Becoming a Community of Disciples

Chapter 6: Spiritual Teachings – Virtues and Discipline

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9 Rejoice and leap for joy, for great shall be your reward in heaven (Matt 5:11–12).

Eating and Drinking (RBas §57) Q: How does one eat and drink . . . to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31)? R: 1 By always keeping in mind God who feeds us, and by bearing witness in every aspect, not only in soul but also in body, that he gives thanks and does not eat carelessly, 2 but rather as God’s worker who is being refreshed by him, for which reason let there be sufficient for labor and the fulfillment of the commandments. Humility (RBas §62) Q: What is humility and how shall we fulfill it (cf. Phil 2:3)? R: 1 Humility is this: that we consider all human beings better than us according to the Apostle’s definition (cf. Phil 2:3). 2 Now we can accomplish it if we are mindful of the Lord who said: L earn from me for I am meek and humble in heart (Matt 11:29), which he often showed and taught in many ways; and we ought to believe him who has promised: Whoever humbles himself shall be exalted (Matt 23:12; Luke 14:11). 3 Second, we should strive unremittingly and unceasingly in all our deeds and affairs to be found humbler than others, and by working hard at this practice. 4 For thus we shall be able with difficulty to remove from ourselves the memory of our primal arrogance and to attain the condition of humility, as also usually happens with crafts. 5 The same method applies to accomplishing all the other virtues which come from the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ.