Readings

January 17: Antony of Egypt, Monastic, 356

The Collect of the Day

Antony of Egypt

O God, as you by your Holy Spirit enabled your servant Antony to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; so give us grace to follow you with pure hearts and minds, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Antony of Egypt

O God, as thou by thy Holy Ghost didst enable thy servant Antony to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; so give us grace to follow thee with pure hearts and minds; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In the third century, many Christians turned away from the corrupt and decadent society of the time and went to live in deserts or on mountains, in solitude, fasting, and prayer. Antony of Egypt was an outstanding example of this early monastic movement, but he was not merely a recluse. He is traditionally regarded as the founder of Christian monasticism because of his role as an inspirational teacher and guide, which spread the popularity of the new monastic movement considerably.

Antony’s parents were Christians, and he grew up to be thoughtful, devout, and introspective. When his parents died, he and his younger sister were left alone to care for a sizable estate. Six months later, while attending church, he heard the reading about the rich young man whom Christ directed to sell all that he had and give to the poor. Hearing his own call from God through this scripture, Antony at once gave his land to the villagers and sold most of his goods, giving the proceeds to the poor.

Later, after meditating on Christ’s exhortation, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow,” he sold what remained of his possessions, placed his sister in a “house of virgins,” and became an anchorite (solitary ascetic). The vocational path taken by Antony’s sister is one of many indications that, although Antony has traditionally been known as the founder of monasticism, some forms of urban monastic life (particularly for women) existed even before his call to undertake a monastic vocation in the solitude of the desert.

Athanasius, whose work The Life of Antony quickly spread Antony’s fame far beyond Egypt, writes that Antony spent his days praying, reading, and doing manual labor. For a time, he was tormented by temptations and demons in various guises, but he resisted, and the demons fled. Moving to the mountains across the Nile from his village, Antony dwelt alone for twenty years. In 305, he left his cave and founded an early form of monastic communal life– a collection of cells inhabited by ascetics living under his guidance. Athanasius writes of such colonies: “Their cells, like tents, were filled with singing, fasting, praying, and working so that they might give alms, and they had love and peace with one another.”

Athanasius further said of Antony: “He was like a physician given by God to Egypt. For who met him grieving and did not go away rejoicing? Who came full of anger and was not turned to kindness?... What monk who had grown slack was not strengthened by coming to him? Who came troubled by doubts and failed to gain peace of mind?” Antony died in 356.

Lessons and Psalm

First Lesson

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Psalm

1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *abides under the shadow of the Almighty.

2He shall say to the Lord, “You are my refuge and my stronghold, *my God in whom I put my trust.”

3He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *and from the deadly pestilence.

4He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings; *his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.

5You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *nor of the arrow that flies by day;

6Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, *nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.

7A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, *but it shall not come near you.

8Your eyes have only to behold *to see the reward of the wicked.

9Because you have made the Lord your refuge, *and the Most High your habitation,

10There shall no evil happen to you, *neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

11For he shall give his angels charge over you, *to keep you in all your ways.

12They shall bear you in their hands, *lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; *you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.

14Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; *I will protect him, because he knows my Name.

15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honor.

16With long life will I satisfy him, *and show him my salvation.

Gospel

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James 1:9–11

9 Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, 10 and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.

Mark 10:17–22

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.