41. The Lord wishes you to regard every man as superior to yourself. Show obedience to your staretz (spiritual father) in all things and do all that he tells you, whether it refers to food or drink or some other matter. If they slander you, rejoice-it is most useful. If they insult you, endure it, for ‘he that endureth to the end shall be saved’ (Matt. x. 2 2 ). Give thanks to God for all things, because thanksgiving is intercession before God for our weakness. Judge yourself always and in everything as a sinner and as one seduced and so God will not judge you ; be humble in everything and you will receive grace.
St. Barsanuphius and St. John, Writings from the Philokalia, parag. 41, p.356
