The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XL, Part I

We rarely think of the importance of stability; not only in our external environment, but the stability of thought and emotion. It is precisely this that is addressed in Hypothesis 40. One can easily be tempted, with good reason, for a multitude of reasons, to move to another place, where one can find greater tranquility and peace in the spiritual life. Yet, such thoughts are often the work of the evil one. Wherever we go, we take our selves with us, including our passions. 

And so, we receive multiple stories and examples of monks and saints who were put to the test in this regard.  We can allow ourselves with great ease to begin to daydream; to imagine a kind of life that will bring peace and happiness to us or that would be pleasing to God. The danger is that we often are motivated by our personal judgment and sensibilities or by the actions of the evil one. 

We must understand that in this world we know no peace, except for that which is found in Christ. While we are in this world, we are engaged in constant spiritual warfare and should expect nothing less. In fact, we were told that we must become like the cherubim - “all eyes.”  We must constantly watch for the subtle ways that the evil one seeks to draw us away from the path of obedience and humility.

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Text of chat during the group:   00:11:33 FrDavid Abernethy: page 330 Letter E   00:54:48 Erick chastain: What hypothesis/ book are we on?   00:55:21 carol nypaver: P.334   00:55:26 Eric Ewanco: XL.A.2   00:55:59 Erick chastain: Reacted to "P.334" with 👍   00:56:28 carol nypaver: Please say book name again?   00:56:52 John Ingram: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Repentance-Purity-Pope-Shenouda/dp/0881415324?ref_=nav_ya_signin   00:56:59 Cindy Moran: Great idea.   00:57:55 Sean: Reacted to "Great idea. " with 👍   01:03:37 Sean: Along this line, I have friends who have considered converting to Orthodoxy. Can you speak to pursuing holiness in our Church and not leaving in this context? Thank you, Father☦️   01:06:26 Erick chastain: Pope Francis said Sunday that evangelization doesn't get done by keyboard warriors   01:08:17 John Ingram: I think Our Lord told us that in these times, charity would grow cold - which is exactly what is happening with all these internal disputes in the Church.   01:17:31 Eric Ewanco: “One does not proclaim the Gospel standing still, locked in an office, at one’s desk or at one’s computer, arguing like ‘keyboard warriors’ and replacing the creativity of proclamation with copy-and-paste ideas taken from here and there. The Gospel is proclaimed by moving, by walking, by going.” — Pope Francis, General Audience, Wednesday, 12 April 2023   01:27:27 Cindy Moran: 🙏   01:27:58 sue and mark: God Bless everyone.