We take up this evening a new hypothesis (VI) dealing with the ownership of property. At the heart of it, however, is the temptation to avarice and the impact that it has upon the spiritual life and upon our commitments to God and others.
The monks relinquishment of property, their embrace of a life of poverty and simplicity, highlights for us the subtle temptations that are involved in our attachment to the things of the world. Where lust and gluttony perhaps fail to satisfy - avarice often step in to test us. It can become something insatiable. The more we amass the more we desire.
Our attachment to things can begin on a very small level. Yet unchecked, it can affect the way that we enter into our relationship with God. We slowly begin to seek our security and identity in things. This, in turn, can make us ever so vulnerable to the demons attack against our commitments. The possession of things can make it seem more plausible to change and alter our life; to pursue another path of salvation, for ourselves, that does not require hardship or that offers more satisfaction. It gives room for our internal instability to drive us away from what challenges us internally to overcome the ego. What begins with a small attachment eventually can develop to the point where a demon tells us that “if stay where we are we the place our salvation in jeopardy. It is better to take what we have, and to create something better in our own judgment.” In this, we often place our own judgment above God’s. It creates an atmosphere of infidelity and strips us of long-suffering.
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Text of chat during the group:
00:11:21 FrDavid Abernethy: page 64
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Fifteen on Divine Gifts
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Fourteen On Spiritual Knowledge Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Fourteen On Spiritual Knowledge Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Fourteen On Spiritual Knowledge Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Thirteen On God’s Protection, Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Thirteen On God’s Protection, Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Thirteen On God’s Protection, Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Thirteen On God’s Protection, Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Thirteen On God’s Protection, Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twelve on Chastity Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twelve on Chastity Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twelve on Chastity Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twelve on Chastity Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Eleven on Perfection Part II and Conference Twelve Intro.
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Eleven on Perfection
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Ten on Prayer Part IV & Conference Eleven Intro.
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Ten on Prayer Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Ten on Prayer Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Ten on Prayer Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Nine On Prayer, Part VI
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