15 March
Dear friends,
Many sayings from the Desert Fathers and Mothers may seem out of touch with modern life, but their radical dedication and ability to escape the corruption of city life continue to inspire me. During the growth of the church in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, they felt that the church had become too powerful and disconnected, losing its spiritual depth. A key figure in this movement was Anthony the Great. After hearing a sermon in 270 AD, he became convinced that true perfection comes from selling all one’s belongings, giving money to the poor, and following Jesus. As a result, he sought solitude in the desert.
One of my favourite stories is about the famous Desert Father, Abba Agathon, who was known for his deep commitment to silence. The "Sayings of the Desert Fathers" recount that he lived for three years with a stone in his mouth to learn silence and restraint.
Just imagine that—three years with a stone in your mouth!
During our consistory meeting this week, someone joked about wanting to put a stone in someone else's mouth. I get that! But Lent reminds me that we should focus on placing the stone in our own mouths. The desert experience is about finding that quiet place Jesus often talked about. The New Testament uses the word "wilderness", or "eremos", which can mean a deserted or solitary place. One of my favourite translations is "the quiet place." This is where we can step away from the noise of politics and opinions, leave behind the need to always be heard, and escape the distractions of our digital lives. Here, we can discover inner peace, as St. Jerome said, “We are never less alone than when we are alone.”
We need to find our own eremos or quiet place. This doesn’t mean we all have to go to the desert for forty days during Lent. We can find our desert in the city—a walk in the park, lighting a candle by the window, or waking up before our housemates. Whatever it is, let’s try to keep the stone in our mouths during Lent. Doing this may help us discover a new kind of speech—not one filled with noise, but one that is perhaps more prophetic and meaningful.
Marius Louw