JOHN THE EUNUCH — Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Alphabetical Collection

¶1

1. In his youth Abba John the Eunuch questioned an old man, 'How have you been able to carry out the work of God in peace? For we cannot do it, not even with labour.' The old man said, 'We were able to do it, because we considered the work of God to be primary, and bodily needs to be subsidiary; but you hold bodily necessities to be primary and the work of God to be secondary; that is why you labour, and that is why the Saviour said to the disciples, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."' (Matt. 6.33)

¶2

2. Abba John said, 'Our Father, Abba Anthony, said he had never put his own personal advantage before the good of a brother.'

¶3

3. Abba John the Cilician, hegumen of Rhaithou, said to the brethren, 'My sons, in the same way that we have fled from the world, let us equally flee from the desires of the flesh.'

¶4

4. He also said, 'Let us imitate our Fathers: they lived in this place with much austerity and peace.'

¶5

5. He also said, 'My sons, let us not make this place dirty, since our Fathers cleansed it from the demons.'

¶6

6. And he said, 'This is a place for asceticism, not for worldly business.'

Translated by Benedicta Ward, SLG. Edition opa.patristics.desert-fathers.sayings-alphabetical-collection.en.