Coming towards the end of the first volume of the Evergetinos, it is clear that we are being nourished upon solid food. During these many weeks, the fathers have been leading us into a deeper understanding of the virtue of humility. It is one thing to understand the definition of humility; even something as clear as “truthful living”. However, it is only in the illustrative stories that the fathers give us that we move from the realm of imagination, personal judgment and reason to see this virtue with the eyes of faith. What we are called to is the perfect humility of Christ; he who sought only to do the will of his heavenly father. Christ sacrifices himself for the sake of love. What we see in the stories is the subtlety with which we focus upon the ego even as we pursue things that are religious. We are presented in particular with a powerful story about Saint Anthony the Great. He is told that a cobbler in the city has reached a level of greater sanctity than he has despite his ascetic rigors. This cobbler saw himself as the least of all the people in the entire city and the most worthy of condemnation and judgment by God. He would tell himself this in the morning and at night. What is significant about this is that he does not compare himself with any other person in acknowledging this truth. Looking at God he can only see his need for mercy and for complete gratitude. Yet Anthony as great as he was and having sacrificed so much still had a question within his heart. Is there anyone out there who has attained a level of greater sanctity? At that moment, Anthony turns his gaze away from God in order to compare himself with others. He loses sight, if only for a moment, of God. To gaze only upon God and his love drives out every element of ego. There is only Christ!
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Text of chat during the group:
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty Part III and Letter Forty-one Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-six Part II and Homily Seventy-seven
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-nine Part II and Letter Forty Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-eight Part II and Letter Thirty-nine Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-six Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-seven Part II and Letter Thirty-eight Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-five Part IV
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-seven Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-five Part III
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-five Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-five Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-four Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-four Part IV and Homily Seventy-five Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-three Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-four Part III
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-two Part II and Letter Thirty-three Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-four Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-one Part II and Letter Thirty-two Part I
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