Читать книгу Listen My Son - Dwight Longenecker - Страница 24

The Abbot must not show personal preferences in his monastery. He must not be more loving to one than to another, unless he had found him to be more advanced in goods works or in obedience. A free-born man must not be put before one entering the monastery from slavery, unless some other reasonable cause exists. But if it seems to the Abbot that there is good reason for it, let him do so, and let him do the same about the rank of anyone. Otherwise let them keep their normal order. For whether we are slaves or freemen, we are all one in Christ, and serve on equal terms in the army of one Lord; ‘for God has no favourites’. In regard to rank we find distinction in his eyes only if we are found humble and better than others in good works. Therefore the Abbot should show himself equally loving to all, and maintain discipline impartially according to the merits of each.

In his life of St Benedict, Gregory the Great tells us how the community at Monte Cassino was composed of men from many different races and social strata. In managing them Benedict gives the basic rule that there is to be no favouritism in the abbot's dealings with his monks. God has no favourites (Rom. 2.11) and neither must the loving abba. Each person has equal favour in God's eyes; whether slave or free we are all one in Christ (Gal. 3.28). But this equality does not mean everyone is identical.

The abbot must overlook social rank. A monk entering from slavery or from the nobility is to be treated the same. This sounds very modern and enlightened, but we shouldn't think Benedict's attitude is exactly the same as our modern ideas of equality. Too often when we speak of equality we assume the lowest common denominator and reduce every individual to that degrading standard. Modern equality often means nothing more than drab uniformity. Too often ‘equality’ really means no one is permitted to excel. When Benedict speaks of not having favourites he is not endorsing a society of mindless fashion clones.

Instead, each monk is to be treated with an equal amount of love and attention. One is not favoured, because all are favoured. The loving abba recognizes in each one of his charges a unique, precious child of God with a set of gifts and needs like no other. He has no favourites because they cannot be compared. Each one is different and requires a unique blend of attention and delight.

So it must be in the home. It is difficult not to favour one child over another. One may be blessed with a sweet and loving nature while another is troubled with a sour and disagreeable disposition. We need grace to see in each one a special challenge to our love. Often the most troublesome people are the most gifted. Can we see the hidden abilities and gifts within the troublesome child? Are we aware of the faults which may lie hidden under the sweet demeanour of that favourite? The wise and loving father looks beyond the outward appearance and treats each member of the family with a blend of discipline and love which is just right for them. This may be an impossible ideal to attain, but we must always aim for the target – even if we often miss.