From the Rule
So, brethren, we have asked the Lord who is to dwell in His tent, and we have heard His commands to anyone who would dwell there; . . . Therefore we must prepare our hearts and our bodies to do battle under the holy obedience of His commands. (RSB Prologue, Part 6)
From Praying with Saint Benedict
Preparing our bodies may be easier to understand than preparing our hearts. We don’t wait until we are physically fit to begin our exercise regimen. We don’t wait until we are well before we begin taking our medicine. However, we may wait until we feel full of God’s love before we are ready to share that love with others, forgetting that in the Gospels, love is an act of obedience.
We should not wait until the warm fuzzy feeling comes before we love our neighbors as ourselves. We mistakenly operate under the assumption that it is the feeling that motivates the behavior but, in fact, it may be the behavior—the act of obedience—that nurtures the emotion.
So what do we do to prepare our hearts? First, we remember to pray, remembering that communication is essential to any relationship, including our relationship to God. Second, we gather with others in our spiritual family in order that we may encourage each other in love and good works. And finally, in obedience, we love our neighbors as ourselves. In feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, sheltering the homeless, and visiting the prisoner, we find Christ in others and discover what God’s love is all about.
Prayer
Loving God, prepare my mind for action, my body for service, and my heart to love you wholly. Give me the grace of your spirit to love others as you have loved me. Amen.
Improbable Benedictine 