The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part X

As we read St. John Climacus, we begin to see discernment as rooted in our relationship with God; a relationship that is founded upon the revelation of God‘s love and the desire that it stirs within the human heart to respond in kind. If we love God, then it is not going to seem to be a burden to us to take every thought captive and bring it before God for his blessing or judgment. Nor is waiting upon the Lord going to be a point of frustration. 

Rather, when we love God, we understand that he is going to desire what is best for us. This desire leads him to test our intentions so as to purify them. What God looks for is humility and a spirit of repentance. Faced with our own weakness, and the darkness that sin brings into our life and into the world, we must cling to God and allow him to guide us with his light.  Often only one step ahead is illuminated for us. We must be at peace with this if we have faith in him and trust in his love. 

Part of what this requires from us is an honest heart; one that avoids distractions and holds fast to innocence. Often our sensibilities can become hardened through our experience of the world, and we lose the capacity not only to be vulnerable to others but to God himself. It has been said that “haste destroys the poet and the saint”.  In the face of the frenetic pace of the world, let us hold on to simplicity and silence in order that we might hear the Beloved when he speaks to us.

---   Text of chat during the group:   00:08:06 FrDavid Abernethy: page 206 number 114   00:16:33 Susanna Joy: It can be years and years...   00:16:56 Susanna Joy: ...one must have the patience of Job.   00:27:28 Susanna Joy: I have a friend who says, "Set all your thoughts, words, and actions as flowers at the feet of the Lord."  Then whatever the result, the intention is right.   00:28:10 Paul G.: Reacted to "I have a friend who …" with ❤️   00:30:37 Rebecca Thérèse: Therese thought of herself as a plaything of the infant Jesus so sometimes he would discard her in order to play with something else.   00:32:09 Genesius B.: Would it be imprudent to treat everything as beyond us, or perhaps prudent so we might never overreach?   00:33:35 Susanna Joy: Replying to "Would it be impruden..."     There is the riddle ...   00:34:50 Susanna Joy: Replying to "Would it be impruden..."     ...we must do our be...   00:42:31 sharonfisher: But how do we deal with the ‘warped souls’ in life as we encounter them and recognize them as too familiar to our circumstances? It seems scary.   00:43:00 Kate : Father, Could you offer any guidance on finding the balance between overreaching in the spiritual life versus not pushing oneself enough?  I find it very hard to get the right balance.  It is a long, hard struggle.   00:46:23 Anthony: 1. Thanks for explaining the unforgivable sin.  2. No need to fall I to scrupulousity over this sin because concern about it indicates one has not confused good and evil. 3. I like a sentiment by St Paisios you shared on Facebook about keeping a calm soul so the devils can't cast their lines in our soul.   00:51:18 Susanna Joy: Replying to "1. Thanks for explai..."     That is such a great...   00:52:20 Susanna Joy: Replying to "1. Thanks for explai..."     Fish are tempted to ...   00:52:30 Susanna Joy: Reacted to 1. Thanks for explai... with "❤️"   00:53:10 Carolus B: Replying to "1. Thanks for explai..."   Should we avoid holding personal goals, instead endeavoring to only hold the single goal which is the desire of God, regardless of how we feel about the outcome?   00:53:52 Anthony: Hahaha. Yes he might   00:54:07 Paul G.: Reacted to "Hahaha. Yes he might" with 😇   00:54:16 sharonfisher: This is an aside that you may or may not want to read re: what we deign to touch or interact with. I was crossing, on foot, an intersection to the metro station and my luggage got all sideways. This homeless-type fellow ran out and collected my stuff for me and handed it to me on the other side. I gathered a few dollars to give him. I didn’t realize what I was doing when I went to grab the bag handles, but he did — he asked, pointedly, if I was afraid to touch his hand. Apparently, I had avoided contact with him, even after his assistance. I’m ashamed to this day. And I have another story equally shameful. Won’t bore you with it. Point, I think, is to be aware of our own actions, and how others perceive them.   00:55:14 Genesius B.: how do we discern when one malevolently disputes with us, vs one who disputes due to a misplaced but genuine and fervent care for the soul?   00:55:20 Carolus B: Should we avoid holding personal goals, instead endeavoring to only hold the single goal which is the desire of God, regardless of how we feel about the outcome?   01:07:33 Rebecca Thérèse: People admire athletes who train physically from dawn to dusk but if people want to "train" spiritually people think they're mentally disturbed!   01:07:37 sharonfisher: Not sure if Eastern Church recognizes Alfred and Briget and other English saints prior to Great Schism (other than Patrick, perhaps)?   01:07:38 David: I always loved a tradition in northern spain. They celebrate "Tu Santo" or saints day which often is more important or more celebrated than a birthday. These celebration's always explain about the life of the saint.   01:08:24 Art iPhone: Looking forward to the Frances Cabrini movie coming soon.   01:08:33 sharonfisher: Reacted to "People admire athlet..." with ❤️   01:09:03 Cindy Moran: Teresa of Avila & her young brother tried to run away from home to become martyrs.   01:09:13 sharonfisher: Reacted to "Looking forward to t..." with ❤️   01:09:18 Joseph Chiappetta: Reacted to "Teresa of Avila & he..." with ❤️   01:10:16 Carolus B: Replying to "Teresa of Avila & he..."   When asked by her parents why she ran away she answered: "I want to see God, and you have to die first."   01:10:38 Anthony: The serious troubles caused by religious nuts make us wary of asceticism   01:11:03 sharonfisher: Fasting could bring one to extremes.   01:11:04 Ren Witter: When I was little I heard the story of a martyr who died being boiled in oil. I used to pray that that would be the one way I wouldn’t be martyred.   01:11:07 Genesius B.: can we go back to 124 briefly   01:11:15 Rebecca Thérèse: A lot of trouble is caused by atheists!   01:11:43 Kate : Who was it who said “I could be a martyr if they kill me real quick?”   01:11:58 Anthony: Replying to "Who was it who said ..."     St Thomas more?   01:12:00 Genesius B.: Replying to "can we go back to 12..."   how do we ensure our kids have an appropriate upbringing which would best instill these virtues beyond the mere basics   01:14:22 Genesius B.: Replying to "can we go back to 12..."   i.e. how do we instill a proper spirit of mortification and humility in our children?   01:14:43 Alice Hirsch: By saying the 12 year St. Bridget prayers, a person can become martyr like.  The promise is stated as follows:  “The soul who prays them will be accepted among the Martyrs, as though he had spilled his blood for his faith.”   01:14:58 Genesius B.: Replying to "can we go back to 12..."   w/o simultaneously being too harsh   01:15:11 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂   01:15:13 Lee Graham: This was a most informative and spiritually strengthening teaching. So glad I attended even though I was not well. Thank you and bless you.   01:15:21 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "By saying the 12 yea..." with 🥰   01:15:45 Lori Hatala: feel better Lee   01:16:20 sue and mark: Reacted to "feel better Lee" with 🙏   01:16:25 Andrew Adams: Thank you Father!   01:16:28 David: Thank you Father!   01:16:28 sue and mark: Reacted to "This was a most info..." with 🙏   01:16:28 Jeff O.: Thank you!!   01:16:31 sharonfisher: And with your spirt!!   01:16:31 Genesius B.: Thank you father   01:16:33 sue and mark: good night   01:16:38 Kevin Burke: Thanks you Father!   01:16:41 Cindy Moran: Thanks Father's