Vigils Reading

ON HUMILITY

From a discourse by Dorotheos of Gaza6

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ONE OF THE FATHERS used to say, ‘Before anything else we need humility: a being ready to listen whenever a word is spoken to us, and to say, “I submit”, because through humility every device of the enemy, every kind of obstacle, is destroyed,’ What is the force of this saying? Why did he say, ‘before anything else we need humility’, and not, ‘we have need of self-control’? Because, the Apostle says, ‘Everyone who strives for mastery abstains from all things.’ Or why did he not say, ‘Before anything else we have need of the fear of God’? For it is written, ‘The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord’ and again, ‘With the fear of the Lord a man turns away from evil.’ Or why did he not say, ‘Before all else we need almsgiving, or faith’? For it is said that by faith and almsgiving we are cleansed from sin, and the Apostle says, ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God.’ If, therefore, it is impossible to please God without faith, and faith and almsgiving cleanse from sin, and by fear a man turns aside from evil, and the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and a man who strives for the mastery abstain from all things, why does he say, ‘Before all else we need humility’ and leaves aside all these very necessary things?

The holy man wishes to show us that neither the fear of God, nor faith, nor self-control, nor any one of the other virtues can set us right without humility, and therefore he says, ‘Before anything else we need humility, being ready to listen whenever a word is said to us, and to say, “I submit”, because through humility every device of the enemy and every kind of obstacle is destroyed.’

Consider well, brothers, how great is the power of humility. Consider how great is the spiritual energy behind saying, ‘Pardon me’. Why is the devil called not only ‘enemy’, but also ‘adversary’? He is called ‘enemy’ because he is a hater of men, one who hates what is good, a traitor; an ‘adversary’, because he always puts obstacles in the way of good. If someone wants to pray he puts obstacles in the way through evil suspicions, shameful thoughts, and spiritual torpor. If a man wants to give alms he obstructs it through avarice or procrastination. If a man wants to keep vigil he obstructs it with hesitations or laziness. In every single thing he is against us when we desire to do good. This is why he is called the enemy and the adversary and why, by lowliness, all his attacks and devices are brought to nothing. Lowliness is really a great thing, for every kind of good is advanced by lowliness, and by working at it we cut short our journey, as it says, ‘See my humility and my toil, and take away all my sins,’ and ‘I was humiliated, and the Lord saved me’! For humility alone can bring us into the spiritual life… even if slowly.

Therefore, let us also be humble for a short time and we shall be saved. Even if we cannot endure much labor because we are weak, let us be set on humbling ourselves. I firmly believe that, in the mercy of God, the little thing done with humility will enable us to be found there, in the same place as the saints who have labored much and been true servants of God…

We are very weak, and cannot labor very much, but can we not at least be humble? Happy indeed, brothers, is the one who has true humility. A great thing is humility; rightly was it pointed out by that holy man who had true humility and who said, ‘Humility does not grow angry, and does not anger anyone.’… May God, who is so good, grant us the grace of humility which delivers man from so many evils and delivers him from the greatest temptations