The Benedict Effect and spiritual food

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today provide seeds for us to consider how in diverse ways our relationship with God feeds our need for faith, trust and moral direction.

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The motivations of Jeroboam’s cultic innovations described in the First Book of Kings were displeasing to God.

* [12:32–13:10] This unit of the Jeroboam story corresponds to 12:21–25. Before Jeroboam’s cultic innovations, a man of God from Judah proclaimed the Lord’s approval of the political separation of the kingdoms. After Jeroboam’s cultic innovations, a man of God from Judah proclaims the Lord’s disapproval of Israel’s religious separatism. The unit begins with a long, detailed introduction about the dedication festival Jeroboam holds at Bethel (12:32–33); then follows the scene of the ceremony disrupted by the oracle of the man of God (13:1–10).

In the Gospel from Mark, the account today of feeding the multitude is specifically directed at Gentiles.

* [8:1–10] The two accounts of the multiplication of loaves and fishes (Mk 8:1–10; 6:31–44) have eucharistic significance. Their similarity of structure and themes but dissimilarity of detail are considered by many to refer to a single event that, however, developed in two distinct traditions, one Jewish Christian and the other Gentile Christian, since Jesus in Mark’s presentation (Mk 7:24–37) has extended his saving mission to the Gentiles.

On the Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin and twin sister of St Benedict, a comment by Rod Dreher on a web article by Vladimir Basenkov, who takes the measure of The Benedict Option from a Russian point of view is relevant.

Focusing on your inner state, on your way of life and that of your community, on asceticism and your spiritual education is useful for any Christian even in a period of “the empire”, when “the weather is fine” and “the sun is shining”, figuratively speaking. The unforgettable words of St. Seraphim of Sarov, “Acquire the spirit of peace and a thousand souls around you will be saved”, remind us (who are sometimes carried away by “external activities” in the Church, though nobody denies their role) that nurturing and caring for the soul is of paramount importance to Orthodox Christians. For, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you (Lk. 17:21).

Don Schwager quotes the Breaking the bread of God's Word, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"In expounding to you the Holy Scriptures, I as it were break bread for you. If you hunger to receive it, your heart will sing out with the fullness of praise (Psalm 138:1). If you are thus made rich in your banquet, be not meager in good works and deeds. What I am distributing to you is not my own. What you eat, I eat; what you live upon, I live upon. We have in heaven a common store-house - from it comes the Word of God." (excerpt from SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 45.1)

Angela Maynard urges us to take some time to reflect on our ability to completely trust that God will provide for us.

I’ve found that once I could identify one small example of this, it became easier for me to recognize numerous times that my God provided for me, and gave me strength.  This has helped me increase my ability to trust in Him…to ‘Let Go and Let God,’ as the saying goes.  I pray we all have the same results.  It’s a refreshing feeling to feel cared for, strong, and nourished.

Friar Jude Winkler explores the challenges for the people of the northern Kingdom of Israel in the many parallels between Jewish worship tradition and that of their pagan neighbours. The symbolism of the feeding of the multitude indicates a perfect feast that is able to satisfy all the people of the world.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, identifies the paradox in which all of creation and each of us have received an original blessing, yet we have been conditioned to focus on the negative in ourselves and others.

Repeat the positive statement aloud, slowly, with intention and trust, several times. Then rest silently in the awareness that you are already and forever, without any effort or achievement on your part, a beloved and blessed child of God.

A positive approach and an openness to diverse expressions of the internal passion of all humanity to be in relationship with God brings us closer to the fullness of life forecast by faith and trust in Providence.

References


(n.d.). 1 Kings, chapter 12 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved February 10, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/1kings/12

(n.d.). Mark, chapter 8 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved February 10, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/8

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 10, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2018, February 5). Benedict Option In Russia | The American Conservative. Retrieved February 10, 2018, from http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/benedict-option-in-russia/

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved February 10, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 10, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/