Becoming a Community of Disciples

Chapter 6: Spiritual Teachings – Virtues and Discipline

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you have the light of life, lest the darkness of death seize hold of you (John 12:35). 14 And the Lord, seeking his own workman in the multitude of the people to whom he cries out, says again: 15 Who is it who desires life, and longs to see good days? (Ps 34:12). 16 And if you, hearing him, respond, “I am the one!” God says to you: 17 “If you desire true and everlasting life, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn aside from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Ps 34:13–14). 18 And when you have done these things, my eyes will be upon you, and my ears towards your prayers; and before you call upon me, I will say to you, ‘Behold, I am here’ (Isa 58:9). 19 What can be sweeter to us (cf. Ps 34:9) than this voice of the Lord inviting us, dearest brothers? 20 Behold in his loving kindness the Lord shows us the way of life. 21 Having therefore girded our loins with faith and the performance of good works, with the Gospel as guide (Eph 6:14–15) let us walk in his paths, that we may deserve to see him who has called us into his kingdom (1 Thess 2:12). 22 Is the tent of this kingdom where we wish to dwell? Unless by our good deeds we run there, we shall never arrive there. 23 But let us with the Prophet inquire of the Lord, saying to him: Lord, who shall dwell in your tent, or who shall rest upon your holy mountain? (Ps 15:1). 24 After this question, brothers, let us hear the Lord responding, showing us the way to his tent, 25 saying: One who walks without stain and works justice; 26 one who speaks truth in his heart, 27 who has not practiced deceit with his tongue; one who has done no evil to his neighbor, and has not believed false accusations against his neighbor (Ps 15:2–3); 28 one who has expelled the malignant devil