Day 100: We’re All Monks Now

DAY 100

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland

WEEK FIFTEEN: MONDAY 22 JUNE 2020

We’re All Monks Now

“Because of Covid-19, many of us are living, in a way, like monks, enclosed and isolated in our homes. But unlike the monks, we did not ask for or want this situation, nor is it one for which many of us were spiritually prepared.” - Article by the same name in a current Christian magazine

The Franciscan monastery was up the mountain a half hour from our home. On my first day visit I was invited to take a room, leave things there for my own use, and come and stay whenever I wanted. It was a retreat within a retreat, and while I rarely stayed the night, my day stays of shared meals gave the gift of enjoyable conversation, and the set times of prayer were meaningful and moving, times of structured slowing down, of listening to the a cappella chanted rhythm of the Psalms, the quiet reading of Scripture, of silence for prayer and contemplation.   

Years ago I read a book by Paul Wilkes, professor at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, entitled “Beyond the Walls: Monastic Wisdom for Everyday Life.” Following many  visits to a nearby monastery he wanted to share what he learned and experienced there ‘beyond the walls’ with the rest of us. “Monasticism resonated with me,” he wrote, “my imperfect, impulsive self, because it encompasses all human activity and asks that the disparate parts and moments of our lives be not merely tolerated, or managed, but sanctified.”   

For an exploration of the best of the monastic tradition, go to osb.org and explore the deep and spiritually enriching Order of St. Benedict and the resources available to all of us who live ‘beyond the walls.’  Benedict, whose approximate dates are 480-547 AD, wrote his “Rules” which has been prepared in a way that non-monks like us can benefit from its use.

Lectio divina – mandated in the Rule of St. Benedict, is an intentional form of reading Scripture as well as Christian classics interspersed with times of silent contemplation. Learn more about it at the web site above. Once this difficult discipline settles in, you will be a changed person.     

Reflective question: During this pandemic, if you consider your home a monastery, what benefits would be yours?

Reflective Scripture: Mark 6:31 – “‘Come with me to a quiet place …’”  Jesus

Reflective hymn:

“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” – 4th century hymn sung by Benedictines

and which I grew up singing in our Presbyterian church – it is a traditional Advent hymn.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand;

Ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand

Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.