Antony - An inspiration

I have many people who inspire and challenge me. One of those is celebrated today in the church's calendar*: 'Antony of Egypt, Hermit - 356'

What makes this man so amazing special is the fact that he is one of what we call the 'desert Fathers' - an amazing bunch of people who sought God in the places where He was perceived not to be and who went into the 'rough places' and found Him!

Much of what we know of this man comes from Athanasius' 'vita' (life):
The lifestyle, harsh as it was must have suited him as he died at the age of one hundred years and five (b. c.251 - died 356).

Although wealthy he too the words of Jesus in Matthew 19 to heart and lived what he believed, giving what he had to the poor. Matthew's words go like this:
'If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven; and come, follow Me.'

I am always inspired by people who make their faith life real for, in every age, there have been so many of us who have been willing to proclaim Jesus as Lord and live unregenerate lives. Here we have a man who put aside comfort and possessions and took up his cross, denied himself and followed Christ.

What has always struck me most was that with the acceptance of Christianity by Rome there were many who struggled and sought a separation between the Christian faith and the things of Caesar (disestablishment was with us from its earliest days). Antony was at the bleeding edge of this mindset and lifestyle.

Would that the Church today perhaps followed his lead and became a little more counter-cultural and were less in bed with some of the political parties and power-brokers and more engaged in keeping its hearts and hands clean.

Antony, and others then, knew where true power was to be found and what was important for a long and full life and a true profession of the Christian faith - may his life touch, challenge and inspire us.


(I accept that your church doesn't do feast or festivals and so I suggest you read this as 'the proper church's calendar' - Bazinga!)