This evening we continued our discussion of discernment;
in particular, developing an awareness of the action of the demons and their attempts to lead us astray. However, John also seeks to make us aware of the fact that it is not only the demons that we have to be aware of but our human nature in its fallen state. We are often weak of will and changeable in our mind. We are filled with contradictions and will often choose that which offers nothing over the love and the mercy of God. We have within certain destructive tendencies that are beyond reason. St. John would not have us over analyze these things but be aware of them so to avoid them and turn more radically toward God when we see them arise within our hearts.
What is most striking in this section of the Ladder is that divine light shines through John‘s own words. The open up reality for us and we see on the horizon our dignity and destiny in Christ so brilliantly that one can only gasp. It creates within the heart an urgent longing to run to the Beloved. It reveals in a fraction of the moment the entire meaning of the ascetical life. It is not about self-perfection or endurance, but rather about Love. It is about acknowledging that what has been fashioned from clay has now been placed and seated upon the very throne of God. Joy!
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Text of chat during the group:
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-six Part II and Homily Seventy-seven
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-nine Part II and Letter Forty Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-eight Part II and Letter Thirty-nine Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-six Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-seven Part II and Letter Thirty-eight Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-five Part IV
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-seven Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-five Part III
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-five Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-five Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-four Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-four Part IV and Homily Seventy-five Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-three Part II
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-four Part III
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-two Part II and Letter Thirty-three Part I
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-four Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Thirty-one Part II and Letter Thirty-two Part I
A Special Message from Philokalia Ministries
The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily Seventy-three and Homily Seventy-four Part I
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