On charity and anger.
From the Desert Fathers…
Against false charity:
“Theodore of Pherme said, “If a friend of yours is tempted by lust, give him a helping hand if you can, and pull him back from the danger. But if he falls into heresy, and persists in spite of your efforts, go away quickly, cut off his friendship. For if you stay with him, you may be dragged into hell with him.”
Righteous anger:
A brother asked Poeman, ‘What is the meaning of the text, “whoever is angry with his brother without cause” (Matt. 5:22)?’ Abba Poeman answered, ‘If you are angry with your brother for any kind of trouble that he gives you, that is anger without a cause, and it is better to pluck out your right eye and cast it from you. But if anyone wants to separate you from God, then you must be angry with him.’
March 5th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Nothing like the Desert Fathers. Gotta love them.
March 5th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
When I read how holy and spiritually pure the Desert Fathers were, I feel like a Cayote to their Roadrunner. I will never (so it seems) catch up to them.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Terry,
You have no idea how startled I was when I read this post.
It has just answered many, many questions which have plagued me recently.
Thank you.