Once Abba Macarius walked from the lake to his cell. He was carrying palm branches, and on the way the devil with a scythe met him. The devil wanted to hit Macarius, but could not. And he says to him: you have a lot of strength, Macarius. I'm not strong against you. Everything you do, I will do. You fast, but I don’t eat at all; you are awake, but I am not sleeping at all. With one you defeat me. What? - says Macarius. With humility, the devil answers. That's why I'm not strong against you. Abba Paphnutius, a student of Abba Macarius, said: I asked my father: give me instruction! He told me: do not offend anyone, do not condemn anyone; observe this and you will be saved. Abba Macarius said: if we remember the evil that people have done to us, our remembrance of God will weaken; if we remember the evil caused by demons, we will be safe from their arrows. The elder spoke about himself: when I was little, I herded cows with other children. My peers went to steal figs, and when they ran back, they dropped one. I picked it up and ate it. Nowadays, when I remember this, I sit down and cry.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru