Holy Rule for May 5
8 views
Skip to first unread message
St. Mary's Monastery
May 4, 2026, 5:13:12 PMMay 4
to holyrule
+PAX
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 4, May 5, September 4
Prologue (21-32)
Having our loins girded, therefore, with faith and the performance of good works (Eph. 6:14), let us walk in His paths by the guidance of the Gospel, that we may deserve to see Him who has called us to His kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12). For if we wish to dwell in the tent of that kingdom, we must run to it by good deeds or we shall never reach it. But let us ask the Lord, with the Prophet, "Lord, who shall dwell in Your tent, or who shall rest upon Your holy mountain" (Ps. 14[15]:1)? After this question, brothers and sisters, let us LISTEN to the Lord as He answers and shows us the way to that tent, saying, "The one Who walks without stain and practices justice; who speaks truth from his heart; who has not used his tongue for deceit; who has done no evil to his neighbor; who has given no place to slander against his neighbor."
This is the one who, under any temptation from the malicious devil, has brought him to naught (Ps. 14[15]:4) by casting him and his temptation from the sight of his heart; and who has laid hold of his thoughts while they were still young and dashed them against Christ (Ps. 13[14]6 [137]:9). It is they who, fearing the Lord (Ps. 14 [15]:4), do not pride themselves on their good observance; but, convinced that the good which is in them cannot come from themselves and must be from the Lord, glorify the Lord's work in them (Ps.14[15]:4), using the words of the Prophet, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give the glory" (Ps. 113 [115:1]:9).. Thus also the Apostle Paul attributed nothing of the success of his preaching to himself, but said, "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). And again he says, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (2 Cor. 10:17).
REFLECTION
Very briefly, there is an excellent theology of works and faith here. We need to recognize that there is no good in our works that is not of God, of the saving act of Jesus. We also need to hear that works are important means of showing God how much we love Him and believe in Him. Works are the logical result of faith. We all need faith and no one is anything at all in terms of good without God, without Christ's perfect sacrifice.
Our Baptism allows us to do good, because it incorporates (literally "in-bodies" us!) into God. In His Mystical Body, we receive the boon of the ability to do good.
We can get so accustomed to this that we can forget that without Him we could do absolutely nothing of any worth whatsoever. That is why it is so very important to make the Morning Offering, to tie our own poor works, prayers, joys and sufferings to those of Christ and the Cross. Plunged into Jesus, they become tools of infinite merit and worth!
So yes, we must do good works, but, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give the glory!" Works and faith are not the Western dichotomy of "yes and no" of, "either or," but the Eastern mind of "both and." Without God, neither works nor we ourselves have any meaning at all. With God, both are enriched, but only because of Him.
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/morning-offering.cfm
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 4, May 5, September 4
Prologue (21-32)
Having our loins girded, therefore, with faith and the performance of good works (Eph. 6:14), let us walk in His paths by the guidance of the Gospel, that we may deserve to see Him who has called us to His kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12). For if we wish to dwell in the tent of that kingdom, we must run to it by good deeds or we shall never reach it. But let us ask the Lord, with the Prophet, "Lord, who shall dwell in Your tent, or who shall rest upon Your holy mountain" (Ps. 14[15]:1)? After this question, brothers and sisters, let us LISTEN to the Lord as He answers and shows us the way to that tent, saying, "The one Who walks without stain and practices justice; who speaks truth from his heart; who has not used his tongue for deceit; who has done no evil to his neighbor; who has given no place to slander against his neighbor."
This is the one who, under any temptation from the malicious devil, has brought him to naught (Ps. 14[15]:4) by casting him and his temptation from the sight of his heart; and who has laid hold of his thoughts while they were still young and dashed them against Christ (Ps. 13[14]6 [137]:9). It is they who, fearing the Lord (Ps. 14 [15]:4), do not pride themselves on their good observance; but, convinced that the good which is in them cannot come from themselves and must be from the Lord, glorify the Lord's work in them (Ps.14[15]:4), using the words of the Prophet, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give the glory" (Ps. 113 [115:1]:9).. Thus also the Apostle Paul attributed nothing of the success of his preaching to himself, but said, "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). And again he says, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (2 Cor. 10:17).
REFLECTION
Very briefly, there is an excellent theology of works and faith here. We need to recognize that there is no good in our works that is not of God, of the saving act of Jesus. We also need to hear that works are important means of showing God how much we love Him and believe in Him. Works are the logical result of faith. We all need faith and no one is anything at all in terms of good without God, without Christ's perfect sacrifice.
Our Baptism allows us to do good, because it incorporates (literally "in-bodies" us!) into God. In His Mystical Body, we receive the boon of the ability to do good.
We can get so accustomed to this that we can forget that without Him we could do absolutely nothing of any worth whatsoever. That is why it is so very important to make the Morning Offering, to tie our own poor works, prayers, joys and sufferings to those of Christ and the Cross. Plunged into Jesus, they become tools of infinite merit and worth!
So yes, we must do good works, but, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give the glory!" Works and faith are not the Western dichotomy of "yes and no" of, "either or," but the Eastern mind of "both and." Without God, neither works nor we ourselves have any meaning at all. With God, both are enriched, but only because of Him.
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/morning-offering.cfm
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages