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The Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian - Homily VI, Part XI

Philokalia Ministries

“Death in battle for God’s sake is better than a shameful and sluggish life.” There is always a lion for the man who does not want to begin. Always a reason. Always a danger. Always a wiser moment to wait for. And so he remains on the road his entire life. Careful. Thoughtful. Unbloodied. Unchanged. St. Isaac is merciless here. Much wisdom can damn a soul. Not the wisdom that fears God, but the kind that calculates and delays obedience. The man who watches the winds never sows. The man who weighs every risk never enters the fight. The simple man jumps into the water. He does not negotiate with fear. He does not preserve his body. He burns with first ardor and moves. This is what we lack. Not knowledge. Fire. The way is filled with blood. Blood means loss. Blood means humiliation. Blood means the death of the life you hoped to keep. If you wish to begin, hold your death in your mind. Remember the day after your burial. Let eternity crush your attachment to this present age. Hope in this life weakens the soul. Do not begin with a divided heart. Divided labor exhausts and yields nothing. God does not give grace in proportion to our techniques but according to the ardor of love and the boldness of faith. “As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.” Some beat their heads in repentance. Some drown in prostrations. Some burn in psalmody. Some are seized into silence. There are many forms. But all give themselves without reserve. Then comes the ruin. One tastes and turns back.One tastes a little and grows proud.One is enslaved by ambition.One by vainglory.One by greed.One by habit.One begins well and does not endure. These are the lions. Not in the street. In the heart. The one who stands firm does not turn back until he receives the pearl. He begins again and again. He refuses slackness. He does not wait for ideal conditions. He does not demand guarantees. Always begin. If the heart is pure from passion and doubt, God Himself raises the soul. Not because it was clever. Not because it was impressive. But because it believed and stepped onto the blood-stained road without bargaining. Begin. Or die still talking about the journey. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:07:55 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Anthologion 00:08:15 Jesssica Imanaka: https://ignatius.cc/products/anthologion-modern-english 00:08:28 Una’s iPhone: What about The Agpeya? Coptic 00:08:43 Jessica McHale: I use the Publicans Prayer Book. Sophia Press. It's a Small Horologion. 00:09:14 Anthony: Reacted to I use the Publicans ... with "❤️" 00:09:24 Una’s iPhone: What book is Gather talking about? 00:10:49 David Swiderski, WI: Reacted to "I use the Publicans ..." with 👍 00:11:05 Julie: Hi all🙏🏼 00:11:55 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "Hi all🙏🏼" with 👋 00:12:41 Elizabeth Richards: From who? 00:12:50 Kate: Replying to "Hi all🙏🏼" Hi Julie! 00:13:07 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 179, # 29, first paragraph 00:13:54 Eleana Urrego: I love the retreat class, I was sad and happy. Thank you 00:16:24 Anthony: Hope is what sloth & despair (in the Lenten prayer of St Ephraim) want to strangle. 00:17:35 Julie: Or over analysis it 00:28:01 Tracey Fredman: what will come if I surrender? everything that is difficult for me - everyday almost seems "bad" and yet it's "very good" because I can't hide but most face what is most difficult for me. Much grace has enabled me to do what is being asked of me. thankful for the Jesus Prayer when things become so intense as they have been for me this past 5 weeks 00:29:34 Jessica McHale: Reacted to "what will come if ..." with ❤️ 00:38:35 Wayne: need to leave early tonight 00:38:58 Angela Bellamy: I had been taught for so long to rely on myself that trusting in God has been a learning curve, even fearful. Trust is difficult to develope but it seems as though every leap of faith I make, the reward is more faith; and trust grows through His grace. It's much like the tree which grows from a mustard seed. Just the smallest leap of faith grows the greatest t