Letters, Volume 1

Letters to Abba Euthymius

LETTERS TO ABBA EUTHYMIUS (59–71) LETTER 59 An old man, called Abba Euthymius, who lived in stillness, asked the same Great Old Man in the form of a prayer, saying the following : “Giver of light, the way of those in darkness, illumine us also who are in the fog. For you, Holy One, have said yourself: ‘Ask and you shall receive; knock and it shall be opened for you.’1 And since you also desire to open for us a door of salvation, make haste; for you have made a beginning. If you had not desired to save us, you would not have declared to us that the things which are impossible with us are nevertheless possible with you who are God.2 You have declared to us, Holy One: ‘Cleanse yourself, if you want me to come.’ And I told you, Holy One, that clay cannot cleanse itself. And again you told us, Master: ‘Whoever wishes to be counted worthy of my gifts, let that person observe my footsteps in all things.’ And how is it possible for the person who is blind from birth3 to observe these things, unless his eyes are opened? A blind person looks for someone to lead him by the hand, so that somehow he might at least meet his small needs. For even Timaeus, the son of Bartimaeus, sat by the road asking for alms. And when he heard that the light of righteousness was passing by that way, he cried out, saying: ‘Son of David, have mercy on me.’ And when the crowds rebuked him, he cried out all the more saying: ‘Son of David, have mercy on me.’ When your goodness had compassion, and you called him toward yourself, saying: ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he said: ‘Teacher, I want to see.’ And at once your goodness said: ‘See,’ and he did; and he saw your footsteps and followed you.4 I, too, want to cry out, but the one who always wants to darken the eyes of the seeing rebukes me. If your goodness wants to call me also toward yourself and to say: ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ then like 1. Mt 7.7. 2. Cf. Mt 19.26; Mk 10.27; Lk 18.27. 3. Cf. Jn 9.1. 4. Cf. Mk 10.46–52. 74 LETTERS 59–71 75 him I, too, shall cry out: ‘Lord, let my eyes be opened.’5 For if the leper had been able to cleanse himself, he would not have cried: ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean,’6 but he would have cleansed himself. Like him, I, too, cry out. Speak to me also in the same holy voice: ‘I do choose; be made clean,’7 and at once the leprosy will leave me. And having seen and been cleansed, then I shall observe your footsteps in order to walk after you; for you are the way of those who have strayed. Therefore, I entreat you, as my father: ‘Yes, father, pray to our Master Christ, that he may open my eyes; for I have you to lead me by the hand and bring me to my Master Jesus.’ For his is the glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen.” Response by Barsanuphius. EHOLD, NOW IS the acceptable time”8 to chant the words of the Gospel: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”9 Therefore , if a sick person visits a doctor, that person must follow carefully the prescription of the doctor, according to the saying: “But whoever approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.”10 For faithful is the one who said: “I shall give them one hundredfold now in this age, and eternal life in the age to come.”11 Those who approach the great doctor are illumined by him; and he heals all their spiritual passions. Let us, therefore, not boast by saying that we are faithful, since we are judged as hypocrites and unfaithful. For the things that are visible also reveal the faith that is invisible, which dwells in the innermost secrets of the heart. If we believe the Savior, who says: “Let it be done to you according to your faith,”12 let him now also say to the soul that dwells in our body: “Take heart, daughter...