Dear Benedict,
We live in an unequal world. It’s my first thought when reading chapter 31 of your Rule. Of course that was true when you wrote it and throughout human history. But that doesn’t mean we stop working for fair shares.
Each community should have a least one person in it who makes sure everyone gets a fair share, you say. Today, in our world, that concern needs to be more universal. Every person a Benedictine Cellarer, the name you gave to the sharer-outer, or maybe the quarter-master or mistress.
It can be difficult not to hoard or even just tuck something away for another day when we fear lean times. Poverty instils anxiety and so we keep a little back, or a lot depending on our access to resources. No one wants to go hungry.
In recent developments a footballer bought up in poverty who is now very well known has, I’m glad to say, managed to extract another U-turn from the government on the issue of child food poverty. And he has done so very humbly, sharing the appreciation he received with all involved.
So it is possible, even in a very unequal world. May we pursue such possibilities and feast together in hope of a more equal kindom.
From the remembered gospel: Jesus told them to collect up what had been left over. There were 12 baskets full.
Give us this day our daily bread.
From a Friend of Scholastica and a Member of the Lay Community of St Benedict.