pachorn~an ko~nonla - Alin Suciu

20
Flee
concupiscence
Tf. Si 5:2.
tcf. Mt 13:11.
Cf. Mt 1038;
Lk 933;
1427.
Love God
*Cf. Si 1735.
Gn 49%
Cf. Tb413.
Mt 2446-47.
Cf. Sg 7:11-13.
Pachomian Koinonia 111
other passion. Do battle against diabolic passions,
not to follow them, and Jesus will grant you
what he has promised. Keep from negligence; it is
the mother of all the vices.P
19. My son, flee concupiscence.* It beclouds
the mind and prevents it from coming to know
the mystery of ~0d.t It makes you alien to the laupage
of the Spirit and prevents you from carrying
the Cross of Christ.' It does not permit the
heart to be attentive to honoring God. Keep from
the belly's inclination, which makes you alien to
the goods of paradise. Keep from impurity, which
irritates God and his angels.
20. My son, turn to God,* and love him. Flee
the enemy and despise him. May the graces of
God come your way and may you inherit the blessing
of Judah, son of Jacob. It is said, Judah, your
brothers shall praise you, your hands will be on
the back ofyour enemies, and the sons ofyour
father shall be your servants. Keep away from
pride, for it is the beginning of every evil. And the
beginning of pride is keeping your distance from
God, and hardening the heart is what follows. If
you guard against this, your resting place will be
the heavenly Jerusalem. If the Lord loves you and
gives you glory, keep from becoming proud: on
the contrary, persevere in humility and you will
abide in the glory that God has given you. Watch
out, be vigilant, for blessed is the one who is
found watching, became he will be set over the
possessions of his master, and he will enter into
the kingdom with gladness. The friends of the
bridegroom will love him, because they have
found him keeping watch over his vineyard.
21. My son, be merciful in all things, for it is
The Instructions of Saint Pachomim
,,,,.itten, Strive to be presented to God as having
come through trial, like a workman whofears no
&me. Approach God as one who sows and
reaps, and into your granary you will gather
~ ~ dgoods. ' s Do not pray with much show, in the
manner of hypocrites, but give up your whims
and do what you do for God, acting thus for your
own salvation. If a passion arouses you, whether
it is love of money, jealousy, or hatred and the
other passions, watch out, have the heart of a
lion, a strong heart. Fight against them, make
them disappear like Sibon, Og, and all the kings
of the Amorites. May the beloved Son, the Onlybegotten,
Jesus the king, fight for you, and may
you inherit enemy towns. Still, toss all pride far
from your side, and be valiant. Look: when Joshua
[sou] of Nun was valiant,' God delivered his
enemies into his hands. If you are fainthearted,
you become a stranger to the law of God. Faintheartedness
fills you with pretexts for laziness,
mistrust, and negligence, until you are destroyed.
Be lion-hearted and shout, you as well,
Who can separate wfrom the love ofGodfP And
say, Though my outer self may dissolve, still my
inner selfis renewedfrom day to day.
22. If you are in the desert, do battle with
prayers, fasting, and mortification. If you are
among men, be wise as serpents and simple as
doves.' If someone curses you, put up with him
cheerfully, hoping that God will bring about
what is best for you. As for yourself, do not curse
the image of God.P It is he himself who said, The
one who honors me, I will honor, and the one
who curses me, I will curse.J If on the other band
someone praises you, do not he happy about it for
Be ateadfast
2 Tm 215.
21
Cf. Mt 13:24-30.
Cf. Mt 6:5.
2 S 17:lU.
Dt 31:4;
JOJ %lo.
Jos 210-11.
Rrn 8:35.
2 Go 466.
Be indifferent
to curses or
praise
Mt 10:16.
Cf. Rrn 12:14.
Cf. 1 Co 11:7.
1 S 2:30.