Why do the humble flee from the love of superiority, and take the last place in secret and in public?
The humble flees from superiority for the sake of attaining salvation and to escape grandiosity and pride, as St. John of Assiut in his sermon teaches us.
WATANI International
20 November 2011
When that saint was asked if it is proper for a person to seek a rank or an authority as a means to correct the deviating and put an end to evil, he said, ##Nay, for if a person while away desires to be great, what would he do when he attains superiority and greatness?! One who could not know humbleness while still small, what he would do when he becomes great? If he seeks haughtiness while away from positions, how haughty will he be when he occupies such positions?!
When he had no cause to be puffed up, but only an imagination, what will he do when he gets a cause for boasting?!
If you do not desire humbleness, do not seek the rank of a shepherd or of a priest to take care of the others, for God cares about His people more than you can do … Desire rather to be a mere sheep in the flock to be shepherded by others, not a shepherd responsible for others, for God will require their blood from your hand.
Beware the desire of domination, and remember that whatever veneration you may receive today for greatness, tomorrow you will be like all other people locked up in a tomb.
The humble flees from superiority and shepherding, feeling undeserving.
St. John of Assuit likewise says, ##If you are unable now to win yourself, how will you be able to win many souls?! …If you are unable now, while you have no burdens, to save yourself, how will you be able to save many from the evils of the present world?! If you are unable to save one soul: your soul, while you have no responsibility, how will you be able to save the souls of others?!##
With the same logic I say to whoever desires to be a shepherd to save the souls of the others: Be concerned about saving yourself first, brother, for if you could not, you will not be able to save the others whatever your position may be.
You know everything about yourself, all your secrets and history, your weaknesses and their causes, your defects and spiritual diseases, so if you cannot save the soul you know very well, how would you be able to save other souls of people you spend little time with and know very little about?!
You can rebuke, scold, or blame yourself, but you may not be able to restrain yourself, how then will you be able to rebuke other souls who may get angry if you rebuke them?! Your soul trusts you and is ready to obey you, yet you cannot prevail over it, how then could you deal with the others who are not ready to obey and probably do not trust you!
Be concerned then with your own salvation, for the salvation of others is not an easy thing.
Who flees from superiority and positions, likes the lower places.
Such a person feels that the lower place is the natural position which he deserves, for some Holy Fathers said, ##Consider yourself the least of all and the lower of everybody, so that you may have peace!## St. Borsonophius likewise said, ##Do not consider yourself of any value, nor let anybody consider you of any value that you may have peace!##
Who does not like praise and esteem, will flee from superiority and from the first places, desiring to be a servant rather than to be served, wishing to learn and benefit from the guides, rather than to be a guide to others.
The spiritual elderly father said, ##Wherever you go, be the least of your brothers and their servant.##
Once a newly ordained priest asked me to say to him a word of benefit or a piece of advice, so I said to him, ##Be a son to your brothers, and a brother to your children.## Whoever lowers himself one step, will be lifted up several steps. Such a person feels comfortable in any position he holds, unlike a person who wants to be honored in any position and feels puffed up. Poor indeed who falls because of positions!
Be then the least of your brothers and their servant wherever you go. The Lord Christ washed the feet of the disciples (Jn 13), and although He is the Teacher and the Lord, He was not ashamed to call them brethren (Heb 2: 11). How then would you be superior to others?!
A humble person when becoming a boss considers himself a manager of the work not of the people, and considers his subordinates as colleagues.
The humble flees from superiority and authority. However, if God by His irresistible will makes him superior or shepherd, he will then ask Him power for the work, because by himself he can do nothing (Jn 15: 5). He who trusts his own power to save the others is actually self-conceited.
Such a person will not refuse superiority if it comes without seeking it, for the harm is not in the superiority, but in the love of superiority and in the ensuing haughtiness.
To be superior is not a wrong thing, but the wrong is to dominate over the others, for there may be a superior holding the first place, but is at the same time humble, treats his subordinates as one of them not as superior. Both are the same in the sight of God, and the subordinate may even be higher in rank, being more righteous.
A humble boss treats his subordinates with the spirit of love and simplicity, being aware that the authority is given for the sake of managing the work, not for personal dignity. The same applies to the ranks of the Holy Orders, the higher the rank is, it will be for management and pastoral care and ministry, not for arrogance and haughtiness. Any authority should not deviate from its original purpose, being a mere means to manage the work, not a means for grandiosity and boasting!
We read about St. Bachomius, the founder of cenobite monasticism, that he once was walking with some monks, each carrying his luggage, and one of them came to carry the luggage of St. Bachomius, but the saint refused, and said, ##The Lord Christ, glory to Him, called Himself a brother to His disciples, shall I then let you carry my luggage?! It is impossible. That is why some monasteries are deteriorating, because their seniors make use of the service of their juniors”!
St. Paul the Apostle says about himself, “These hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.” (Acts 20: 34)
A humble person is one who reveres and treats everybody properly. Great indeed are the love and humbleness of those who treat those who are lesser than them with respect and reverence.
It is easy to revere a senior, out of duty and necessity, but you may be forced to do so for his old age, but to revere one who is lesser than you, reveals humbleness.
Who respects those who are lesser in rank, knowledge, education, or age, and keeps their rights and their dignity is indeed a humble person who deserves all love and appreciation. Be sure that your dignity is not in making people subject to you by law, but out of appreciation and reverence, from all the heart, seeing that you really are deserving.
A humble superior shall control himself first.
He controls himself first and behaves well before practicing control over the others. The spiritual elderly father, advising the young monks not to desire presiding over the congregation of monks, says, ##If you are fought with such a thought, say to yourself: The congregation which I preside over is my thoughts over which God has set me a head to manage my household well.##
You should then have control over your thoughts and emotions, so that they may not deviate in any way, and likewise over your senses and lusts. If you could control them well, you will be worth of superiority.
If you cannot control yourself or your tongue, thoughts, or heart within, how could you preside over the others?! If you are not faithful over a few things, you will not be able to rule over many things (Mt 25: 21).
You also can flee from the love of superiority and esteem if you forsake all outside glories.
Whatever relates to posts and positions is an outside temporary matter that has nothing to do with your inner self. Any esteem shown to you is actually given to the position you occupy, not for you. Therefore if you leave this position its honors will leave you.
The Psalmist says, the royal daughter is all glorious within, although her clothing is woven with gold and her robes are of many colors (Ps 15: 13, 14). Glory then is due to your personality, not to your position or superiority. Your glory is in your true nature and spirituality, in your mind and wisdom, and in whatever virtues and good qualities lying in your heart. If you are aware of this, you will forsake all positions and will say with the Lord of glory, “I do not receive honor from men.” (Jn 5: 41) You should seek the glory that God will crown you with, not that which the people give you. Your glory lies in how God judges you, not how people judge you.
How to flee from praise and esteem, and how to flee from love of superiority this will be the topic of next week, God willing.