I do not know

“One day some old men came to see Abba Anthony. In the midst of them was Abba Joseph. Wanting to test them, the old man suggested a text from the Scriptures, and, beginning with the youngest, he asked them what it meant. Each gave his opinion as he was able. But to each one the old man said, ‘You have not understood it.' Last of all he said to Abba Joseph, ‘How would you explain this saying?' and he replied, ‘I do not know.' Then Abba Anthony said, ‘Indeed, Abba Joseph has found the way, for he has said: “I do not know.”’” -The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Abba Anthony the Great, paragraph 17)

How humble Abba Joseph’s response was.

All those with him gave their opinion on the text. But he didn’t.

He humbled himself and said “I do not know.”

He was the oldest of the group, and most likely the wisest among them who went to Abba Anthony, but he did not display it.

He said that he did not know, thus saying that he wished to hear what Abba Anthony had to say about it.

Abba Joseph wanted to be humble and learn, not to show off his own understanding.

We often give our opinions to others about things we do not understand.

It is so common for people to say what they think about everything they see, even if they have no knowledge about it.

We should all learn to humble ourselves and prefer to listen before speaking.

Abba Anthony the Great, pray for us!