During the 400-year period from 3rd to 6th centuries (200-599 AD) the Desert Fathers migrated to various deserts in the Middle East where they strove for an uncompromising obedience to the word and to the spirit of the Gospel. They received the challenge of the Gospel with all earnestness and wanted to respond to it uncompromisingly, as generously as God, with their whole selves. They sought to respond to God's infinite and sacrificial love by giving Him love in return. They heard -- and responded to -- the clarion call, "Renounce yourself, take up your Cross, and follow Me." For the Desert Fathers, this meant: The King of Love -- Jesus Christ -- their Lord and Savior must be enthroned in our mind and heart, take undivided possession of our will, and make of our very bodies the Temples of the Holy Spirit.
For the Desert Fathers, this goal was both extraordinarily simple, and incredibly difficult, a life-long endeavor to which all else was subordinated. This small particle of the Cosmos, which is our body and soul, must be conquered, freed by a lifelong struggle from enslavement to the world and to the devil, freed as if it were an occupied country desperately needing to be restored to its legitimate king. (--reference needed)
This blog is a place for two friends striving to live out the spiritual life in the spiritual waste land of the modern urban city to share with one another (and whoever else may find value in it) quotes from some of these desert luminaries. We intend to limit the number of posts to no more than 3 or 4 a week to give time for rumination and reflection surrounding each quote. The intention is not just to collect a bunch of nice sayings but rather to share them in hopes of "stirring one another up toward love and good deeds" as the writer to the Hebrews says. Unless necessitated by the obscurity of terms or ideas to our modern ears we intend to post without commentary and let these giants speak for themselves. We try to provide links to more information about the authors or short descriptions about them.
Comments are welcome and at present unmoderated. However, this is intended to be a place of spiritual exhortation and challenge, NOT theological debate. We reserve the right to remove and censure comments that do not abide by this simple objective.
In closing, remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock." -Matt. 7:24
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Update: 2014
In the last few months a third friend has joined this blogging group. And with his addition the focus of the blog has shifted slightly. While quotes from the Fathers will continue to be a part of this we also will be posting some of our own reflections and writings. The primary purpose of encouraging one another has not changed. Again, comments are responses are welcome.
מִזְמוֹר קיט
9 years ago
