think we can all fill our heads with understanding of what to do from an intellectual perspective. But to make it all transparent in our relationships and behaviors takes being open to the grace of God from the depths of our being. This grace is by no means passive, but it is random and it will come with a cost to us. It will mean that we do more than just talk about a really good feeling about God in our souls, but it will mean that out of our love for God, we will respond by the conversion of our lives.
Amen.
Prayer
Ruth 1:15-18 (NRSV)
So she said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said,
‘Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’
When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
Psalm 36 (BCP., p.632)
Mark 12: 28-34a (NRSV)
One of the scribes came near and heard the Saducees disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other'; and 'to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,'--this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
Blog Reflection
Friendship, Aelred teaches, is both a gift from God and a creation of human effort. While love is universal, freely given to all, friendship is a particular love between individuals, of which the example is Jesus sand John the Beloved Disciple. As Abbot, Aelred allowed his monks to hold hands and give other expressions of friendship. In the spirit of Anselm of Canterbury and Bernard of Clairvaux, Aelred writes:
There are four qualities which characterize a friend: Loyalty, right intention, discretion and patience. Right intention seeks for nothing other than God and natural good. Discretion brings understanding of what is done on a friend's behalf, and ability to know when to correct faults. Patience enables one to be justly rebuked, or to bear adversity on another's behalf. Loyalty guards and protects friendship, in good or bitter times. (p. 166).
St. Aelred was widely known for being gay. However, in his time the abstract terms we now use to define heterosexuality and homosexuality did not exist. One thing is quite clear about St. Aelred, is that friendship and love were central to his life as a Religious. He was not afraid to comfort a brother in a way that communicated God's love.
The Companions of St. Luke (CSL) is a Christian Community according to the Canons of The Episcopal Church. The Community incorporates Vowed Members and Oblates who may be called to celibacy, married or partnered. It is a "hybrid" of 'Christian Community' and Traditional Monastic Order. There are members who are dispersed in their local communities, with their families and relationships, and others who live in community together.
One of the things that I could not help notice as I was introduced to the Community in October, is that regardless of who the members are, what kinds of relationships they live in, everyone is so very well accepted. No one needed to talk about whether someone is included due to someone's sexual orientation or marital status. Our only interest, was seeking union with God through contemplative prayer and celebrating our time together as a Community under the Rule of St. Benedict. I could not help but sense an atmosphere of peace and friendship as we shared our time together. I found it to be healing of the many wounds I have sustained over these many years, as well as giving way to new life with in me.
I think it is quite possible that St. Aelred's commitment to friendship and love was centuries ahead of his time. It is a very important hallmark for a Monastic community and/or a 'Christian Community'. How much more important is it for society and the entire Church as we struggle with our identity as God's people, and whom we will include as leaders, celebrating Sacramental Rites, and seeking equality and justice? Imagine what society and the Church would be like if we all put aside our prejudices and cruel rhetoric and devoted ourselves to friendship and love with others, including those who are different than ourselves.
Such possibilities could become realities if we would consider the following by Adelbert van der Wielan:
If you want to know whether I am able to bear this responsibility I must check how I meet my brothers and sisters in daily life: whether I love them prayerfully and pray with them lovingly. Such an attitude is restful and disarming for the other. So they will be free to be themselves with me. (A Life-Giving Way: A Commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict, by Esther de Waal, p.100).
Perhaps thinking on friendship and love as the opportunity to fulfill the commandments to love God, neighbor and self can help us all to reach out more. I think we can all fill our heads with understanding of what to do from an intellectual perspective. But to make it all transparent in our relationships and behaviors takes being open to the grace of God from the depths of our being. This grace is by no means passive, but it is random and it will come with a cost to us. It will mean that we do more than just talk about a really good feeling about God in our souls, but it will mean that out of our love for God, we will respond by the conversion of our lives.
Amen.
Prayer
Almighty God, you endowed abbot Aelred with the gift of Christian friendship and the wisdom to lead others in the way of holiness: Grand to your people that same spirit of mutual affection, that, in loving one another, we may know the love of Christ and rejoice in the gift of your eternal goodness; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men; Celebrating the Saints, p. 167).
No comments:
Post a Comment