CHAPTER 11
WEEK 4 - SUNDAY
Read and pray: "Yes, indeed, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things and consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8)
Christian meets in Faithful an excellent companion (3)
Christian - Very well; and what did you answer him?
Faithful - I told him that, although they were my relatives according to the flesh, all those I had just named, it was no less true that, from the moment I entered this way, they had renounced that kinship, and I repaid them in kind, so that presently there is no relationship between us.
Moreover, I told him that, as for the valley, he was laboring under a complete error, because humanity precedes glory, the spirit rises before the fall, which is why I preferred to pass through this valley to the honor that the wisest sought, rather than choose what he thought was more worthy of our affections.
Christian - And did you find no one else?
Faithful - I found one called Shame. Of all those I have met in my pilgrimage, he seems to me to have the least appropriate name. The others gave in after some argument, but this insolent one would not be silent.
Christian - Then, what did he say to you?
Faithful - Well! What did he say? Even religion itself he objected to. He said it was a servile and miserable thing for a man to occupy himself with such ideas; that scruples \[moral concern] of conscience were cowardice; that it would be ridiculous to abase \[humble] a man to the point of measuring his words, abdicating \[giving up] the proud freedom that is the apanage \[quality] of the strong spirits of our time.
He also objected that only a limited number of the powerful, rich, and wise had followed my opinion in all times, and that none had done so except when they became foolish and were convinced of the necessity to voluntarily risk the loss of all for a thing that no one knows what it is (1 Cor. 1:26; 3:18; Phil. 3:7-9; John 7:48).
Consider the low and servile state and condition of most pilgrims of our time, he added, as well as their ignorance, lack of civilization, and knowledge of natural sciences. On this subject he discoursed at length, as well as on many other similar points, such as: it was shameful to groan and weep hearing a sermon, to return home with a sad countenance, to ask forgiveness of your neighbor for the slightest offenses, and to restore what had been stolen.
He also told me that religion causes man to renounce the great and powerful, because they have some small vices (which he gave a much softer name), and to recognize and respect the miserable as brothers. Isn’t that a shame? he finally exclaimed.
Christian - And you, what did you answer?
Faithful - I confess that at first I did not know what to say to him, for he said such things that I blushed \[felt shame]. The very Shame almost overcame me. But then I began to think that what men consider sublime is abomination before God (Luke 16:15); that this Shame tells me what men are, but not what God is, nor his word, nor his thoughts, and that on the day of judgment we shall not be judged according to the proud spirits of the world, but according to the wisdom and law of the Most High.
Therefore, I thought, the best is surely what God says, even if it opposes all the men in the world. I see that God prefers his religion to a delicate conscience; that the most accepted are those who for the kingdom of heaven make themselves fools; and that a poor man who loves Christ is richer than the richest in the world if he hates him.
Depart from me, then, Shame! Enemy of my salvation! Shall I listen to you to the detriment \[prejudice] of my Lord, my Sovereign? If I did so, how could I face him on the day of his coming? (Mark 8:38). If I were ashamed now of his ways and his servants, how could I expect his blessing?
Truly this Shame was a very bold fellow. I hardly could get him to leave me, but even after that he troubled \[disturbed] me with repeated meetings, whispering in my ear one or another of the weaknesses into which those who follow religion fall; but at last, I made him understand that he miserably wasted his time, for in the things he despised, I saw precisely the greatest glory.
Only then could I be free from his importunities, and, venting aloud, I exclaimed: Many are the temptations that those who obey the voice of heaven encounter, and all according to the inclinations of the flesh: when some are overcome, others immediately attack us. Watch, pilgrims, always behave valiantly!
Christian - I greatly esteem, brother, that you faced with such courage that wretched one, to whom, as you judiciously \[prudently] told him, the name he uses suits him so badly. He is a bold fellow who even pursues us in the streets, seeking to shame us from doing good. But if his boldness were not so great, how would he do what he does? We resist him because, despite his pretensions, he only achieves his ends with fools, and with no one else. Solomon said: “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools” (Prov. 3:35).
Faithful - It seemed to me very necessary to ask Him who wants us to be valiant for the truth on earth to protect us against Shame.
Christian - You say well. And did you find no one else in the valley?
Faithful - No, for the sun shone on me during the rest of the way, as well as in the valley of the Shadow of Death.
Christian - You had good luck; the same did not happen to me. Right at the entrance of the valley, I had to sustain a terrible and prolonged battle with the evil Apollyon. I thought he would finish me off, especially when he trampled on me as if he wanted to crush me. When he threw me to the ground, the sword fell from my hand, and I heard him exclaim: Now you won’t escape me! But I cried out to the Lord, and He, hearing me, ended all my anguish.
Then I passed to the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and for almost half the way I had to go in darkness, because it was already night. Many times it seemed to me I was going to die, but finally day broke, the sun rose, and so I was able to continue the way with much more calm and ease.
Enjoy more:
Hymn Anelos – “By the Expression of Christ”
https://hinario.org/detail.php?id=477
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