• Home
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
  • Tags
      afflictionangeranxietyapophatic spiritualityAscetical Homilies of St. Isaac the SyrianAsceticismAttentivenessavaricebitternesscenobiteschastitycommandmentscompunctionConferences of St. John CassianconfidenceconscienceconsolationcontemplationcontritionconversiondarknessDeificationdelusionDemonsdesertdespondencydiscernmentdiscretiondistractionsdivine lovedivine providencedreamsenvyeternityEucharistExileEye of the SoulfaithfalsehoodfastingfearFleshforgivenessfornicationfortitudefree willfreedomfriendshipFruits of obedienceGehennaGift of tearsgluttonygracegratitudeguilelessnesshealingHegemenikonHelmsman of the SoulhesychiaHoly DesireHoly SpirithopehumilityhypocrisyidlenessinsensitivityintellectirascibilityJesus PrayerjoyjusticeknowledgeLadder of Divine AscentliturgyLord's PrayerLovelukewarmnesslustlyingmalicemeeknessMemories and Imaginationmercymiraclesmortificationmourningnatural knowledgeNepsisNousobediencepassionspatiencepeacepenancepenitenceperfectionperseverancephilokaliaPrayerpresumptionpridepromisespsalmodyPsychoanalysis and Desert Fatherspurgationpurificationpurity of heartreadingRemembrance of Deathremembrance of wrongsRenunciationreparationrepentanceRevealing ThoughtsrevelationssabbathsalvationsarabaitessilencesimplicitysinslandersleepslothsobrietysolitudeSpiritSpiritual Battlespiritual fatherSt. Isaac the SyrianSt. John CassianSt. John ClimacusstabilitystillnesssufferingtearsTemptationThe PrisontheoriaTheosisthoughtstrialstrusttruthDefaultTagvaingloryvicevigilvigilanceVirtuewatchfulness
  • Series
      Season 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7
  1. All Episodes

Wednesday Apr 13, 2016

Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty One On the Relaxation at Pentecost Part V
  • Download 225
Conferences of St. John Cassian - Conference Twenty One On the Relaxation at Pentecost Part V

As we come to the end of Conference 21, Abba Theonas raises the bar for us in terms of how we understand our lives as Christian men and women.  He presents us with a magnificent comparison between focusing on our lives in a legalistic fashion (fulfilling certain precepts and obligations) and seeing our lives as being caught up in the grace of God and transcending the limitations of the law in every way.  

Sin is to have no dominion over us for the love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Every disposition to sin is to be something absolutely foreign to us since all our concentration and all our longing is constantly fixed upon the divine love and to such a degree that we do not take delight in base things and do not even make use of those things that would normally be conceded to us by our own judgment and that of the world's.  The grace of the Savior is to inflame us with a holy love of incorruption which burns up all the thorns of evil desires such that the dying ember of vice does not diminish our integrity in any way.

This is something that must be experienced to be understood fully.  The purity of heart and the all consuming love for God and the love virtue is rarely tasted in our day.  May God fill us with the desire for it!

Comments (0)

To leave or reply to comments, please download free Podbean or

No Comments

To leave or reply to comments,
please download free Podbean App.

iOS appAndroid app

Copyright 2013 Fr. David Abernethy, C.O.. All rights reserved.

Podcast Powered By Podbean