Amma Syncletica - On Anger

 

Dear Parish Faithful,

GREAT LENT - Day Five

"It is good not to get angry, but if this should happen, St. Paul does not allow you a whole day for this passion, for he says: 'Do not let the sun go down on your anger.' (Eph. 4:26) Will you wait til all your time is ended? Why hate the one who has grieved you? It is not this person who has done the wrong, but the evil one."

Amma Syncletica (+460)
__________

Anger, according the saints, is a "passion." Meaning we lose control of this impulse, but are rather controlled by it. It is hard to think straight or to pray when you are angry. I would imagine that this is a common experience. The Apostle Paul is exhorting us to limit the extent to which this passion rules our life. Be done with it at the end of the day. Be forgiving as our heavenly Father is forgiving, seems to be what the apostle is teaching. As to the last sentence from Amma Syncletica, I highly doubt that she is saying "blame the devil" for your reckless impulses. As I highly doubt she is relieving us of our personal responsibility when we unleash our anger on someone - including our loved ones. 

My sense is that she is alerting us to the ever present reality of temptation, the source of which is ultimately the "evil one." The Apostle Peter teaches us: "Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring line, seeking some one to devour." ((I Pet. 5:8) I rather think that it is easier to control of food and drink intake - fasting - than it is to control our anger. Great Lent is a season of reconciliation.

Amma Syncletica - Kindling the Divine Fire

Dear Parish Faithful,

GREAT LENT - Day Four

Today, we are returning to the wisdom of the Desert Mother, Amma Syncletica:

_____

"In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God, and afterwards ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire; at first they are choked by the smoke and cry, and by this means obtain what they seek (as it is said: 'Our God is a consuming fire' [Heb. 12:24]): so we also kindle the divine fire in ourselves through tears and hard work."

_____

As much as we may resist it, to draw closer to God - or to purify the heart - is a real struggle in a fallen and sinful world. It only seems "natural" to seek pleasure and to avoid any pain. Of course, we can be content with being Sunday "church goers" and leading a more-or-less moral life (but possibly being bored with it all over time). 

But Amma Syncletica is clearly referring to encountering the living God, Who indeed can be a "consuming fire." Adjusting to a "lenten lifestyle," may just be the "lighting of a fire" that at first causes us some grief, but will - if taken seriously - eventually yield to "kindling the divine fire" of love and adoration before the Lord of Glory Who was crucified for our sakes and then arose from the dead. All of which is certain to bring us "ineffable joy!"

The Remarkable Mothers of the Three Holy Hierarchs

 

 Dear Parish Faithful,

Yesterday, January 30, we commemorated the Three Hierarchs and Universal Teachers: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St; John Chrysostom. They were the focus of the homily, and of my Monday Morning Meditation posted earlier today.

However, a good part of the homily was focused on three female saints whose lives are intimately connected to that of the three holy bishops - their mothers: St. Aemelia (St. Basil); St. Nonna (St. Gregory); St. Anthousa (St. John). 

These are three remarkable women who profoundly shaped the lives of their illustrious sons. They are all saints with their own days of commemoration. I am providing a link to a wonderful webpage presentation of the three mothers. This parish is in Australia. I would urge you to read about these women and view the many remarkable icons of them and their sons. You will notice further links embedded there that will take you to a Life of each woman.

https://www.stparaskevi.org.au/saint-anthousa-mother-of-saint-john-chrysostom/