The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XXIV, Part II & XXV, Part I

Why is it that we engage in the ascetic life and the spiritual life as a whole?  How is it that we come to understand the extreme practices of the desert fathers as they entered into the struggle with the passions? Seemingly they were willing to do almost anything to overcome temptation and to suffer extreme disciplines, punishing the body, until the passions were overcome.

Again, we must understand that the desert was a laboratory. The fathers were driven there by their desire to live for God and to live for Him completely. Of course, they entered into these exercises with an imperfect understanding. Yet, in reading the Evergetinos we are blessed to see the development of their understanding and practice; how it becomes more measured and more focused upon God and the grace he provides.

Beyond this, however, they were engaging in this way of life not simply in the pursuit of certain principles. Nor were they seeking to overcome their natural flaws and defects. They understood the struggle was also with demonic provocation. Therefore, they were not simply trying to foster good habits or to acquire a taste for that which was more virtuous. They understood that the spiritual life involved a bloody warfare against evil. The shadow of the Cross always falls over our struggles and stands as a reminder of the costs of sin. To overcome sin and its consequence, Christ sweat blood in the garden of Gethsemane and was obedient unto death on the cross. The spiritual life is formed and shaped by the Paschal Mystery. It involves always a dying to self and rising to new life in Christ. To strip it of this understanding is to make our spiritual life and practices impotent. We are to be conformed to Christ in every way. We preached Jesus Christ and him crucified not only in words, but in our day-to-day struggle against sin and the passions.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:13:41 Bob Cihak, AZ: P. 172, # C   00:22:42 Myles Davidson: What’s the difference between an oath and say, a general intention to do something?   00:24:43 Kate : What about resolutions that we make for a penitential time, such as Lenten resolutions or Advent resolutions?   Is this a good practice according to the Fathers?   00:26:58 Forrest Cavalier: And all of these rely on God's grace for success. not our will alone.   00:37:38 Erick Chastain: Why does fat mean there are increased passions? Are there other foods like that?   00:38:25 Myles Davidson: Today is the beginning of St Martins Lent so to finish this now has been good timing   00:40:39 Erick Chastain: Why does fat mean there are increased passions? Are there other foods like that?   00:42:05 Myles Davidson: I’ve been eating less meat meals and find a definite increase in nepsis and general ability to concentrate in my prayer   00:43:18 Wayne: I think you you eat to much surgar etc you get highs and low  from it..   00:44:33 Sheila: It's a true challenge to avoid all the desserts because it seems these days people start Christmas festivities as soon as Thanksgiving ends, or in the case of many around me at school...now.   00:44:55 Sheila: Secular Christmas is all around.   00:47:16 Kate : And there are so many different diets now that encourage us to fixate on certain types of foods…keto, carnivore, longevity diets, etc. etc.  There might be some health benefits to them, but they can become intense distractions.   00:48:22 Anna Lalonde: Homeschooling... Everything then is centered in faith.   00:49:50 Anna Lalonde: There's so many resources and online live classes and tutoring we have less issues as homeschooling.   00:50:01 Anna Lalonde: Lol   01:01:14 Myles Davidson: Better to engage in the battle imperfectly than to not engage in it at all   01:18:21 Anna Lalonde: Yes that's what I do. Go to Jesus Prayer   01:19:12 ANDREW ADAMS: Thank you, Father!   01:19:16 Rebecca Thérèse: thank you🙂