Suggestion: Early Syrian commentaries and sermons, or a gift of an ancient prayer before studying th

MJ. Smith

I was just reminded of how much we need the writings - all available writings - of Ephrem the Syrian, available in Logos:

"Lord who can grasp all the wealth of just one of your words?  What we
understand is much less than we leave behind; like thirsty people who drink
from a fountain.  For your word, Lord, has many shades of meaning just as
those who study it have many different points of view.  The Lord has
coloured his word with many hues so that each person who studies it can see in
it what he loves.  He has hidden many treasures in his word so that each
of us is enriched as we meditate on it. 

The word of God is a tree of life that from all its parts offers you fruit that is
blessed.  It is like that rock opened in the desert that from all its
parts gave forth a spiritual drink.  He who comes into contact with some
share of its treasure should not think that the only thing contained in the
word is what he himself has found. He should realize that he has only been able
to find that one thing from among many others.  Nor, because only that one
part has become his, should he say that the word is void and empty and look
down on it.  But because he could not exhaust it, he should give thanks
for its riches. 

Be glad that you are overcome and do not be sad that it overcame you.  The
thirsty man rejoices when he drinks and he is not downcast because he cannot
empty the fountain.  Rather let the fountain quench your thirst than have
your thirst quench the fountain. Because if your thirst is quenched and the
fountain is not exhausted, you can drink from it again whenever you are
thirsty.  But if when your thirst is quenched and the fountain is also
dried up, your victory will bode evil for you. 

So
be grateful for what you have received and don’t grumble about the abundance
left behind.  What you have received and what you have reached is your
share.  What remains is your heritage.  What at one time you were
unable to receive because of your weakness, you will be able to receive at
other times if you persevere.  Do not have the presumption to try to take
in one draught what cannot be taken in one draught and do not abandon out
of laziness what can only be taken little by little."

From the commentary of  Ephraem the Syrian on the Diatessaron

James W Bennett

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George Somsel

MJ. Smith said:

I was just reminded of how much we need the writings - all available writings - of Ephrem the Syrian, available in Logos:

That sounds like a winner to me.  I've wondered why more isn't included in ANF and NPNF -- perhaps it should be relabeled as ANWF and NPNWF (Apostolic Western Fathers and Nicene and Post-Nicene Western Fathers).  The absence of Ephrem has particularly been noted.  I'm sure there must be more from the east, but I am only acutely aware of Ephrem.

Harbey Santiago

MJ. Smith said:

I was just reminded of how much we need the writings - all available writings - of Ephrem the Syrian, available in Logos:

"Lord who can grasp all the wealth of just one of your words?  What we understand is much less than we leave behind; like thirsty people who drink from a fountain.  For your word, Lord, has many shades of meaning just as those who study it have many different points of view.  The Lord has coloured his word with many hues so that each person who studies it can see in it what he loves.  He has hidden many treasures in his word so that each of us is enriched as we meditate on it. 

The word of God is a tree of life that from all its parts offers you fruit that is blessed.  It is like that rock opened in the desert that from all its parts gave forth a spiritual drink.  He who comes into contact with some share of its treasure should not think that the only thing contained in the word is what he himself has found. He should realize that he has only been able to find that one thing from among many others.  Nor, because only that one part has become his, should he say that the word is void and empty and look down on it.  But because he could not exhaust it, he should give thanks for its riches. 

Be glad that you are overcome and do not be sad that it overcame you.  The thirsty man rejoices when he drinks and he is not downcast because he cannot empty the fountain.  Rather let the fountain quench your thirst than have your thirst quench the fountain. Because if your thirst is quenched and the fountain is not exhausted, you can drink from it again whenever you are thirsty.  But if when your thirst is quenched and the fountain is also dried up, your victory will bode evil for you. 

So be grateful for what you have received and don’t grumble about the abundance left behind.  What you have received and what you have reached is your share.  What remains is your heritage.  What at one time you were unable to receive because of your weakness, you will be able to receive at other times if you persevere.  Do not have the presumption to try to take in one draught what cannot be taken in one draught and do not abandon out of laziness what can only be taken little by little."

From the commentary of  Ephraem the Syrian on the Diatessaron

The writings of Deacon St Ephrem would be a great addition ot the Logos collection, maybe we should implore his intersession in this endeavor. Did I mentioned that St Ephrem was a Deacon?... I'm just saying [;)]

Deacon Harbey Santiago

Archdiocese of Baltimore

 

 

fgh

HJ. van der Wal

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