Whispers From The High Altar - Episode 1

The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life Learning to Listen to God with a Descerning Heart I'm Chris McGregor. The 10th Agree of Humility Episode 25 With the 10th Agree of Humility, St. Benedict now speaks about the way a person conducts himself. At this point in the Holy Rule, humility has already been tested in obedience, endurance, silence and restraints. Now begins to show itself in a person's manner, in the way he carries himself and how he moves through ordinary life. The Benedict in a way understands that outward habits affect the heart. The way we speak and react and carry ourselves can either study us or leave us scattered. From Chapter 7 of the Rule of St. Benedict The 10th Agree of Humility is that one is not easily moved and quick to laughter, for it is written, a fool raises his voice in laughter. St. Benedict isn't condemning joy. He isn't asking for gloom, coldness or a life-drained of warmth. He is speaking about restraint and about the kind of outward behavior that helps keep the heart grounded. The issue isn't laughter itself. The issue is laughter, joking or outward behavior that loses its measure. Sometimes it becomes excessive. Sometimes it turns foolish or disruptive. Sometimes it makes light of what should be treated more carefully. It can also disturb those around us and create a restless, unbalanced atmosphere that pulls everyone off-center. St. Benedict is warning against that kind of loss of balance. What he's trying to form is moderation. A person should be able to live with warmth and freedom without becoming loud, scattered or carried away. Humility shows itself here in a steady presence. It doesn't need to perform. It doesn't need to keep turning every moment into an amusement or noise. There is a real difference between deep joy and mere excitability. Benedict in life makes room for gladness, humor and human warmth. But it doesn't encourage the kind of behavior that leaves the heart restless or the moment cheapened. St. Benedict is after a joy that stays rooted. This reaches into ordinary life more than we think. In family life, it can mean being careful that joking doesn't become herfful or thoughtless. In friendship, it can mean knowing when humor helps and when it starts to take away from something serious. In working life, it can mean carrying yourself with steadiness instead of silliness, distraction, or the need to keep everything light. In any setting, it can mean learning that not every moment should be treated casually. There is also an element of self-knowledge here. Some people laugh to dodge comfort, some use humor to avoid silence. Some keep things light because they don't want to face what is actually happening. St. Benedict is teaching a person to remain present. A person doesn't have to become severe, but he should be able to stay grounded. And this is not only about appearances. Outward habits do shape interior life. If a person is always giving way to what is loud, exaggerated or restless, the heart is affected by it. But when outward expression is more measured, the soul is often more recollected, more attentive, and more at peace. Rises the pattern here as well. There is freedom in him, but never disorder. There is joy in him, but never foolishness. Benedict and humility learns from that. It learns that real joy doesn't have to become noisy or excessive in order to be real. While this degree is not about becoming grim or shut down, it's about learning how to live with real joy without becoming scattered, foolish or careless. It's about the kind of steadiness that leaves room for both gladness and reverence. The tenth degree of humility is that one is not easily moved and quick to laughter. For it is written, a fool raises his voice in laughter. Before listening to Scripture, allow your body to settle again. Find a steady position, let your breathing return to its natural rhythm. Remain present without distraction. This posture supports recollection rather than dispersion. And now turn to the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 7, verse 6. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity. For Jesus Christ, you lived with quiet joy and steady presence. Order our outward expression and form our hearts in humility and peace. Amen. To hear more of these reflections, visit desertingharts.com. Or you can find them in the free Deserting Arts app or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.