Exploring the Deception of Guile and Self-Deception

To be simple, guileless, and meek are described by St. John as a habit of soul. Habits form deeply over the course of time and those that we form through negligence in our relationship with God are often very difficult to change. In fact, it would be better to say that they are changed only by the grace of God. 

What would our life look like if our speech was unpremeditated? What would our relationships look like if we were free from ulterior motives? To look upon others only with love and to live in the truth through humility is to reshape our experience and vision of reality. Suddenly we begin to see things (and more importantly others) as God sees them. We can look upon the other and be blind to their natural faults or defects as well as their sins. We return to a kind of holy innocence and purity of heart were we never lose sight of the beauty of God’s creation and most especially the beauty of the human person. To give oneself to God is to find within the capacity to give oneself to others, to love without measure, to serve without calculation. May God make it so!

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Text of chat during the group:

00:11:21 FrDavid Abernethy: page 177 para 10   00:19:16 Victor Haburchak: Jesus was often angry with the Pharisees & scribes.   00:36:58 Kate : I find that my attempts at simplicity of life can become rather complex in trying to let go of things in my life.  I am flooded with distractions that “seem” necessary at the time but later I realize it was a temptation away from simplicity.  I find it hard to navigate towards simplicity.  The complexity of simplicity!   00:41:10 Lee Graham: Reacted to "I find that my attem…" with ❤️   00:43:48 Daniel Allen: That’s me I always want another book and read say 7 at a time. Then I read from St Isaac today that not every good book is beneficial for stillness (or simplicity). Even the good things, in this case a quest for knowledge and understanding, can actually be a distraction.   00:45:55 Kate : Thank you, Father!  You cut through the complexity for me.  Union with God.   00:46:07 Anthony Rago: Some of it you learn by experience   00:46:17 Jeff O.: Reacted to "That’s me I always w..." with 👍   00:46:34 Rory: Reacted to That’s me I always w... with "👍"   00:46:46 Rory: Reacted to Some of it you learn... with "👍"   00:47:34 Victor Haburchak: Reacted to "That’s me I always w…" with 👍   00:59:04 Fr Marty, ND, 480-292-3381: I've often been struck by this saying: It was said of Abba Macarius the Great that he became, according to the writings, a god on earth, because in the way God protects the world, so Abba Macarius would hide the faults he saw as though he had not seen them, and the faults he heard about as though he had not heard of them. Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Macari us the Egyptian 3 2 (PG 6 5 , 273)   01:01:55 Daniel Allen: That’s strikingly beautiful   01:03:50 Victor Haburchak: Replying to "I've often been stru…" Like the Seal of Confession   01:05:05 Victor Haburchak: My pastor often speaks about respecting boundaries   01:06:22 Jeff O.: Reacted to "I've often been stru..." with 💙   01:08:55 Victor Haburchak: Reacted to "I've often been stru…" with 💙   01:11:31 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂   01:11:38 Victor Haburchak: Thanks!   01:11:44 Art: Thank you.   01:11:50 sue and mark: Thank you.   01:12:07 Lorraine Green: Thank you Father!   01:12:19 Maureen Cunningham: Blessings Praying  for all   01:12:24 Louise: Thanks, Fr. Abernathy!   01:12:28 Jeff O.: thank you!!   01:12:28 Cindy Moran: Thank you Father   01:12:39 David Swiderski: Thank you father!