Today we are going to begin with lessons from the desert Saints of Christianity. Each day I will post several of the sayings of one of the desert fathers or mothers. Read them over and find one that interests you. Use that one saying as something to mull over in silent reflection and meditation.
Essentially you will be using it like a zen koan. You will be doinglectio divina - this time it will be with a short aphorism from theApophthegmata (Sayings of the Fathers). Repeat it inside, over and over. Listen for what the Spirit has to teach you from these aphorisms.
We will work with these sayings for a few weeks. Be sure to journal what you hear. This will leave a path for you to follow later, when you want to see where you have been and how you have developed. On-line Journal at: http://my-diary.org/
Abba Anthony
Anthony the Great, called 'The Father of Monks' was born
in central Egypt about AD the son of peasant farmers who
were Christian. In c. 269 he heard the Gospel read in
church and applied to himself the words. 'Go, sell all that
you have and give to the poor and come . . .’ He devoted
himself to a life of asceticism under the guidance of a
recluse near his village. In c. 285 he went alone into the
desert to live in complete solitude. His reputation attracted
followers, who settled near him, and in c. 305 he came out
of his hermitage in order to act as their spiritual father.
Five years later he again retired into solitude. He visited
Alexandria at least twice. Once during the persecution of
Christians and again to support the Bishop Athanasius
against heresy. He died at the age of one hundred and five.
His life was written by Saint Athanasius and was very
influential in spreading the ideals of monasticism
throughout the Christian World.
1. When the holy Abba Anthony lived in the desert he
was beset by accidie, and attacked by many sinful thoughts.
He said to God, 'Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts
do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction? How
can I be saved?' A short while afterwards, when he got up to
go out, Anthony saw a man like himself sitting at his work,
getting up from his work to pray, then sitting down and
plaiting a rope, then getting up again to pray. It was an
angel of the Lord sent to correct and reassure him. He heard
the angel saying to him, 'Do this and you will be saved.' At
these words, Anthony was filled with joy and courage. He
did this, and he was saved.
2. When the same Abba Anthony thought about the
depth of the judgements of God, he asked, 'Lord, how is it
that some die when they are young, while others drag on to
extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor and
those who are rich? Why do wicked men prosper and why
are the just in need?' He heard a voice answering him,
'Anthony, keep your attention on yourself; these things are
according to the judgement of God, and it is not to your
advantage to know anything about them.'
3. Someone asked Abba Anthony, 'What must one do in
order to please God?' The old man replied, 'Pay attention to
what I tell you: whoever you may be, always have God
before your eyes; whatever you do, do it according to the
testimony of the holy Scriptures; in whatever place you live,
do not easily leave it. Keep these three precepts and you will
be saved.'
4. Abba Anthony said to Abba Poemen, 'this is the great
work of a man: always to take the blame for his own sins
before God and to expect temptation to his last breath.'
5. He also said, 'Whoever has not experienced
temptation cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 'He
even added, 'Without temptations no-one can be saved.'
6. Abba Pambo asked Abba Anthony, 'What ought I to
do?' and the old man said to him 'Do not trust in your own
righteousness do not worry about the past, but control your
tongue and your stomach.'
Ciao!
+Tom
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