Авва Моисей

1. The brother came to the skete to Father Moses; and asked him for an edifying word. The elder told him: “Go, stay in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything” 659. 2. He said: “Those of us who have been overcome by carnal passion, let us not be lazy to repent and mourn ourselves before the mourning that is about to overwhelm us because of our condemnation overtakes us. When we cry, let us not raise our voice of sighing, lest the shuitz know what the right hand is doing.” Shuitsa is vanity 660. 3. The brother asked Abba Moses: “What should a person do when any misfortune happens to him or when any enemy thought invades?” The elder answered: “He must cry before the goodness of God, so that it will help him, and soon he will feel calm if he prays wisely” 661. 4. The brother asked Abba Moses: “What helps a man in all his work?” - The elder said: “God, because the Scripture says: “God is our refuge and strength, a helper in the sorrows of those who find us great” (Ps. 45:2) 662. 5. And the brother also asked: “What happens from fasting and vigils performed by a person?” The elder said: “They tame the body and humble the soul, as Scripture says: “See my humility and my labor, and forgive all my sins” (Ps. 24:18). If the soul bears these fruits, then God has mercy on it for their sake” 663. 6. The elder said: “When a slave places reproach on himself (accuses himself) and says: I have sinned, immediately his master will have mercy on him” 664. 7. Abba Moses said: “If we are attentive to our sins, then we will not look at the sins of our neighbor. It’s crazy to leave your own dead and go cry over your neighbor’s dead.”665 8. He said: “To die for your neighbor means: to feel your sins and not think about anyone else, whether he is good or bad. – Do no harm to anyone and do not think evil about anyone in your heart. Do not despise anyone who does evil. Do not enter into company with a person who harms his neighbor, and do not rejoice with someone who does harm to another. Do not reproach anyone, but say: God knows everyone. Do not agree with the slanderer, do not be amused by his slander; but do not hate anyone who reviles his neighbor. This is what it means not to judge, according to Scripture: “Judge not, lest ye be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Do not have enmity with anyone, and do not harbor enmity in your heart, and do not hate the one who enmity against his neighbor. This is what the world consists of. Console yourself with the fact that labor is short-lived, but repose for it is eternal, by the grace of God the Word” 666. A Word about Abba Philemon, Philokalia, part 4. Alphabetical Patericon and Memorable Tales. You might be interested in: