The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XIX, and XX

We continued our reading of the Evergetinos this evening with hypotheses 19 and 20. Once again we find ourselves considering the fathers’ teaching on eating and our use of food. Part of the reason they spend so much time on this subject is because they understand the meaning that food has for us as human beings and that it often goes well beyond that of nourishment. We come into this world and our first and earliest experience is that of being suckled; fed at the breast of our mother and thereby comforted. On a psychological level, food can continue to have this meaning. That is not necessarily something bad. There is a form of communion that we have with each other when we have a common meal. Indeed, this is why Christ gives himself to us as Eucharist. However, in our sin, the desire for food can be driven more by the emotional needs that we have in our day-to-day struggles. The fathers understood that the psychological reality affects us spiritually. 

Over and over again, we can turn to the things of this world to satisfy the longing of the human heart that God alone can fill. Christ is the Bread of Life and he alone can nourish us upon his love. Thus the fathers, especially those who entered into the desert, became acutely aware of the need to be watchful of this bodily hunger. When we lose our watchfulness or when we relax our disciplines, once again we can move towards satisfying ourselves through the things of this world. 

Food can become an idol. The monks understood that even in our religiosity we can be tempted to celebrate feasts in such a way that we cast aside all that was gained through fasting. What worth is it to fast 40 days of Lent then only to turn around and eat excessively for 50 days until Pentecost?

The fathers also identified another danger. Our religious sensibilities and identity can be just strong enough that they lead us to want to maintain the illusion of holiness and discipline. The fathers warn us about the temptation to secret eating. Hiding the truth from others as well as from oneself only prevents repentance. In order to hold on to the illusion and false image of the self, we can destroy ourselves spiritually.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:16:18 Bob Cihak, AZ: P. 150   00:16:49 Lilly: Reacted to "P. 150" with ❤️   00:35:32 Forrest Cavalier: That earlier story was Evergetinos 11 in Volume 2.   00:39:02 iPhone: The YouTube channel is Athonite Audio. Audio books from the monks on Mount Athos   00:50:20 Forrest Cavalier: To know, love, serve in this life, and to be with him in the next   00:55:45 Ambrose Little, OP: Only the flamin hot ones, tho   01:07:16 Rebecca Thérèse: Is the real issue that the monk out of pride allowed people to think he was better than he was.   01:09:46 Fr Marty, AZ, 480-292-3381: I too often judge myself based on some preconceived results or image of what I or someone else should look like. Whereas, it sounds like the fruit of the soil that are my circumstances and weakness and gifts. God told Paul, where you're weak I'm strong. God can hide me in his own way that bears fruits that aren't necessarily visible results.   01:12:43 Nypaver Clan: Thank you, Father!   01:12:51 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You   01:13:22 Andrew Adams: Thank you, Father!   01:13:30 Cameron Jackson: Thank you Father.   01:13:33 Troy Amaro: Thank You Father   01:13:34 Rebecca Thérèse: thank you🙂