The rule of St. Benedict for a daily life, learning to listen to God with a discerning heart.

I'm Chris McGregor.

Obedience Without Murmuring, Episode 13

As St. Benedict continues his teaching on obedience, he turns to what most quietly undermines

it, murmuring. A task can be completed, and yet the heart can still resist. The Holy Rule is clear

that this interior resistance matters. The Benedictine Way understands that how something is done

reveals as much as what is done.

Obedience is an only exterior compliance.

It includes an interior, yes, a consent of the heart, like the fiat of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The work is carried as one offering, not split between outward action and inward

resistance. From Chapter 5 of the Rule of St. Benedict, such obedience is given not fearfully

or hesitantly, nor with murmuring or a response of delay.

For obedience given with these attitudes is not pleasing to God.

St. Benedict names murmuring because it's subtle and socially acceptable.

It often disguises itself as realism, fatigue, or justified complaint.

Yet murmuring keeps the heart divided.

The task may be finished, but the person remains internally opposed.

The Holy Rule doesn't forbid acknowledging difficulty.

It addresses what happens when we carry out a task outwardly while holding on

interior objection the whole time. Murmoring lets the will stay disengaged while the body complies.

Over time, this corrods peace and weakens fidelity. Obedience without murmuring requires honesty. It asks the heart to be

aware of the reluctance, to understand what it's doing, and then to let it go. The work is done as an

...