The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis II, Part II

This evening we concluded the Hypothesis II of the Evergetinos. The focus is on the remembrance of death. Our mortality is a very powerful lens through which to view our life, our actions and most importantly our relationship with God. God and His love alone endures and it is to this love alone that we must cling. If we sin and turn away from that love then repentance must be our constant companion. In fact, we are told that even our virtue can lead us into sin without repentance. We can begin to imagine that such a virtue has its origin in our asceticism. Such a view of life will not lead us to love God above all things and so hate sin.  It is not enough simply for us to avoid certain behaviors we must develop an aversion to anything that is not God and that does not lead to Him.

In Hypothesis II, the Fathers begin to speak to us about how we should repent. We should grieve in measure with the wrong which we have committed. Otherwise, we will usually fall again into the same net. There is a kind of guile that exist in the human heart when there is an expectation of being able to repent later after having committed a sin a second time.

Finally, discussion ensued about how we are to understand sin. We must be very careful in the distinctions that we make and by which we judge our lives and our behavior. It must not be simply in accord with our own reason and intellect but rather in accord with a standard that has been revealed to us that this judgment is made - the cross of Christ and the self-emptying love that we witnessed there.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:24:42 renwitter: Hi Eric’s baby! (The wave just killed me)

00:25:48 Eric Williams: His name is Peter Damian. :)

00:31:02 Joseph Muir: Hello, Godson Peter😀❤

00:59:55 Lilly Crystal: You're fine Erick! I'm just as confused lol

01:02:26 Tyler Woloshyn: That whole part of self-emptying brings the term kenosis to mind, where it is always at work with Christ always pouring out His love and graces to us.

01:04:52 renwitter: Maybe the first Eastern Canadian voice ;-) You are not forgotten Wayne :-)

01:07:08 Wayne Mackenzie: Thanks

01:08:43 renwitter: The form the Fathers of the Oratory use is: “God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins
in the name of the Father, + and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.”

01:09:11 Joseph Muir: ❤

01:14:05 Lilly Crystal: Amen! Thank you all so much❤️

01:15:09 carolnypaver: God bless you, Lilly! So glad you’re here!

01:17:39 Tyler Woloshyn: God bless you Father! Have a blessed evening everyone!