Remain faithful to share New Spring of eternal life

By Bishop Anthony B. Taylor

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor delivered this homily March 21 at Subiaco Abbey for the feast of the Passing of St. Benedict.

Today’s observance of “The Passing of our Holy Father Benedict” according to the old Benedictine liturgical calendar places our celebration today on the first full day of spring, which sounds contradictory to those whose hope is limited to the present life, but speaks eloquently to us who long for the New Spring of eternal life in the “New Age” about which Jesus speaks in our Gospel and in which we firmly believe St. Benedict already shares.

St. Matthew presents this passage — both this passage of Scripture and the passage to new life to which it refers — in the context of Jesus’ own passage to his passion in order to emphasize one of the indispensible conditions for following him, namely the renunciation of possessions which is part of the “conversion of life” to which he calls us.

Matthew presents first (1) Jesus’ encounter with a rich young man who refuses to give up everything to follow him (19:16-22), then (2) Jesus’ statement about how hard it will be for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (19:23-26), and then (3) our present passage where Jesus describes the recompense of those who do leave everything to follow him (19:27-29).

What starts out 11 verses earlier as an account focusing on one individual — the rich young man — leads to a message for all of the disciples, the entire community, namely the need to renounce all attachments to lesser goods in order to follow the Lord, who is the greatest good, and not just once upon entry into the Church — and more so, not just once upon entrance into a monastic community but constantly as a way of life.

St. Benedict understood this evangelical poverty as part of the “conversion of life” that became the third vow of all Benedictine monks. Notice that in this regard, what you have left behind in order to become and stay a disciple — and monk  — marks your life every bit as much as what you do going forward.

Your vow of conversion of life is supposed to include all sorts of things related to personal attitudes and behavior, including not only poverty but also chastity. And of course, your other vows of obedience and stability also involve leaving behind other dimensions of “everything” in order to follow Jesus. In today’s Gospel Jesus promises extravagant blessings and everlasting life in the New Age to come for all who have “given up home, brothers or sisters, father or mother, wife or children or property” for his sake. This you have done!

So Jesus promises that if you persevere in fidelity, you — like St. Benedict and other faithful Benedictines — will also share in the New Spring of eternal life which Jesus promises us today.

 

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