“By the grace of God, I am what I am” (Day 4 of the Holy Rule)

St. Benedict now asks us where are we to go?

We journey in pilgrimage to the Kingdom of God and dare to approach the throne of the Lamb.

But let us ask the Lord with the Prophet, saying to Him: “Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, or who shall rest in Thy holy hill?”

According to the great abbot, speaking in persona Christi, that Holy Hill is not without its arduous ascent:

“He that walketh without blemish and worketh justice; he that speaketh truth in his heart; who hath not used deceit in his tongue, nor hath done evil to his neighbor, nor hath taken up a reproach against his neighbor,” who hath brought to naught the foul demon tempting him, casting him out of his heart with his temptation, and hath taken his evil thoughts whilst they were yet weak and hath dashed them against Christ; who fearing the Lord are not puffed up by their goodness of life, but holding that the actual good which is in them cannot be done by themselves, but by the Lord."

Such a man is worthy of this heavenly abode in Christ's kingdom.

Ora et labora is the well-known Benedictine motto.  It means "work and prayer".  But here we see so early in the Rule that this "work" is fruitful not on account of our own excellence, virtues, or just deserts.  All is a gift from God and men differ only in how they make use to what is loaned to them.  

There is no "works rightenousness" here.  There is working towards righteousness but only by the grace of God.  To believe otherwise is to deny sanctification and to invite slothfulness into one's soul by nurtruing the delusion that one's salvation is at any point assured.

The truth is that nothing in man's heart is guaranteed.  We are only faced with the facts of death, judgement, heaven, and hell.  Those are events that everyone faces in general.

Your particular fate within those broader states of affairs is not so well known and depends on your response to the Spirit that proceeds from Christ Himself.

Pursue good works, dear friend, but do so under the aspect of humility as a servant is expected to good before His Master.  You are not in a position to appreciate the analogy of servitude yet, but have hope that-- if you fight the good fight against Hell-- someday you will.

God provides all to all.

Be well!