Such a beautiful image is presented to us of the life obedience in a few paragraphs. St. John finds himself wrapped in conversation with one of the elderly fathers. He is asked if he has embraced the life that God has made possible for him. The Holy Spirit has descended upon him with the dew of purity, not unlike that of the blessed Virgin Mary, and the Most High has overshadowed him with patience, the very patience of Christ.
This is the grace that has been given to us all. Thus St. John is asked by the elder if his life is reflective of that reality. Has he bound himself with a towel of obedience, making himself the slave and the servant of the members of his community, willing to embrace every self- abasement? Does he guard his heart strictly and restrain the mind through the ascetical life and by humbling the body? In the midst of all of his work does he maintain stillness of heart? Does he curb his tongue that rages to leap into arguments and unceasingly wrestle with this tyrant? Does he fix his mind to the image of obedience and humility on the Cross, allowing it to shape how he embraces mockery, abuse, and ridicule? Has he cast off his will as though it is a garment of shame? Does he still his mind or let it become overly busy with the concerns of the things of the world? Is he willing to drink derision at every hour in order to protect charity? Is it more valuable for him to preserve love and unity with his brothers than it is to be treated with respect and kindness? Saint John is moved by the old monks exhortation and so gives true honor to blessed obedience.
Do we in our day-to-day life experience the fruit of true obedience, especially when it comes to our worship of God? Are we able to collect all of our thoughts and desires, every movement of the mind and the soul and summon them to cry out to God “O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our king and our God.”True obedience leads to true freedom. It gives us the capacity to love and give ourselves in love without impediment.
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis III, Part IV and Hypothesis IV, Part I
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part VIII
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis III, Part III
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part VII
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis III, Part II
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part VI
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis II, Part VII and Hypothesis III, Part I
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part V
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis II, Part VI
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part IV
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis II, Part V
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part III
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis II, Part IV
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part II
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis II, Part III
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVI: On Discernment, Part I
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXV: On Humility, Part V
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis II, Part II
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXV: On Humility, Part IV
The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis I, Part III and Hypothesis II, Part I
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