Nuns are independent, they may grow they’re own food even though it is not required.
Examples of contemplative nuns:
Examples of contemplative monks:
I do think that a person who live out their vocation prefer to live a life as contemplative, because of the reason that they believe they could feel the true relationship between them selves and with God.
The other type of life is the apostolic life that involves preaching, teaching, going out to help the needy, it is the same as serving God and serving other human being like her/him. The apostolic nuns or monks are called to be disciples, they do what the first 12 disciples of Jesus did. This nuns and monks who goes out to work hard to teach, preach and help are spiritual learners who are sent out as apostles, in love and service to the world.
Example of a person who have lived an apostolic life:
Mother Theresa – she helped the needy in Calcutta, and now she is known as a role model who started the other nuns to help the people all around the world.
Some Christians leave their family to face another path of life to live neither a contemplative or apostolic life because they wanted to go to heaven when it is time for judgement after death.
Vows of Poverty – When Jesus was born it shows that he was born at a poor state, he never had a wealthy life style. When Jesus was looking for a disciple, he has chosen those people who are uneducated and never knew about religion or philosophy. He asked his disciple to leave everything and follow him. So, those people who change their life to be a nun or a monk, they must leave everything, they must give their possessions, give to the poor and totally have nothing at all with them when they enter the life of contemplative or apostolic.
No-one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(Matthew 6:24,33)
The Rich Young Man
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No-one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honour your father and mother.’”
“Teacher.” He declared, “All these kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He was away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at these words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters. Mothers. Children and fields – and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
(Mark 10:17-31)
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge met into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
(1 Timothy 6:7-11)
Vows of Chastity – Jesus never had a relationship with his opposite sex. God is asking to those people who are going to leave their possessions and to leave their family, this is called celibacy. They must give up family life and they must fully concentrate with there given job as they have actually chosen neither a contemplative or apostolic life.
Vows of Obedience – This requires obedience and patience, a person who takes this vow would have to accept authority, e.g. abbot or a mother superior are the leaders. Jesus shows that he never disobeyed god.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
(Matthew 7:24-29)
“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
(Matthew 12:50)
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
(John 15:10-14)
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead – whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
(Act 5:29-32)
