Conceals virtues & avoids superiority
WATANI International
13 November 2011
Concealing one##s virtues:
So long as one##s virtues are apparent, one will receive praise for them. So, to flee from praise, one should as far as possible conceal one##s virtues and good works. This does not mean that one ought not to do anything good before the others. Rather it means not to do it with an aim to receive praise from the others, but for the sake of good itself.
St. Augustine spoke about this point in his commentaries on the Scripture.
Commenting on the words of the Lord, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them, otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Mt 6: 1) and also, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Mt 5: 16) St. Augustine discusses whether there is any conflict between the two speeches, and how far they agree, he says that there is no conflict, because it is not wrong that people see your good works, but the wrong is that the purpose be that they see it. You ought rather to do good whether people see you or not. Let not your aim be to let people see you while you do good works, or to receive their praise. Do good deeds so that your Father in heaven may be glorified.
However, we should know that to be an example is necessary with some people due to their position. For instance, the clergy, the leaders, those under responsibility, the apostles, and the prophets are supposed to be models to the others otherwise they would be stumbling blocks to them.
A humble person, on the contrary, sees nothing in his life worth to be taken as an example to the others.
The humble tries to flee from any situations that may show him as an example, claiming that he is a sinner and a weak person, and even revealing some shortcomings and weaknesses. Yet, in spite of this he will be taken as example of humbleness. Whenever he is fought with the thought of being an example to the others, he cries out to God, ##how can I be a hypocrite, appearing in a different appearance than my real nature? You know, O Lord, what dead bones and uncleanness are in the tombs whitened from outside! You have covered me with your mercy and concealed my defects so that nobody might see them. Shall I benefit from this and pretend to be an example to the others, though I am a sinner, with no righteousness in me?!##
Who wants to be an example and to have a good appearance before the others may fall in pride and hypocrisy. Therefore, we ought to please God rather than people.
If God##s dispensation willed to make us an example to the others, let it not be our aim.
The holy fathers did so, when they became known for something virtuous they left it to something else so as not to be praised. However, this does not mean that you stop doing any good deed for fear of praise, but be steadfast in every good deed for the sake of your spiritual growth, not to be seen by the others.
Avoid superiority:
A humble person never seeks to occupy a high position or to be senior, but flees prudently from such ranks. Many of the father monks succeeded in this, including St. Pinophius whose biography reached us through John Cassian the founder of monasticism in France.
St. Pinophius was an abbot of a monastery in Borollos with two hundred monks. He was very humble and revered by many. They loved him because of his sanctity and virtuous conduct, and for his great talents with which God had endowed him, and because of his priesthood, being a reverend elderly priest.
One day that saint asked himself what would be the end of such praise, dignity, and respect he received everyday. He was afraid lest the Lord say to him on the Last Day, “Remember that in your lifetime you received your good things” (Lk 16: 25). He was far from the narrow gate and the difficult way which lead to life (Mt 7: 14), from the many tribulations through which he should enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14: 22). He was only enjoying reverence, honor and superiority!
St. Pinophius therefore fled from the monastery without anyone noticing him.
He disguised in an ordinary garment and went south till he arrived at a monastery of St. Bachomius in Esna. He knocked at the door and asked them to accept him in the monastery. They looked to him wondering how an old man can seek to be a monk! They said to him, ##You come after having enjoyed the world to the fullness, to put on the appearance of holiness at the end of your life! You are not fit, go away!##
The holy Pinophius kept imploring them, and they refusing under the pretext that he was an old man and could not bear monasticism and its struggling, and stayed long at the door without eating or drinking. Seeing his patience and endurance, they received him into the monastery on condition that he would not be ordained as a monk but continue as a lay serving the monastery. They made him assist a young monk who was in charge of the garden, and he did not refuse. The young monk used to give him instructions and he was obedient and submitting.
The saint who had been revered by all people became a servant! It was his wish that his life would change and submit to the others instead of having the others submit to him!
His young master was very cruel, desiring to teach him the proper rules of monasticism, that it is not laziness! The saint obeyed completely and carried out the commands very accurately without arguing or discussing. After some time in this way, the young monk became pleased with him.
The saint also used to wake up late by night while the monks were asleep and do the works which the others hated and were disgusted of. In the morning the monks found everything done, not knowing who had done it, but they just rejoiced and blessed the Lord for it. The saint kept doing it happily for three long years, always thanking God for His grace and for ridding him of receiving respect and honoring and bringing him to the life of obedience and submission.
But one day a monk from the monasteries of Borollos came to visit that monastery and saw St. Pinophius carrying the manure and putting it around trees. He doubted and could not believe his eyes! But soon he heard him chanting the psalms in his well known voice, and became sure that it was he. He bowed before him and revealed his personality to the monks. They brought him to his monastery with great glory.
Once more he fled to Bethlehem and worked as a servant in the cell of John Cassian. Again a monk came in a visit and recognized him. They brought him back with veneration to his monastery. John Cassian visited him when he came to Egypt and wrote about him that he was a living example of fleeing from superiority.
Whoever wants to get rid of praise and honoring should flee from the love of superiority and positions. For if he succeeded in such ranks he would receive honor, but if he failed he would fall in judging the others.
The dream of superiority causes inner trouble:
Sometimes a person lives in daydreams, imagining himself in a significant position, or working and planning great projects and serious matters, and says within himself if only he is given the authority he will do things nobody else could do!
Such are the fancies of vainglory and pride that make a person imagines in himself the ability to do great things. God may permit it that this person holds a certain responsibility and fails, that he may know how weak he is.
Once an elderly father went to visit a young monk in the latter##s cell, and before knocking at his door he heard a voice inside. He waited so as not to interrupt the young monk. He heard him preaching, and he waited till he ended his sermon and dismissed the congregation. Then he knocked, and the monk, on seeing him, got confused and thought what that father would say in case he had heard him preaching with nobody listening! So he said, ##I am sorry, father, I hope you have not been long waiting at the door.## The father smiled and said, ##I came, my son, when you were dismissing the congregation!## He knew that the young monk was fought by vainglory, for he imagined that he has become a teacher and a preacher … Beware then not to imagine yourself has become a boss, a leader, or a counselor. Say to yourself you have not yet attained this level. Suffice that you be honest in the present position.
Superiority is harmful to those who are not yet mature enough:
St. Orosios, the successor of St. Bachomios the Great said, ##Superiority is harmful to those who are not yet mature.## He gave an example that if we bring an unburned brick and put it in water, it will dissolve. But if it is burned in fire and put in water, it will remain firm and even become stronger.
The same applies to an immature person who attains a leading position without being put to test by experience, and before getting rid of vainglory. He will be exposed to perdition.
Miserable indeed are those who submit to a boss who loves vainglory, for he will perish and they with him, because he requires them to glorify him!