The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter IV: On Obedience, Part XIV

“Put out into the deep.”As we picked up with the Saint John’s writing on the spirit and practice of obedience the path set before us becomes ever so clear. We are called to be conformed to Christ. He is the standard by which we measure our lives and see what we have become in and through Him. We are to love obedience not because it brings satisfaction and joy in this world or because the things that happen to us or are asked of us conform to reason or our natural sensibilities. The fruit of obedience is humility; truthful living. It is living in accord with the truth of the kingdom that is revealed to us in and through the gift of faith. Obedience acts as that furnace of humiliation; it strips away from us the illusion of right judgment according to our own standards. What we are offered is so much more. Saint John quotes the great Cassian and tells us that humility gives rise to true discernment and out of true discernment comes clairvoyance and foreknowledge. We begin to see things, by the grace of God, through the eyes of Christ and in accord with the wisdom of the kingdom. What in this life should we desire more than this? Why do we find ourselves running back again and again simply to satisfy our own will and to manage our own life in a way that brings us fleeting happiness?  We are promised the joy of the kingdom and participation in the perfect love of God. This is not something that we can put on and take off as we do a garment. This is our identity and it must shape everything in our lives and in our hearts.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:11:38 Ren: Thanks Lori! I would have my camera on, but I’m drying my hair :-D   00:16:24 Cindy Moran: How was the mini retreat last Saturday?   00:16:28 FrDavid Abernethy: page 91   00:17:27 Miron Kerul Kmec: https://lifegivingspringspodcast.podbean.com/   00:17:27 Cindy Moran: Great!! Working in TV for 42 years...I needed it!   00:25:01 Eric Ewanco: wormwood/honey: This is a hard saying!   00:31:42 Eric Ewanco: Can we apply this principle to the current situation in the Church with +Francis?   00:45:42 Ambrose Little, OP: Following on from #104, it seems to me it's not really obedience if you agree with the direction you’re given--then you're effectively still just following your own will and mind. It’s when you are directed to something that you don't currently agree with or don't understand fully that it takes obedience, at least as a practical virtue. This is where the rubber meets the road, as it were, with regards to one’s bishop and the Holy Father--or one's own spiritual director.   00:51:54 Ambrose Little, OP: That's obedience to the rubrics. 🙂   00:53:34 Cathy Murphy: Music and signing effect a different part of the brain and creates a different experience   00:55:01 Rachel: LOL   00:55:40 Anthony: There's something in the Imitation of Christ, like: "There are so many difficult things in the Bible, sometimes it's best not to think too much if you can't understand."  It applies to a lot of Christian life.  Thinking too much and forcing understanding can be a self-inflicted wound.   00:58:52 Johnny Ross: This is a process of isolation since most people do not understand or appreciate any of this.   01:00:14 Eric Ewanco: my translation has insight instead of clarivoyance   01:00:59 Anthony: Padre Pio and violets   01:04:36 Ren: I can’t even imagine being perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect. I would have to become a totally different person. I’m sure that’s the point 😄   01:07:32 Ren: Its so hard…I’m sure when we are told to “put on Christ” we are meant to do so in the way a graft is put on - so very closely and permanently. Instead, putting on Christ for me is at the most like putting on a coat that quickly becomes too hot or uncomfortable - or unneeded - and is tossed aside.   01:07:33 Mark Cummings: It reinforces that I need to pray the prayer “I believe, help my unbelief” very very often   01:07:58 Anthony: This is amazing.  The idea "be perfect," even in the relationship to examining conscience is something that can be crushing....but the blossoming flower of hope in God is something else entirely.  This hope something happy, even knowing a person is a sinner, and I wish this hope were emphasized more in the relationship to examining conscience.   01:12:58 Johnny Ross: Optionality is the Grand illusion. We are inundated with choices in this consumer driven culture yet the way is narrow   01:14:56 Johnny Ross: Thank You   01:19:51 Eric Ewanco: I like the term "spiritual warfare". :-)   01:22:15 Sr Barbara Jean Mihalchick: "Give thanks in all things..."   01:22:17 Rachel: Thank you!   01:22:21 Johnny Ross: Great as usual, Thanks Father   01:23:01 Johnny Ross: Amen   01:23:02 Bridget McGinley: Thank you   01:23:05 Rachel: Have a beautiful retreat!!   01:23:08 Miron Kerul Kmec: Thank you   01:23:14 Rachel: Thank you Ren!!   01:23:28 Art: Great job Ren!!   01:23:29 kevin: thanks renz!   01:23:31 Sr Mary of our Divine Savior solt: thank you   01:23:33 Lori Hatala: very user friendly   01:23:34 Cindy Moran: Thank you, Father...great session!   01:23:37 Sr Barbara Jean Mihalchick: address   01:23:46 Cindy Moran: Thank you Ren!   01:23:48 Hannah Hong: Thank you   01:23:54 sue and mark: good night and God bless you and everyone.  have a blessed retreat   01:24:00 kevin: thanks everyone