The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXXII, Part III

The times reading The Evergetinos I find my mind and heart swimming not in darkness but rather in a light with which I am unfamiliar. For in reading the fathers, everything seems to be turned on its head. The writings are often jarring, but in a similar way to that of the Gospel.  To read deeply is to find one’s heart inflamed. To listen closely is to find something stirred within us that perhaps was once lifeless. The words can be so piercing that they reveal parts of ourselves that we were unaware of or did not know existed. This is what we were shown tonight; and this is what makes every moment of reflecting upon the fathers worth it.   ---   Text of chat during the group:   00:29:34 Mark Kelly: Fr. David is speaking of Fr. Lazarus el Antony.   00:31:23 Mark Kelly: Fr. Lazarus vide:  https://vimeo.com/9794946   00:35:54 Anthony: This section by Isaac is jarring because it appears to conflict w\ith duty to family and community; and it conflicts with the Christian culture ideal which Europeans at least remember from the Middle Ages.  Pope Benedict's catecheses on the saints which built Christendom would be very different if he came from a culture that was dominated by, say, Islam.   00:41:01 Bridget McGinley: I am from Philly...… he ended pretty disgraced. I think the Princehood got to his head. That is a big crown to wear. I agree it is contrary to religious life.   00:43:13 Anthony: In my opinion, I believe I see this "worldiness" emerge in Europe after the rocky path the Germanic tribes had in full conversion to the Faith.  The Romano-Greeks in the East had similar problems manifested in another way - hence the unflattering term "byzantine".  Each culture needs to fully convert and not flatter themselves.   00:43:55 Babington (or Babi): I think it was Saint Therese who wrote “Everything I have and am everything I am is pure gift.”   00:44:17 Babington (or Babi): Oops miswrote   00:44:35 Babington (or Babi): Everything I have and everything I am is pure gift.   00:45:56 iPhone: Principalities ?   00:52:17 Mark Kelly: One of the better-known sayings of the desert fathers is,” There are two things to avoid, an easy life and vain glory.”   00:53:18 iPhone: principalities and powers   00:57:17 Anthony: Monk is from monos = single   00:57:24 Anthony: single minded, so I have heard   01:13:17 iPhone: Really Excellent !   01:15:19 iPhone: Whoa.  Amen   01:18:01 Ambrose Little, OP: Reminds me of the style of parables. First of the unfaithful servants. Then like the inverse of the parable of the lost sheep. But in this case, it’s the celebration of Satan and all of Hell when just one “sheep” is lost.   01:20:52 Bridget McGinley: Thank you Father!   01:20:59 Babington (or Babi): Good stuff.  Thank you Father. God bless you all.