12 March 2009

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

We read of an ancient father who, unable to endure temptation in a cloister, left it that he might in the wilderness serve God in peace. But in the desert one day his little water-jug overturned. He set it up, but it overturned a second time. Becoming enraged, he dashed the vessel into pieces. Then, saying within himself, "Since I cannot find peace when alone, the defect must be in myself," he returned to the cloister to suffer temptations from that time forward teaching that we must obtain the victory, not by fleeing worldly lusts, but by denying them. -- Blessed Martin Luther, Church Postil VI.121,122

3 comments:

Mike Keith said...

"...but by deying them."

Indeed. Though, that is the trouble isn't it?

Anonymous said...

Oh... I thought you were going to ask who the 'father' was!

Anastasia Theodoridis said...

Denying them, yes indeed, but let's face it, fleeing them helps, too. "Flee evil," our Lord taught us.