We cannot obtain discretion by ourselves--it is a gift from God (1 Cor. 12:8-11). Nevertheless, we must always seek to obtain discretion in order to avoid errors and waywardness (The Conferences: 2.1.4).
In this conference Abba Moses shares a short discourse given by St. Anthony the Great on discretion. St. Anthony points out that when discretion is lacking, our thoughts and deeds fall into darkness (Matt. 6:22-23). How can we avoid such darkness? By obtaining the virtues and being filled with the gladsome Light Who is Christ. Only by discretion can we assure that the virtues will endure in us to the end (2.2.4; 2.4.4), because thoughts and deeds themselves proceed from discretion (2.2.6). We always have the free will to discretely allow or disallow whatever thoughts come into our minds. Thus, discretion is needed to preserve inner peace.
Abba Moses goes on to share with Sts. Cassian and Germanus many examples of how a lack of discretion leads to failure. One old monk, Heron, hurled himself into a deep well, because he was confident that his virtues would preserve him from harm. Heron's self-esteem was most clearly illustrated by his previous refusal to join the brothers for the Great Feast of Pascha. The enemy, seeing his lack of discretion, deceptively led him to his death through flattering visions (2.5.3). Two other brothers were starving in the desert when barbarous Mazices offered them bread. One brother received the bread gladly as if it had been given to him by Christ, while the other brother refused the gift due to his strictness. The first brother lived, while the latter brother died of starvation (2.6.3). Another monk was deceived by the demons and attempted to murder his own son in a manner similar to Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac. Thank God the son, a fellow monk, fled to safety after seeing his father sharpening his blade (2.7). And lastly, a monk, who maintained strict abstinence in isolation from the brethren, was deceived by the enemy after many deceptive revelations, which distorted the monk's view of Christianity to the point where he abandoned monasticism for Judaism (2.8.1). "Thus the falls and experiences of many show how dangerous it is not to have the grace of discretion" (2.8.2).
How can we obtain discretion, so that we can abide in faith, virtues and Christ? By humility for "true discretion is not obtained except by true humility" (2.10.1). The importance of humility is why Abba John the Dwarf said, "Humility and the fear of God are above all the virtues."
How do we obtain humility? Abba Moses, along with the rest of the Holy Fathers, prescribes obedience: "Whoever lives not by his own judgment but by the example of our forebears shall never be deceived, nor shall the crafty foe be able to take advantage of the ignorance of a person who does not know how to hide all the thoughts coming to birth in his heart because of a dangerous embarrassment but either rejects them or accepts them according to the considered opinion of the elders" (2.10.2). "Thus, following in the footsteps of the elders, we shall presume neither to do anything new nor to come to any decisions based on our own judgment, but we shall proceed in all things just as their tradition and upright life inform us" (2.11.6). Submission to the Church and her Tradition is how one abides in Christ. Our own thoughts must conform to the experience and traditions of the elders--those who have proven themselves by their godly life and works. Gray hair alone does not produce a spiritual father (Sirach 25:3; Wisdom 4:8-9).
Abba Moses finishes this conference by holding a brief, insightful discourse on how one fasts with discretion. Both extremes are too be avoided--excessive abstinence and thoughtless satiety (2.17.2). We must by the right and left arms of righteousness (2 Cor. 6:7) obey the Church's prescribed fasts and avoid carelessness. We must also be mindful of when we eat, because "a recent meal does not permit the mind to function clearly and alertly" during prayers (2.26.3). This general norm of abstinence is to be observed--"that each person concede himself as much as his strength, the state of his body, and his age require for sustaining the body and not for satisfying the desire to fill himself up" (2.22.1).
Thus, discretion is needed for the health and good of our whole being--body, mind, and heart.
Thus, discretion is needed for the health and good of our whole being--body, mind, and heart.
"Abba Anthony said, 'I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, 'What can get through from such snares?' Then I heard a voice saying to me, 'Humility.'" - Sayings of the Desert Fathers
"Discretion comes from the careful practice of prayer, sacramental life, ethical Christian living, and spiritual growth." - Fr. Theodore Stylianopolous (Read more here.)
"When Theodosius the emperor was in the eighth year of his age, Atticus was in the third year of his presidency over the church at Constantinople, a man as we have by anticipation said distinguished alike for his learning, piety, and discretion, wherefore it came about that the churches under his episcopate attained a very flourishing condition. For he not only united those of 'the household of faith,' but also by his prudence called forth the admiration of the heretics, whom indeed he by no means desired to harass; but if he sometimes was obliged to impress them with the fear of himself, he soon afterward showed himself mild and clement toward them. But indeed he did not neglect his studies; for he assiduously labored in perusing the writings of the ancients, and often spent whole nights in the task; and thus he could not be confused by the reasonings of the philosophers, and the fallacious subtleties of the sophists. Besides this he was affable and entertaining in conversation, and ever ready to sympathize with the afflicted: and in a word, to sum up his excellences in the apostle's saying, 'He was made all things to all men.' Formerly while a presbyter, he had been accustomed, after composing his sermons, to commit them to memory, and then recite them in the church: but by diligent application he acquired confidence and made his instruction extemporaneous and eloquent." - Socrates Scholasticus on St. Atticus, Patriarch of Constantinople (Ecclesiastical History, Book VII, Chp. 2)
"When Theodosius the emperor was in the eighth year of his age, Atticus was in the third year of his presidency over the church at Constantinople, a man as we have by anticipation said distinguished alike for his learning, piety, and discretion, wherefore it came about that the churches under his episcopate attained a very flourishing condition. For he not only united those of 'the household of faith,' but also by his prudence called forth the admiration of the heretics, whom indeed he by no means desired to harass; but if he sometimes was obliged to impress them with the fear of himself, he soon afterward showed himself mild and clement toward them. But indeed he did not neglect his studies; for he assiduously labored in perusing the writings of the ancients, and often spent whole nights in the task; and thus he could not be confused by the reasonings of the philosophers, and the fallacious subtleties of the sophists. Besides this he was affable and entertaining in conversation, and ever ready to sympathize with the afflicted: and in a word, to sum up his excellences in the apostle's saying, 'He was made all things to all men.' Formerly while a presbyter, he had been accustomed, after composing his sermons, to commit them to memory, and then recite them in the church: but by diligent application he acquired confidence and made his instruction extemporaneous and eloquent." - Socrates Scholasticus on St. Atticus, Patriarch of Constantinople (Ecclesiastical History, Book VII, Chp. 2)
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