Becoming a Community of Disciples

Chapter 6: Spiritual Teachings – Virtues and Discipline

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the importance of restraint in speech let permission to speak be seldom granted even to perfect disciples, even when their conversation is good and holy and edifying, 4 for it is written: In speaking much you cannot avoid sin (Prov 10:19); 5 and elsewhere Death and life are in the hands of the tongue (Prov 18:21). 6 For speaking and teaching befit the master: remaining silent and listening are proper for the disciple. 7 And therefore, if something is requested of a superior, let it be requested with all humility and reverent submission. 8 But as for ridiculing or otiose 2 words which induce laughter, we permanently ban them in every place; neither do we permit a disciple to open his mouth in such discourse. Humility (RBen §7) 1 The Holy Scripture cries out to us, brothers, saying: Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted (Luke 14:11; 18:14). 2 Therefore, by saying this it shows us that all exaltation is a kind of pride, 3 against which the prophet indicates that he guards himself, saying: Lord, my heart is not exalted nor are my eyes lifted up; nor have I walked in great things, nor in wonders above me (Ps 131:1). 4 And why? What if I did not think humbly, but instead exalted my soul? Then like a child weaned from its mother—so you would treat my soul (Ps 131:2). 5 Therefore, brothers, if we wish to arrive at the highest point of humility, and speedily reach that heavenly exaltation to which we can only ascend by the humility

2 Otiose – useless.