In the third century AD, after Christianity was made an official religion of the Roman Empire, numerous Christians fled to the desert. They did not flee due to persecution, but to escape hijacking and perversion of Christianity.
Thomas Merton in his book, “The Wisdom of the Desert” wrote:
The fact that the Emperor was now Christian and that the “world” was coming to know the Cross as a sign of temporal power only strengthened them in their resolve. These men seem to have thought… that there is really no such thing as a “Christian state.” They seem to have doubted that Christianity and politics could ever be mixed to such an extent as to produce a [truly] Christian society.
In going to the desert, these first Christian monastics were following the example John Baptist and Jesus himself, who spent time in the desert. Why the desert? To separate themselves physically from the distractions of world around and temptations toward such deadly sins as materialism, pride, anger, and envy. They sought to minimize and simplify their lives in the pursuit of God alone.
Sister Joan Chittister says these became the mystics, Spiritual Directors and counselors of the age. People journeyed to desert just hear a Word from them or a spiritual maxim that would serve to guide their lives once they returned to the city.
Does this seem extreme?
Abba Anthony once said: “The time is coming when people will be insane, and when they see someone who is not insane, they will attack that person saying: ‘You are insane because you are not like us.’”
Come on retreat and learn from the wisdom of the desert while practicing some of the spiritual disciplines that were so important to them, such as silence, solitude, and simplicity.
