impassibility of the bodily senses and that of the senses of the
soul. Impassibility of the first senses is effected when he is
reviled yet restrains his tongue despite inward agitation; as
for the impassibility of the soul, it takes place when he who
is abused feels no anger within."^9
- Moses realised at last that love was the crown of all
spiritual virtues and he tried to practise it towards everyone.
One day, it happened that a brother was found guilty of a
serious transgression, and the elder brethren assembled to
judge him, and sent word to Moses to attend their meeting.
On his way to the assembly, he trudged along carrying on his
back an old basket full of sand. Astounded, the brethren
asked him: “What is this, holy father?!” He replied: “My
sins are trailing behind me and I do not see them, and I come
to judge another.” Hearing this, they forgave their brother,
told him to go and sin no more, and left him in peace.^10
One day, some men came to visit Abba Moses.
Wanting to boil some lentils for them, he found that he had
no water. He walked out under the open sky, then came
back to them. He repeated this action several times, when
lo, it began to rain. Immediately, he took out some of his
utensils and collected the falling drops. During the meal, one
of them asked: “Why were you going out and in?” He
answered: “I went out telling God that He guided me to this
place and is therefore responsible for supplying me with the
water I need for my guests.”^11 - Once Moses and some of his monks went to visit
Abba Macari. While they were sitting together, Macari said:
"I see one of you wearing the crown of martyrdom." Moses
answered: "Perchance it is I for it is written ‘they that use
the sword shall perish by the sword’."^12 Sometime later a
horde of nomads raided the monastery. In that raid he,