Philokalia Ministries The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XLV, Part VII
Coming towards the end of the first volume of the Evergetinos, it is clear that we are being nourished upon solid food. During these many weeks, the fathers have been leading us into a deeper understanding of the virtue of humility. It is one thing to understand the definition of humility; even something as clear as “truthful living”. However, it is only in the illustrative stories that the fathers give us that we move from the realm of imagination, personal judgment and reason to see this virtue with the eyes of faith. What we are called to is the perfect humility of Christ; he who sought only to do the will of his heavenly father. Christ sacrifices himself for the sake of love. What we see in the stories is the subtlety with which we focus upon the ego even as we pursue things that are religious. We are presented in particular with a powerful story about Saint Anthony the Great. He is told that a cobbler in the city has reached a level of greater sanctity than he has despite his ascetic rigors. This cobbler saw himself as the least of all the people in the entire city and the most worthy of condemnation and judgment by God. He would tell himself this in the morning and at night. What is significant about this is that he does not compare himself with any other person in acknowledging this truth. Looking at God he can only see his need for mercy and for complete gratitude. Yet Anthony as great as he was and having sacrificed so much still had a question within his heart. Is there anyone out there who has attained a level of greater sanctity? At that moment, Anthony turns his gaze away from God in order to compare himself with others. He loses sight, if only for a moment, of God. To gaze only upon God and his love drives out every element of ego. There is only Christ!
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Text of chat during the group:
00:08:36 FrDavid Abernethy: page 400 para 76 00:09:41 Suzanne: LOL!!! 00:41:23 sharonfisher: I hope everyone knows about the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry. Poor or wayward folks that end up imprisoned could benefit so much from the work these folks do. I feel like the prison cell could be substitute for a monk’s cell or the isolation of the desert fathers. (Not sure where this fits in the discussion, but seems relevant.) 00:42:11 sharonfisher: AGREE! 00:43:54 Michael Hinckley: St Thomas Moore choose to see his cell in the tower as such I believe. 00:46:24 Suzanne: I think that I've actually made myself sick from self-reproach because of my past. Thirty years of extreme desolation has warped my perception of God's love for my soul. Self-reproach can be a form of self-torture. The desert fathers is the first time anything I've come across has given me courage. 00:48:00 Lee Graham: Hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest. 01:12:13 Sean: Anthony's ego? gosh...he's called Great. 01:16:29 Sean: compare and despair 01:16:55 Steve Yu: Reacted to "compare and despair" with 👍 01:17:29 Maureen Cunningham: How do you not get into a self hate toward you life. did not the church father warn against self pity 01:18:46 Suzanne: Did you see the Russian movie, The Island, about the monk who was tortured by guilt, yet worked miracles? 01:19:17 Maureen Cunningham: Yes I saw movie wonderful 01:19:40 Suzanne: Incredible movie! 01:20:04 Nypaver Clan: Father, at the start of this discussion, you mentioned that the slightest turning toward God fills the heart with great Grace. Likewise, the slightest turning away from God fills the heart with pride. 01:22:01 Maureen Cunningham: Thank you Blessing prayers for you Father 01:22:09 sharonfisher: And with your spirit! 01:22:12 Suzanne: Thank you so much! 01:22:13 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂