Lest You Remain

given reasonably for a period of time. All should live from the common property and the common table. Exceptions should be given only to the aged and sick, bear- ing in mind the potential harm. Therefore, without such permission, none of you may accept anything from anybody, either in the House or outside, and you may not give anything to anybody. [. . .] Besides this however, in order to allow the members to not be sluggish in the service of God on account of severe privation, the Superiors should provide them with everything sufficiently, according to the decrees, but not in excess, as far as they can in the Lord. Everyone should remember and even imitate, the privation of the Heavenly King, who, as we read, did not have even His own dwelling (c.f. Mt. 8:20; Luke 9:58) and once, when He was thirsty, He was not ashamed to ask for water (c.f. J. 4:7). In the same way, when you experience extreme poverty, rejoice that you can be true disciples of Christ and His followers. ( Inspectio Cordis ) O BEDIENCE 1 Focus your attention and carefully contemplate the words of the Lord: “If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and begin to follow in my footsteps” (Mt 16:24). From these words, you will easily grasp that you follow Christ if you have sometimes carried His cross and out of love for Him, you have renounced yourself. Your striving for perfection by abandoning your possessions, riches, honors, relatives and friends in the world, will mean little if you do not abandon yourself and your own will. Christ did not redeem the world by leaving heaven, descending to earth and becoming man, but by being put to death while fulfilling the will of the Father. Contemplate with what motivation, effort and zeal, you will imitate this virtue of Christ, which He has shown to you and illustrated by word and example. May your conversation with God involve your grief for your lack of obedience and determination, that from now on, you are going to keep more faithfully. ( Inspectio Cordis ) L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 154