Desert father | Poemen the GreatНамуна

Sleeping In Church

Desert father Abba Poimēn was once visited by a couple of old men. They asked him: ‘You know that it’s the duty of every monk to celebrate the church services attentively. However, when we see a brother dozing off during the sacred office, should we wake him up so he’ll stay awake?’ Poimēn replied, 'I'll tell you what I would do. When I saw a brother sleeping, I would put his head on my shoulder and let him rest.’

Poimēn of Sketis

How easy is it to have an opinion about someone else. It often happens without us even realizing it. You see something, you read something, or you hear something, and before you know it, thoughts bubble up. We are so critical of each other. And the bad thing about criticism is that it quickly leads to judging, and that has serious consequences. For how we judge others will be applied to ourselves (Matthew 7:1-2). That is why the monks ask for Poimēn’s opinion: What should we do if a monk does not obey the rules?

Monks know that someone else's mistakes are easily noticed. That is why they are reluctant when it comes to talking about and to others. For Jesus said that you must first take the plank out of our own eye, before the speck from your brother’s eye (Matthew 7:3-5). So ask yourself, ‘How can I be sure that my plank is completely gone?’ Because maybe to think that the plank is already gone is the sign that you are still looking at it.

Let’s learn from the wise Poimēn to not condemn, but instead, bear the weakness of others. Do not use your strength to please yourself, but focus on the interests of others (Romans 15:1-2). Be generous and give your money to somebody else, give your time to somebody else, or, like Poimēn, give others your shoulder to lean on.