Tuesday of Holy Week: A Rule of Life is About Balance and Wholeness

Isaiah 42:1-9

Psalm 36:5-11

Hebrews 9:11-15


John 12:1-11

We have been spending Lent considering various Christian spiritual disciplines – fasting, fixed-hour prayer, pilgrimage, almsgiving, examination of confession.  Yet, how do we work these various disciplines, and others, into a cohesive, balanced life practice?  Not practiced consistently, intentionally and regularly, these disciplines can very easily become mere experiences we dip into, but which have little wider meaning – simply isolated actvities, hardly part of a wider context of discipline and transformtion.  For centuries, Christians have developed a Rule of Life in order engage with prayer and other spiritual disciplines in ways which are thought-out, intentional and, above all, regular.  Indeed the Latin word for “rule” is regula, and it is in this way we should understand how it is used in “Rule of Life” – a Rule of Life is regular.  A Rule of Life then is an intentional, regular pattern of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction for spiritual growth, a structure in which spiritual formation – and transformation – is facilitated.  Tonight and the next two evenings, we will be examining what this could mean for us, and perhaps move some way in developing or recognizing our own Rule of Life.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God spoke to the people of Israel saying “I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:6-7)  God calls us to all sorts of things, most especially to be signs of the Kingdom, of the new creation springing forth.  But half-hearted willy-nilly responses serve no one well, and so we all need a rule, a system, by which we can be formed more closely into who God is calling us to be, in order that we can do what God is calling us to do.  As mentioned, this system must be regular, but it must also be balanced and realistically appropriate to our circumstances.  For example, making a weekly quiet day part of one’s Rule of Life is simply not feasible if one is the primary care-giver to children or someone bed-ridden.  And so, developing a Rule of Life is an exercise in discovering a balance in the various aspects of our lives: prayer, study, recreation, work, hospitality.  How do each of these fit into each other and the greater whole?  Is there a balance?  How do – and which of – the traditional spiritual practices we have been examining during Lent enable and inform the various parts of our lives, encouraging balance and growth.

In beginning to consider a Rule of Life various things should come into play.  Certainly, our cirumstances, but also our temperament, and natural inclinations.  Morever, it is crucial to bear in mind that “in order to be life-giving, a Rule must be realistic.  It is not an ideal toward which you are striving to soar.”  One writer described it in this way, “Your initial Rule should be a minimum standard for your life that you do not drop below.  It’s a realistic level of engaging in the spiritual disciplines for which you can honestly and truly be held accountable.”  We can see the wisdom in this.  We have all begun grandiose – and impossible projects – with the best of intentons, only to find ourselves all too quickly overwhelmed by them and just as quickly abandoning them.  A Rule should be something which while stretching us, is acheivable, and which enhances the quality of our lives.  For all these reasons, many suggest that in developing a Rule of Life, it is best to begin by an honest self-assessment, examining one’s self – temperament, gifts, temptations, as well as one’s life situation – family responsibilities, work schedule and other life situation.  Such an assesment acomplishes  a number of things:  it can help us see more clearly the reality of our ciscumstances; often reveal the imbalances in our  lives, pointing to adjustments most needed; and highlight the disciplines which might be more helpful.  In discerning these, conversation with a close friend, a soul-friend or spiritual director is of great benefit.

As we walk the way of the cross this week, it would be a good time to walk also in the challenging path of self-assesment, self-examination, that through it we may discover how to walk also “in the way of life and peace”.  Tonight is a beginning.  May it bear fruit.