Discernment, St. John tells us, arises out of humility. It also allows us to see the value of humility in the spiritual life. It is the virtue above all virtues, that we must cling to in the spiritual battle. The enemy will seek to confuse us in one way or another; by flattery or by seemingly knowing our thoughts and placing ideas before us which then make us fear their control over us. However, discernment and humility, both protect our capacity to live in He who is the truth.
It also allows us to see the truth about ourselves as human beings and our dignity. We are not created with the passions. They rise out of our sin and the distortion of the desire that God has placed in us naturally. It is desire that makes us long for him and the life of virtue and it is anger that allows us to fight the good fight of faith and strike down the evil one and the temptations that are placed before us.
We also find, over the course of time, that discernment allows us to let go of our judgment and what gives us security in the spiritual life and to trust wholly in God. Therefore, when life seems to crumble around us and all seems to be wrapped in darkness, discernment allows us to step forward with trust in God and his love. While it keeps us from acting in rash way it also protects us from false prudence that hides cowardice and lack of courage.
What we begin to see is that any struggle in the spiritual life to overcome the passions, any sacrifice that we make to follow the Lord, promises what is beyond imagination. Even to lose all in this world is to lose nothing if we have Christ.
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Text of chat during the group:
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-three Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-two Part III and Homily Sixty-three Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-two Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-two Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty Part III and Homily Sixty-one
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-nine Part III and Homily Sixty Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-nine Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-eight and Homily Fifty-nine Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-seven Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-seven Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-six Part III
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-six Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-five Part II and Homily Fifty-six Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-four Part VI and Homily Fifty-five
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-four Part V
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-four Part IV
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-four Part III
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Fifty-four Part II
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