The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis III, Part III

We continued our discussion from The Evergetinos on idleness. What begins to emerge from the wisdom of the fathers is that everything that is part of our life as human beings is filled with meaning and touched by grace. God has ordained that we provide for ourselves by the work of our hands. Furthermore, by this very same work, we are attentive to the needs of others. Work allows us to show charity to others in their needs. Avoiding idleness not only allows us to engage in fruitful labor but helps us to remain focused in our thoughts and avoid temptation. 

The fathers also understood that when our work is taken up as from the hand of God, as an act of obedient love, we give ourselves over to it with zeal and attention. We are prevented from falling into laziness. Such an understanding also allows us to engage in work in such a way that others see what motivates us. The intentions of the heart are often revealed in the simple way that we engage in our day-to-day labors. When we love, we take up that work diligently and joyfully.  We do not complain or fall into resentment. Nor do we compare our work with others. When we take up our work from God, it frees us from the pitfalls that often plague us on a daily basis. A balance emerges in our life. When our identity is rooted in God then we take up our labor from him and knowing that it is completed by his grace. Work is not what gives meaning to our life. It is love in our hearts that shapes that work.

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Text of chat during the group:   00:15:59 Suzanne: Father, I'm just popping in to let you know I am going offline for Lent. I'll see you after Easter.   00:16:20 FrDavid Abernethy: Replying to "Father, I'm just pop..."   ok.  God bless   00:16:21 Suzanne: Thank you!!!   00:16:44 FrDavid Abernethy: page 52 top paragraph   00:21:32 Amale Obeid: The toil when working with the mind seems paradoxically heavier than the toil of working with the hands. How might we think about the difference between working the corporate grind versus what the monks consider work?   00:34:45 Louise: A beautiful book about being with God inwardly and with the world outwardly is The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.   00:35:48 Maureen Cunningham: Yes a wonderful book   00:35:50 Anthony: Read it. Supposedly it was a Carthusian work. Very good.   00:56:26 Alexandra K: This is the issue I have while working remote. I really really really don't like it. Need to remember that I should work for God.   00:57:41 Amale Obeid: Reacted to "A beautiful book abo..." with ❤️   01:16:20 Maureen Cunningham: Do you think they were so hard on Monks because they understood Spiritual Warfare   01:19:44 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂   01:19:49 Maureen Cunningham: thank you many Blessings   01:19:53 Amale Obeid: Thank you   01:20:29 Andrew Adams: Thank you Father!   01:20:36 Sophia: Thank you, Fr   01:20:38 Alexandra K: Thank you for doing this Father! I'll pray for you