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

Thank you once again to everyone who participated in tonight's group on The Evergetinos. Your deep reading of the text always inspires me and fills me with a greater thirst and desire for Christ and a more radical embrace of the Gospel. Synopsis: We continued our reading of Hypothesis 15, reflecting upon the kind of exile that the monks embraced; an exile that was not rooted in a hatred of the world but rather in an absolute response to Christ’s call “follow me”.  In this the monks become living icons of the gospel and of Christ who said that his food was to do the will of the heavenly Father.  Over and over again in the stories we are taken into a deeper view of the nature of love. Our love as human beings must be perfected by the grace of God and directed by His providence for it to be a bear fruit that is worthy of the kingdom and that will endure. In this sense we must be guided by prudence; not simply responding to our first emotional reaction to certain circumstances nor allowing ourselves to be drawn into things that might stir the remembrance of things that can lead us away from God’s Providential will into self-will. We are, in our lives, to be guided by the Spirit of God and to put on the mind of Christ.  This is the focal point of our lives; not being catalysts for social change in the world but rather allowing the grace of God to be the catalyst of change within our hearts. We are to be guided by the virtues that have God as their object - faith, hope, and love. These alone draw us to God’s desired end which is life in Him and Love eternal. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:07:55 FrDavid Abernethy, CO: Sorry Dave Fraley.  No snacks   00:08:27 D Fraley: Oh. It was good to see you anyway. Good night!   00:08:37 FrDavid Abernethy, CO: haha   00:24:07 Carol Nypaver: Page?   00:24:17 Ashley Kaschl: 121   00:24:26 Carol Nypaver: TY   00:24:48 Ashley Kaschl: No prob   00:30:19 Rachel: What? Willfull in our acts of charity?? 🙏🏼🙇🏼‍♀️   00:32:11 Mark Kelly: Another desert story about being “on fire.”                   Abba Lot went to see abba Joseph and he said to him, "Abba, as far as I can, I  say my  little office, I fast a  little, I pray  and meditate, I live in peace  and as  far as I can I  purify my thoughts. What else  can I do?" Then the old  man stood up and streched his hands toward heaven; his fingers became like ten  lamps of  fire and he said to  him, "If you will, you  can become  all flame."   00:33:29 Ambrose Little: Maybe Joseph did crack Jesus upside the head for that, so that’s why He went ahead and performed a miracle.   00:53:32 Rachel: Yes, The asceticism of the thoughts, taking every thought captive, can seem to make one feel as if they are doing violence to themselves. In a way, they are, to their old self. But, I heard a priest once say no to do violence to oneself. The only way I reconciled this seeming contradiction of my experience and Father's advice, is to go and stay with Christ. The priests cannot heal what has been broken, only Christ can so it forces one to stay, with Christ and be patient to let Christ heal, the heart in His way, in His time.   00:54:15 Rachel: Ugh, this was meant for Father Abernathy.   01:17:08 Forrest Cavalier: It has to be both/and, not either/or. Christianity meets the world in its present.   01:17:24 Rachel: Yes, very happy note! lol   01:18:19 Eric Williams: Gee, are you saying the Church shouldn’t enthusiastically deploy reliable catalysts for change? ;)   01:19:12 Rachel: Yes Ren!! Thank you!!   01:19:31 Ambrose Little: We gotta also avoid substituting seeking exceptionalism for authentic discipleship.   01:19:33 Forrest Cavalier: Can we say "apostles" instead of "reliable catalysts for change"?   01:20:00 Eric Williams: I got that whole phrase from a corporate buzzword generator ;)   01:20:23 Forrest Cavalier: Oh, good. I thought it came from a synodality document!   01:20:37 Forrest Cavalier: A little of both, Father.   01:21:58 Forrest Cavalier: Amen!   01:23:41 Miron Kerul Kmec: Thank you Father   01:23:47 Rachel: Thank you God bless!   01:23:49 Mitchell Hunt: thank you   01:23:50 D Fraley: Thank you, Father!