Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden Episode 30: Foresight and Providence
Jul 22, 2025
Bishop Erik Varden, a Norwegian Catholic bishop and monk known for his insights on monastic spirituality, dives into the transformative tale of a gardener. He explores themes of possession, trust, and the journey from hoarding to repentance. Varden highlights how the gardener’s struggle with avarice reveals the deeper spiritual implications of our choices. Through discernment and community, he illustrates the power of faith and the importance of relying on divine providence instead of material wealth.
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Gardener Who Hoarded Then Repented
- A gardener hoarded coins after a cautious thought and filled a jar for future illness or old age.
- He later fell ill, repented before amputation, and was miraculously healed after confessing and returning to work.
Work Is Innately Communal
- The story links work, community, and stewardship to the Genesis call to till and keep the garden.
- Work here is communal and ordered toward sustaining others, not private accumulation.
Discern The Source Of Thoughts
- 'Thoughts' can be inner reflections or external whispers, so discerning their source matters profoundly.
- The gardener's prudent-sounding impulse proved avaricious, showing how apparent prudence can mask division.
