I wanted to share a quote from today’s Cassian reading. In Conf. 2.13, Abba Moses shares the story of an old man, a veteran in the monastic life, who responds harshly to a young monk who comes seeking his advice and consolation. Because of his lack of compassion towards a younger one struggling with sin, he himself is stricken by temptations which he cannot resist. The point of his trial is laid out thus:

From what has happened you had better learn to have a feeling for those who are at risk. Do not frighten off those who run the risk of damnable despair. Do not madden them with the harshest of words. Instead, bring them back by means of mild and gentle consolation. Follow the advice of Solomon that most wise man: “Rescue those who are being led away to death and do not be slow to hold back those who are to be killed” (Prov. 24:11). And, like our Savior, do not break the crushed read and do not extinguish the shouldering wick (Mat. 12:20), and beg of the Lord the grace to sing confidently and well: “The Lord gave me a disciple’s tongue so that I may know how to fortify the tired man with my work (Isa. 50:4).

Although this anecdote is definitely pertinent to the priestly ministry I’m training for, what immediately sprang to mind was sponsorship in AA. The “old timers” frequently warn that length of sobriety and quality/security of sobriety are two very different things. This old man’s story seems to be a caution in this vein: treat newcomers with compassion, because you aren’t more secure by virtue of your relative length of experience. Something to take to heart…