” “Afraates, said the Pope, defines himself as the "disciple of the Holy Scripture" of the Old and New Testament, "which he considers his only source of inspiration, resorting to it so often that it became the focus of his reflection". Afraates presents Christ’s salvation "as a healing", "Christ himself as a healer", and sin "as a wound that only repentance can heal". Another important aspect of his work, highlighted Benedict XVI, is "his lesson about prayer": "For Afraates, Christian life is focussed upon imitating Christ, taking on His yoke, and following Him on the way of the Gospel. One of the virtues that most becomes the disciples of Christ is humbleness. It is not a minor aspect of the spiritual life of Christians: the nature of man is humble, and it is God that extols it to His own glory". Humbleness, commented the Pope, quoting Afraates, "is not a negative value", but, "by remaining humble, even in the earthly reality in which they live, Christians can relate with the Lord". Even his view "of man and his bodily reality is very positive he added -: the human body, on the example of a humble Christ, is called to beauty, to joy, to light". (continued)” “
