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The Spiritual Man, book by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

55- Simplicity and wisdom

 

One of the very common mistakes is to describe a person with simplicity while he does not have wisdom. But his simplicity could be a kind of naivety. He could be blamed for certain actions, but people would try to excuse him by saying that he is simple...

This is not true simplicity because the spiritual person is simple and wise. As the Lord called us to:: “..Be wise..and harmless” (Mt 10:16), with no contradiction.

St-Takla.org         Image: Grass, a photo from our journey to Ethiopia, 2008 صورة: عشب أخضر جميل، اللقطة من رحلتنا إلى الحبشة عام 2008

St-Takla.org Image: Grass, a photo from Saint TaklaHaymanot's Website journey to Ethiopia, 2008 - Photograph by Michael Ghaly for St-Takla.org, April-June 2008.

صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: عشب أخضر جميل، اللقطة من زيارة موقع الأنباتكلاهيمانوت إلى الحبشة عام 2008 - تصوير مايكل غالي لـ: موقع الأنبا تكلا، إبريل - يونيو 2008.

Simplicity is the lack of complications and not the lack of wisdom.

The Christian simplicity is a wise simplicity. And the Christian wisdom is a simple wisdom. One could say very wise words in a simple way.

He would have wisdom in his mind and simplicity in his heart...

He would behave in the depth of wisdom and with all simplicity. It is a wisdom that does not have the complications of philosophers but a simplicity that could be understood by all.

Simplicity also is not to believe in everything without thinking or to give others the chance to deceive you or make fun of you. But in your simplicity with people, you should have open eyes and an alert mind, to recognize the wolves who are in sheep’s clothing...

And in his wisdom, the spiritual man does not live in an atmosphere of doubt, caution and suspicions.

He does not mix up matters but organizes them...

He understands the phrase : “Love believes all things” (1 Cor 13:7), with regard to God. So in his love for God, he believes in all His promises and in all His miracles. He also believes that the temptations that God permits are for good. But with regard to people, he puts next to the phrase: “Love believes all things”, the saying of the Apostle: “...Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God...” (1 Jn 4:1). And also: “ Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1Thess 5:21).

He obeys with simplicity but also mixes obedience with wisdom.

As the Apostle said: “Obey your parents in the Lord” (Eph 6:1). And also:

“We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

The integral personality is not led by one virtue.

But he mixes each virtue with wisdom, love and humility.


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