The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian - Homily One Part IV

Philokalia Ministries

Once again St. Isaac's words stir the heart to hope and the desire for God. As a homily it offers with surprising brevity a clear and rich explication of the spiritual life. He begins by calling us to humbly follow the spiritual path common to all men. God's grace can work when and as it will in a person's life, but we should strive to walk the known paths that lead to virtue. The more one grows in virtue the more the soul's insatiable desire for virtue seizes hold. Discussion ensued about perhaps how uncommon an experience that is today. Do we experience a growing and insatiable desire for virtue within our souls? Perfection is the standard for Christians in the spiritual life. Union with God means sharing in His virtues and embodying them in our lives. For example, the whole sum of the deeds of mercy immediately brings a soul into communion with the unity of the glory of the Godhead's splendor. The truth of this is manifest in speech: That which comes from righteous activity is a treasury of hope, but wisdom not based on righteous activity is a deposit of disgrace. Words arising out of experience transform the listener. Isaac concludes by reminding us that all good things come through God and are wrought in us in secret through baptism and faith. Any virtue we possess comes through these mediators and through them we have been called by our Lord Jesus Christ to His good labors.

About Podcast

Philokalia Ministries is the fruit of 30 years spent at the feet of the Fathers of the Church. Led by Father David Abernethy, Philokalia (Philo: Love of the Kalia: Beautiful) Ministries exists to re-form hearts and minds according to the mold of the Desert Fathers through the ascetic life, the example of the early Saints, the way of stillness, prayer, and purity of heart, the practice of the Jesus Prayer, and spiritual reading. Those who are involved in Philokalia Ministries - the podcasts, videos, social media posts, spiritual direction and online groups - are exposed to writings that make up the ancient, shared spiritual heritage of East and West: The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Saint Augustine, the Philokalia, the Conferences of Saint John Cassian, the Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian, and the Evergetinos. In addition to these, more recent authors and writings, which draw deeply from the well of the desert, are read and discussed: Lorenzo Scupoli, Saint Theophan the Recluse, anonymous writings from Mount Athos, the Cloud of Unknowing, Saint John of the Cross, Thomas a Kempis, and many more.

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