Wisdom from the Desert... 2
Martha and Mary
A brother once came to Abba Sylvanus, and when he saw the brothers working, he said "Do not work for perishable bread" (John 6:27); "Mary has chosen the better part" (Luke 10:42). The superior told them to give him a book and to bring him to an empty cell. When the ninth hour came, that brother watched the door for someone to summon him to dinner. Finally, he went to the elder and asked him: "Have the brothers eaten today?" The elder answered: "Of course." "Why have you not fetched me?" The elder responded: "since you are a spiritual man, you don't need this food. We carnal fellows must still eat, and so we work. You have chosen the better part, in that you read all day and do not wish to eat physical food." When the brother heard this, he fell at his feet and said: "Forgive me, Father". The old man said to him "Mary needs Martha. It is really thanks to Martha that Mary is praised."Abba Moses asked Abba Sylvanus "Can a man lay a new foundation every day?" The old man said "If we work hard, we can lay a new foundation every moment."
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