The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis XV, Part II

Tonight we picked up with Hypothesis 15. The focus has been on detachment from the things of this world and the state of exile in which the monks lived. The temptation after leaving all for God is always to be drawn back to the things of the world. These things that draw us are not  necessarily evil or sinful but can be quite benign or even very good. Yet even that which is good can be contrary to the will of God. Our responsibility is to embrace His will and to walk the path of salvation that He has set before us and to remain ever faithful to it. Even the love and affection for other that is genuinely good can be something that we make our god. Yet there is one thing necessary - Christ and doing His will. He is the origin and fulfillment of every person’s deepest yearning. He alone can fulfill that longing for love deep within our hearts. We will rationalize or we will follow the subtle deceptions of the Evil One to take any or every path that leads away from God. Therefore we must be ever vigilant and unceasing in our prayer. Ego will always move to the forefront. We will place the self at the center of the universe and convince ourselves that what intellect, reason, or emotion tells us is truth. Thus we must be discriminating of what goes on within and foster a kind of stability that allows us to listen to God and subordinate all things to him. This is true whether one lives in the desert or in the heart of the busiest city. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:08:44 Rachel: ….cricket....   00:09:43 Rachel: My paint wont dry here in Cali   00:11:45 Rachel: I will be arriving fashionably late to a party because there is no way I am missing the Evergetinos. 😊 lol   00:20:13 Anthony: This creeping back of the world into the consciousness....these fresh attacks of vanity and despicable things....is this why they are always weeping for their sins   00:27:05 Anthony: This is like iconography.  Icon don't depict mundane persons but persons purified by Divine Love.   00:46:25 Anthony: phone > Greek for sound > the siren's call to Ulysses to detract him from his mission and shipwreck the crew?   01:08:56 Eric Williams: Biritual! ;)   01:10:26 Mark J. Kelly: Sometimes, when rejected, Christ does say, “Go to another city”.  Wisdom and application are important.  “Stay in your Cell” is not a fixed command but a wisdom Verba.   01:15:43 Forrest Cavalier: Or cell phone telling us!   01:24:10 Randi: I don’t know how to turn on the mic🙁   01:27:39 Forrest Cavalier: Randi, Can you press Alt+A? That unmutes on windows zoom.   01:31:17 Rachel: Please pray for us!   01:32:41 carolnypaver: Wow! Glad you found your unmute button, Randi!   01:33:01 Mark J. Kelly: Thank you Randi   01:34:57 Randi: I’ve written all your names on the chapel wall   01:35:18 carolnypaver: Thank you very much!   01:36:13 Daniel Allen: Thank you Randi