The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis II, Part V

Humility and selfless-love often bears no resemblance to what we hold in our minds as their meaning. It is only seeing these things through the grace that God gives us and what has been revealed to us in Christ that we begin to understand that Christ took upon himself all that is human and its burden. He is Humility. He entered into the depths of our hell and the hell of our sin not only the free us from death, but that we might not experience these things in isolation. In the darkest things of this world there is always the presence of He who is light. When this world offers us no consolation, it is Christ who embraces us. 

Humility, then, becomes our willingness to let go of the self and the self-image that we have created in our own minds and that has been distorted by our sin. It means to live in the truth of Christ who is self-emptying love. This will forever be a stumbling block in this world and to the human mind. Only faith can allow us to see the presence of Christ in our midst. Furthermore, it is only this selfless love of Christ within us the can bring healing and hope to others. When faith is reduced to an ideology or philosophy it becomes impotent. We must be willing to go, as it were, where angels fear to tread. We must be willing to enter into the depths of the sorrow of the world. Yet . . . we cannot do this so long as we cling to some worldly image of ourselves or perfection. We must die to self and sin and live fully to Christ. The cure for the human condition is and ever shall be crucified and humble love.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:32:47 Michael Hinckley: to your earlier point, my guess is that saints the see being like Christ as an easy equation (1+1) , we see it as algorithms

 

00:46:03 TFredman: Personal experience with a Trappist monk who was very discerning - and helped to heal many souls, through simply sharing God's love repeatedly, consistently for many years - until the persons began to really believe the honesty in the gift of being loved - life-changing -

 

00:47:14 TFredman: Tracey

 

00:50:58 Susanna Joy: Being the presence of Christ's love over time by itself has the power to heal...yes...well said

 

00:52:56 Susanna Joy: Where 2 or 3 are gathered...there am I in your midst.  Christ's presence itself...

 

00:53:27 Sharon Fisher: This discussion reminds me off a woman who was taken hostage by a gunman — she retrieved her bible and spoke to him. (Baptist, I think, but still . . . ) If folks are interested, here’s the story:  https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/hostage-reads-purpose-driven-life-to-alleged-atlanta-killer/

 

00:54:07 Anthony: Replying to "This discussion remi..." 

 

 I believe I heard th...

 

00:55:26 Michael Hinckley: Didn't Francis say preach the gospel, use words if you have to

 

00:55:33 Anthony: That's a Spanish and Neapolitan type of image

 

01:05:23 Anthony: The multiplicity of my thoughts are showing me the necessity of praying - simple, like Jesus prayer - so as not to be exposed so much and dwell so much on thoughts.

 

01:06:04 Michael Hinckley: Reacted to "The multiplicity of ..." with 👍

 

01:06:32 Vanessa: Reacted to "The multiplicity of ..." with 👍

 

01:08:25 Sharon Fisher: Is there a difference between when God confronts us with situations intended to humble us vs. situations when others exhibit their own free will, and we are unlucky recipients/bystanders?

 

01:13:28 Rebecca Thérèse: Jesus said that it is necessary that stumbling blocks come but woe to those from whom they come.

 

01:13:30 Susanna Joy: Thank you so much for leading this class, Father...your comments have been very helpful.

 

01:14:22 Lorraine Green: God bless you, thank you

 

01:14:26 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You I am always Blessed from all your teachings

 

01:14:32 Sharon Fisher: 😃

 

01:16:02 Sharon Fisher: Reacted to "Jesus said that it i..." with ❤️

 

01:16:21 Michael Hinckley: what's your wife's name soI can pray for her?

 

01:16:25 TFredman: God bless you, Steve, and your wife.

 

01:16:46 Steve Yu: Replying to "what's your wife's n…"

Hi Michael, her name is Ivette Valenzuela-Yu

01:17:14 Michael Hinckley: Replying to "what's your wife's n..."

 

santa pace for her

 

01:17:30 Steve Yu: Reacted to "santa pace for her" with ❤️

 

01:17:46 Michael Hinckley: Reacted to "santa pace for her" with ❤️

 

01:18:03 Kevin Burke: Thank you Father..

 

01:18:05 Andrew Adams: Thanks Father and thanks everyone for sharing!

 

01:18:09 mflory: Thank you, Father!

 

01:18:15 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂