Episode 42: Scope of Judgement

Episode 42: Scope of Judgement

Author: Exodus 90 October 14, 2025 Duration: 12:15

In this episode of Desert Fathers, Bishop Erik Varden explores the theme of judgment through the lens of the Desert Fathers' teachings, particularly focusing on the story of Abba Isaac. He discusses the dangers of judging others, the importance of humility, and the potential for personal growth through self-reflection and repentance.

__________

This January, take up the example of the Fathers and embrace a life of prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. Leave behind the pharaohs and idols that keep you enslaved and take up the journey to the promised land. Join tens of thousands of men from all around the world for the Exodus 90 Challenge. We start January 5th, 2026. Download the Exodus 90 app or visit exodus90.com to learn more.

Visit desertfathers.com to join our email newsletter for updates and reflections.

__________

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


• 🎥 ...produced by EWTN


• 🧡...and brought to you by Exodus 90. Download the Exodus 90 app today!


________


Chapters


00:00 Introduction to the Desert Fathers' Wisdom

01:58 The Danger of Judgment

02:50 The Lesson from Abba Isaac

06:18 The Path to Humility and Grace








Tags:


Desert Fathers, judgment, humility, grace, Abba Isaac, Christian teachings, mercy, self-reflection, spiritual growth, forgiveness, Bishop Varden


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
Podcast Episodes
Bonus Roundtable: On Discernment: Three Approaches [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:39
Have a question for Bishop Erik Varden? Bonus Roundtable Discussion - On Discernment: Three Approaches Join us for a special bonus roundtable discussion in Desert Fathers in a Year with host Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90,…
Episode 24: On Discernment: Three Approaches [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:16
Episode OverviewJoin host Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90 for Episode 24 of Desert Fathers in a Year, titled “On Discernment: Three Approaches.” This episode continues the exploration of the fifth chapter of the Desert Fathe…
Bonus Roundtable: Lust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:38
Do you have a question for Bishop Varden? Submit your questions here.Episode OverviewJoin host Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90 and guests Adam, Doyle, and Jared for the bonus roundtable discussion of Episode 23 of Desert Fat…
Episode 23: Lust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:33
Submit your questions to Bishop Erik Varden by emailing hello@desertfathers.com.Episode OverviewThis episode delves into the Desert Fathers' insights on lust, drawing from Abba Poemen’s counsel to a brother wrestling wit…
Bonus Roundtable: Austerity at Home, Charity Abroad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:44
Desert Fathers in a Year: Episode 22 Bonus Roundtable - Austerity at Home, Charity AbroadEpisode Overview:In this Bonus Roundtable for Episode 22 of Desert Fathers in a Year, host Jamie Baxter, joined by Adam Doyle and J…
Episode 22: Austerity at Home, Charity Abroad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:12
Austerity at Home, Charity AbroadIn Episode 22 of Desert Fathers in a Year, we continue our journey into the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, focusing on self-mastery through the lens of Abba Makarios’ life. This episode ex…
Bonus Roundtable: Necessary Words [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:40
Desert Fathers in a Year: Episode 21 Bonus Roundtable - Necessary WordsOverviewIn this bonus roundtable discussion for Episode 21 of Desert Fathers in a Year, host Jamie Baxter and guests Adam, Doyle, and Jared dive into…
Episode 21: Necessary Words [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:46
Necessary Words: Confession, Freedom, and the Danger of Silence🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year!In today’s episode, we explore the powerful story of Abba Serapion, who struggled with a seemingly small vice—secretly…
Bonus Roundtable: Words that Wound [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:15
Desert Fathers in a Year: Episode 20 Bonus Roundtable - Words That WoundEpisode OverviewWelcome to the bonus roundtable discussion for Episode 20 of Desert Fathers in a Year, hosted by Jamie Baxter from Exodus 90. In thi…
Episode 20: Words that Wound [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:23
Episode 20: Words That Wound🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year!In this episode of Desert Fathers in a Year with Bishop Erik Varden, we explore the story of Abba Achillas, who transforms a wounding word into a path of…