The role of obedience in the acquisition of humility
In the Christian life there are two paths to salvation
and whichever road you chose must be embraced with your whole being. The married
state and monasticism both have as their primary means of aiding in our
salvation the acquisition of a humble and a contrite heart. Without having
attained humility, there is no salvation.
The salvific role of the institution of marriage, and
the monastic vocation, are both based on the destruction of self-will. In
marriage the husband and wife are charged with being obedient to one another.
The symbolism of the crowns used in the Orthodox marriage ceremony represent
the crowns of martyrdom. Death to self. The obedience a monk gives to his
abbot, and the obedience to the typicon of the community the abbot gives
himself over to, are, likewise, paths to the destruction of self-will. The ego
is the enemy, for like the tempting of Adam and Eve in the Garden, Satan uses
the ego to keep us from communion with God.
When we are disobedient to our spouse or the rule of
the monastery, God’s grace departs from us. If we argue with our spouse or our
abbot, it is pride and self-will that rule, and we become the loser.
When we give ourself over to humble obedience, grace
abounds! Each day we should begin with the prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, help me
to pass through this day without sin.” The use of the Jesus Prayer throughout
the day is also a good way to keep ourself centered in that plea to Christ to
help us through our day. “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.”
The crushing down of our self-will requires effort and
struggle, for our fallen nature is all about our rebellion against God. Ascetic
struggle, keeping the fasts, being strict with our observance of a prayer rule,
and making the services at the parish the center of our week, all contribute to
our eventual triumph in the struggle for humbleness of heart.
God’s grace abounds and is our ready helper. Like Saint
Paul we can say that anything good we do, is Christ in us. God did not create
us as robots, but gave us the freedom of choice. Choose wisely and eternal life
with God is ours for all eternity.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
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