Prayer and Work - Pastor's Column July 2023
Image: St. Benedict of Nursia writing the Benedictine Rule, portrait in the church of Heiligenkreuz Abbey near Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria. Portrait (1926) by Herman Nigg (1849-1928), Public Domain
On July 11, the church commemorates St. Benedict of Nursia, who died in the year 540. Benedict was a monk who is sometimes thought of as the father of western monasticism. His “rule” for monastic living is famous and has been used by Benedictines for centuries. While his rule was written for monastics, there is much within it that can apply to the lives of the faithful whether they are living life in the monastery or out in the world. There is much that is relevant to both clergy and lay people. For instance, the very first instruction in his rule is that one should “listen carefully and attend with the ears of the heart opened.” I’ve written an article before about first listening for what the Lord God is saying as a mode of prayer. For this newsletter article, I am turning my attention to another famous piece of the Rule of St. Benedict.
This other piece that is useful for us all is termed in Latin, “Ora et Labora,” or “Prayer and Work.” What Benedict sought to do for those walking the path of monasticism was to help create a balanced life. Time would be divided between prayer and useful work in the monastery and community. For monastics, a large portion of the day would be taken by praying the daily prayer offices at the appointed hours, in addition to the daily Mass. There were also times for confession, and of course for meals and sleep. But there was still time left for meaningful work, whether it was farming, caring for the poor and sick, or providing other goods and services in the community. The idea behind the balanced life of prayer and work was that there would be no time for idleness. There would be no place given for sloth, or for the temptations of the devil to find their way in and gain a foothold. You may have heard it said that an idle mind is the devil’s playground.
So the balanced life of prayer and work (ora et labora) is important for us all in the life of faith. This certainly does not mean that we should always be involved in one or the other, taking no time for recreation. After all, the Lord God instituted Sabbath rest for restoration and rejuvenation. But the idea is the same for us as it is for those living in monasticism. We balance ourselves between prayer and work, or whatever else it is that must occupy our time from day to day. Not only does it help draw us closer to the Lord as we live our lives, but by keeping ourselves occupied, we surely become more productive and more fulfilled as well.
I know that when I find myself idle, just sitting in the chair in front of the TV, or laying in bed wishing I did not have to get up and start the day, that’s when I start to slip. That’s when I start overthinking things. My brain gets caught mulling over and over the matters of life, health, hardships, and the world. Then, to make it stop, I reach for my phone and start scrolling or playing a game. And before I know it, an hour or more has passed, and I have accomplished nothing, which leads to feelings of uselessness.
You may be wondering what this can mean later in life when “work” may not be possible, or when you are no longer able to get out and be productive in the same ways you once enjoyed. I submit that at that time, prayer and work may become one and the same. Your best work and gift to the church and to the world is your prayers. Your work may also be simply sharing your faith with others through the stories of your life and how you have discerned the presence of God with you through all of your years.
I invite you all to join with me in seeking to be more committed to the balanced life that Benedict teaches in his rule, the balanced life of Ora et Labora – prayer and work – so that we may be drawn closer to the Lord in both, find our fulfillment, and be protected from the cunning assaults of the devil.