We are continuing with lessons from the Desert Saints of Christianity. I will continue to 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 doing lectio divina - this time it will be with a short aphorism from the Apophthegmata (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/ Don't forget it has features to remind you daily to write. It can be made public or private, as well.
Here are some sayings from the Apophthegmata Patrium to read and contemplate for our daily practice of spiritual direction + spiritual formation.
Essentially you will be using it like a zen koan. You will be doing lectio divina - this time it will be with a short aphorism from the Apophthegmata (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/ Don't forget it has features to remind you daily to write. It can be made public or private, as well.
Here are some sayings from the Apophthegmata Patrium to read and contemplate for our daily practice of spiritual direction + spiritual formation.
16. Abba Macarius the Great said to the brothers at
Scetis? when he dismissed the assembly, 'Flee, my brothers.'
One of the old men asked him, 'Where could we flee to
beyond this desert?' He put his finger on his lips and said,
'Flee that,' and he went into his cell, shut the door and sat
down.
17. The same Abba Macarius said, 'If you reprove
someone, you yourself get carried away by anger and you are
satisfying your own passion; do not lose yourself, therefore,
in order to save another.'
18. The same Abba Macarius while he was in Egypt
discovered a man who owned a beast of burden engaged in
plundering Macarius' goods. So he came up to the thief as if
he was a stranger and he helped him to load the animal. He
saw him off in great peace of soul, saying, 'We have brought
nothing into this world, and we cannot take anything out of
the world.'(1 Tim. 6.7)'The Lord gave and the Lord has
taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' (Job 1.2 1)
19. Abba Macarius was asked, 'How should one pray?'
The old man said, 'There is no need at all to make long
discourses; it is enough to stretch out one's hands and say,
"Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy." And if the
conflict grows fiercer say, "Lord, help!" He knows very well
what we need and he shows us his mercy.'
20. Abba Macarius said, 'If slander has become to you
the same as praise, poverty as riches, deprivation as
abundance, you will not die. Indeed it is impossible for
anyone who firmly believes, who labours with devotion, to
fall into the impurity of the passions and be led astray by the
demons.'
Ciao!
+Tom
Scetis? when he dismissed the assembly, 'Flee, my brothers.'
One of the old men asked him, 'Where could we flee to
beyond this desert?' He put his finger on his lips and said,
'Flee that,' and he went into his cell, shut the door and sat
down.
17. The same Abba Macarius said, 'If you reprove
someone, you yourself get carried away by anger and you are
satisfying your own passion; do not lose yourself, therefore,
in order to save another.'
18. The same Abba Macarius while he was in Egypt
discovered a man who owned a beast of burden engaged in
plundering Macarius' goods. So he came up to the thief as if
he was a stranger and he helped him to load the animal. He
saw him off in great peace of soul, saying, 'We have brought
nothing into this world, and we cannot take anything out of
the world.'(1 Tim. 6.7)'The Lord gave and the Lord has
taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' (Job 1.2 1)
19. Abba Macarius was asked, 'How should one pray?'
The old man said, 'There is no need at all to make long
discourses; it is enough to stretch out one's hands and say,
"Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy." And if the
conflict grows fiercer say, "Lord, help!" He knows very well
what we need and he shows us his mercy.'
20. Abba Macarius said, 'If slander has become to you
the same as praise, poverty as riches, deprivation as
abundance, you will not die. Indeed it is impossible for
anyone who firmly believes, who labours with devotion, to
fall into the impurity of the passions and be led astray by the
demons.'
Ciao!
+Tom
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