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Gospel: Luke 10: 13-16
Jesus said to them,
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.’
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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The religious practice of living as a monk started in the late 3rd century. Some Christians in Egypt and Syria moved out of the cities, into the desert, dedicating their entire life to prayer.
Slowly, they started forming small monasteries.
It was a terribly difficult existence. There was no running water, food was scarce, and the monks left nearly all of their possessions behind. On occasion, Christians would journey from large cities to seek the Sacraments or advice from them.
Some of their writings have been compiled into a book called, “The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers.”
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I remember a simple vignette from that book: one monk was complaining to his abbot about another monk. It seems the first believed the second had stolen his pen.
To us, it seems insignificant. If you lose a pen – or if someone borrows it and fails to give it back – then buy another one.
But the abbot saw deeper into the monk’s heart. He reminded him, “You left almost everything behind in order to live in the desert. It seems the one thing you’ve taken with you is your ego.”
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Pride can be the hardest thing in life to master.
Often, doing so isn’t on the top of our list. Things like earning a paycheck, staying committed in a marriage, caring for the kids, or finding rest are.
This is why living a life of solitude can be so difficult. The only thing the monks need to master is themselves. In both the Jewish and Christian faith, the heart is seen as the seat of all intention. As Jesus says, “From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”
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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Bruno, who carried forward the tradition of the Desert Fathers, founding a religious order in the 11th century known as the Carthusians. They continue to follow the strictest rule of life in the Church, living in near total silence.
Although you and I may not be called to do the same, they remind us that one of the best ways to humble ourselves and to begin mastering the desires of our heart is in silence.
It may be more difficult than it seems. Try it for a few moments each day. Slowly, you’ll see the difference it makes.
Maybe someone stole your pen.
What difference does it make?
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Image credits: (1) (2) (3) Courting the Muses