Becoming a Community of Disciples

Chapter 5: Spiritual Teachings – Personal Behavior

57

fearfully, sluggishly, or lukewarmly, 1 and neither with murmuring, nor with an answer showing unwillingness: 15 for the obedience offered to superiors is given to God, just as He Himself said: He who hears you hears me (Luke 10:16). 16 And this obedience ought to be offered with good will, because God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7). 17 For if the disciple obeys with ill will and murmurs not only with his lips but also in his heart, 18 even if he fulfills the command he will not be acceptable to God, who sees the heart of the murmurer: 19 and from this no favor will follow; rather he will incur the punishment due to murmurers, unless he amends by making satisfaction. Excommunication for Faults (RBen §23) 1 If any brother is found to be contumacious, 2 or disobedient, or proud, or a murmurer, or in any way has contempt for the Holy Rule and the precepts of his seniors, 2 let him, according to Our Lord’s precept, be admonished once or twice in private by his seniors (cf. Matt 18:15–16). 3 If he does not amend he should be publicly rebuked in the presence of all. 4 If he still refuses to be corrected, he should (provided he understands what this penalty signifies) be subjected to excommunication: 5 however, if he lacks such understanding he should undergo corporal punishment. More Serious Faults (RBen §25) 1 But that brother who is guilty of a more serious fault is to be suspended both from the common table and from the oratory. 2 None of the brothers may associate with

1 Lukewarmly – halfway. 2 Contumacious – rebellious or stubbornly disobedient to authority.