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/
Here are some sayings from the Apophthegmata Patrium to read and contemplate for our daily practice of spiritual direction + spiritual formation.
9. The brethren used to tell how the brethren were sitting one day at an agape and one brother at table began to laugh. When he saw that, Abba John began to weep, saying, 'What does this brother have in his heart that he should laugh, when he ought to weep, because he is eating at an agape?'
10. Some brethren came one day to test him to see whether he would let his thoughts get dissipated and speak of the things of this world. They said to him, 'We give thanks to God that this year there has been much rain and the palm trees have been able to drink, and their shoots have grown, and the brethren have found manual work.' Abba John said to them, 'So it is when the Holy Spirit descends into the hearts of men; they are renewed and they put forth leaves in the fear of God.'
11. It was said of him that one day he was weaving rope
for two baskets, but he made it into one without noticing,
until it had reached the wall, because his spirit was occupied
in contemplation.
12. Abba John said, 'I am like a man sitting under a great
tree, who sees wild beasts and snakes coming against him in
great numbers. When he cannot withstand them any longer,
he runs to climb the tree and is saved. It is just the same
with me; I sit in my cell and I am aware of evil thoughts
coming against me, and when I have no more strength
against them, I take refuge in God by prayer and I am saved
from the enemy.'
13. Abba Poemen said of Abba John the Dwarf that he
had prayed God to take his passions away from him so that
he might become free from care. He went and told an old
man this: 'I find myself in peace, without an enemy,' he said.
The old man said to him, 'Go, beseech God to stir up warfare
so that you may regain the affliction and humility that you
used to have, for it is by warfare that the soul makes
progress.' So he besought God and when warfare came, he
no longer prayed that it might be taken away, but said, 'Lord,
give me strength for the fight.'
14. Abba John said, 'Here is what one of the old men in
ecstasy said: "Three monks were standing at the edge of the
sea, and a voice came to them from the other side saying,
'Take wings of fire and come here to me.' The first two did
so and reached the other shore, but the third remained,
crying and weeping exceedingly. But later wings were given
to him also, not of fire, but weak and without strength, so
that with great difficulty he reached the other shore,
sometimes under water , sometimes above it. So it is with
the present generation; if they are given wings they are not of
fire, but wings that are weak and without power."
15. A brother questioned Abba John saying, 'How is it
that my soul, bruised with wounds, does not blush to speak
against my neighbour?' The old man told him a parable
relating to slander, 'There was a poor man who had a wife.
He saw another very beautiful woman and he took her. They
were both quite naked. A feast was being held somewhere
near and both women begged him to take them with him.
Taking both of them, he put them into a barrel and put them
aboard a ship. and so they reached the place. When it
became hot, the people lay down to rest. One of the women
looked out of the barrel and seeing no one, went to a pile of
rubbish and joining old rags together, made herself a girdle
and then walked about confidently. The other, sitting inside
the barrel, naked, said, "Look at that courtesan who is not
ashamed to walk about naked." Grieved at this her husband
said to her "This is truly wonderful! She at least hides her
nakedness, but, as for you, you are completely naked; are
you not ashamed to say that?" So it is when one speaks
against one's neighbour.'
16. The old man also said this to a certain brother about
the soul which wishes to be converted, 'There was in a city a
courtesan who had many lovers. One of the governors
approached her, saying, "Promise me you will be good, and I
will marry you." She promised this and he took her and
brought her to his house. Her lovers, seeking her again, said
to one another, 'That lord has taken her with him to his
house, so if we go to his house and he learns of it, he will
condemn us. But let us go to the back, and whistle to her.
Then, when she recognises the sound of the whistle she will
come down to us; as for us, we shall be unassailable." When
she heard the whistle, the woman stopped her ears and
withdrew to the inner chamber and shut the doors.' The old
man said that this courtesan is our soul, that her lovers are
the passions and other men; that the lord is Christ; that the
inner chamber is the eternal dwelling; those who whistle are
the evil demons, but the soul always takes refuge in the
Lord.
Ciao!
+Tom
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