Reflections on the Rule - March 2024

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Visualizing the Ladder

Dr. Brandon Beck

Lay Chaplain, COHI

Monk, The OOOW

Theology Student, Brite Divinity School

““If we wish to reach the very highest point of humility…, we must by our ascending actions erect the ladder Jacob saw in his dream…. By that descent and ascent we must surely understand nothing else than this, that we descend by self-exaltation and ascend by humility.””

— RSB, Chapter 7.2

The return to Jacob’s Ladder brings us to a liminal space - the space between here and there. In such a liminal space, a great opportunity for kenosis presents itself. How do you empty yourself? The discipline of Lectio Divina is deeply valued and taught in Benedictine monasteries still today. I am drawn to its related Visio Divina. Gazing on an image or creating an image of scripture allows me to fully pour out all my self-exaltation, for who am I among these great images? How do you see this ladder set before us that we climb through growing less? Where up is down and down is up?

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Jacob’s Ladder - An Orthodox Icon

Notice that in Orthodox tradition, this Hebrew story is written with Mary, the Theotokos, in the story of Jacob dreaming the ladder between Heaven and Earth. Just as this ladder is a bridge, so will Jesus be through his Mother.

The Ladder of Divine Ascent - An Icon of St. Catherine’s Monastery, Mt. Sinai

Notice that these are monks on the ladder. These are the monks of St. Catherine’s. John Climacus (Climacus means Ladder) wrote a book called The Ladder of Divine Ascent from St. Catherine’s ca. 600, a rulebook similar to the RSB. The monks are ascending following John’s instructions and stories; however, the temptations and “wretched inner demons” are trying, always, to pull them off. John is near the top, in white. Jesus looks down, welcoming them to Heaven.

William Blake’s Jacob’s Ladder c. 1799

British author, mystic, artist William Blake rendered Jacob’s Ladder did this pen and ink watercolor illustration to The Bible for commission.

My own rendition using Google Gemini’s AI

I’ve recently become interested in using my creative writing in combination with the ever improving resource of AI to generate art responses to Scripture as a devotional technique. Using the newly-released Gemini from Google, I ran through several iterations of journal responses to the Genesis passage, the RSB ladder of Humility, and the John Climacus Ladder of Divine Ascent, and I produced this.

Reflections on the Rule - January 2024

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Reflections on the Rule at Advent

Dr. Brandon Beck

Lay Chaplain, COHI

Monk, The OOOW

Theology Student, Brite Divinity School

“It is hard to let go of the past, and yet, until we do, there is no hope whatsoever that we can ever gain from the future.”

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“[Priests] had been a world unto themselves and leaders of others. In the monastery, they would have to be formed in a whole new way of life and spirituality. They would have to defer to the presence and needs of others. They, who had given so many orders, would have to take some. They would have to begin again. It could be done but it would not be easy.”
-Chittister

Author Melody Beattie works with Hazelden Center and their publishing house to share theories of codependence recovery and what she calls “the language of letting go.” In a series of daily devotionals, Beattie shares stories from people in recovery on that language of letting go and on the process of hope and beginning again.

In The Language of Letting Go, on December 31, Beattie references her textbook Beyond Codependency: “Fun becomes fun, love becomes love, life becomes worth living. And we become grateful.”

Beattie gives a little advice for the new year ahead, and it sounds a lot like Benedict’s Chapter 60 and Chittister’s adjoining commentary: “Wait, and expect good things–for yourself and your loved ones. See the best in your mind; envision what it will look like, what it will feel like. Then let it go. Come back into today, the present moment. Do not obsess. Do not become fearful. Live today fully, expressing gratitude for all you have been, all you are, and all you will become.”

Benedict and Chittister tell us it is hard for priests wishing to join a monastery to let go of the ways they had leadership, status and influence in the outside world; Beattie says those in recovery from codependency have trouble letting go of fear of what is coming and fear of what has been.

In each case, we can begin again through community, stability, and conversion of self, growing together in the fullness of Christ, knowing that everyone with us is beginning again as well.

Amen.