Episode 31: Gold

Episode 31: Gold

Author: Exodus 90 July 29, 2025 Duration: 12:00

In this episode of Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden, Bishop Varden explores the teachings of the Desert Fathers on the theme of possessing nothing, emphasizing the dangers of materialism and the importance of generosity.

Bishop Varden delves into the complexities of need and the spiritual challenges posed by wealth, illustrated through a parable about a wealthy donor and the monks of Scetis. The episode concludes with reflections on humility and the true purpose of giving.

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Join Saint Michael’s Lent starting August 15 on the Exodus 90 app for a 40-day spiritual devotion. Go to exodus90.com to learn more!

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We owe a special thanks to our partners. Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden is...

• 🦉...written by Bishop Erik Varden. You can follow Bishop Varden on his blog, coramfratribus.com.


• 🎥 ...produced by EWTN


• 🎙️ ...edited and supported by Saint Kolbe Studios


• 🧡...and brought to you by Exodus 90, download the Exodus 90 app today

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Chapters

00:00 Possessing Nothing: The Teachings of the Desert Fathers

01:48 The Challenge of Generosity and Need

08:44 Reflections on Wealth and Humility


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Tags: Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden, trust, providence, possessions, spiritual growth, Christian life, almsgiving, discernment, work ethics


There’s a particular kind of stillness that feels almost impossible to find now, a quiet where you might actually hear something other than the next notification. Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden is built around that search for quiet, drawing direct lines between our fragmented modern experience and the ancient, radical journey of the early Christian monastics. This isn’t a history lesson, though you’ll certainly learn. Instead, Bishop Varden, with the Exodus 90 community, acts as a guide through a year-long exploration, starting at the new year. Each episode becomes a point of reflection, using the stark wisdom of those who went into the literal desert to find God as a mirror for our own crowded lives. You’ll hear their stories and sayings unpacked not as relics, but as surprisingly urgent counsel for anyone feeling parched by the pace and pressure of today’s culture. The rhythm of this podcast is intentional-meant to be absorbed slowly, creating space to consider how their pursuit of essential truth challenges our own attachments and distractions. It’s an invitation to see your own daily landscape, with all its demands and digital noise, as a place where that same transformative silence can be cultivated.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden
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