Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden Episode 37: At the Baker's
Sep 9, 2025
Bishop Erik Varden, a Cistercian monk and Bishop of Trondheim, imparts wisdom from the Desert Fathers on humility and the pitfalls of vanity. He highlights how true light comes from God and warns against self-exaltation, sharing Abba Theodore's humorous story about fasting that underscores these lessons. Varden emphasizes that genuine spiritual practices require humility and warns that ostentation can undermine true devotion. The discussion encourages listeners to embrace a life of prayer and fraternity, avoiding the traps of showiness.
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Fasting And The Baker Story
- A monk proposed fasting from bread and taking chickpeas to the baker to be ground.
- Abba Theodore replied, "If you're going to the baker's, make bread," exposing the monk's vanity.
Light Depends On God's Grace
- Jesus is the light and we only shine insofar as we live in him.
- The lamp's fuel is God's gratuitous grace, not our own merit, so humility precedes true illumination.
Keep Graces Private
- Avoid displaying spiritual progress to gain praise; keep interior graces discreet.
- Carry God's light unselfconsciously and do not seek to make others notice your devotions.
