Lest You Remain

L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 110 The shortest summary of His entire teaching is the sentence: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (Mt 11: 29). His birth in a stable, the flight to Egypt, the temptation in the desert, persecution by the Jews, the washing of feet in the Cenacle, grief in the Garden of Olives, the fetters, slaps on the face, imprison- ment, flagellation, derision before Herod, crowning before Pilate, the particularly degrading carrying of the cross, a slanderous and humiliating death and countless other episodes. Since it was such a practical lesson, wasn’t all this a stark and clear example of the highest degree humility? ( Inspectio Cordis ) 10 When you hear that the twelve year old Jesus went with His most holy parents to the temple in Jerusalem, admire His devotion and consider your habits, deeds and behavior when you were His age. Then you started to offend God, to leave behind your playful youth, and to give in to evil and offenses. Oh, how different you were from Christ! The twelfth year of life of your Savior provided examples of astonishing devotion; in your case, it marked the beginning of all wickedness. And now, how have you passed your years in the house of God? How dryly, how sluggishly, how impudently! Beware not to pretend to follow Christ with your religious attire, while with your habits, you resemble a scoundrel, and present your- self worse than a layman. A Religious Order does not save anyone, but Religious Life does. [...] May God prevent you from being a Religious by name and not in fact. If you had not shed bad lay habits, and had not answered your vocational call, you would go to a similar, very unhappy end. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 11 “They look[ed] for Him among their relatives and acquaintances” (Luke 2:44). Purest Joseph with his wife, the Most Holy Virgin, could not find the boy Jesus among their friends, family and relatives. You will not find Him either in chats, reading gossip, in the world, in the streets, in the opinions alien to your style of life and in the manner of life of the lay people. Listen also to what Saint Augustine, the bishop of Hippo and doctor of the Church, who was looking for the