The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis XIII, Part V

Tonight we continued with Hypothesis 13 -  considering once again living a remote life; removing oneself from the things of this world and anything that could arouse the passions. So often we find ourselves walking along the edge of a pit, giving no attention to the nature of our thoughts and where they are leading us. It is only by developing that awareness and drawing closer to God through stillness and simplicity of thought that we become further removed from danger. 

Once again we are given stories of those who choose different paths in their lives. What comes through clearly in these stories is that all that is done without clarity about what is within one’s own heart and one’s need for God, all that is done outside of the grace of God is fruitless. We are impotent to change the world much less to change ourselves outside of this relationship. We are all called to enter into the desert.  We are all called to allow the stormy waters to be stilled by Christ in order that we might see not only the truth about our sin but also see the depths of God’s love and mercy. All is Grace and in this alone do we find true comfort and peace.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:20:27 carolnypaver: Page??   00:20:39 carolnypaver: Thank you!   00:22:13 Daniel Allen: What page are we on.   00:22:21 carolnypaver: 112   00:22:29 Daniel Allen: Thank you   00:32:09 Anthony: In the Rule of St. Basil, Basil seems to say "we monks have chosen the easier path to single mindedness, but except to marriage, all of us are called to the same standard of going out of the world"  And he specifically names going out from apostates.   00:39:39 Lyle: What a blessing to hear that.   00:39:49 Anthony: Is sitting before an icon truly like or equivalent to sitting before the Blessed Sacrament?   00:53:02 Justin Massengill : If everyone wouldn't mind, there is a young girl in my neighborhood who was just diagnosed with leukemia. In your charity please pray for her and her family. Her name is Ila.    00:54:08 Lyle: Will add her to my prayer list.  Thanks for sharing.   01:05:21 Justin Massengill : Do the Eastern Fathers and later Byzantine writers ever touch on the phenomena of scrupulosity?   01:11:30 Rachel Pineda: I think Bishop Sheen talks about how one can become very holy, even and perhaps especially, in occupations like a janitor.   01:21:10 Rachel Pineda: Wow!! St. John Climacus, pray for us!   01:23:13 Daniel Allen: “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”