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 Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily One Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily One Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty-four On Mortification Part IV Final
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty-four On Mortification Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty-four On Mortification Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty-four On Mortification Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty Three On Sinlessness Part VII
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty Three On Sinlessness Part VI
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty Three On Sinlessness Part V
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty Three On Sinlessness Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty Three On Sinlessness Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty Three On Sinlessness Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty Two On Nocturnal Illusions Part IV and Conference Twenty Three On Sinlessness Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty Two On Nocturnal Illusions Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty Two On Nocturnal Illusions Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty Two On Nocturnal Illusions
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty One On the Relaxation at Pentecost Part V
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty One On the Relaxation at Pentecost Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty One On the Relaxation at Pentecost Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty One On the Relaxation at Pentecost Part II
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