Archives by: Gary Hoag

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Galatians 5:16-23

“It was said of an old man that for fifty years he had neither eaten bread nor drunk wine readily. He even said, ‘I have destroyed fornication, avarice and vain-glory in myself.’ Learning that he had said this, Abba Abraham came and said to him, ‘Did you really say that?’ He answered, ‘Yes.’

Then Abba Abraham said to him, ‘If you were to find a woman lying on your mat when you entered your cell would you think that it is not a woman?’ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘But I should struggle against my thoughts so as not to touch her.’ Then Abba Abraham said, ‘Then you have not destroyed the passion, but it still lives in you although it is controlled.

Again, if you are walking along and you see some gold amongst the stones and shells, can your spirit regard them all as of equal value?’ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘But I would struggle against my thoughts, so as not to take the gold.’ The old man said to him, ‘See, avarice still lives in you, though it is controlled.’

Abba Abraham continued, ‘Suppose you learn that of two brothers one loves you while the other hates you, and speaks evil of you; if they come to see you, will you receive them both with the same love?’ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘But I should struggle against my thoughts so as to be as kind towards the one who hates me as towards the one who loves me.’

Abba Abraham said to him, ‘So then, the passions continue to live; it is simply that they are controlled by the saints.'”

Abba Abraham, a desert father in The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, translated by Benedicta Ward (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1975) 33-34.

I am back to reading this book on the Desert Fathers. I appreciated this interchange between Abba Abraham and his guest.

The flesh and the Spirit wage war within us. One fruit of the Spirit is self-control. If we are not so controlled, temptations will overcome us.

Related to generosity, we are constantly wooed by shiny things, like gold among the stones and shells. But let us not be overcome by avarice and greed.

Neither let vain-glory captivate you and be kind and generous to all. Let us keep in step with the Spirit, allowing God to work in and through us.

God help us be controlled by you in all we say and do.

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 2 Timothy 2:4

“Let him, under the influence of partisan spirit, come to regard it as the most important part. Then quietly and gradually nurse him on to the stage at which the religion becomes merely part of the “cause”, in which Christianity is valued chiefly because of the excellent arguments it can produce…

The attitude which you want to guard against is that in which temporal affairs are treated primarily as material for obedience. Once you have made the World an end, and faith a means, you have almost won your man, and it makes very little difference what kind of worldly end he is pursuing.

Provided that meetings, pamphlets, policies, movements, causes, and crusades, matter more to him than prayers and sacraments and charity, he is ours — and the more “religious” (on those terms) the more securely ours. I could show you a pretty cageful down here.”

Uncle Screwtape (Senior Devil) to Wormwood (Junior Devil) in Screwtape Letters: Letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil, by C.S. Lewis (Quebec: Samizdat University Press, 2016) 14.

Shout out to our daughter, Sophie, and her husband, Peter, today. Happy First Anniversary! She enjoys the writings of C.S. Lewis, so I am sure she will love this post!

And my pastor, James Hoxworth, quoted this on Sunday. It’s perfect for Inauguration Day when many may be tempted to become “under the influence” of a political cause.

Today is a change in power in America. The country is divided. Some are rejoicing, some are in the middle reflecting, and others are revolting.

But I suggest we focus on remembering something bigger. We are in a spiritual battle. The forces of evil celebrate if our focus shifts from Christ to anything else.

What suffers if we lose our focus? According to Lewis, our prayers, sacraments, and charity drop off. That means our generosity suffers!

As good soldiers, let’s focus on our Lord Jesus Christ alone, and obey His instructions daily, while while serving, giving, and praying for those He has put in authority.

While we do this, that is when we keep our focus, political leaders will come and go and regimes will rise and fall, but we will serve as a constant witness to Christ.

Don’t let Screwtape and Wormwood trick you to be “under the influence.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

“Three old men, of whom one had a bad reputation, came one day to Abba Achilles. The first asked him, ‘Father, make me a fishing-net.’ ‘I will not make you one,’ he replied. Then the second said, ‘Of your charity make one, so that we may have a souvenir of you in the monastery.’ But he said, ‘I do not have time.’ Then the third one, who had a bad reputation, said, ‘Make me a fishing-net, so that I may have something from your hands, Father.’ Abba Achilles answered him at once, ‘For you, I will make one.’ Then the two other old men asked him privately, ‘Why did you not want to do what we asked you, but you promised to do what he asked?’ The old man gave them this answer, ‘I told you I would not make one, and you were not disappointed, since you thought that I had no time. But if I had not made one for him, he would have said, “The old man has heard about my sin, and that is why he does not want to make me anything,” and so our relationship would have broken down. But now I have cheered his soul, so that he will not be overcome with grief.’

Abba Achilles, a desert father in The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, translated by Benedicta Ward (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1975) 28-29.

I read, re-read, and re-read this one and I think I am starting to understand it, maybe.

For those two who were brothers it seems that Abba Achilles merely puts up a boundary. This is something I have been learning, that is, to put up a boundary to limit my charity and service. I cannot serve all people at all times. It’s humanly impossible. I need time for rest or other responsibilities.

But for the third one, it seems he makes the most of this opportunity. He acts wisely and even multiplies himself by doing it in view of the others. He bless the undeserving person. This shows that God’s charity is for everyone. It leaves an impact on not just one but on all three.

Consider the lesson as it relates to your generosity. Have boundaries. And yet, make space, even on busy days to make the most of an opportunity to combine a teachable moment for some and to extend grace and kindness to even the most undeserving. This is a powerful lesson.

God help us go and do likewise.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

“Going to town one day to sell some small articles, Abba Agathon met a cripple on the roadside, paralysed in his legs, who asked him where he was going. Abba Agathon replied, ‘To town, to sell some things.’ The other said, ‘Do me the favour of carrying me there.’ So he carried him to the town. The cripple said to him, ‘Put me down where you sell your wares.’ He did so. When he had sold an article, the cripple asked, ‘What did you sell it for?’ and he told him the price. The other said, ‘Buy me a cake,’ and he bought it. When Abba Agathon had sold a second article, the sick man asked, ‘How much did you sell it for?’ And he told him the price of it. Then the other said, ‘Buy me this,’ and he bought it. When Agathon, having sold all his wares, wanted to go, he said to him, ‘Are you going back?’ and he replied, ‘Yes.’ Then said he, ‘Do me the favour of carrying me back to the place where you found me.’ Once more picking him up, he carried him back to that place. Then the cripple said, ‘Agathon, you are filled with divine blessings, in heaven and on earth.’ Raising his eyes, Agathon saw no man; it was an angel of the Lord, come to try him.”

Abba Agathon (360-449) a desert father in The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, translated by Benedicta Ward (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1975) 25.

I hope you are enjoying these quotes and stories from the Desert Fathers. I could not help but share this one. So powerful. What a test of faith!

For my part, I would have failed miserably. My culture raised me with the saying “Don’t talk to strangers” and the Scripture says “do not forget to show hospitality” to them.

I am drawn to this as I lean into remember” as my word for the year. Scripture uses the “do not forget” construct seemingly interchangeably with word “remember.”

Might we need to live counterculturally to hear angel stories today. We must notice, help, and even sacrifice for the stranger. Let’s aim at this and pray God tries us with angels.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

“The brethren also asked [Abba Agathon], ‘Amongst all good works, which is the virtue which requires the greatest effort?’ He answered, ‘Forgive me, but I think there is no labour greater than that of prayer to God. For every time a man wants to pray, his enemies, the demons, want to prevent him, for they know that it is only by turning him from prayer that they can hinder his journey. Whatever good work a man undertakes, if he perseveres in it, he will attain rest. But prayer is warfare to the last breath.'”

Abba Agathon (360-449) a desert father in The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, translated by Benedicta Ward (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1975) 21-22.

There’s a play on words here. The name Agathon in Greek means “good” and is associated with “good works.” So now read it again, notice that the brethren were going to Abba Agathon or “Father Good Works” and asking which one calls for the most effort. Notice his reply.

It reveals the key to staying the course in our journey of generosity. We need to persevere in prayer. If we want to serve as conduits of divine blessing then prayer is the way we stay connected to the Source. Remember: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

“Strive with all your might to bring your interior activity into accord with God, and you will overcome exterior passions.”

Abba Arsenius (360-449) a desert father in The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, translated by Benedicta Ward (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1975) 10.

There’s a lot in this short sentence. To be generous we have to have margin in our schedule, our finances, and our hearts. Most of our time, resources, and hearts are occupied by our passions.

We tend to desire things, namely, possessions, power, or pleasures of all sorts, because the world says we need them and promises they will bring us happiness. But do they?

To create margin in our calendars, our budgets, and in our hearts, we need insight from a desert father who has stepped out of the busy circles of life to get perspective.

Ward writes, “Arsenius was born in Rome about 360. A well-educated man, of senatorial rank, be was appointed by the Emperor Theodosius I as tutor to the princes Arcadius and Honorius. He left the palace in 394.”

So at 36, he secretly moved to the desert. Some might say to get away from Rome, but he would say to find clarity and focus. Today, we are living in crazy times. Perhaps we too should retreat to get perspective.

Arsenius advises us to bring our interior activity into accord with God. Or as Jesus put it, to seek God first, so that everything else will fall into place.

I am learning that the more margin I create for God in my interior activity, the less my living, giving, serving and loving are overcome by external passions.

God help us leave our worries and cares with you and seek you first in 2021 so that our lives will be filled with peace and so that we serve as conduits of generosity.

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

It was said of Abba Paphnutius that he did not readily drink wine. One day he found himself on the road facing a band of robbers who were drinking wine. The captain of the band was acquainted with him and knew that he did not drink wine. Seeing how weary he was, he filled him a cup of wine and holding his sword in his hand he said to him, ‘If you do not drink this, I will kill you.’ So the old man, knowing that he was fulfilling the commandment of God and in order to win the confidence of the robber, took the cup and drank it. Then the captain asked his forgiveness, saying, ‘Forgive me, abba, for I have made you unhappy.’ But the old man said, ‘I believe that, thanks to this cup, God will have mercy on you now and in the age to come.’ Then the robber captain said, ‘Have confidence in God that from now on I shall not harm anyone.’ So the old man converted the whole band by giving up his own will for the Lord’s sake.

Abba Paphnutius, 4th century Egyptian Anchorite influenced by Anthony the Great, in The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1975) 202.

In the Greek translation of today’s Scripture we find the most common NT word linked to generosity and sharing, koinōnia. Interestingly, the apostle Paul says that the reason he aims to be all things to all people is to be positioned to “share” or literally “enjoy and distribute” its blessings.

We are living in interesting times where everyone wants their way as part of angry mobs, much like the robbers on the road in the 4th century. What Abba Paphnutius does in this moment is the quick witted and brilliant. He gives up his own will for the Lord’s sake. In so doing he saves them all.

What if that was our expression of generosity today? Giving up our own will for the Lord’s sake. The closer I am getting to Jesus, the more I am realizing how deeply broken I am and how my flesh clings to my selfish will. Perhaps the lesson for generosity to day is simply to let it go, our will that is.

God help us all do this with the desert fathers. Thy will be done.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 1 John 2:15

“Always have the fear of God before your eyes. Remember Him who gives death and life. Hate the world and all that is in it. Hate all peace that comes from the flesh. Renounce this life, so that you may be alive to God. Remember what you have promised God, for it will be required of you on the day of judgement. Suffer hunger, thirst, nakedness, be watchful and sorrowful; weep, and groan in your heart; test yourselves, to see if you are worthy of God; despise the flesh, so that you may preserve your souls.”

Anthony the Great (c. 251-356) also known as Abba Anthony, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, and Anthony the Anchorite, in The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1975) 8.

Anthony was a leader among the Desert Fathers, who were Christian monks in the Egyptian desert. Many people give the Desert Fathers a bad rap. What do I mean?

They say toss them out as extremists without examining their lives and the fruits. I am realizing, because of their attentiveness to “remember” (my word for the year) what is important and not be fooled by all things counterfeit (which tends to be what happens with most of us), the Desert Fathers might actually be on target in the middle. I was awakened to this notion in recently re-reading excerpts of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic, Cost of Discipleship (see my post entitled “Higher Life” on 6 January 2021).

Look at what Anthony wants us to remember: “Remember Him who gives death and life” and “remember what you have promised God.”

Regardless of what we say we believe, how we live shows what we actually believe. This brings me to repentance this morning. Following Jesus is about orienting our desires toward Him alone and abandoning all other loves and allegiances. Forgetting this causes us to live in our false self which limits our impact.

When we desire things of the flesh, we become slaves to whatever we desire. The Desert Fathers chose to focus on Christ rather than desires linked to power, pleasures, and possessions not because these things are bad (which is what most people think) but because we are bad. We are broken. We don’t know how to handle them.

Interestingly, Anthony was born to a wealthy family. He distributed his wealth to the poor inspired by Matthew 19:21, and lived a long and largely reclusive life to 105 years old. Read more about him here. Before technology, his renown spread all the way to Emperor Constantine though he spent most of his life in a cave or abandoned Roman fort.

So what’s the lesson for us today? I think Anthony would say this each of us: test yourself.

He would likely remind us that God does not need us to do anything for Him but to live the Christian life that denies self, sells possessions, shares with those in need, and follows Him to show His glory to a watching world. That is the path of greatest impact and generosity. Will you test yourself?

I think Anthony would add, “when you obey, it will cost you everything in the whole world but you will preserve rather than lose your soul.”

Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:4

“When we come to God, we should renew our repentance, faith, and purposes of better pleasing Him; then remember the Scripture, and search all the promises as part of our best riches; and humbly challenge God with His own promises. This will make us strong and faithful in prayer, when we know we shall not pray in vain.”

Richard Sibbes (1577-1635) in Divine Meditations and Holy Contemplations, 165 (London: Buckland, 1775) 60.

If generosity flows from the wealth we have, what are our best riches? Though Richard Sibbes words are 400 years old, they are a fresh answer for today.

Our best riches are the great and precious promises of God. How do we get them? We start with repentance, daily acknowledging our dependence on God and focus on His purposes.

Then we search the Scriptures daily. To remember the Scripture is to put it to work. Warning: Don’t take OT promises to Israel out of context or you will end up with prosperity gospel.

For an example of praying God’s promises back to Him with humility, consider Nehemiah (see Nehemiah 1:5-11). Do this to get self out of the way and so your prayers will be effective.

The result will be to gain strength and divine support better than any financial riches can muster for living, giving, loving, and serving generously, especially in hard times.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

“I remember it is reported of the eagle that it is not like other fowls: when other fowls are hungry they make a noise; but the eagle is never heard to make noise though it lacks food. Now it is from the magnitude of its spirit that it will not make such complaints as other fowls do when they lack food, because it is above hunger, and above thirst. Similarly it is an argument of a gracious magnitude of spirit, that whatsoever befalls it, yet it is not always whining and complaining as others do, but it goes on in its way and course, and blesses God, and keeps in a constant tenor whatever befalls it. Such things as cause others to be dejected and fretted and vexed, and take away all the comfort of their lives make no alteration at all in the spirits of these men and women. This, I say, is a sign of a great deal of strength of grace.”

Jeremiah Burroughs in The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, 73.

Jenni and I did a puzzle with eagles in it over Christmas so this seemed fitting. When we live and give according to God’s design, we often sacrifice and find ourselves in need. But how do we navigate such seasons? Do we cry like most fowls? Or do we exhibit a “constant tenor” of contentment.

The idea of having a constant tenor is not insignificant. It’s only possible by grace. God gives us the strength we need to soar, even in hard seasons. Soaring is only possible for those who wait on the Lord. It’s easier said than done. It requires us to wait. When we do, we find new strength.

Only then do we we realize that God is the One who sustains us and fuels our generous living, giving, serving, and loving. Remember the eagle and exhibit a constant tenor of contentment. God give us grace and strength in abundance and help us exhibit a constant tenor before a watching world. Amen.