Monasticism is a phenomenon that transcends time and cultures. There are people for whom the call to a life of faith is more than a duty, a desire or a manifestation of culture. For a minority of people this is an inescapable call, and a desire to know the transcendent above all else. This is a monastic call, and these people are monastics.
Photo by Hannah Busing
Monasticism is simultaneously a desire to be transformed into the image of the creator God on the deepest level as well as a pouring out of healing service in imitation of Christ to embody the Reign of God. To be a monk is to live this faith in all aspects of life. This simultaneous going in and going forth is a source of healing for the world. As each individual is transformed and made whole the world is also transformed and made more whole. As each individual works to build the Reign of God in the world others come to join the effort and the Reign of God becomes present. This is the two-fold work of the monastic.
In a culture that worships achievement, money, fame and status far more than the transcendent, monastics are frequently isolated. Discerning a monastic call outside of the rare institutions that have maintained the traditional structures of monasteries is made even harder by arcane and exclusionary requirements. The concept of a monastic beyond walls or institutions is not commonly understood.
When a society is unable or unwilling to recognize or nurture the monastic call everyone suffers. Individuals who have the gift of leading people toward God and a deeper faith are not encouraged. On a broader level, the lack of a recognized monastic call contributes to a profound fracturing of any sense of community, of a common bond as a people. It is in the support for a monastic calling that people are able to develop their gifts for the healing and transformation of themselves and others.
The part about each person's steps in transformation and Kingdom-building having an effect on the whole world reminds me of a favorite saying of my parish's patronal saint, David of Wales. He is known for telling his followers to "do the little things in life." The little things matter -- they change us bit by bit, and they build community bit by bit. And the little things seem so much more do-able than the big dramatic things!
Eloquent and profound. Thank you.