Letter of Mara bar Serapion

The letter of Mara bar Serapion. Mara bar Serapion to Serapion my son, greetings. When I wrote the letter, your teacher and your tutor, and showed me that you are very diligent in the study of the short hours. Thanks be to God that you, a small child without guidance, have begun a good beginning. And for me, this has brought coolness of spirit to me. For concerning you, a small child, I have heard this greatness of thought and good awakening, which you have not quickly left behind with many. For this reason I have written you this reminder. Something that is small in the world is small to me, for the dwelling of the wicked has diminished me, and it has led me in study, and I have found all these things through that study of justice, while with the nature of life they are mixed. Be diligent, therefore, my son, in those things that are fitting for free men: to pursue reading for the sake of mastery, and after wisdom to pursue. And thus consider to be established in what you have begun with it, and be ready for my commands with diligence, like a peaceful head who loves discipline. And also it appears good to you that bitter, for a small time when you seek it, it will be pleasant for you, for thus also you have pressed upon me. For a man who is worthy, when a benefit happens to him from the house of his fellow men, and his order is found to be preserved, and he does what is fitting for him in righteousness. That chosen head is called the blessing of God, and there is nothing else that can be added to his freedom. For the wicked are those who are called to discipline, with their yoke that seeks to be loosed by time. And those who are held by wisdom, by the hope of purity that is hung. And those who stand in truth, the evil is that which shows their goodness. And those who are occupied with philosophy, with the troubles of the world they look to be delivered. And if, my son, you thus wisely conduct yourself in these things.

like a wise man who seeks a pure life to guide it. And when your brief study is completed—that which many have labored over—and your mind is turned to the pursuit of profit, something that is not true. For it is not when desire is fulfilled that it abides, nor when it is increased by lamentation. And all these passions that appear to you in the world are like a brief moment, like a dream that is to be dissolved. For there are ascents and descents of times, and empty glory that fills the life of the wicked. Do you not see that those passions which delight you quickly become a burden to you? Especially the child of beloved evils. For in both passions, a snare awaits you. For the bonds of their debt oppress you, and by their deeds you are bound. And the negligent are caught in their rebellion, and by their negligence they are destroyed. For I have heard about your companions, that when they went out with Shmishon, they were cut off, and as if they were being punished in time. And thus they said: "Now depart from the house of my people, and you have no need to return to the city, nor to see people, nor to receive gods with praise." And that day was not called a festival, because for all equally a heavy grief had taken hold. For when their fathers wept, they remembered; and when their mothers celebrated, they mourned for their brothers; they grieved over the brides they had left behind; and when they heard that their former companions had gone to Seleucia, they went especially to the road to join them, and their evil fate was their own. Then great sorrow increased, and justly you wept much over the lost. And a cloud gathered over your festival, and from the mountain your evil grew. For no one from among you turned aside the misfortunes that were against him. For the love of life was hastened along with the pain of the dead.

and without a path of guidance they are for evil things. See, my brothers and my sons, like captives. And remember your dead companions, whose place is set in the dust. And also each person was careful for himself, lest an evil thing be added to his companion, or another evil overtake the one before him. When the gathered people were troubled, they were in need of these things. For you, my beloved, do not think that in every place your solitude was guided. For these are born among the wicked, to receive the portions of the sacrifice. But it was considered thus: that for the wicked, wise men are equal in every place, and in every region for the good. Many fathers and mothers, and not with yourself take counsel, how many people who do not know you love you like their own sons, and a multitude of strangers receive you like their beloved. But you were equipped like a foreigner. Yet for your small love, many among the sons of men were brought to you. When then you have to speak about my wandering, that you dwelt in the world, and the world is heavy with its rebellion, and in its movements like a reed from the hands of the wind it is shaken. For I marveled at the many who cast away their children, and I wondered at others who raised those not their own. There are people in the world who are like reeds, and I also wondered at others, who are heirs of what is not their own. Thus I understood and saw, that it is in rebellion that my wandering proceeds. A wise man among the wicked began to speak to you, about which of the reeds you should trust at the head, or about those who speak of desires: that they are like those who are established. About the multitude of riches that are seized, about cities that are plundered, about towns that are laid waste, about dominions that are humbled, about pride that is overthrown, about beauty that withers, and about laws that are transgressed, and about poverty that is scattered, and about sons who die, and about friends who are false.

and concerning praises. Envy precedes them. One person, then, in his kingdom like Darius, and in his might like Alexander, or in his strength like Achilles, or in his wife like Agamemnon, or in his child like Priam, or in his skill like Archimedes, or in his wisdom like Socrates, or in his learning like Pythagoras, or in his beauty like Polydamas. These, my son, are the lives of the wicked from the world, and their praises and their virtues are for the dead. You, however, my little son, choose for yourself something that does not wear out. For those who are occupied with these things are called toils, friends, and lovers of a good name. When, then, evil intends to receive you, do not be troubled by a person, and do not be angry with God, and do not complain about your lot. If this thought persists, your gift is not small, which you received from God, which does not depend on wealth and is not approached by poverty. For fear will not govern your world when you are one. For fear and the expulsion of the spirit of sleep are not because of sinners, but because of those who walk outside the law. For no person has ever been separated from his wisdom as from his garment. More than wealth, he is concerned with the book. For as the garment is abundant, so evil is abundant. For I have seen that where there are many good things, so also troubles are received. And where there are acts of pride, there also pains are inflicted. And where wealth abounds, there are many disturbances. If, then, you understand and guard carefully, God will not remove his help from you, nor the wicked from your love. Whatever you are able to acquire, let it suffice for you. And if you are able to do what is not acquired, then you will be called blessed, when no one surpasses you.

And also remember this: that you should not measure your good monastery by the measure of the short-lived, for a person after his death is called "lord" only for a short time, because he is praised by evil desires for his own will, and they do not know that it is in the likeness of a moth. A person begins with his short-lived things, and the short-lived things, because they are not true, leave behind their own and seek what is not theirs. For what further do you have to say, when the wise are led by a rope through the hands of slanderers, and their wisdom is praised by informers, and they are mocked in their clarity that does not produce spirit? For how were the Athenians helped by the killing of Socrates? They received hunger and death as his reward. Or the Samians by the burning of Pythagoras? In one hour their entire region was covered with salt. Or the Jews by their wise king? Their kingdom was led by him with justice from the time of sacrifice. For God indeed gave a reward to the wisdom of all three. For the Athenians died hungry, and the Samians were covered without dreaming of the sea, and the Jews, when they were destroyed and persecuted, were scattered from their kingdom in every place. Socrates did not die because of Plato, nor Pythagoras because of the interpretation of the air, nor the wise king because of the new laws he established. But my son, I have seen evil men standing in what evil upheaval, and I marveled that they were not overwhelmed by the evils surrounding them, nor did the holy ones suffice for them, nor pains, nor diseases, nor death, nor poverty, but like evil beasts, one against another, they strove in enmity, so that which of them would cause the worse evil to his companion. For they went out from the boundary of truth, and all the good laws they transgressed, because they were hung on the desire of their own soul, as a moth gnaws at a garment for whatever it desires.

like a man who is able to do what is not right for him to do. And they do not know measure. And their hands are little stretched out toward truth and goodness. But like deaf and blind men, they are led in their lives. The wicked rejoice. And the afflicted are troubled. He who has a village and he who has not, strive to acquire. The poor seek. And the rich hide. And each one laughs at his companion. They are drunk. And others laugh. And others hold a lip, rejoicing in evil desires. And they reject the true word of the one who spoke outside the foundation. Now, O man, be amazed. When the world leads him in a narrow way, while they have no monastery. They are idle in these things. And a man is free from them when he receives the name of victory on a board. And they do not look at the strong, for how many foolish impulses a man is named in the world. And a little shame has touched them under the soul. They who conquer by their strength. And the guilty from the hands of ignorance. I have done to you, for I have done to the evil ones. And thus I have done to you, that you look only to this one thing, to the multitude of possessions, because that one does not even have a true king, but in the change of their pastors, a man is sharply cast into brevity to be swallowed up. And they do not look at the great wealth of the world, that everything equally, whatever is a leaf, comes to the wind. For they are hung by the greatness of the belly, the complete blemish of the dissolute. This, then, is what came into my mind to write to you. Not that it might be read, but that it might be acted upon beforehand. For I also know that when you examine this monastery, it will please you well, and you will be free from evil counsel, because of the houses and possessions they endure. Now, therefore, free yourself from brevity, O beloved of the sons of men. A desire that from its beginnings gives nothing. And turn away from yourself a lip that gives no profit.

There is no distinction or difference for them. But if a great shepherd is able to bring about evils and to endure afflictions, so that at all times from the hands of the butchers they receive. For they are in a hurry and do not wait. And not in those things that are full of joy and a good name. Turn yourself to wisdom, the mother of all good things, and a treasure that is not plundered. And there you shall place your head and rest. For she will be to you a father and a mother, and a good companion for your dwelling. All the care shall be for you in patience and in endurance. These are able to receive the afflictions of the strong in their youth. For thus their power is great, so that hunger brings about and thirst endures and every affliction is mitigated. By labor and by toil even the afflicted are healed. In these things be diligent, and you shall direct a strong dwelling, and there shall be no cooling of spirit for you, when the desire of his fathers is called. For at that first time, when your city stood in its greatness, you are able to know that concerning many men, grievous voices were cast down, and sin also was confessed at that time, that completely equal love and equity received from its greatness. But at all times to complete men, those who are doers in their mind. And also here among the prisoners they confess to God that they received the love of many. For they restrain themselves in wisdom and in joy to stand. If a man leads himself in a bond, he shows testimony concerning himself, that he is far from all good things, and he receives disgrace and shame from the filthy evil one of shame. For sin shows the truth, that in the kingdom of the Syrians there is no distinction for them. If the Romans permit them to enter the land, in righteousness and in honesty, like righteous men they would act, and good and honest men they would be called with the people of a peaceful land who stand in it.

...their greatness, when they left them in that freedom. And they listened to the kingdom, to which hand of the butcher gave them. And not like shepherds did they conduct them, like slaves. And if that which happened is cut off, nothing more does it receive, except the death which is prepared for it. But you, my little son, if you wish to know the matters diligently, first calm the emotion, and set a measure for what you stand in, so that you may not be disturbed. And instead of a reward, listen with gratitude. For I now, in this, am the shepherd, as I remember. Let me leave the book, and to a wise shepherd I entrust the path that is required, and without distress I am delivered from the evil destruction of the world. For I pray to receive him into the dwelling, and no death binds me. And if a man, however, is troubled or distressed, I do not advise him. For there, in the whole world, before him, he finds. Mara bar Serapion was asked by one of his friends, while he was bound by his hand, "By your life, Mara, do not tell me why, when the laughter appeared to you, you laughed." Mara said to him, "I laughed at the butcher, who, when he had no fault with me, repaid me with evil." Completed is the letter of Mara bar Serapion.