The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

Episode 9 – Not My Will

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on St. Benedict’s call to endure hardship and bear injuries patiently. Chapter 4 does not promise relief from suffering. Instead, it forms a heart capable of remaining steady when life presses in. Hardship, misunderstanding and small daily frustrations reveal the condition of the heart. Benedictine endurance is not rooted in denial or willpower but in grace.

Patience does not erase pain. It prevents the heart from being overtaken by anger, resentment or withdrawal. By learning to pause in moments of irritation or injury, the heart creates space for grace to steady what has been disturbed. Looking to Christ, who endured suffering without abandoning love, this episode invites listeners to see endurance as a quiet, faithful participation in His way of remaining steadfast.

Citations

Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 4 §§60-62(RB 1980)

“Voluntatem propriam non quaerere. Voluptatem sibi non delectari. Odisse voluntatem propriam.”

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

1. Where does self-will most often surface in my daily life?

2. How do I react when my preferences are interrupted or set aside?

3. In what areas am I tempted to rely solely on myself rather than entrust the situation to God?

4. What small act of surrender could I practice today?

5. How does Christ’s prayer in Gethsemane illuminate my understanding of humility?

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