Sermon Vii Of Guarding The Mouth And Diligence In Labour With Obedience To The Superior
SERMON VII
OF GUARDING THE MOUTH AND DILIGENCE IN LABOUR WITH OBEDIENCE TO THE SUPERIOR
A GOOD man out of a good treasure bringeth forth good things. Beloved brethren, you should always have something good concerning God and holy Writ stored up in your heart; and in your external labour repeat the sweet words of Christ: to strengthen you in the burden of your toil. Turn over earnestly the devout psalms and hymns in the silence of your mouth: lest the devil discover you wandering within and idle, unprofitably occupied about the doings of others: for a heart unstable and empty of good thoughts, is the devil’s nest. Weigh your words before you speak: lest you utter something foolish which may offend your hearers, and you may grieve to have said: because you have not observed the bounds of discretion. If you do not know how to speak wisely; strive nevertheless to hold your peace with humility and modesty: according to that of Solomon: “A fool, if he will hold his peace: shall be accounted wise.”
Time is given to work well, not to idle: nor to gossip; nor to jest. Suffer not then any time to pass away without the fruit of good work: for if you have permission to speak: you have not however to utter anything useless. For as you are to render an account before God in the judgement of every idle word: so also of every time and moment ill or carelessly spent. But according to the different seasons and feasts by day and night exercises suited to the time should be taken up: and good purposes should be more fervently enkindled. Nevertheless for the good of obedience and the service of brotherly charity, all private matters should be neglected: nor is any singular practice of devotion to be preferred to holy obedience and the common profit. For thus Christ left the Temple and the doctors of the Law; and obeyed His Mother and Joseph like a good son subject to his parents: as an example for all religious. He who exercises himself well in this, and daily strives and labours to overcome himself: he will be most gloriously crowned because he hath striven lawfully. For all good works performed out of simple obedience for God’s sake, are most pleasing to God: and worthy of a very great reward to be for ever crowned in Heaven. For the renunciation of our own will with true humility of heart subject to the prelate and the advice of the superior: surpasses all temporal gain and arguments of utility, and is resplendent with everlasting praise. For as nothing is more precious than a good will, nor more at rest than free submission: so nothing is more vile than self will with the swelling of pride. Hence Solomon saith in praise of obedience. “An obedient man shall speak of victory.” It is a great struggle to overcome oneself: a noble triumph to bow the neck of pride; to leave one’s own opinion, to lay aside one’s own wisdom: and in nothing to wish to show oneself. Every man who freely obeys for God’s sake, does the work of a mighty warrior; because he fights against himself: and slays the motions of his own will with the sword of the fear of God. And so he shall receive a crown of everlasting glory with the martyrs: because he has manfully struggled and conquered. Whoever therefore humbly obeys a superior, or even an inferior, and willingly submits his opinion to the opinion of another: he loses nothing, but yielding to the other, gains the more. Every man who thus overcomes and humbles himself: treads upon the head of proud Lucifer, who suggests things contrary to humility: that a man give not way to another, but turn himself to cunning arguments. Why this? Lest keeping silence, he be lowered outwardly, and seem as a fool or an ignoramus: because he knows not how to defend himself, or suffers himself to be vanquished. Alas pride, how blind and foolish always: how far thou wanderest from the kingdom of God: and rushest headlong to the gates of hell. O what good and praiseworthy things have been said of thee, holy humility, always ready to obey; for to thee are opened the portals of Heaven: to see the glorious countenance of Jesus Christ. Let it not then be burdensome to anyone, nor seem unworthy to obey man for God’s sake in things lawful and righteous: while Christ has been made obedient even to the shame of the cross. Truly, brethren, if a man will obey and serve a brother for God’s flake, he shows God the greatest honour in his submission: and in the end he shall have Christ as the recompense of his labour and the rewarder of his holy subjection speaking thus: “What you did to one of these My least brethren: you did to me.” For without obedience and brotherly love: our works are either little, or nothing. But with humble obedience: even worthless and small services rendered a brother please God. A truly and perfectly obedient man does not tarry when called: he does not excuse himself when busy or wearied: for he fears to incur the displeasure of God: if he follow not the voice of him that commands according to his power. Whether therefore the obedient man toils or prays, whether he reads or writes: whether he is silent or speaks, whether he watches or rests, whether he eats, or fasts: all things are accounted to him unto good from the merit of holy obedience. For in performing or in leaving all his acts he merits equally well, if he fully resign himself within: if herein he truly seek and aim at the good pleasure and honour of God. And he progresses the more fully and is the more acceptably pleasing to God; the more quickly and readily he fulfills: that which the will of the superior declares should be done. And if he knew better and the precept were more clearly made manifest to him: without any wavering, he should show himself most prompt to obey God and His vicar. Therefore the truly obedient man is always joyful, and has great trust in God; Whose will He desires to accomplish at all times: from Whom he doubts not he will receive a never-ending reward with the elect, singing in heart and mouth: “My heart is ready, O God: my heart is ready.” And again. “I am ready and am not troubled: that I may keep Thy commandments.”