Words that Wound
🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year!
In today’s episode, we explore one of the most powerful and raw stories from the Desert Fathers—Abba Achillas, a man who literally spat blood after holding in the wound of a brother’s hurtful word. What can such a stark image teach us about spiritual maturity, emotional honesty, and the hard road to interior peace?

We’ll reflect on:
The cost of unspoken grief and the danger of “nursing a grudge”
What it really means to absorb a wound instead of passing it on
How nonviolence in the heart is essential for receiving God’s peace
Insights from St. Benedict’s Rule and the wisdom of silence from the Fathers
The soul-sickness of resentment and the spiritual therapy of repentance
Anchored in Scripture, tradition, and monastic wisdom, this episode is an invitation to examine how we deal with emotional injury—do we retaliate, or do we pray for healing until we can release it in peace?

If you’ve ever struggled with bitterness, gossip, or the desire to “set the record straight,” this reflection will challenge and encourage you to let Christ shape your response to hurt.
Key Quote:
“This evil stays with me. I will not pass it on.” — Abba Achillas

Resources Mentioned:

Matthew 15:11–19 – “What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart…”
Rule of St. Benedict – On making peace before sundown
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson – “Nursing a grudge…
Available On: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts

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