Tonight we picked up with Hypothesis 34. Again we are introduced into the practice of asceticism; in particular, how it is embraced in the spirit of obedience. We were given multiple stories of individuals who, out of love for their elder, respond with an immediacy to their demand or request. In each case we are shown the deep fruit that this bears.

However, the greater task for us is to look at our lives and to see if we have prepared our hearts to receive the seed of our Lord‘s word as he calls us to the life of holiness. Do we respond with swiftness when called to prayer or with zeal when called to embrace the practice of fasting or urgency when called respond to someone in need or jeopardy?

What the stories show us is that obedience is based upon a relationship, not law. It is love that makes us run to respond to Christ and to those He has given to us to guide us along the path to Him. If our asceticism or obedience lacks this love, then it is something that is suspect.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:10:43 B David: hi all Ben David here. sort of new here... 00:10:55 FrDavid Abernethy: welcome Ben! 00:12:24 David Fraley: Hello Ben! 00:12:59 David Fraley: I did. I found a place in West View. 00:21:09 Bridget McGinley: St Hesychios in the Philokalia states “ a faithful servant is one who expresses his faith in Christ through obedience to His commandments. Father, if one cannot find an “elder” can one be assured of the graces and gifts of obedience by simply following the commandments? 00:24:33 Bridget McGinley: thank you 00:33:13 Anthony Rago: This is in stark contrast with the pagans - example the fear in the Adventures of Ulysses, in the trip to Hades, land of the shades. 00:35:22 Anthony Rago: The Coptic Hymn to St George names him the conqueror of his tormentors 01:14:40 David Fraley: Thank you, Father!

The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXXIV