Abba Isaiah: Avarice and Calumny

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This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

“Abba Isaiah, when someone asked him what avarice was, replied, ‘Not to believe that God cares for you, to despair of the promises of God, and to love boasting.’ He was also asked what calumny is and he replied, ‘It is ignorance of the glory of God, and hatred of one’s neighbour.’ He was also asked what anger is and he replied, “Quarrelling, lying, and ignorance.'”

Abba Isaiah in The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, translated by Benedicta Ward (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1975) 70.

We must remember to watch out for avarice.

In the words of Abba Isaiah, it is living like we do not believe God cares for us and despairing rather than trusting in His promises, which results in boasting against him because our trust is in ourselves to sustain us.

We must also look out for calumny.

This is slandering our neighbor and exhibiting anger which takes the form of quarrelling, lying, and ignorance. The alternative is love. This is desperately needed when everyone seems to be fighting about so many things.

Practicing generosity helps us avoid avarice and calumny.

It leads us to give sacrificially which means we must rely on God’s promises and not our resources to sustain us. It also teaches us empathy. As we care for our neighbor’s needs rather than bickering, we show God’s love to the world.

God, please bless our neighbors, Ken and Carol, who thought of our needs yesterday and shared food with us. Protect them from COVID until we can fellowship again. Protect all who are vulnerable in Jesus name. Amen.