The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XXV, Part II

Tonight once again we are immersed in the struggle for purity of heart and the avoidance of its opposite in action, fornication. We are presented, of course, with heroic examples of those who embodied this virtue. Yet the most powerful thing that stands out both in the examples and the writings of the fathers is their understanding of Eros being conquered by Divine Eros; that is, our attachment to the things of this world and are very selves overcome by a greater love - the love of God for us. 

When we begin to see and taste this love within our day-to-day life, and when we experience a greater measure of freedom through the ascetic life, that Divine love begins to grow within us and we find ourselves running with a swiftness aided by the grace of God. 

Love is always the more powerful motivator and there is nothing more powerful than to experience the love of the one who created us in His own image and likeness. He alone can satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. Once we begin to let go of the illusion that this world places before us - the illusion that it can provide for all of us are pleasures; and once the grace of God begins also to purify the memory, we begin to experience the invincible joy, peace, and humility of the kingdom. 

As long as we are in this world, we all always find ourselves embattled. Therefore, the fathers tell us to cry out like David in the psalms: “Deliver me, O my joy, from them that have compassed me about.“ At that moment, we will always find ourselves in the hands of the living God.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:13:28 Rebecca Thérèse: Happy Birthday Joshua

 

00:21:38 Anthony: Sounds like St Augustine in City of God regarding virgins who jumped off buildings for fear of rape by Vandals.

 

00:22:33 Anthony: Maria goretti

 

00:32:00 Myles Davidson: Committing oneself to an Adoration time outside of normal sleep time can be a great way to get used to combatting the need to sleep.

 

00:45:12 Wayne: Its interesting that the protestant tradition don't have the crucified Christ on the cross. There is focus on the resurrection but forget about Good Friday.

 

00:55:26 Forrest Cavalier: Some terms I have come across to describe the non-sacrificial, non-repentance approach to Christianity are "Moralistic therapeutic deism" and "cheap grace"

 

00:59:04 Rebecca Thérèse: If John Lennon's "Imagine" came true that would be world communism.

 

01:07:45 Anthony: Also, iconographers and musicians and poets who give us a vision to hope for.  Something that reaches us outside of reason for an irrational world.

 

01:14:29 Anna Lalonde: I do vigils, it's grown through desert Father's training me.

 

01:14:40 Adam Paige: Reacted to "I do vigils, it's gr..." with 👍

 

01:14:48 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "I do vigils, it's gr..." with 👍

 

01:15:00 Erick Chastain: Reacted to I do vigils, it's gr... with "👍"

 

01:16:11 Myles Davidson: I’ve taken to sometimes when I wake in the middle of the night, getting up for an hour of praying the Jesus Prayer, then going back to sleep. The stillness of the night and the mind make it very special

 

01:16:36 Wayne: Reacted to "I’ve taken to someti..." with 👍

 

01:16:46 Lee Graham: Reacted to "I’ve taken to someti…" with 👍

 

01:17:24 Adam Paige: Reacted to "I’ve taken to someti..." with 👍

 

01:18:45 Anna Lalonde: I'm a spiritual director of Latin and East and a Catholic Coach.

 

01:20:48 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You to Father and all who are here

 

01:20:51 ANDREW ADAMS: Thank you, Father!

 

01:20:56 Santiago Búa: Thank you Father

 

01:20:56 Macarena Olsen: Thank you!

 

01:20:57 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂

 

01:21:13 Jacqulyn: Reacted to "Thank You to Father ..." with ❤️

 

01:21:21 Erick Chastain: Thank you!!

 

01:21:48 Francisco Ingham: Thank you Father!!