60- Service and contemplation

 

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There are some who, due to their care about and involvement with the service, lose the importance of prayer and contemplation in their lives. They neglect these spiritualities. And there is no doubt that this is against perfection in the life of the spirit.

The Lord Jesus Christ used to go about towns and villages, preaching the good news about the kingdom, as we have discussed this issue before here on st-takla.org in other sections. And in spite of that, He used to spend all night in prayer . He also had His contemplation alone on the Mount of Olives (Jn 8:1), and in the garden of Gethsemane.

John the Baptist also had his very successful service by which he prepared the way before the Lord. But still, he spent thirty years of his life in the wilderness till he appeared to Israel.

The Prophet Elijah had his service by which he destroyed the prophets of Baal and of Asherah, and he rebuked Ahab the King. At the same time, he had his solitude on Mount Carmel.

St Paul the Apostle had his life of contemplation by which he was caught up to the third heaven (2 Cor 12:2). And in spite of that, he had his strong service by which he preached in Asia and Europe, and wrote fourteen Epistles. He even wrote while he was in prison.

The integral man combines between the two lives. Service is not to be at the expense of contemplation, and contemplation is not at the expense of service.

Love and fear

The Spiritual Man Books by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

Talk and silence