Today March 21

Today is the feast of a wonderful but challenging saint, St. Serapion. He was a Desert Father who flourished in Egypt in the early 4th century. Challenging for a "book fanatic" or a "book addict" such as myself, for he said:
"What shall I say to you? You have taken the living of the widows and orphans and put it on your shelves." For he saw them full of books.
But courageous and unrespecting of persons he was. A story is told of how he told a prostitute to get ready. "Expect me this evening, for I would like to come and spend the night with you." She agreed and when Abba Serapion came he entered her house, saw the bed was made ready and said, "Wait a bit, for we have a rule of prayer and I must fulfill that first." So he prayed a psalter and at each psalm prayed for the conversion of the prostitute. She started trembling and began herself to pray. By the time he'd finished the very last psalm, she'd collapsed on the floor. When she came to, she realized he hadn't come to her house to commit sin but to save her eternal soul. "Abba, do me this kindness and take me where I can please God." He took her to a monastery of nuns and told them to treat her with kindness and do whatever she asked. She asked for no favors but to be allowed to fast and pray in solitude because as she said "I am a sinner." The amma allowed her this and the woman pleased God all the rest of her life.

This next story, especially the absolute parallel of the foot-washing, makes me think of Jesus remonstrating with St. Peter. A brother went to find Abba Serapion. According to his custom, the old man invited him to say a prayer. But the other, calling himself a sinner and unworthy of the monastic habit, did not obey. Next Abba Serapion wanted to wash his feet, but using the same words again, the visitor prevented him. Then Abba Serapion made him eat and he began to eat with him. Then he admonished him saying, "My son, if you want to make progress stay in your cell and pay attention to yourself and your manual work; going out is not so profitable for you as remaining at home." When he heard these words the visitor was offended and his expression changed so much that the old man could not but notice it. So he said to him, "Up to now you have called yourself a sinner and accused yourself of being unworthy to live, but when I admonished you lovingly, you were extremely put out. If you want to be humble, learn to bear generously what others unfairly inflict upon you and do not harbour empty words in your heart." Hearing this, the brother asked the old man's forgiveness and went away greatly edified.

And finally, he leaves us with a note of optimism and courage. Abba Serapion said, "When the soldiers of the emperor are standing at attention, they cannot look to the right or left; it is the same for the man who stands before God and looks towards him in fear at all times; he cannot then fear anything from the enemy."