A monk should keep his soul ready for the work of heaven (John Moschus)

John Moschus Wed. 27th Week Ord Time

Night Office

       Moschus, John (c.550-619 or 634), retired to the monastery of St. Theodosius, near Jerusalem in 575. He later traveled extensively with friend Sophronius and visited numerous monasteries in Egypt, Mount Sinai, Antioch, Cyprus, and Rome. His personal experience of the monastic life along with his travels abroad brought about his well-known Pratum Spirituale. Spiritual Meadow.

Alternative Reading

From the writings of John Moschus
and others (Patericon, 142b: Scriptores Aethiopici 54, 62-64)

Think yourself a sinner in order to be righteous

A wise man said: The man who hides his fault cannot be saved, but the Lord has mercy on one who acknowledges his sin and repents. If you suffer injustice, the world will despise you. The Lord's heart is set against the proud to humble them, and humility receives mercy forever.

If you take a humble role in all human affairs you will raise yourself above the rulers of the world. Let everyone see that you are really humble, and bow to others first as if they were the important ones. He who is renowned for his wisdom is humble among men, in spite of his wisdom and learning, and is wise in what he finds in his spirit. Blessed is he who offers himself in everything he does, for he is raised above all

Those who make themselves humble for the Lord's sake, and diminish themselves to the Lord, praise the Lord; and those who endure hunger and thirst for the Lord's sake he will honour with suitable gifts. Those who comfort others for his sake he will clothe in splendid garments, and those who are poor and in distress for his sake he will comfort with true riches.

Despise your life for the Lord's sake so that, without your knowing, your praise may be multiplied all the days of your life. Think yourself a sinner in order to be righteous. Be looked down on when you are wise, and refrain from boasting of your wisdom. Seek the company of the good, so that through them you may seek the company of the Lord. Associate with the humble in order to learn their ways.

A monk should keep his soul ready for the work of heaven, and his thoughts must always be free from sadness. One who sows among thorns can reap nothing; in the same way a man loses his soul through zeal for rivalry and acquiring possessions, and through all evil undertakings. The eyes of the Lord are on the humble: the prayers of the humble are heard as soon as they are spoken. Service and humility turn a human being into God on earth. Faith and mercy quickly lead to wisdom.

Blessed are those who for love of the Lord plunge headlong into trials and troubles without anger or sadness; when they escape they soon reach safety in the harbour of the divinity, and through their good works come to God's home and have rest from their troubles, rejoicing in their hope. Those who run the race of life in hope are not frightened by the trials on the way, nor do they cease from following it; on reaching the end of their course they see the Lord, and praise him for having saved them from perdition and from the many adversities they suffered in their ignorance, for they were not devotees of the games.

It is better that we should die for the Lord than live in disgrace and weakness. If you always think of the time after death, weakness will not enter your soul forever. If you choose a good work for the Lord you will come near him. Do not let your heart be divided in two, but run your course in hope of the Lord's grace so that your labour may not be in vain. Keep the thought firmly in your heart that the Lord is merciful and will give his grace to those who seek him, not according to our achievements but according to the love of our soul and our faith, as scripture says: Be it done to you according to your faith.

Monachos.net - John Moschus, The spiritual meadow

www.monachos.net/content/patristics/.../173-moschus-meadow