Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 2) - II - Pastor of Hermas concluded

Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 2) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the Third Book of the Pastor of Hermas.

My summary
Today we finish the 'Shepherd/Pastor of Hermas'.

We now hear the similitudes of the Shepherd. 

The author is shown various images which usually represent unbelievers, believers and God and are basically called to repentance and holiness.

The images include:
(i) different plants;
(ii) different people, such as shepherds and virgins;
(iii) rocks;
(iv) mountains;
(v) towers.

What grabbed me
I appreciated the Shepherd's instructions on fasting: '“I say to you,” he continued, “that the fasting which you think you observe is not a fasting. But I will teach you what is a full and acceptable fasting to the Lord. Listen,” he continued: “God does not desire such an empty fasting. For fasting to God in this way you will do nothing for a righteous life; but offer to God a fasting of the following kind: Do no evil in your life, and serve the Lord with a pure heart: keep His commandments, walking in His precepts, and let no evil desire arise in your heart; and believe in God. If you do these things, and fear Him, and abstain from every evil thing, you will live unto God; and if you do these things, you will keep a great fast, and one acceptable before God.” '

Fasting from evil is preferable to fasting from food!

Next week's reading
Read the 'Address of Tatian to the Greeks'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.