AI and Monastic Obedience

AI gets a bad rap these days in many circles for many reasons, but primarily it seems to be because of the unknown use of its potential power.  However, putting skepticism aside, I asked AI to answer the following question: ” How many times is the word RUN used in the Rule of St. Benedict?”  Here is the response to that question:

The word “run” (or “run…that” / “run…with”) appears prominently twice in the Prologue of the Rule of St. Benedict, particularly in translations that emphasize the urgency of the monastic life. 

• First Instance (Prologue): “Run while you have the light of life, lest the darkness of death overtake you” (referencing John 12:35).
• Second Instance (Prologue): “But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love”.

The phrase emphasizes the transition from fear-driven obedience to a joyful, swift pursuit of God’s will. Other similar words like “hasten” or “run away” (in the context of fear) also appear, but the explicit command to “run” in the spiritual sense appears twice in the opening, foundational section of the Rule.

Notice the last paragraph!  It is spot on in what monastic obedience is to be about; not fear driven, or “guilt” driven, not driven out of a spoken or unspoken sense of obligation; rather obedience is ” to be a joyful, swift pursuit of God’s will.” 

Lent offers us many opportunities to practice obedience.   As we set about to listen for God’s will, let us not forget that His will for us is found in the mundane, ordinary events of daily life.  In cheerfully doing the dishes, even if it is someone else’s turn, in simply being present to another when they call or show up at the door and wax eloquently about their lives, putting aside the urge to give into the temptation to think about all you “have to do”, in simply smiling and saying thank you to the employee at the grocery store- in all these simple ways – we find God speaking to us and us doing his will.