Practicing contemplative prayer in our busy lives today can be hard. But perhaps an ancient desert monk can still be our coach in the 21st century!
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(This sermon was given by Fr. Dustin to the Grace Institute at the Shalom Spirituality Center on Sunday, August 7th, 2016. The theme for the retreat was Contemplative Prayer.)
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today’s gospel lesson struck a cord with me. Especially this verse:
“Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” (Luke 12:33 RSV)
It was this idea that inspired one of the first ascetics: St. Anthony of Egypt, one of the first desert monks!
This passage – to have been read this weekend – must have been divinely inspired. The Jesus Prayer itself is an ascetical practice, and now we hear the verse that inspired so many ascetics of our Christian past.
Perhaps, by looking closely at St. Anthony’s story, we can learn how to grow closer to Christ. Perhaps his life has something to tell us about living ascetical lives, and saying the Jesus Prayer – even when we live in the world.
St. Anthony lived in the late 3rd century, and his story begins one morning as he walked to church. On his way, one thought refused to leave his mind:
“…how the apostles, forsaking everything, followed the savior, and how in Acts some sold what they possessed and took the proceeds and placed them at the feet of the apostles for distribution among those in need, and what great hope is stored up for such people in heaven.”
When he arrived at church, he heard this gospel:
“If you would be perfect, go, sell what you posses and give to the poor.”
This sounds like us.
Unknowingly, we’ve followed in Anthony’s footsteps. We’ve come wondering: how can the prayer of the heart, the Jesus Prayer, help us in our Christian journey? How do we become ascetics even though we live in the world? And then, today, we found the same exhortation that St. Anthony had when he had the same thoughts!
So, what did this great saint do?
Well, he took these words literally. He sold everything he had, moved his sister into a convent, and moved into the desert. There he fasted, gave alms, prayed unceasingly, and memorized scripture – he couldn’t read.
This life wasn’t easy.
In the beginning of his life, he was met with demonic assault and temptations – much like Christ was tempted after his baptism.
But from this, we gain our first insights into applying asceticism in our lives today. St. Anthony is our coach, showing us the way.
Let’s take a closer look:
“First [the devil] attempted to lead [Anthony] away from his discipline, suggesting memories of his possessions, the guardianship of his sister, the bonds of kinship, love of money and glory, the manifold pleasure of food, the relaxations of life, and, finally, the rigor of virtue, and how great the labor is that earns it, suggesting also the bodily weakness and the length of time involved.”
Sounds like the same concerns I have: money, glory, pleasure… Following Christ isn’t easy.
But let’s keep reading,
“…[But] Anthony extinguished the fire of his opponent’s deception. …All these were things that took place to the enemy’s shame. For he who considered himself to be like God was now made a buffoon by a mere youth, and he who vaunted himself against flesh and blood was turned back by a flesh-bearing man. Working with Anthony was the Lord, who bore flesh for us, and gave to the body the victory over the devil, so that each of those who truly struggle can say, It is not I, but the grace of God which is in me.”
From this, we gain our first insight into the ascetical life. It says that our Lord “gave the body victory over the devil.” This means that Christ has already won the battle!
The victory hymn for Orthodox Christians is this: Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling upon death, and to those in the tombs bestowing life!
We sing this during the full 40 days of Easter – over and over again – in multiple languages.
Why? Because this is the core of the Christian gospel. Christ became a man, died on the cross, descended into hell, but rose again. This means the victory is already won!
Christ’s incarnation, death, and ascension into heaven wasn’t just one battle in a long war. It was the final end-time victory, happening within time.
So we start our ascetical life, our prayer life, knowing how it ends. And that’s good news for us! We march forward knowing we can succeed.
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Bibliography
St. Athanasius, The Life of Antony and the Letter to Marcellinus, translated by Robert C. Gregg (New Jersy: Paulist Press, 1980).