Tonight, we read Step number 11 on “talkativeness and silence.” Fittingly, it is very brief, if not the briefest of all of the steps of The Ladder. This brevity is St. John’s way of teaching us that so much of our speech involves vainglory; putting ourselves on display. We seek through it to step out of ourselves; betraying the painful experience we have as human beings of our lack of identity. God has created us for himself. He has created us in his image and likeness precisely that we might not experience ourselves in isolation, but rather in communion. However, to enter into communion with God means to step out of our limited ways of perceiving the world around us and reality as a whole. This means allowing God, through the silence,
to draw us in faith into the experience of His life, light and love. To give ourselves over to talkativeness is to find ourselves dissipated. Our desire for God cools and the emptiness that we feel drives us to fill our lives with anything and everything so that we do not feel alone. Despite having God dwelling within us, once we lose sight of him, silence becomes an enemy. Therefore, John tells us that we must foster silence as a habit. We must allow God to show us its value, and what it makes possible for us. The first step is to create external silence. Once we have done this, we often see the unsettledness of our minds and hearts.
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Text of chat during the group:
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Nine On Prayer, Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Nine On Prayer, Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Nine On Prayer, Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Nine On Prayer, Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Eight on Principalities Part III & Conference Nine On Prayer
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Eight on Principalities Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Eight on Principalities Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Seven on the Changeableness of the Soul and on Evil Spirits Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Seven on the Changeableness of the Soul and on Evil Spirits Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Seven on the Changeableness of the Soul and on Evil Spirits Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Seven on the Changeableness of the Soul and on Evil Spirits
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Six on the Slaughter of Some Holy Men Part IV and On Evil Spirits Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Six on the Slaughter of Some Holy Men Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Six on the Slaughter of Some Holy Men Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Six on the Slaughter of Some Holy Men Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Six on the Slaughter of Some Holy Men Part I
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Five on the Eight Principal Vices Part IV
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Five on the Eight Principal Vices Part III
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Five on the Eight Principal Vices Part II
Conferences of St. John Cassian: Conference Five on the Eight Principal Vices
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