Peace, Pray, and Work

For 15 centuries the Benedictine monks have followed an “order” that regulates life, provides a framework on which to build, and which sets standards to emulate. After all that time, most in the order still basically hold to the original ideals orbiting around the motto, “Peace, pray, and work.

The order, after an opening explanation of intent, has 73 brief parts, called chapters. The chapters cover most every aspect of a monk’s life and duties and looks to trace a middle path between unscripted living and overly prescribed rules.

Benedict, in the early 500s got fed up with the immorality of Rome and retreated first to live as a hermit in a cave and then to the Monte Cassino area of Italy to live a reflective life. Soon others joined him and the community was formed with Benedict serving as Abbot. Today, Benedictines can be found around the globe.

Buried in the midst of the list is a standard for the brothers regarding the welcoming of strangers. The hospitality chapter has been popularized by the phrase, “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.”

I recently came across that sentence and it has echoed in my heart since. Questions for faith folks like us rise up along these lines…

  • Do I carry a welcoming spirit, and what’s it look like to a stranger?

  • Practically, how might it look to welcome others as though they were Christ?

  • If Jesus were the one at my door (or drive-thru, church, sidewalk, wherever), would I treat him differently than a regular Joe?

  • Am I hospitable only when it is convenient or when I’m treated with respect?

Some Wednesday afternoons I get a ringside seat to watch hospitality in action. At the Shepherd’s House main center both the Shower Truck and Share Van set up shop for a handful of hours, open for anyone to come scrub themselves clean and score some fresh clothes, toiletries, and food.

Largely staffed by volunteers, people are treated with respect as their basic needs are addressed. A warm shower and clean towel do wonders for a man’s or woman’s outlook. Match that to new chonies and socks and maybe a shirt offered by a person who doesn’t hesitate to warmly engage and it’s a home run.

These workers who show up every week purposely look for Jesus in the crowd, cleverly disguised as an unwashed individual living rough. The idea is to recognize the imago dei in every one. Each person around the globe is made in God’s image. All of us are distant reflections of his nature and he values us as his own, both those all put together as well as the ones for whom life has beaten them like a rented mule.

What happens when hospitality breaks out in any place and with any group like the Wednesday shower truck and share van might just be a physical picture of Matt. 25. While Jesus talks in that passage of the “least of these” the principle applies across the board to us all, regardless of life situation.

Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”

Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?”

And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

Starting down this road looks as simple as overtly reminding yourself that each person you encounter is precious to God and made in his image. Something happens in us when we don’t just look at others, but see them. It’s a short step from seeing to naturally acting like one of the “righteous” whenever the Spirit shoulder-taps you to spend a moment…and it’s not difficult to pull off.

It often comes out of the blue and happened to me the other day at the ReStore. An older man, so thin and crippled up he could hardly walk without his motorized mini-trike, shopped and bought a rocker and a small side table. We had to Tetris the stuff into his car but got it done while his tiny guard dog yapped away. I told him I hoped he had help on the other end to unload and he assured me he did. Then, with tears unashamedly streaking his wrinkled face, he shared he had just put his wife of 55 years into a memory care home because he could no longer care for her, and this was all her room would hold.

There in the parking lot I asked him if I could pray for him, did, and he thanked me, shook my hand and drove off. May never see Walter again, but for a moment he, hopefully, felt seen, welcomed, and as valuable as any person around and coming at a time when it was needed. Simple.

Here’s an idea to kick around this week: Let’s grow in our Benedictine-ness, at least in this area. Think how much good will be done as we adopt the idea that “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.”

Music is good medicine

…and bad jokes to boot

Rebecca said to her husband, "Do you know the neighbor's daughter scored a 99 on her math exam?"

Her husband Tom, sipping his tea, remarked, "Really? What happened to the remaining 1 point?"

Rebecca replied sarcastically, "Your son scored it."

***************

A new soldier was on sentry duty at the main gate. His orders were clear: no car was to enter unless it had a special military sticker on the windshield.

A big Army car came up with a general seated in the back. The sentry said, "Halt, who goes there?"

The corporal, who was driving, said, "General Wheeler."

"I'm sorry, I can't let you through. You have to have a military sticker on your windshield."

The general said, "Drive on!" The sentry replied, "Hold it! Hold it! You cannot come through. I have orders to shoot if you try driving in without a military sticker."

The general repeated, "I'm telling you, son, drive on!"

The sentry walked up to the rear window and said, "General Sir, I'm new at this. Do I shoot you or your driver?"

Al Hulbert

Retired pastor, teacher, school administrator, and master of witty sayings.

Next
Next

Wally the Peach