The Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian - Homily III, Part VII

Perhaps there has been no greater or more beautiful exhortation written than Saint Isaac the Syrian’s homily on temptation. This may seem to be a rather bold statement, but Isaac’s words draw us into the very heart of a reality that even many men and women of faith do not see; that is, we are engaged in a spiritual warfare against the Evil One. Evil is not an abstraction or a story meant to instill fear as a means of control. Isaac speaks of it from the perspective of experience and like the other desert fathers, he stands before us as a living and breathing icon, encouraging us to run the course with courage and fidelity. In the spiritual battle, there is no Sabbath day rest; in other words, we must be ever vigilant in regards to temptation that comes to us in many forms. The only one that we must be concerned about is the temptation to which we freely give ourselves over through neglect or laziness or our attachment to particular sins. Rather, we are to take heart from and acquire zeal in our soul against the devil through the example and the histories of those who proved “allies of the divine laws and commandments of the Spirit in fearful places, and amid most grievous tribulation.” 

The one in essential thing that this requires of us is that we have in our mind God‘s providence, and always to remember that he is ever faithful, and will not abandon those who trust him. This is our hope - that God is ever present to us in the spiritual battle, strengthening us, and surrounding us with a host of angels and Saints. We have a God who is set upon our salvation and who provides everything that is needed in order that we might be raised even above the ranks of angels. Our Lord has humbled himself, taken our poor humanity and its poverty, embraced it in all of its fullness and weakness in order to raise us up to share in the fullness of the life of God.  Deification is the fruit of the spiritual battle and the promise of our loving Lord!

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Text of chat during the group:

00:03:18 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 138 paragraph number 33

00:12:58 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 138, first full paragraph

00:14:35 Janine: Happy birthday Fr. Charbel…60 is nothing…just wait til 70! You are still very young!

00:15:18 Bob Čihák, AZ: ..or 84...

00:19:24 Catherine Opie: Happy Birthday Fr. May your next circle around the sun be full of Gods graces and blessings🎂

00:21:17 Rebecca Thérèse: Happy birthday it's the 10th already in the UK as well🎂☺️
00:22:22 Gwen’s iPhone: Smile you could be turning 79

00:32:42 Erick Chastain: It is interesting that he emphasizes the role of the guardian angel in defending against the temptations. My oblate master says one should pray to the guardian angel to prevent sins. \

00:36:12 Ryan Ngeve: Father it is easy for us who live in the world to tend to forget of spiritual realities in our daily life. How does one change this  ?

00:36:27 David: St. Moses the Black/Strong episode of 'Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints' is streaming now on Fox Nation. I believe this is also on youtube but likely violating copyright.

00:42:15 Anthony: To become prayer is like the lesson on computation on Monday.

00:43:38 paul g.: Reacted to " St. Moses the Black…" with ✔️

00:59:15 Anthony: I think it's important to note they recognized perils, even perils of devils, but did not seek to indulge curiosity about the demons.  The focus was God, without craven feeling toward devils or to God. They shone like simple, confident icons.

00:59:37 Ryan Ngeve: Father, could the very realization of one’s own wretchedness/ poverty/ powerlessness or need for some external mercy lead to tears or even despair?

01:02:11 Elizabeth Richards: Yes!

01:17:13 Catherine Opie: ❤️

01:19:03 David: I heard an interesting podcast with Fr. Josh Johnson who said if the Devil can't make you bad he will make you busy. Apparently a parishioner doubted the devil existed he told her to set a time to sit in adoration or prayer and you will see tons of things will come up to interfere and often not bad things. 2 weeks later she came back and said- ok I believe in the devil. This also has been my experience.

01:21:44 Eleana: And temptations. I usually tell my patients you are often desperate for a "fix" and miserable but when you are trying to be sober and clean, you encounter friends that will invite you and even FIND everywhere what you avoid the most.

01:26:11 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You Father Blessing

01:26:49 Elizabeth Richards: 🥳 Happy Birthday! 🎉   Looking forward to Saturday!

01:26:53 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️

01:26:53 Bob Čihák, AZ: Thank you and Bless you, Father.

01:26:54 Art: Have a happy birthday!!

01:26:59 Jeffrey Ott: Thank you! Happy Birthday!

01:27:10 David: Thank you father and may you have a joyful Birthday. I turn 60 next year tell me how it goes