Tag: Abba John the Dwarf
On Humility
After praying that God would take away his passions that he might become free from care, Abba John the Dwarf went and told an old man; ‘I find myself in peace, without an enemy,’ he said. The old man said to him, ‘Go beseech God to stir up warfare so that you may regain the affliction and… Read More ›
Open Your Heart to the Word of God
Abba John said, ‘We went to Syria one day to see Abba Poemen and desired to question him concerning purity of the heart. But the old man did not know Greek and no interpreter was to be found. And then, seeing how embarrassed we were, the old man began to speak Greek, saying, ‘The nature… Read More ›
Pay Attention and Be on Guard
(Abba John) related with regard to another old man living in the desert, that he had asked God to grant him never to become sleepy during a spiritual conference, but, if someone uttered slanderous or useless words, to be able to go to sleep at once, so that his ears should never be touched by… Read More ›
Loving Your Neighbor
Our holy father Abba John went again to the harvest and was with the brothers as leader. With great mercy he allowed all of them to rest whenever necessary, and when he labored he would not straighten his back at all until he first clapped his hands and allowed the brothers to rest. Afterwards he… Read More ›
Take and Eat the Fruit of Obedience
RB 7:34. The third step of humility is to submit to the superior in all obedience for love of God. In this, we imitate the Lord, of whom the Apostle says: “He became obedient to the point of death” (Phil 2:8).[1] It was said of Abba John the Dwarf that he withdrew and lived in… Read More ›