Philokalia Ministries The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis II, Part VI
After listening to a multitude of stories from the Evergetinos about responding to insults from others, the only response that one seems to be able to offer is a sigh; not a sigh expressing disbelief but rather wonder. This is the love and the grace that God offers to us at every single moment of our life. A synergy exists between our will (as simple as uttering a “yes” within our hearts to God), and the outpouring of His grace and compassion. Suddenly the unthinkable comes into view through our faith. We see, through experience, the Godly love that is not only offered to us but within us.
One of the things that we often say to ourselves when we sin or when we respond to another who is wounded us is: “I’m only human!” However, these are not just fanciful stories in the Evergetinos but rather signs of what God is capable of doing within the human heart and what he has made us by his grace. Through humbling ourselves, acknowledging the poverty of our sin, we are lifted up to love and show compassion to others as we have received from the Lord.
The Desert Fathers are living icons of the gospel. They reveal to us this love, not primarily through their writings but rather through their lives. We in turn come to understand this not through reading but rather through experience. May God in his mercy draw us into his love and allow us to see him face-to-face!
--- Text of chat during the group: 00:10:43 FrDavid Abernethy: page 37 number 4 00:44:10 Nypaver Clan: Screwtape Letters 00:44:49 Lee Graham: Sounds like CS Lewis’s “Screw Tape Letters” 00:54:03 Louise: How about psychopaths, praying for those damaging psychopaths? They seem pseudo-humans, that is, humans only in form but not in soul. They seem to be a window of the devils. I cannot pray for them. Am I wrong? 00:57:06 Rachel: When we sin, are we even being ehat it truly menas to be human? Even the "small" sins? 00:57:55 Sharon Fisher: So we pray that the Holy Spirit reaches them? That may be all I can muster in some cases. Is it enough? 00:58:31 Rachel: That is a beautiful prayer. 00:59:28 Lee Graham: Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. 01:00:05 Lori Hatala: Reacted to "Let there be peace o..." with ❤️ 01:00:39 Vanessa: Reacted to "Let there be peace o..." with ❤️ 01:01:57 Rachel: Imagine a masterpiece that has been defaced. Yet, by grace, God can restore His image in the sinner. 01:02:30 Sharon Fisher: Reacted to "Let there be peace o..." with ❤️ 01:03:38 Tracey Fredman: Jesus asks people in the gospels - he asked Solomon in a dream - and I believe he asks us, "What do you want me to do for you?" We can ask for grace to be able to pray for those who difficult for us to pray for. 01:04:19 Sharon Fisher: Reacted to "Jesus asks people in..." with ❤️ 01:04:24 Vanessa: Reacted to "Jesus asks people in..." with ❤️ 01:06:56 Adam Paige: Reacted to "Let there be peace o…" with ❤️ 01:07:20 Adam Paige: Reacted to "Imagine a masterpiec…" with ☦️ 01:07:31 Rachel: Wow. How beautiful. 01:08:50 Amale Obeid: How do you overcome the fear of needing to work for money to survive when you’re otherwise completely ready to sell everything and follow God and devote your life day in and day out to Him? To honoring him, praising him, praying, reading about him, etc… It has become hard to live in both worlds. 01:15:24 Rachel: I wish I could go! God bless you all 01:15:37 Steve Yu: Replying to "I wish I could go! G…" Same here! 01:16:23 Andrew Adams: Thank you Father! 01:16:24 Louise: Thanks, Fr. Abernethy! 01:16:27 Lorraine Green: Thank you very much! 01:16:28 Sharon Fisher: And with your spirit! 01:16:29 Suzanne: God bless everyone! 01:16:30 Adam Paige: Thank you Father ! 01:16:38 Lee Graham: Brilliant, thank you!!