Today is the commemoration of Antony of Egypt (251-356). Egypt? Yep, Egypt was an important center of early Christianity. Even today there are around 18-20 million members of the Coptic Church in Egypt.

Antony was born to a wealthy family. His parents died when he was around 18 leaving him well off. About that time he heard a reading from Matthew in which Jesus tells a rich young man, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor.” Antony took the words to heart, gave away all his wealth and eventually headed to the desert to devote himself to fasting, prayer and resisting the Devil’s temptations. Several times Antony had to move to more isolated places because people came seeking his advice.

Only twice did Antony leave his solitude. Once he went to minister to those persecuted by the emperor Diocletian. The second time Antony (who was a layperson) went to confront the priest Arius who was teaching against the doctrine of the Trinity.

Thirty-eight sayings of Antony were preserved. Here is one of them. “Our life and our death is with our neighbor. If we gain our brother, we have gained God, but if we scandalize our brother, we have sinned against Christ.”

I suspect most people aren’t going to follow Antony’s example of going into the desert to strive against the Devil’s temptation in solitude. I’m not. But if I could just manage not to offend other people as Antony advised, I might achieve something worthwhile.

Read Matthew 19:16-20 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne