The Good Zeal of [Christians]

As the feast of St. Benedict was observed this week–11 July–it seemed fitting to hear a little from his Rule which was composed ~530AD. Though it was written as instruction for how a monastery and the brothers are to live together, much of what he says applies to us all. Below is the chapter entitled The Good Zeal of Monks. We might amend that, as we are not monks, to The Good Zeal of Christians. (A few slight edits were made.)

Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life. This, then, is the good zeal which [Christians] must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rom 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow [Christians] they show the pure love of brothers [and sisters]; to God, loving fear. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life.