The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Appendix "To The Shepherd", Part V

As we read this letter we slowly begin to see that St. John is not presenting his reader with a manual for spiritual direction; that is, specific counsels in regard to practices and disciplines. St. John’s astute psychological observations and his capacity for discernment reveals a heart that has been transformed by love. Contrary to the old adage love is NOT blind. Love, in fact, sees all things with greater clarity. 

One of the things that we struggle with in our day is a tendency to dissect certain realities (as well as personalities) in order that we might see ourselves as understanding them or being able to control them. The desert fathers, however, never allow us to lose sight of the mystery of the human person or the relationship that is at the heart of Christianity. A human person is not the sum of their actions or their opinions any more than God can be reduced to the teachings of the catechism. Love draws us in to the mystery of God and also allows us to see the presence of God in the other. If any Christian, let alone any elder, loses sight of this then our interactions with others are going to become grossly distorted and our view of God myopic. Love must shape our hearts and expand them to the dimensions of God himself. 

This may seem to be an absurdity and yet it is the reality that has been revealed to us. God has become man in order that man might become God. Our Lord assumes all that there is in the human experience - our sin, sorrow, failure, weakness and death. He embraces all in order that we might never be in isolation and that his presence within us might also be a source of radical healing. The miracles in the gospel merely show us the desire of God to remove every obstacle in our experience of His life. 

Therefore, an elder must have experiential knowledge of this Love; especially how it touches the woundedness of our sin and our experience of hopelessness and isolation. The elder must become that love so as to enter into the sufferings of those who come to him. Whatever guidance he offers, whatever correction he makes, must be rooted in a love that is curative and that seeks to raise up the other. Only one who has encountered the wonder of such Divine Love has the capacity to enter into and take upon himself the vulnerability of the other. In this sense, the spiritual elder and his role cannot be seen outside of his relationship with Christ; for it is only the love of Christ that can possibly bring healing to the human heart.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:04:47 Anna Lalonde: What about them?

00:05:37 Anna Lalonde: I'm in GA. Where are they?

00:15:30 Anna Lalonde: We finally got both books for family gift and we're ordering four volumes too.

00:27:58 Myles Davidson: I know someone who has never owned a computer and goes to the library to use the internet, due to his fear of what it might lead to

00:30:22 Anna Lalonde: We experienced a family friendship break and after saw how we fell into sin or lessened our way of life. Such an awakening experience.

00:31:49 Lyle: His fear may be VERY warranted.  How often does the devil DIRECTLY attack us?  His friend may view something that “appears” very innocent, but it may lead to something very evil.

00:38:04 Anna Lalonde: My sister is a missionary of charity. Love her letters home on guidance to family.

00:42:06 Lyle: A word of ecouragement from a recovering ADDICT.

00:42:23 Andres Oropeza: St. Theophane wrote that we should picture a lazy man sitting in his room. His house is on fire but you wouldn’t tell him it’s fire, you would let him see the flames. Then he would be roused to look for a way out; an open door, a window. He said the Holy Spirit does this for us. Maybe we can do this for others too, patiently and lovingly help them to see that their way of life is harmful and were it inevitably leads. 
Though often times I think we wouldn’t try to escape even once we realize our house is on fire. I’ve experienced this myself!

00:42:33 Lyle: Avoid ANYTHING that appears "questionable".

00:43:58 Lyle: Myles' friend.

01:04:51 David: We often sit back and hope for miracles but all these verbs the Lord uses requiere us to be doing things first before the remedy can be found-“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

01:09:03 Suzanne Romano: A great confessor I had always used to say, "There's a time for every grace."

01:13:32 MOME hermits: Thank you Fr. David, Blessed Solemnity of Mary and New Year :)!

01:13:40 MOME hermits: Fr. Charbel

01:13:46 Joanne Martinez: Thank you!

01:13:53 Suzanne Romano: Thank you!

01:13:57 Aric B: Thank you Father!

01:13:58 David: Have a blessed 2025! Thank you father

01:14:03 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you. Happy New Year everyone🙂