Now after learning the canon of the Old and New Testaments, Brendan wished to write out and learn the rule of the saints of Erin. Bishop Erc gave him leave to go and learn this rule, for he knew that it was of God that this counsel had come to him. And he said to him: “Come back to me, and bring the rules with thee, that thou mayest receive orders at my hand.”
– The Life of Brendan of Clonfert
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
– Galatians 6.16
Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
– Philippians 3.16
Rules
For some people, the idea that there are rules for life, and that it is essential to obey those rules, is almost anathema. Unless, of course, they get to make up the rules. Then, well, certainly, rules are good. I am the ruler of my own life, and my rules suit me just fine.
Everyone lives by a rule of life, some set of priorities, values, guidelines, and disciplines. No one is exempt. It’s the only way to make sense of life and to ensure stability in one’s daily activities. Most people are not entirely sure about the rule that governs them, or they may not even be aware of their rule or why it matters. But for every one of us some rule is in place and working. Most folks hope that their rule, whatever it may be, is what’s best for them.
But the kind of rules Paul was writing about come not from within a man but from without, from God. They are rules to guide us in the path of righteousness, away from all prejudice and judgmentalism into a common endeavor of seeking the Lord Jesus and the glory of His cross, resurrection, and reign.
The rules for that kind of life begin in the Old Testament with the Law of God. They are further clarified in the teaching of Jesus and Paul and all the apostles, and they are embodied for us by the Lord Himself as we see Him in the gospels.
We need to learn these rules before shoving off on some mighty adventure of serving the Lord. Paul understood the importance of this, and so did Bishop Erc, mentor to Brendan the Navigator.
The Rules of Erin
The monasteries in Ireland during the 6th-8th centuries were governed by rules. The rules were written, and they spoke to every aspect of the life of a monk. No one standard rule existed; instead, each new monastic settlement drew up its own rules to govern their community.
Brendan was seeking a monastic life, but not with an existing community. He felt God was calling him to start a monastery of his own, and Bishop Erc concurred. So he sent Brendan to consult the rules of other monasteries, to guide him in deter-mining what his own rule should contain.
But this was only after Brendan had proved himself a faithful and devoted student of Scripture. Everything must be ruled by the Word of God, and that included the rules of monasteries. By evaluating existing rules of the light of Scripture, Brendan would be able to draw up just the rule for his monastery that would gain the blessing of God.
Brendan brought back copies of the various rules to Bishop Erc, so that the good bishop could help him in this important task.
What rule governs your life? Who helps you refine and keep it? Remember: We all have a rule of life. Let’s make sure ours lines up with every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
For Reflection
1. What are some examples of the rules that govern your life?2. Why is it important that we know the rules that direct our daily lives?
Psalm 119.30-32
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
I choose the way of truth; Your judgments I proclaim.
Your testimonies I embrace, LORD, put me not to shame!
Command my course, O LORD; Your gracious truth impart.
I cling to You and know You will enlarge my seeking heart.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast is concentrating on praying the psalms to seek revival—why we should and what we might expect. Our current ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church”, enters the home stretch now by leading us to pray for our church’s impact. In our daily Scriptorium column we are looking at ways Old Testament expectations of Jesus were fulfilled in the Gospels. The theme for this week is “Jesus as Lord and Lamb.” If you’d like to learn more about the monastic rules of ancient Ireland, download our free PDF, Living to Rule, from our bookstore.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
