By His Grace....

Benedict reminds us today that if we want to dwell in God's tent, we must walk the way and live in and support our community. For it is in walking the away we will learn to be just in all things, to speak truth from the heart, not practice deceit, and care for those with whom we live. 

To accomplish this, we must, in time, learn to foil the evil one—flinging both the devil and his wicked promptings far from sight— dashing them against the Living Christ within us. You see, Benedict understood that it's God's strength, not our own, that brings about the good in us. Give God the glory by His name alone.

It all begins with a devout and contrite heart, and surrender. All we need to do is ask—with sincerity—for it is God who gives us the strength. We do not of our own arrive at these wisdom's. God will give us eyes to see the wonders of this world. We are not a power unto ourselves.

Then, most amazingly, we will see we are responsible for each other. This is our metric for right living. Only through God, will we be able to rise above ourselves.

And so it begins with our understanding that by his grace we are obligated to our community and dependent on God alone.