Lest You Remain

Fr. Founder’s Selected Thoughts on the Religious Life 125 According to an often repeated opinion of the spiritual masters: “Not to progress is to stop, and not to move forward is to move back.” Who does not know that from one’s everyday experience! ( Inspectio Cordis ) 3 “Unless your holiness surpasses that of the scribes…” (Mt 5:20). Contemplate how the truthful and holy Teacher, encourages His disciples to make progress and to advance in perfection; He wants them to place so much effort into moving forward, that nobody would be able to exceed them in holiness of life, but rather, they would sur- pass everyone in perfecting the virtues and in this way, reach the Kingdom of Heaven. You do not take up an insignificant challenge to prove that you are the most perfect of all. Aroused by this holy jealousy, strive so as to surpass everyone in the virtues. Do not follow the opinion of those, who believe that it would be enough if you just catch up with others. Do not delude yourself that you reach the peak with others, because then it will turn out that you are at the lowest level of perfection. It is not inappropriate that Christ admonishes: “You must be made perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). Here is the Most High Teacher of perfection who wants you to possess the perfection of God alone. May your holiness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (cf. Mt 5:20). Yet, since so quickly and so often you go astray, beg God, who is to come to you, to per- form in you, what He commands. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 4 The aim of our life is certainly to serve God, to live to please Him and to achieve heavenly happiness. We should have this aim in view, in any act of virtue and any task. In choosing the tools to achieve this aim, we should be guided by the laws of God. We should ask God for light to discern His will in any action, say special prayers toward this end, and to precede any important task with a thorough consideration, counsel and listening to the opinions of others, not simply relying on oneself.