Christianity Isn’t About Being Nice | The Radical Mercy of Abba Moses

About this sermon

Christianity is not primarily about becoming nice, polite, or even merely “good.” Those may be fruits of the Christian life, but the real call is much greater: Take up the Cross and follow Christ. This sermon reflects on that call through the extraordinary life of Abba Moses the Black, also called Moses the Ethiopian. Moses began as a runaway slave, violent robber, murderer, and gang leader. Yet after encountering a monastery in the desert, he confessed his sins, received baptism, became a monk, and slowly allowed the grace of God to transform him. His conversion did not happen overnight. When thieves once robbed his cell, Moses overpowered them—but instead of harming them, he brought them to the monks and asked what a Christian should do. The robbers themselves repented. Later, when monks gathered to judge a brother who had sinned, Moses arrived carrying a basket leaking sand behind him. “My sins are running behind me. I cannot see my sins, and yet here I am to judge my brother.” The Gospel calls Christians beyond ordinary kindness: Love your enemies. Do good to those who mistreat you. Return kindness for insult. Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful. We are sinners—but we are not called to remain sinners. We are called to become saints. Timestamps / Chapters 00:00 Opening Prayer 00:28 Christianity Is Not About Being Nice 00:38 The True Call: Take Up the Cross 00:57 The Cross Guides the Christian Life 01:22 The Call of Christ Is for Every Christian 01:48 Becoming Sons and Daughters of God 02:12 What the Saints Teach Us 02:41 Abba Moses the Black 02:55 Runaway Slave, Robber & Murderer 03:17 Moses Finds a Monastery 03:31 Fascinated by the Life of the Monks 03:46 Confession, Baptism & Monastic Life 03:55 Conversion Does Not Happen Overnight 04:03 Four Robbers Enter His Cell 04:21 Mercy Toward the Thieves 04:29 The Robbers Repent 04:41 Moses Becomes a Spiritual Father 04:50 The Monk Caught in Sin 05:15 The Basket of Sand 05:23 “My Sins Are Running Behind Me” 05:40 The Monks Refuse to Judge Their Brother 05:56 The Final Days of Abba Moses 06:05 Refusing to Fight the Robbers 06:22 Baptism Is Only the Beginning 06:38 Learning to Live as God’s Children 06:54 Love of God & Love of Neighbor 07:02 Do Unto Others 07:08 Including Our Enemies 07:21 Loving Those Who Love Us Is Easy 07:41 We Are Called to Be Saints 07:48 Love Your Enemies 08:00 Give Without Expecting Return 08:08 Return Kindness for Rudeness 08:16 Speak Well—or Remain Silent 08:29 Yes, This Applies to Social Media 08:44 “Delete Your Accounts” 08:50 The Small Acts of Christian Life 09:20 Kindness Is Only the Beginning 09:36 Christianity Sounds Foolish to the World 09:57 Christ Calls Everyone 10:17 Two Steps Forward, One Step Back 10:33 We Cannot Do This Without God 10:39 Christianity Is More Than Niceness 10:45 Be Merciful as the Father Is Merciful 10:52 A Challenge for This Week 11:01 Who Needs Mercy From You? 11:18 Let Go of Long-Held Grudges 11:32 Mercy Means Taking Up the Cross 11:40 Living as Children of God 11:55 Kindness to the Ungrateful and Evil 12:00 Become a Living Example of God’s Mercy 12:10 Those Who Show Mercy Receive Mercy 12:24 Christ Will Judge the Living and the Dead 12:33 Closing Doxology For more please visit https://www.youtube.com/@stjohnmelkite & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest. 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #AbbaMoses #MosesTheBlack #DesertFathers #ChristianMercy #LoveYourEnemies #CatholicFaith #CatholicSaints #TakeUpYourCross #ChristianConversion #Forgiveness #ChristianHumility #EasternChristianity #BecomeASaint #CatholicSermon #SensusFidelium

Topics

• Love & Compassion
• God the Father