Apprentice 2 Jesus

A class I am taking on the Desert Fathers has the opportunity to enrich my soul again. My soul is parched.

Abba Moses had some things to say about fasting I thought were powerful:

“The old man was asked, ‘What is the good of the fasts and watchings which a man imposes on himself?’ and he replied, ‘They make the soul humble. For it is written, “Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.” (Ps. 25.18) So if the soul gives itself all this hardship, God will have mercy on it.’”

Abba Nilus: “Prayer is a remedy against grief and depression.”

Abba Poimen: “Vigilance, self-knowledge and discernment; these are the guides of the soul.”

Not so comfortable was their passion for asceticism. Abba Poimen said, “All bodily comfort is an abomination to the Lord.” (I’ll need to put that chocolate back in the wrapper now. Then, I’ll need to cancel that order for the double cheeseburger.)

Why do we eat and sleep? Abba Poemen: “Because of our need to eat and to sleep, we do not see the simple things.”

Since Abba Poimen is already kicking our lazy carcasses around, here’s another one: “There are three things which I am not able to do without: food, clothing and sleep; but I can restrict them to some extent.”

This I must learn. I really can restrict all three. Why all those clothes? Why the hunger for food at times I honestly do not need it? More exercise and better eating would also help in how I sleep. Abba Poimen has some great wisdom here.