Having Our Loins Girded, Therefore
To dwell in God's kingdom, we must walk in His paths through faith and good works, giving glory to God and attributing our success to Him.
St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of faith, good works, and following the guidance of the Gospel to deserve to see God and dwell in His kingdom. He highlights the qualities of those who are worthy to dwell in God's tent, including walking without stain, practicing justice, speaking truth, and not engaging in deceit or slander. St. Benedict stresses the need to resist temptation from the devil by casting it away and holding onto thoughts that align with Christ. He also underscores the humility of those who fear the Lord and give glory to God for any good in them, acknowledging that all success comes from God.
Text
Having our loins girded, therefore,
with faith and the performance of good works (Eph. 6:14),
let us walk in His paths
by the guidance of the Gospel,
that we may deserve to see Him
who has called us to His kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12).
For if we wish to dwell in the tent of that kingdom,
we must run to it by good deeds
or we shall never reach it.
But let us ask the Lord, with the Prophet,
"Lord, who shall dwell in Your tent,
or who shall rest upon Your holy mountain" (Ps. 14[15]:1)?
After this question, brothers and sisters,
let us listen to the Lord
as He answers and shows us the way to that tent, saying,
"The one Who walks without stain and practices justice;
who speaks truth from his heart;
who has not used his tongue for deceit;
who has done no evil to his neighbor;
who has given no place to slander against his neighbor."
This is the one who,
under any temptation from the malicious devil,
has brought him to naught (Ps. 14[15]:4)
by casting him and his temptation from the sight of his heart;
and who has laid hold of his thoughts
while they were still young
and dashed them against Christ (Ps. 14[15]:4; 136[137]:9).
It is they who,
fearing the Lord (Ps. 14[15]:4),
do not pride themselves on their good observance;
but,
convinced that the good which is in them
cannot come from themselves and must be from the Lord,
glorify the Lord's work in them (Ps. 14[15]:4),
using the words of the Prophet,
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to Your name give the glory" (Ps. 113[115:1]:9).
Thus also the Apostle Paul
attributed nothing of the success of his preaching to himself,
but said,
"By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10).
And again he says,
"He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (2 Cor. 10:17).
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the concept of 'having our loins girded'
- II. The importance of faith and good works (Eph. 6:14)
- III. Walking in God's paths through the guidance of the Gospel
- IV. The necessity of good deeds to dwell in God's kingdom
- V. The Lord's requirements for dwelling in His tent
- VI. The characteristics of those who dwell in God's tent
- VII. The importance of humility and giving glory to God
- VIII. The role of faith and the Lord's work in our lives
Key Quotes
“The one Who walks without stain and practices justice; who speaks truth from his heart; who has not used his tongue for deceit; who has done no evil to his neighbor; who has given no place to slander against his neighbor.” — St. Benedict of Nursia
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give the glory.” — St. Benedict of Nursia
“By the grace of God I am what I am.” — St. Benedict of Nursia
Application Points
- We must be prepared and ready to walk in God's paths through faith and good works.
- We should give glory to God and attribute our success to Him, not to ourselves.
- We must walk in humility and recognize that our good deeds come from God's work in our lives.