In the advertisement for and description of this evening’s group, I wrote: “How does one deal with feelings of desolation in regards to one’s vocation, resentment towards others, being treated with envy or finding one’s circumstances to be a source of temptation? In the face of the many trials brought upon us by the evil one, great perseverance is needed and freedom from self will.” This description, however, does not capture the depth of the wisdom that we were exposed to this evening. All of our asceticism, all the ways that we seek to remove the impediment of our passions, all the ways that we seek to remain focused upon the spiritual battle that lies within the heart has one end: to bring us to the place where we can enter into the Paschal Mystery in union with Christ. Not one of us should seek to leave the training, ground of the spiritual life prematurely or to choose to rest before God grants it. For it is precisely in this battle that all that remains an impediment to our ascending the cross with Christ is removed. Abba Isaiah, in the richest and most beautiful interpretation of the Passion, unpacks for us the meaning of every experience of our Lord; not that we might reflect upon it in an abstract fashion, but that we would take hold of His experiences as our own. We engage in the ascetical life not to reach the kind of moral perfection or emotional Nirvana but rather that we might reach the place where we can ascend the Cross with Christ. Once we are delivered from all of these things, we pass through our own Passion Week and enter into another, new age, thinking new and incorrupt thoughts. We are reminded of St. Paul’s words, “set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you’re dead.“ We leave our sins behind and find mercy together with those who are worthy of Him!
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Text of chat during the group:
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis V Part V
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Fifty-seven Part II
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis V Part IV
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Fifty-six Part II and Letter Fifty-seven
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis V Part III
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Fifty-five and Letter Fifty-six
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis V Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Fifty-four
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis IV and Hypothesis V
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Fifty-two Part II and Letter Fifty-three
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis III, Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Fifty-one and Letter Fifty-two
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis III, Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-nine Part II and Letter Fifty
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis II, Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-nine
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part X and Hypothesis II, Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-eight
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part IX
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-seven Part II
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