January 3, 1999
Directions on the
Life in Christ -- pt. IV
This is the fourth instalment of St. Anthony's
"Directions on Life in Christ." The next issue will conclude these selections
from St. Anthony.
BEGIN: Pray that God may give you grace to see and understand all things clearly, so that
you can discriminate correctly between good and evil. It is written by Apostle Paul that
"strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age" (Hebrews 5:14). These are
men, who by long and diligent work have their senses and intentions trained to discern
both good and evil, who have become sons of the kingdom and are enrolled for Divine
sonship. God has given them wisdom and good judgement in all their works, so that neither
man nor devil can seduce them. You must know that the enemy tempts the faithful under the
guise of good and succeeds in seducing many because they have neither wisdom nor good
judgment. Therefore when Apostle Paul had learned the riches of understanding, which are
destined for the faithful, and whose greatness has no bounds, he wrote to the Ephesians,
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding
being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches
of the glory of his inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1: 17-18). He wrote this from his
exceeding great love for them, knowing that if they attain it they will find hardship in
nothing, no fear will touch them; but the joy of the Lord will comfort them day and night
and their labours will be sweet for them at all times. Many of the monks and virgins
living in communities do not attain to this measure. And you, if you wish to attain to
this measure, in which is the height of perfection, should withdraw from all those who
while they bear such names, that is monkhood and virginity, yet lack this clear vision and
good judgment. For, if you become connected with them, they will not let you make
progress, and may even cool your ardour, because they themselves have no ardour but only
coldness, since they follow their own desires. So, if they come to you and begin worldly
conversations, according to their own desires, do not consent to it. For Apostle Paul
writes, "Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings" (I Thessalonians 5:
19-20). Know that nothing quenches the Spirit more than idle talk.
Every man whose effort is to become truly spiritual must try to hold himself aloof from
noisy crowds and not go near them, so as to be outside the vortex and turmoil of men in
body, heart and mind; for where there are men, there is turmoil. Our Lord showed us an
example of withdrawal from people and solitude when He used to go alone up into a mountain
to pray. In the wilderness too he conquered the devil, who dared to wrestle with Him.
Naturally He was not powerless to conquer him even among the multitude; but He acted thus
to teach us that we can more easily overcome the enemy and reach perfection in silence and
solitude. Neither did the Lord show His glory to the disciples in the midst of people, but
led them up into a mountain and there showed them His glory. John the Forerunner also
dwelt in the wilderness until he appeared to Israel. In the world it is easier for the
enemy to press upon us with his weapons, both inner and outer; attracting some men as
helpers and assistants obedient to him, he there wages war against the faithful. Some
shameless woman may serve as a very strong weapon to him, spreading wide her ensnaring
nets. When Ezekiel saw four living creatures, each with four faces, all showing the glory
of the Lord, he was not in a city or a village but outside in a plain; for God said to
him, "Arise, and go forth into the plain, and there shalt thou be spoken to"
(Ezekiel 3:22). In general such visions and revelations were given to the saints only in
mountains and wilderness. Prophet Jeremiah, knowing how much solitude pleases God, also
said, "It is good for a man when he bears a yoke in his youth. He will sit alone, and
be silent" (Lamentations 3:27-28). Again, knowing well how much harm human talk
brings to those who want to please God, he could not refrain from saying, "Who would
give me a most distant lodge in the wilderness, that I might leave my people, and depart
from them?" (Jeremiah 9:2). Also Prophet Elijah received food from the angels, and
this not among a crowd of people, nor in a city or a village, but in the wilderness. All
these and similar things, which occurred to the saints, were written to persuade us to
imitate those who loved retirement, for it can lead us too to the Lord. So try to be well
grounded in it, that you may be led to the vision of God, which is the most spiritual
contemplation.
Oppose the devil and try to discern his wiles. He usually hides his gall under an
appearance of sweetness, so as to avoid detection, and he fabricates various illusions,
beautiful to look at – which in reality are not at all what they seem – to
seduce your hearts by a cunning imitation of truth, which is rightly attractive. All his
art is directed to this end – to oppose by all possible means every soul working well
for God. Many and varied are the passions he introduces into the soul to quench the Divine
fire, in which all strength lies; but above all he overcomes it by the inertia of the body
and all this is connected with it. None the less, when he sees at last that some men guard
themselves from all this and accept nothing from him and show no promise of ever obeying
him – he withdraws from them with shame. Then the Spirit of God comes to dwell in
them. And when the Spirit of God comes to dwell in them, He brings them rest, or lets them
enjoy rest in all their activities, and makes the yoke of the Lord sweet for them, as it
is written in the Gospels "and ye shall find rest unto your soul" (Matthew
9:29), although they have taken His yoke upon themselves and are bearing it. Then they
become indefatigable, both in the practice of virtue and in carrying out obediences and
night vigils. They feel no anger at human calumny and have no fear, whether of man, beast
or spirit; for the joy of the Lord stays with them day and night, gives life to their
reason and is their food. Through this joy the soul grows and becomes apt for all things
or perfect; and through this joy it ascends to heaven. END.
from "Early Fathers From the Philokalia," by E. Kadloubovsky and G.E.H.
Palmer, (London: Faber and Faber, 1954), pp. 46-51.
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