This evening we concluded Hypothesis 29. We heard from one father after another of the importance of having a spirit of gratitude in our lives. We are to enter into the spiritual battle, expecting affliction, temptation and hardship. Furthermore, we are to see these things as coming to us through the providence of God.
Is it not this that we are often tempted to reject? We question: “Does God really ask this of us? Is he truly present to us or has he abandon us by allowing us to experience such great crosses in our lives?” The resounding answer to all these questions from the fathers is that God permeates these crosses, knows how they will they will affect and afflict us and how his grace will also perfect the virtue within us if we hope in Him. We often fail to see how deeply the “prosperity” gospel has permeated our minds and our hearts. So often we think faith in God should bring us certain blessings in this world. Even if this is not consciously on our minds, it is often what we desire; that God would bless our lives, our work and our relationships. It is tantamount to what Karl Barth called “practical atheism.” We believe in our minds, but in our daily actions towards others, and in our unwillingness to embrace our cross, we show that we lack the faith and the resolve of the Saints.
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Text of chat during the group:
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter VI: On the Remembrance of Death and Chapter VII: On Joy-Making Mourning
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter V: On Repentance, Part IV and Chapter VI: On Remembrance of Death, Part I
The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXIX, Part II
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter V: On Repentance, Part III
The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXVIII, Part III and Hypothesis XXIX, Part I
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter V: On Repentance, Part II
The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXVIII, Part II
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter V: On Repentance, Part I
The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXVIII, Part I
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter IV: On Obedience, Part XVI
The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXVII
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter IV: On Obedience, Part XV
The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXVI, Part III
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter IV: On Obedience, Part XIV
The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXVI, Part II
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter IV: On Obedience, Part XIII
The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXVI
The Evergetinos - Hypothesis XXV, Part II
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter IV: On Obedience, Part XII
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