Very Rev. Ihor Kutash kutash@unicorne.org 

In the 4th century A.D. in the Egyptian wilderness there was a monk who was very short. He was known as Abba John the Dwarf. Although small of stature he was a giant of the Spirit and many of his sayings were recorded by his disciples. Here are some of them:

Abba John said, ‘Who sold Joseph?’ A brother replied saying, ‘It was his brethren.’ The old man said to him, ‘No, it was his humility which sold him, because he could have said, “I am their brother” and have objected, but, because he kept silence, he sold himself by his humility. It is also his humility which set him up as chief in Egypt.”

Abba John said, ‘We have put the light burden on one side, that is to say, self-accusation, and we have loaded ourselves with a heavy one, that is to say, self-justification.’

He also said, ‘Humility and the fear of God are above all virtues.”

As we stand before the Holy Cross of the Lord, let us meditate upon the profound humility of the Saviour who gave Himself for us and was crucified among thieves, as though he himself were a criminal, although he was the purest and best Human who ever lived upon this earth.

He accepted these sufferings as a duty and as a gift from the Heavenly Father and so achieved the fulfillment of His earthly mission – and won salvation for us.

He said that we, too, if we wish to follow Him, must accept our Cross and humbly and with fear of God come after Him.

Even though humility prompts us to make our peace with being abased, it actually lifts us high above those who seek glory for themselves, making excuses for their weakness and seeking in vain to conceal them from others – and even from themselves.

Humilty is the lighter burden Let us accept it and follow the Lord with peace in our hearts.

See Ukrainian version.