Obedience! The root of the word is to hear or to listen. What emerges in reading the fathers is that our capacity to hear the word of God is rooted in our willingness to set aside our own willfulness, ego, and our private judgment. We often become obstinate and entrenched in our own view of things in such a way that we are no longer able to hear the advice or counsel of others. We are shown in this evening’s text that sometimes we must be left to our own devices to experience the poverty of our choices that are contrary to the will of God and His love.
What also emerges is that obedience is not rooted in law but love. Obedience is the fruit of a deep relationship with God, and with one’s spiritual elder. An elder must love his disciple, and recognize that he bears responsibility for his salvation and so must give him constant care. The disciple must reciprocate this love and respect. In doing so, he enables the elder to be a true shepherd and not a mere hireling. This mutual obedience elevates the entire church and allows it to make present the humble love of Christ crucified to the world.
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Text of chat during the group:
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-five Part IV and Homily Sixty-six Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-five Part III
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-five Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part XII and Homily Sixty-five Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part XI
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part X
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part IX
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part VIII
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part VII
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part VI
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part V
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part IV
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part III
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Sixty-four Part II
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
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