March 25, 2022: Mother Vicki’s chapter talk for Sr. Sharon’s Profession
At the beginning of the profession ceremony, Sr. Sharon read aloud selected verses from chapter four in the Rule of St. Benedict, “The Tools for Good Works.”
First of all, love the Lord God with your whole heart, your whole soul and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself . . .
Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way; the love of Christ must come before all else. You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge. Rid your heart of all deceit. Never give a hollow greeting of peace or turn away when someone needs your love . . .
And finally, never lose hope in God’s mercy.
These then are the tools of the spiritual craft. When we have used them without ceasing day and night and have returned them on judgment day, our wages will be the reward the Lord has promised: What the eye has not seen nor the ear heard, God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor 2:9).
The workshop where we are to toil faithfully at all these tasks is the enclosure of the monastery and stability in the community.
Mother Vicki’s chapter talk
Love of God, love of neighbor. There you have it. If the monastic life is boiled down to what it is all about, love would be its essence. Your reading from the Rule expresses your understanding of this, and reveals your heart, too.
God’s tender love for you and his choice of you to follow his Son more closely in the consecrated life drew you and beckons you today to take another step into the Heart of God through profession of your first vows. And you have said, ‘Yes”! “Yes, O let it be done”! “O, let me toil faithfully in love within the heart of the community. Let me lay down my life with Jesus in service of my sisters. Let me freely give and freely receive God’s abiding love in each one in all the ways that the monastic life offers.”
We welcome you in a deeper way into the Heart of the Community with much love. May we all walk together, carrying each other’s burdens, rejoicing in the gift that each one of us is. And may God bring us all-together to eternal life.