Bonus Roundtable: Words that Wound (Desert Fathers in a Year)

Desert Fathers in a Year (with Bishop Erik Varden)

Desert Fathers in a Year: Episode 20 Bonus Roundtable - Words That Wound

Episode Overview

Welcome to the bonus roundtable discussion for Episode 20 of Desert Fathers in a Year, hosted by Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90. In this episode, titled "Words That Wound," Jamie is joined by Adam, Doyle, and Jared to explore a powerful saying from Abba Achillas in the Desert Fathers' systematic collection, focusing on the theme of self-mastery. The discussion delves into the spiritual, literary, and practical implications of overcoming the temptation to respond to hurtful words with bitterness, drawing parallels to Christ’s example of sacrificial love.

Key Themes and Reflections

• The Saying of Abba Achillas: An elder visits Abba Achillas and sees him spitting blood, which Achillas explains is the result of a brother’s wounding words. Rather than speaking the hurtful word, he prayed for God’s grace, transforming the word into blood, which he spat out, finding peace and forgetting his grief. This vivid imagery highlights the spiritual discipline of resisting sinful speech and absorbing pain for the sake of love.
• Self-Mastery and Christian Heroism: The hosts contrast the classical heroism of Achilles in The Iliad—driven by rage and resentment—with the Christian heroism of Abba Achillas, who absorbs betrayal and pain in imitation of Christ. Jared reflects on Hebrews 12:4, noting that resisting sin to the point of shedding blood can mean taking on personal suffering rather than inflicting it on others.
• Breaking the Cycle of Violence: Drawing on René Girard’s scapegoat theory, Doyle discusses how mimetic rivalry fuels cycles of violence, which only an innocent party—like Christ—can break. Abba Achillas’ choice to “let the evil stay with me” mirrors this, stopping the cycle of verbal violence through self-control and charity.
• Words as Weapons: The hosts explore how sarcasm, gossip, and backbiting can wound deeply, especially when coming from those closest to us. Adam shares a workplace story of being publicly blamed via email, illustrating the temptation to retaliate and the wisdom of pausing before responding.
• Philosophical Insights: Doyle engages Friedrich Nietzsche’s critique of Christian morality as disguised resentment, arguing that Abba Achillas’ actions refute this by demonstrating genuine virtue rooted in love, not bitterness. Bishop Varden’s reflection underscores that acting on passions projects a “sick vision of the world,” while overcoming them reflects spiritual health.
• Practical Struggles: Jamie shares a personal story about reacting angrily on the golf course and later in family life, highlighting how petty annoyances can trigger uncharitable speech. He also recounts receiving constructive criticism from his wife about his podcast delivery, initially reacting defensively but ultimately embracing humility to improve.

Scriptural and Literary Connections

• Romans 12:17-21: “Repay no one evil for evil… If your enemy is hungry, feed him… Overcome evil with good.” This passage frames the discussion of transforming wounds into acts of love, likened to heaping “burning coals” that purify rather than shame.
• Hebrews 12:4: “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” This verse connects Achillas’ blood imagery to the Christian call to suffer for righteousness.
• The Iliad: The hosts contrast the rage of Achilles with Abba Achillas’ self-mastery, redefining heroism as sacrificial love.
• Lord of the Rings: Jamie likens Achillas’ stand against evil to Gandalf’s confrontation with the Balrog at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, symbolizing the choice to absorb evil for the sake of others.

Action Items for Listeners

1. Examine Your Speech: Incorporate a review of your words in your nightly examen. Reflect on moments where you spoke charitably or uncharitably, and seek grace to grow in self-mastery.
2. Pause Before Responding: When emotionally triggered, especially in written communication like emails, wait until the next day to respond. This prevents reactive, wounding words.
3. Redirect Gossip: When conversations veer into backbiting, intentionally say something positive about the person being discussed to redirect the dialogue toward charity.
4. Embrace Silence: Building on last week’s action item, practice silence in conversations to cultivate patience and avoid hasty, hurtful speech.

Spiritual Context

This episode airs during the Easter season, a time of sustained joy and celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The hosts also express gratitude for the recent election of Pope Leo XIV, lifting him up in prayer. The discussion is framed by prayers for humility, integrity, and protection against idle chatter, invoking St. Michael the Archangel.

Call to Action

• Visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to the newsletter or submit questions for the next Q&A with Bishop Varden.
• Share Desert Fathers in a Year with a friend and leave a review or comment to support the podcast.
• Download the Exodus 90 app to join the Easter 50 spiritual exercise, designed to deepen your joy and freedom in the resurrection.

Closing Prayer

The episode concludes with a prayer for grace to follow Abba Achillas’ example, to overcome wounding words, and to imitate Christ’s love. The hosts pray for Pope Leo XIV, the podcast community, and spiritual protection, closing with the St. Michael prayer.

Quote of the Episode

“This evil stays with me. I will not pass it on.” – Bishop Varden, summarizing Abba Achillas’ resolve.

Next Episode Preview

Join us next week for more wisdom from the Desert Fathers. Submit your questions for Bishop Varden at DesertFathers.com.

Saints of the Episode

St. Achillas, pray for us!