In St. John’s discussion of discernment, he reveals to us the beauty of a human being transformed by the grace of God and living in communion with Christ by removing every impediment within the heart and by constantly crying out to him in prayer. At the very center of this reality is the “eye of the soul”. It is extremely beautiful, St. John explains, and next to the angels it surpasses all things. The angels constantly gaze upon God and the purified eye of the soul, the nous, allows us to contemplate the beauty of God‘s love.
There is also a freedom that comes to the soul through this purification. Our capacity to discern spiritual realities enables us to engage in the warfare with the demons more diligently and to avoid the pitfalls that are set for us. Furthermore, it allows us to understand that there is no such thing as a small sin. If neglected, it can consume the entire person. Likewise, there is no part of our life that we are to take for granted. The eye of the soul allows us to see that each moment is an opportunity for us to respond to God and to others with love; an opportunity embraced or lost. Thus, it is a very high view of the human person that is set before us; a view that allows us to understand the radical communion that exists between each of us and to see our destiny in Christ. Beautiful indeed!
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty On the End of Repentance and on the Mark of Reparation Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Nineteen On the End of the Cenobite and Hermit Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Nineteen On the End of the Cenobite and Hermit Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Nineteen On the End of the Cenobite and Hermit Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Nineteen On the End of the Cenobite and Hermit Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Eighteen On the Kinds of Monks Part V
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Eighteen On the Kinds of Monks Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Eighteen On the Kinds of Monks Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Eighteen On the Kinds of Monks Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Eighteen Part I on the Kinds of Monks
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Seventeen on Promises and Lying III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Seventeen on Promises and Lying II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Seventeen on Promises and Lying
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Sixteen on Friendship Part III Conclusion
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Sixteen on Friendship Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Sixteen on Friendship
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
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