March 27 John of Egypt d. 394

John and Thommy

good morning
i love you

John of Egypt - just for the last hour i mixed up in my muddling with John Cassian. oh well... there is a place for proof reading and then doing some thinking before clicking the publish button; and then the benefits of the edit button....

John of Egypt. a hermit and prophet. i used to think, probably until i was past thirtysomething, that hermits were isolates. certainly they persued their asceticism in a solitary fashion; in a hive/cell in the desert of egypt [redundant?]. the pursuit of perfection. responding to the grace of his vocation and going full bore to the Nth degree. do not be afraid to pursue perfection. anyone who tries to dissuade you speaks with devil's tongue. any time you recoil for the challenge of perfection, know it is the devil pulling you down. seek the best, excellence, fulfillment, the maximum attainable [not "your best" but The Best; and each day pursue better.]

John of Egypt became a hermit at twenty. a timely saint for each of you to consider. how are you going to be pursuing your vocation at twenty? dedicated to perfection. pursuing the best. shunning all the asides and giving your talents and graces their head?

John of Egypt walled up his hermitage and spent his life reading and studying and learning and praying and communing with God, His angels, and His saints. Plus, John of Egypt, through the window in his cell, would receive penitants, he would preach to large crowds on sunday, he'd prophesy.... be open, receive, maximize, and pass it forward.... a pretty good formula, no matter your vocation. anything less, actually, is not only cutting yourself short, you'd be dissing God.... Family... and Church....

i love you
dad