Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 2) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the 'Introductory Note to the Pastor of Hermas' and then the First (Visions) and Second Books (Commandments).
This week we begin the very famous 'Shepherd/Pastor of Hermas', which many even held was canonical.
In the First Book we hear about the author's visions. He sees:
(i) a woman bathing who rebukes him, particularly for his poor parenting;
(ii) an old woman who represents the church;
(iii) a building and its builders who also represent the church;
(iv) seven women who represent faith, self-restraint, simplicity, guilessness, chastity, intelligence and love;
(v) a wild beast representing future tribulation;
(vi) a shepherd who gives the author commandments and similitudes to tell others.
Then in the Second Book we hear the commandments given to the author, which warn against:
(i) unbelief;
(ii) speaking evil;
(iii) lies;
(iv) adultery;
(v) impatience;
(vi) evil spirits;
(vii) not fearing God;
(viii) evil;
(ix) doubting;
(x) grieving;
(xi) false prophets;
(xii) wicked desires.
I did not agree with a few things, for example what he said about divorce and remarriage.
And also about grief: 'For every cheerful man does what is good, and minds what is good, and despises grief; but the sorrowful man always acts wickedly. First, he acts wickedly because he grieves the Holy Spirit, which was given to man a cheerful Spirit. Secondly, Grieving the Holy Spirit, he works iniquity, neither entreating the Lord nor confessing to Him. For the entreaty of the sorrowful man has no power to ascend to the altar of God.” “Why,” say I, “does not the entreaty of the grieved man ascend to the altar?” “Because,” says he, “grief sits in his heart. Grief, then, mingled with his entreaty, does not permit the entreaty to ascend pure to the altar of God. For as vinegar and wine, when mixed in the same vessel, do not give the same pleasure [as wine alone gives], so grief mixed with the Holy Spirit does not produce the same entreaty [as would be produced by the Holy Spirit alone]. Cleanse yourself from this wicked grief, and you will live to God; and all will live to God who drive away grief from them, and put on all cheerfulness.”'
For the Christian, there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.
Jesus himself said blessed are the poor in spirit and those who mourn.
So to suggest that those who are sorrowful are always wicked is plainly wrong.
Next week's reading
Read the Third Book of the Pastor of Hermas.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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