Saint Benedict’s wisdom and gentleness shine through his instruction in this chapter. We are sometimes given a task that appears too monumental to be able to accomplish. Our first response may be to confess defeat before even attempting the assignment. Our response may be to complain and grumble about being overworked. However, the nature of our becoming as Christ leads us to undertake the task. Engage in the work as an opportunity to grow. We may not realize the blessings of our labor until we are in the midst of it.
When Joshua led God’s people across the Jordan, they faced a monumental task. The waters raged at their flood stage. The priests were ordered to take the Ark of the Covenant and go in front of the people. When the feet of the priest had slid down the steep river banks, with no path of return, and they stepped into the raging waters with this Ark’s weight on their shoulders, then God opened the waters as He had done at the Red Sea for their ancestors. The people passed through because God had made the way possible for them.
The task may be an opportunity to grow in faith and ability. It may be an opportunity to use the spiritual gift that you have been given for this specific time. It may be an opportunity for others to come and help you, building up the community. The true objective of tasks are seldom their accomplishment, but most often they are tests of faith.
There may be times when the task is genuinely too much. One may not have the skill sets or strength to fulfill the work at hand. One may be overburdened with other assigned tasks of greater priority. These are times when one waits for the appropriate opportunity to explain their inability with their superior. Timing and attitude are keys that are often neglected in our culture. We should not challenge the authority of a superior in front of others, and our attitude must be humility. We must accept the fact that we do not know all of the details and reasons for being assigned a task. So, we humbly submit to hearing, as well as explaining our concern. Both parties share in this timing and attitude. Together, we trust in God’s help and lovingly obey.
