Becoming a Community of Disciples

Chapter 6: Spiritual Teachings – Virtues and Discipline

89

of thorns under the cooking pot so is the laughter of fools (Eccles 7:6), 29 and again, The fool raises his voice in laughter, but the wise man will scarcely smile discreetly (Sir 21:20). 30 The Lord, too, showed that he had in himself passions of the flesh, that is, those which tend to evidence of virtue, such as weariness and tears and grief. 31 But never is he found to have used laughter, so far as the gospel narrative touches on it. We find there instead that those who laugh shall lament even more when he says: Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall weep (Luke 6:25). 32 The ambiguity of “laughter” ought not at all deceive us, for it is often the custom of Scripture to call gladness of soul and a certain more cheerful emotion “laughter” 33 as in: Sarah said, God has made laughter for me (Gen 21:6) and again: Blessed those who weep now for they shall laugh (cf. Luke 6:21), 34 and in Job it is said: the truthful mouth shall be filled with laughter (Job 8:21). All these are terms used for the joy of the soul. 35 Therefore one who is superior to every passion and does nothing through the goads of pleasure, but with self-control and sobriety strives against all that can do harm, 36 this is called perfectly self-controlled—and such a one is thereby without a doubt a stranger to every kind of sin. 37 For pleasure is the rat-trap of all evil and through it we are all beguiled into sin. Therefore, anyone who is not undermined or waylaid by it, cuts out from himself every vile germ of sin. Self-Control (RBas §9) Q: What is the measure of self-control (Gal 5:22)? R: 1 As far as the vices and passions are concerned, he expects complete abstinence, and never to yield. 2 The