Finding Your Spiritual Desert

On the 5th Sunday of Great Lent, Abp. Irineos departs from the Forefeast of the Annunciation to talk about the Life of St. Mary of Egypt, and to examine her ascetic struggle.  Drawing on her life in the desert, he urges the faithful to emulate her example, finding their own spiritual desert to war against the passions, and to engage the concept of repentance  on a deep and life altering level as St. Mary did.  He discusses the church's condescension to repentant sinners, looking at both St. Mary and Abba Moses the Black as examples of soul healing spiritual medicine taking precedence over shallow legalism.