What Does Success in Bodily Warfare Look Like?

Ancient Faith Ministries ^ | May 11, 2021 | Fr. Michael Gillis

[Carpe Cerevisi]

Some of the most accessible and practical wisdom from the ancient Christian desert tradition can be found in the letters of Sts. Barsanuphius and John. They lived in Gaza (Palestine) in the early sixth century. Over 800 letters are preserved for us, and in these letters we get an inside look at what spiritual guidance looked like in the desert monasticism of those early years. And although much is different in the cultural context, even more seems to be the same in regard to the human struggle to draw near to God.

In the letters of Sts. Barsanuphius and John (461 and 462), an aspiring hermit writes to St. Barsanuphius asking him to discern if he is ready to live the life of a hermit, as opposed to remaining in community with the rest of the monks in the monastery. And he also asks for the saints’ prayers because he is “troubled by bodily warfare.”

St. Barsanuphius writes back and tells this fellow that he is not ready for the hermetic life and, among other things, he writes that it is through his warfare that God is training him. This fellow writes back, this time to St. John, asking for clarification. (This happens commonly in the letters of Sts. Barsanuphius and John: St. John helps the writers interpret and apply the sometimes cryptic wisdom of St. Barsanuphius.) Also, in this second letter from this fellow, we find out more detail about what the “bodily warfare” is: fornication, gluttony and avarice.

Fornication, gluttony and avarice. It strikes me that these are the same forms of bodily warfare that trouble me and that trouble many of my spiritual children. And what is worse, what is sort of on top of these more easily identifiable struggles, is the sin of pride.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

Humility is the key.

[Mr. K]

When the other side stops fighting back

[Red Badger]

When you can stand up and say “We won”.................

[sergeantdave]

Love these ancient Christian vignettes.

St. Barsanuphius is writing to John and suggesting this:

So God hands you a big bucket of steaming crap and says: Here. This is you. Fix it.

[metmom]

Exodus 15:3 The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.

Psalm 18:34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

Isaiah 42:13 The Lord goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes.

Psalm 144:1 Of David. Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;

Revelation 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.