Του αββά Ησαΐα
Separation and Compunction
Separation from sinners reveals one's own sins and leads to weeping and supplication before God.
When someone separates himself from the company of sinners, then he will know exactly all the sins he has committed against God (because he can't see his sins unless he separates from them with a bitter parting).✦ Those who have reached this measure have found weeping and supplication, and they feel shame before God as they call to mind the wicked friendship of the passions.1
Struggle and Mercy
The brothers are exhorted to struggle according to their strength, trusting in God's mercy even when they cannot match the Fathers' heart-guarding.
So then, brothers, let us struggle according to our strength, and God helps according to the abundance of His mercy.✦ And if we haven't guarded our heart the way our Fathers did, let us at least take care to do our utmost to keep our bodies free from sin, as God requires; and we believe that in this time of famine that has come upon us, He will show His mercy, just as He also did with His saints.2
Isaiah's Comfort
Abba Isaiah's pastoral condescension is praised for comforting the weak with the promise of mercy for bodily purity.
Here, the great Isaiah comforts those who are very weak, saying that even if we haven't guarded our heart as our Fathers did, let us at least keep our bodies free from sin, as God requires, and He will show us His mercy. Great is the compassion and condescension of this Father.3
Read the original Greek
Όταν χωρίσει κανείς τον εαυτό του από το μέρος των αμαρτωλών, τότε θα γνωρίσει ακριβώς όλα τα αμαρτήματα που διέπραξε στο Θεό (επειδή δεν μπορεί να δει τις αμαρτίες του αν δε χωριστεί απ’ αυτές με πικρό χωρισμό). Εκείνοι που έφτασαν σ’ αυτό το μέτρο, αυτοί βρήκαν το κλάμμα και τη δέηση και ντρέπονται μπροστά στο Θεό, φέρνοντας στο νου τους την πονηρή φιλία των παθών. Ας αγωνιστούμε λοιπόν αδελφοί κατά τη δύναμή μας, και ο Θεός βοηθεί κατά το πλήθος του ελέους Του. Κι αν δεν φυλάξαμε την καρδιά μας όπως έκαναν οι Πατέρες μας, ας φροντίσομε τουλάχιστον να βάλομε τα δυνατά μας να φυλάξομε τα σώματά μας αναμάρτητα όπως ζητεί ο Θεός, και πιστεύομε ότι στον καιρό της πείνας που μας βρήκε, Αυτός θα δείξει το έλεός Του, καθώς έκανε και με τους Αγίους Του.
Εδώ ο μέγας αυτός Ησαΐας παρηγορεί τους πάρα πολύ ασθενείς, λέγοντας ότι κι αν δε φυλάξαμε την καρδιά μας όπως οι Πατέρες μας, ας φυλάξομε τουλάχιστον τα σώματά μας αναμάρτητα, όπως ζητεί ο Θεός, κι Αυτός θα δείξει σε μας το έλεός Του. Είναι μεγάλη η ευσπλαχνία και η συγκατάβαση αυτού του Πατέρα.
Scripture echoes
Notes
- 1 ↩μέτρο here means the ascetical measure or degree of detachment just described, not a measuring tool.
- 2 ↩πείνα is rendered as 'famine'; in this consolatory context it may mean literal scarcity, spiritual drought, or both.
- 3 ↩συγκατάβαση rendered as 'condescension' in the traditional ascetical sense: the Father's merciful accommodation to the weak, not arrogance.
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