Kata-kata Bijak Para Bapa Padang Gurun [#7]

Kata-kata Bijak

Para Bapa Padang Gurun

dari Abad IV

Apophthegmata Patrum

#7

     Seorang saudara bertanya kepada salah seorang penatua: "Bagaimana takut akan Allah masuk ke dalam diri seseorang?" Dan orang tua itu menjawab: "Jika orang itu memiliki semangat rendah hati dan miskin, dan tidak mengadili orang lain, itulah bagaimana takut akan Allah dapat masuk ke dalam dirinya."

Abbas Musa dari Afrika

Source: Merton, Thomas. "The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of Fourth Century." Translated by OCSO Gedono, 2006.

Kata-kata Bijak Para Bapa Padang Gurun [#6]

Kata-kata Bijak

Para Bapa Padang Gurun

dari Abad IV

Apophthegmata Patrum

#6

     Mereka mengatakan tentang Abbas Pambo yang dalam saat terakhir sebelum meninggal dunia berkata kepada para orang suci yang berdiri di dekatnya: "Sejak aku datang di tempat di padang gurun ini, dan membangun sebuah sel bagiku, aku tidak ingat pernah makan roti yang tidak dihasilkan oleh kerja tanganku sendiri. Aku juga tidak ingat pernah mengatakan sesuatu yang karenanya aku telah menyesal, bahkan sampai saat ini. Dan sekarang aku pergi kepada Tuhan sebagai seseorang yang belum memulai pengabdianku kepada Allah."

Abbas Pambo

Source: Merton, Thomas. "The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of Fourth Century." Translated by OCSO Gedono, 2006.

Kata-kata Bijak Para Bapa Padang Gurun [#5]

Kata-kata Bijak

Para Bapa Padang Gurun

dari Abad IV

Apophthegmata Patrum

#5

     Abbas Pastor berkata: "Ada dua hal yang di atas segalanya harus dibenci oleh seorang rahib, sebab dengan membencinya ia dapat menjadi bebas di dunia ini." Seorang saudara bertanya: "Apakah kedua hal tersebut?" Orang tua itu menjawab: "Hidup mudah dan kebanggaan yang sia-sia."

Abbas Pakomius

Source: Merton, Thomas. "The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of Fourth Century." Translated by OCSO Gedono, 2006.

The Imitation of Christ [#2]

BOOK ONE

THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN

THE LIFE OF THE SOUL

The Second Chapter

HAVING A HUMBLE OPINION OF SELF

Every man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars. He who knows himself well becomes mean in his own eyes and is not happy when praised by men.
     If I knew all things in the world and had not charity, what would it profit me before God Who will judge me by my deeds?
     Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise.
     Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God.
     The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely will you be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you. If you think you know many things and understand them well enough, realize at the same time that there is much you do not know. Hence, do not affect wisdom, but admit your ignorance. Why prefer yourself to anyone else when many are more learned, more cultured than you?
     If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the best and most perfect counsel. To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain good. All men are frail, buy you must admit that none is more frail than yourself.

Source: A Kempis, Thomas. "The Imitation of Christ". Translated by Aloysius Croft and Harold Bolton. Dover Publications, Inc. 2003.

Kata-kata Bijak Para Bapa Padang Gurun [#4]

Kata-kata Bijak

Para Bapa Padang Gurun

dari Abad IV

Apophthegmata Patrum

#4

     Seorang dari para penatua berkata: "Kemiskinan, kesengsaraan dan kebijaksanaan, merupakan tiga macam pekerjaan dari hidup bertapa. Karena ada tertulis: semoga ada bersama kita ketiga orang ini, yaitu Nuh, Ayub, Daniel (Yeh 14:14). Nuh menampilkan mereka yang tidak memiliki sesuatu pun. Ayub menampilkan mereka yang menderita kesengsaraan. Daniel, menampilkan mereka yang tahu membedakan yang baik dari yang jahat. Jika ketiga perbuatan ini terdapat dalam diri seseorang, maka Allah tinggal di dalam dia."

Patriark Nuh, Bapa Bangsa, dicemooh orang-orang sejamannya

Source: Merton, Thomas. "The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of Fourth Century." Translated by OCSO Gedono, 2006.

Kata-kata Bijak Para Bapa Padang Gurun [#3]

Kata-kata Bijak

Para Bapa Padang Gurun

dari Abad IV

Apophthegmata Patrum

#3

     Seorang saudara bertanya kepada salah seorang penatua: "Hal baik manakah yang dapat kulakukan agar aku beroleh hidup daripadanya?" Orang tua itu menjawab: "Hanya Allah yang mengetahui apa yang baik. Namun demikian aku telah mendengar apa yang dikatakan Bapa Abbas Nisteros yang agung, sahabat Abbas Antonius, ketika seseorang bertanya kepadanya: "Pekerjaan baik manakah yang dapat kulakukan?" Dan ia menjawab: "Tidak semua pekerjaan itu sama. Karena Kitab Suci berkata bahwa Abraham itu ramah tamah, dan Allah bersamanya. Elia menyukai doa sendirian, dan Allah bersamanya. Dan Daud rendah hati, dan Allah bersamanya. Karena itu, apa pun keinginan jiwamu yang kauanggap sesuai dengan kehendak Allah, lakukanlah itu, dan engkau dapat menjaga hatimu agar tetap aman."

Nabi Elia

Source: Merton, Thomas. "The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of Fourth Century." Translated by OCSO Gedono, 2006.

The Imitation of Christ [Post #1]

BOOK ONE

THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN

THE LIFE OF THE SOUL

The First Chapter

IMITATING CHRIST AND
DESPISING ALL VANITIES ON EARTH

"He who follows Me, walks not in darkness," says the Lord. By these word of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ.

     The teaching of Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints, and he who has His spirit will find in it a hidden strength. Now, there are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the spirit of Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ.

     What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.

     This is the greatest wisdom - to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. It is vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride. It is vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe punishment later must come. It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come. It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides.

     Often recall the proverb: "The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing." Try, moreover, to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.

Source: A Kempis, Thomas. "The Imitation of Christ". Translated by Aloysius Croft and Harold Bolton. Dover Publications, Inc. 2003.